“Feeling like you hate yourself, enduring tough days with a smile for someone else, believing it’s over because you’re weak. You’ve done well. You don’t need to express everything or speak perfectly. Why not put a few...
It’s been almost a half year since the BBC released the documentary “Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-pop” in March 2023 to expose sexual abuse committed by the late Johnny Kitagawa. He was the founder of the talent agency “Jonny...
The decades-long and widespread sexual abuses of young boys by the founder of the largest J-pop agency, Johnny & Associates, have uncovered the need to protect children in the society otherwise considered peaceful. The number of child abuse...
The suicide rate in Japan is the highest among the Group of Seven economies, and the number of women who took their own life has increased for two years in a row from 2021 to 2022, at the level of over 7,000 a year (nearly 600 per month), in...
In March, Dentsu Lab Tokyo’s groundbreaking project “Hugtics” made its debut at SXSW 2023. This initiative employs a vest-type hugging technology designed to bolster happiness and self-esteem, signaling a fresh approach to mental health...
As we age, it is natural to be concerned about one’s health. One of the biggest and unavoidable concerns for women is menopausal transition. Most women suffer from physical and mental issues between the ages of 45 to 55 though the symptoms are...
Banana Yoshimoto is one of the most famous Japanese female authors in the world. Her books are published in over 30 countries. I have reread her debut novel and masterpiece, “Kitchen” for the first time in a while. I surprisingly have...
COVID-19 has enormously influenced the environment around us and our lifestyles for the past two years. Mothers who have experienced pregnancy and giving birth during this time are also strongly affected by the pandemic. Generally, approximately one...
Here’s a brilliant idea for people recovering from various emotional disorders and slowly adjusting back into society! The innovative Osaka-based Kuma No Te Cafe, or Bear Paw Cafe in English, is designed to help people who are recovering from...
In Japan, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, 1 in every 5.5 couples is receiving treatment for infertility. Approximately 16% of people who receive fertility treatment have left their jobs because they...