Real Gaijin | Mark Kennedy | Substack

Unveiling the Real Japan: An American Expat's Inside Look

30+ Years in Japan: Unfiltered Insights from Real Gaijin

Jan 25, 2021 •

Live Streaming of Public Places by Foreign Tourists Causing Anxiety in Japan

Non-consensual, surreptitious vlogging by foreign visitors is pushing the boundaries of what's normally acceptable behavior across the country.

23 hrs ago •

Japanese Banner Flag Causes 1.3 Million People to Do a Double Take

Depending on which way the wind blows, the meaning of this banner flag can change dramatically.

Apr 26 •

Most Popular

Japanese Young Women Relying on “Papa-katsu” to Make Ends Meet

Feb 25, 2021 • Mark Kennedy

How Much Is Enough to Retire in Japan?

Dec 2, 2023 • Mark Kennedy

How Much Do Japanese People Typically Earn, Save, and Borrow?

Aug 2, 2021 • Mark Kennedy

How Much Does an Emergency Room Visit Cost in Japan?

Jun 26, 2021 • Mark Kennedy

ChatGPT Works in Japanese, Too!

Dec 11, 2022 • Mark Kennedy

Population of Foreign Residents in Japan Growing

Apr 13 • Mark Kennedy

Recent posts

Tips for Studying Japanese

Do you have any tips that other students of the language - young and old - might find useful? Please share. I have been doing this for over 38 y…

Apr 23 •

World's Longest Public Road Test of a Self-Driving Vehicle Now Underway in Japan

The test features the Macnica EVO, an electric microbus that shuttles passengers between a bullet train station and 3 hot spring resorts in rural Japan.

Apr 20 •

Population of Foreign Residents in Japan Growing

For a nation known for its homogeneous identity, Japan's resident foreign population is on its way from about 1 in 40 today to 1 in 10 by 2070.

Apr 13 •

Costco Expands Reach Across Japan with the Support of Mini Resale Shops

Private label Kirkland Signature brand items are both a novelty and a big draw as Japanese consumers flock to Costco resale stores.

Apr 8 •

4-Color Traffic Lights Coming for Self-Driving Vehicles?

In what would be the first major change in nearly 100 years, Japan may introduce white traffic signals to help self-driving vehicles communicate.

Apr 3 •

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