TALIN DEROHANESSIANS WRITES — It’s no surprise that women in Japan are held to strict beauty and dress standards. Now they have been banned from wearing glasses to work. Working women already must follow a strict dress code, including high heels, which sparked the #KuToo movement. According to the Vision Council…
TIA CARR WRITES– In recent times, the frequency of interstate armed conflicts has greatly decreased. However, we are seeing the rapid creation of alternative means of enforcing political will, most notably, the weaponization of trade. Ever since the waning of liberal orthodoxy in the global political economy, governments have been…
NILE BROWN WRITES –In June, Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line of form-fitting, nude-colored undergarments, called “Skims,” made its debut. Finally. Back then Kardashian tweeted about her new shapewear line: “Kimono is my take on shapewear and solutions for women that actually work.” Kimono? Where did that come from? Critics, fans, and…
DANIELA GUEVARA WRITES—Despite the country’s low crime rate, there has been a significant increase of 27% in sexual assault in Japan, specifically on public transportation. Women in crowded trains (and other public places) often face sexual harassment in the form of groping during their commutes. In fact, Japanese research shows…
TALIN DEROHANESSIAN WRITES— Women in the Japanese workforce are required to wear high heels in the office, and they are finally speaking out about it. In some work environments, this is an unwritten rule; in others, it is written in the company handbook. The 2-3-inch heel requirement at work has long…
JOSEPH LITTUA WRITES—Joji, a Japanese-Australian R&B singer, is not your classic success story. In fact, one might argue that he is not yet a star. But his transition from dark social commentary via his old Youtube Channel, TVFilthyFrank, to the music that he is known for today is somewhat astonishing.…
MICHELLE DOR WRITES– A 34-year- old man in Tokyo named Yusuke Taniguchi with something of a genius memory allegedly stole credit card information from 1,300 customers to enrich himself. While the total amount of loot didn’t actually make him rich, the amazing way that he did it has made him…
ANDREA PLATE WRITES – Retired Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath served 20 years in the Marines, flew 89 combat missions and dropped bombs on Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Now, she’s aiming for a bigger target: the Senate seat of Republican Majority leader Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving US Senator from the…
NICOLE ALAVERDIAN WRITES – The G20 Summit, held June 28th and 29th in Osaka, garnered the attention of the international community as top government officials from each member country came together to talk about pressing global issues. Some topics on the agenda: the trade war debacle and climate change. Japan,…
ANNALISA DEL VECCHIO WRITES – During last year’s Pre-Fall 2019 show, creative director Kim Jones of Christian Dior collaborated with famed Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama to unveil a series of retro-futuristic fashion pieces featuring signature elements of both experts’ brands. Dior director Jones said in an interview that he was…
TALAL BUKHAMSEEN WRITES– Naomi Osaka, the number one ranked tennis player by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), is the first Asian person to hold the top ranking in singles. The winner of three grand titles is presently facing a challenge off the court–her dilemma? Her nationality. As a dual-citizen, she…
CAMERON HENDERSON WRITES — The Japanese video game company “FromSoftware” released the much anticipated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice March 22, 2019. This action-adventure video is for users of Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which is in single-player, third-person format, calls for logic, creativity, and…
CONOR FAIRTLOUGH WRITES– In Japan, the Yakuza (Japanese gangsters) has been popularized in movies and television shows. And why wouldn’t it be? The full body tattoo art, gang fights over territory, and iconic images of fingers being cut off for those who “fail” their Bosses. The hype is something that…
MINGYI LI WRITES– Last November, one of the auto industry’s most famous executives was arrested and sent to jail. Now, the CEO of Nissan and Mitsubishi, Carlos Ghosn, awaits his fate with his company. Will it bail out its savior, or remain ethical by letting him serve his full term?…
CONOR FAIRTLOUGH WRITES — You’ve probably never seen the Japanese animation “Kimi no Nawa” (Your Name), but if you are a film critic, chances are you haven’t stopped hearing about it. The 2016 feature, directed by Makoto Shinkai, is not only currently the highest grossing anime and Japanese film, but…
ROBERT BORN WRITES– Sunday, March 3, marked a national holiday in Japan called Hinamatsuri, otherwise known as Girls’ Day or Dolls’ Day. The holiday serves to hope for the health and happiness of young girls. Yet in reality, Japanese culture still shows a brazen unwillingness to support women in the…
