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...
Acceptance and safety are two important human needs, especially for young students who are still developing and finding their place in the world. Harassment and bullying at school threaten that sense of safety and can cause lasting harm. What is...
COVID-19 has caused sickness, suffering and death in Japan and worldwide. Both the coronavirus itself and efforts to contain it have impacted several areas of society. The pandemic has caused major lifestyle changes and economic damage, with many...
The benefits of walking in green spaces are not limited to physical health. Studies show that access to green space enables an enhanced opportunity to connect with nature, improving one’s mental health. This is especially the case during the...
Mental health is every bit as important for our well-being as physical health. Yet, there can be unfortunate stigmas, shame and misunderstandings regarding the issue. This is true everywhere but especially in Japan, and it can affect Japanese and...
Japan is known as a group-oriented society that is less individualistic than Western nations. Yet, some Japanese people spend time alone, sometimes due to personal preference. Following behind it is a growing trend of businesses catering to single...
Efforts to lower Japan’s suicide rate became more aggressive in the late 2000s and saw a steady decrease over time. However, COVID-19 has not only stagnated Japan’s economy but is also affecting other facets of Japanese society. The...
This is part one of a 3-part series on suicide in Japan, where we explore where Japan stands on the issue of suicide today. We see a decrease in the numbers in the past decades, but the hidden truth about how it is affecting Japan’s young is a...
Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting global pandemic, taking precautions and social distancing have become an integral part of our lives. Rumors and fake news have run rampant, as has stigma against individuals who had or may have...