November 14, 2024 Chisato Nakatsugawa and Sora Matsuo The frequency of seeing kale in Japan is perhaps less than in other countries. If so, only a few would know how delicious kale is. Saori Nakajima has been farming for 15 years, mainly in Ota city, Gunma Prefecture. Her business vision was clear and positive to engage with social issues and nature through the cultivation of multiple vegetables such as kale and eggplant, and to consume vegetables in a delicious way. Its Init

July 27, 2023 Akari Yoda Anime is not just a form of entertainment; it is a symbol of Japanese culture that has influenced people worldwide. In creating these works, producers have used their creativity and imagination to depict a variety of stories and characters. However, while freedom of expression is highly valued, societal changes and evolving norms have led to certain expressions becoming targets of criticism, sometimes resulting in regulation. Has this shift allowed cr

July 27, 2023 Haruka Miki Different countries and individuals have different standards of beauty. Some people strive for beauty, while others have an inferiority complex about their appearance. Sometimes beauty can change one's life. It has that much power. What is the standard of beauty for you? Trends in Cosmetic Surgery Today, more and more people are choosing cosmetic surgery as a means to achieve their ideal body. In Japan, according to the "Summary of Static/Dynamic Sur

June 21, 2023 Akari Kanaya Since Japan is an island country with little to no diversity compared to countries combined with various cultures, skin colors, and body shapes, it is sometimes difficult for people in Japan to embrace their bodies as it is. It leads people to have toxic habits of trying to “fit into” society. Japanese Beauty standard Double eyelids, pale smooth skin, slim body. All of these beauty standards still dictate Japanese people’s mindset till this day. Esp

July 2, 2022 Ayaka Bando In Japan, during the Meiji period from 1868 to 1912, almost all women were not able to get enough education. However, now there are many women who can access to the higher education. What have changed in women’s education in Japan? There are many turning points that is related to change. During Meiji period, because there was no university that women were able to enter. In 1872, Gakusei (official education system) was promulgated. This document clearl

July, 2,2022 Yuri Miyata In Japan, there are a lot of flaming advertisements, and often they lack gender consideration. These flaming advertisements are often divided into three features; sexuality, gender roles, and lookism. Who Wants Sexual Metaphor in Governmental Advertisements? One controvertial case of sexually-problematic advertisements was a summer tourism campaign video sponsored by Miyagi Prefectural government. Featuring Danmitsu, a Japanese actress and gravure id

July 3, 2022 Sae Hirata Ladies First. This is one of the behaviors that many people know as a Western way of respecting women. However, there have been no such mannerisms among Japanese men. Escorting someone is an unfamiliar behavior for them and they often hesitate to do so. How Gentle He Is! US president Joe Biden visited Japan from May 22nd to 24th in 2022. While he was in Japan, he visited a restaurant with Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan. When the scene of hi

July 2, 2022 Shinju Ichikawa When you were in elementary school, did you remember what color your school bag was? Most Japanese people would probably answer “yes” to this question. This is because most Japanese kids use Randoseru as their schoolbags in elementary school. And the choice of color has mattered a lot to kids, parents, and even people pursuing gender equality. Randoseru is like a satchel bag, a box-shaped bag generally made of leather and carried on the back like

July 7, 2022 Mio Murata Do you know sex workers? They are engaged in the sex industry, such as prostitution and the porn business. The sex industry is one of the industries that has been making significant sales. According to the Prostitution Revenue Ranking published by Havoscope, an American company analyzing the global illicit trading company, Japan ranked in third place with a revenue of $24 billion, following China and Spain. It shows that Japan surely is a major sex in

Palette Editorial Team December 23, 2018 The 2016 Gender Gap Index released by the World Economic Forum showed Japan ranked 114 out of 144 countries, down from 111th in 2016. Palette editors introduce the basic facts and figures about Japanese women in workforce. This article is based on the presentations at the University of Colorado and Showa Women’s University Joint Workshop for Students, held in May 2016. International Comparison of Female Roles in Workplaces Internation