Noah Oskow

Why AI Translation Makes For An Awkward Japan Trip - Unseen Japan More tourists report using AI translation - even though many admit it sucks. Here are better alternatives than talking through a machine.

More tourists say they're using AI translation to get around in their host countries. But many admit they don't actually like the experience. Here's why some businesses in Japan hate it too, and what you can do instead of talking through a machine.

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RIP Tomiichi Murayama. I interviewed him in 2015 and found him to be a decent, principled man, still sharp as a tack in his nineties. “Japanese schools didn’t teach much history (of World War 2) because the government couldn’t decide if it was a good war or a bad war,” he said.

Reminder that in Japanese, this guy has the charming name of ウーパールーパー (Uupaaruupaa) thanks to a 1980s cup soba TV campaign.

Now that’s some accurate film analysis!

Winterbeast (1992) - OHMC 2025 Day 13 - Blasphemous Tomes Scott Dorward subjects himself to the low-budget horrors of Winterbeast as part of his 2025 October Horror Movie Challenge

I don't think I've ever seen a film fail in so many different ways as Winterbeast. Watching this film is a shamanic rite, and you will not be unchanged by it.

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#ohmc #horror

YouTube video by Unseen Japan The Colonization of Hokkaido

With the release of the Hokkaido-set Ghosts of Yotei, many abroad are having their first exposure to Japan's vast northernmost main island. But how did Hokkaido, home to the indigenous Ainu, once known as Ezo, become part of Japan? One of our earliest videos explores just that. youtu.be/VJTfGfwY878

Batou from Ghost in the Shell.

Batou from Ghost in the Shell, the exact same picture.

One Batou After Another

We reached a nice milestone over on our YouTube channel - 1 million total views! And just in time, with a major video releasing in the coming days. If you haven't joined us yet, consider subbing for in-depth, full-length videos on JPN history, language, media, and more. www.youtube.com/@UnseenJapan/

Can the ruling coalition be saved? | Japan Daily Briefing Kōmeitō debates whether to leave the coalition, Takaichi tries to thread a needle, and the CDP continues its attempt to organize an alternative government

In a new Japan Daily Briefing, Komeito debates breaking the coalition ahead of a meeting of party leaders Friday, Takaichi tries to salvage it, and the CDP continues to try to organize an alternative coalition to prevent a Takaichi premiership.

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[Insider] Exploring The Unseen Side of Downtown Shibuya - Unseen Japan Want to see something beyond Shibuya Scramble? Here's a guide to some of the chiller places outside of the city's beating heart.

[Insider] Want to see something beyond Shibuya Scramble? The famed ward of Tokyo is so much more than its bustling heart and Harajuku. In our latest paid newsletter, we dive into some of the less-traveled areas a short walk away from the station.

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Part of a massive mall complex that replaced the only remaining green space in the Shibuya Station area, with most visitors unaware that a real-deal, actual Showa-era yokocho is right down the pathway. Yeah, gonna say the association between the "Faux-kocho" and Airbnb is just a little on the nose.

There's something about Airbnb using an (admittedly well-made) bit of art depicting, of all things, the "Shibuya Yokocho" in Miyashita Park as their representational image of Tokyo. A corporate bit of faux-Showa nostalgia that apes real yokochos, with among the more mediocre kitchens in the region.

Lord of the Golden Fan by Christopher Nicole

Years ago, a subscription drive was what resulted in my epic livetweet of Clavell's "Shogun." Now, I'm doing it again. 100 subs (12 more than what I have now) at buff.ly/R3YnYhq and I will livepost my read of Christopher Nicole's "Lord of the Golden Fan," which was Shogun before Shogun.

Expect to read a lot about Nippon Kaigi, a conservative advocacy group of which she is a member that some like to portray as a sinister secret organization pulling the strings of Japanese power. But it counts hundreds of lawmakers, including center-left figures such as former leader Fumio Kishida, among its ranks.

According to Gearoid Reidy, Kishida is a "center-left figure"??

My mother, who is Japanese, has no problem with young children calling their parents “mama” and “papa,” but finds it cringy and childish when adults continue to call their parents “mama” and “papa.”

Kotobagari: Japan's Hunt for Taboo Words - Unseen Japan It's often said that there are no swear words in Japanese. But while profanities may be rare, taboos - and banned words - abound.

There's a pervasive myth that the Japanese language lacks swear words. It's true that Japanese doesn't have a codified list of socially egregious expletives à la English. Yet there does, in fact, exist a level of words beyond mere rudeness.

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YouTube video by Unseen Japan Five Japanese Horror Films for a Haunted Halloween

The witching season is upon us, and Halloween fast approaches. In the mood to enter the eerie world of Japanese horror in anticipation? Look no further than these five classic films, all by masters of their craft: youtu.be/MRXcaLcfV2A

I clearly don’t because I’ve already bought this one lol

Such is the way with our beloved frenchies

Hiroshima’s Hidden Gems: Avoid The Crowds at These Unique Sights - Unseen Japan Discover hidden Hiroshima gems beyond Peace Park and Miyajima, from ramen towns and sake alleys to rabbit islands and baseball games.

Hiroshima is a popular travel destination. Yet many people don't go far beyond the Peace Memorial Museum and Miyajima. Let our author, whose family hails from the region, fill you in on what you're missing (and where to go to avoid the crowds).

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“In every industry, AI is being used to replace all the creative things that bring us joy instead of the boring, tedious tasks we hate doing,” she says.

Yui made an apple pie for Rosh Hashanah - real Jewish-American new year here in Japan! 😆🍎

The funny thing about the Rapture coming while living in Japan is that the country is <1% Christian, so no one will even notice

I was thinking this exact thing lol

It’s… it’s actually comfortably cool out? In Tokyo? What is this witchcraft!

Rescuers actively looking for the man

Friend describes where man entered the woods

Friends turn around as man calls

"I just got back"

Friends & authorities in Makkari, Hokkaido were looking for an 87yo man who went missing while foraging for mushrooms. While Fuji News was interviewing his friends, the man emerged from the woods: "Hey guys, sorry."

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It's more important than ever in this climate of increasing censorship to support independent media. Some great recs below

Dazai Osamu Wants Us To Feel Less Alone - Unseen Japan A new collection of the Japanese author's short stories in English comes as he enjoys a resurgence thanks to BookTok and anime.

He’s known as one of Japan’s most prolific and important writers. Now, thanks to BookTok, anime, and the newly released translation of his short stories, Dazai Osamu is laying bare his soul once again for a new global audience.

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The Lupin cast in their usual anime form in an advertisement for the Minami-za production of Rupan Sansei.

Despite its very 70s vibes, international settings, and jazzy music, Lupin often features deep Japanese cultural pulls. Transposing the action to late 16th-century Japan works more easily than you might imagine.

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Photo of a torii gate with two chopstick shaped horizontal beams.

Photo of a torii gate with two chopstick shaped horizontal beams.

Someone recently asked me what’s the weirdest #torii I’ve seen outside of Japan. I’m always hesitant to answer bc they often cannot compete (respectfully) with the weirdness of torii found INSIDE Japan! Case in point: Kitakata Ramen Museum and Ramen Shrine in Fukushima prefecture. ⛩️🍜