Japan’s akiya (vacant homes) have gone from rural curiosity to a nationwide reality with 9 million empty homes. But how did we get to the staggering numbers?				
				Culture and Society
Japanese culture and society explained
A look at the ins and outs of culture and society in Japan
Step inside everyday life in Japan, from shifting demographics to social habits that define communities. This section highlights the traditions, tensions, and transformations behind the country’s social fabric.
					From construction sites to taxis, Japan’s seniors are employed everywhere. Here is a closer look at what kind of jobs elderly workers in Japan are doing and why.				
				
					A growing number of workers in Japan are rejecting the idea that workplace-related drinking, also known as nomunication, is essential to team spirit.				
				
					In Japan, kissing, especially in public, remains a delicate subject, wrapped up in questions of intimacy and cultural norms.				
				
					Why some Japanese train stations have taken to celebrating the graduation of students who pass through every day.				
				
					Why Japan's robots, bullet trains, and vending machines live side-by-side with old technologies like fax machines and flip phones.				
				 
				 
								 
								 
								 
								 
								