The way we work is evolving. The traditional requirement of a fixed office presence is fading, and the notion of lifelong employment is giving way to new possibilities. This exploration takes us to a shared workspace in Nagatacho, a distric…

In a dental practice in Fukuoka, southern Japan, a steady stream of patients seeks respite from pain or enhancement of their smiles. Among them are a man who lost three front teeth in a high school altercation, an elderly gentleman reliant …

In Ginza, Tokyo, a liquor store offers a remarkable collection of over 3,000 varieties, primarily wine and whiskey sourced from across the globe. Among them is a bottle valued at more than $18,000. The store's tasting events draw enthusiast…

For seventy-two hours, runners undertake a grueling 400-kilometer "Survival Run" circling the main island of Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan. The sixty-eight participants, hailing from all over Japan, speak of the race as an exhausting…

In Akihabara, Japan's renowned electronics district, a shop boasts a catalog of over one hundred thousand components: resistors, capacitors, circuit boards, and countless more. Daily, approximately a thousand individuals pass through its do…

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster necessitated the complete evacuation of Namie Town. With a partial lifting of the evacuation order in 2017, some residents began the difficult process of ret…

Each winter, anglers from all over Japan converge on Ishizakihama, a favored surf destination in Miyazaki Prefecture, the country’s southwest. They arrive with a shared ambition: to land the mulloway, a fish that ventures close to shore dur…

Two brothers, both in their seventies, run a simple coffee stand in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture. Each evening, they set up their modest stall, which has been a beloved gathering place for locals and travelers alike for nearly fifty ye…

For young people – those who have finished junior high, high school, or left education altogether – securing a stable, well-paying job can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Yet, one training center in Tokyo offers a path forward. Throu…

In August of 2019, over two thousand motorcycle enthusiasts from throughout Japan gathered at a secluded parking area on the slopes of Mount Aso, a volcano in Kumamoto Prefecture. Their purpose was to have their cherished motorcycles photog…

Each autumn, a multitude of visitors journey to a prominent viewpoint nestled in the mountains of Achi, Nagano Prefecture, some 1,600 meters above sea level. The vista is one of quintessential beauty: forests ablaze with autumnal color, a c…

Nestled in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo, this indoor climbing gym offers a space for climbers to push their physical boundaries, hone their skills, and find a sense of exhilaration—and accomplishment—rarely encountered in everyday life. The fa…

Tokyo Freight Terminal stands as Japan's principal distribution center, a place where goods from every corner of the country arrive and depart around the clock. A dedicated workforce – train drivers, engineers, truck drivers, and forklift o…

Nestled in the heart of Osaka City, on Japan's western coast, Osaka Castle is embraced by a park spanning over 100 hectares. Each year, more than 2.7 million visitors flock to this urban sanctuary, renowned for its historic castle, meticulo…

By late June, a month after Japan’s state of emergency had ended, Inokashira Park in Tokyo was slowly filling with people once more. The park's verdant landscape and expansive pond drew a variety of visitors: friends reconnecting after prol…

Each year, on July 7th, many in Japan observe the Tanabata Star Festival, a tradition of writing wishes on slender strips of colored paper and affixing them to bamboo branches. At Zojoji Temple, nestled near the foot of Tokyo Tower, an annu…

In the vibrant Harajuku district of Tokyo, a sprawling twenty-four-hour sports gym welcomes individuals of every age, physique, and fitness level. Here, a diverse array of people gather to pursue weightlifting goals: a man seeking to impres…

The setting for this story is a modest wedding hall in Tokyo, a place where thirty to forty couples pass through its doors each day seeking simple, affordable ceremonies arranged on short notice. For many of these unions, the understated we…

A stretch of road near Roppongi in Tokyo offers a haven for taxi drivers, a place where they can park indefinitely. Here, during breaks, they find respite, sharing meals and even sleeping. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, we wondered …