Contributor

Kelsey Lark

Kelsey is a translator and writer who moved to Tokyo from the countryside. Originally from San Francisco, she loves traveling, cycling and of course — Japan!

Articles

Culture

Japanese New Year Traditions: 10 Ways to Celebrate Like a Local

Put those pajamas on and settle in for a proper o-shogatsu—Japanese style.

By 6 min read

Explore

My First Trip to Tohoku: Why It Belongs on Your Post-Pandemic Travel List

From locally sourced food to spiritual healing and incredible scenic views, traveling from coast to coast in Tohoku is an experience you shouldn’t miss.

By 4 min read

Culture

What the Heck is Setsubun?

A deep dive into this delightfully devilish Japanese holiday signaling the coming of spring.

By 4 min read

Live

Why Pantene Japan’s New #PrideHair Campaign Featuring Trans Models is Awesome

This campaign goes above and beyond simply slapping a rainbow on a corporate logo, and we’re living for it. 🏳️‍🌈

By 5 min read

Learn

5 YouTube Gaming Channels To Help You Study Japanese

Japanese Let’s Plays are a sweet cheat to level up your language skills.

By 4 min read

Culture

What Do Japanese People Think About Japan’s Return to Commercial Whaling?

In an issue fraught with controversy, the reaction of locals seems just as ambiguous.

By 5 min read

Live

Japan Elects First Openly Gay Man To The National Diet

Japan’s government just got a little gayer, and we’re here for it.

By 2 min read

Culture

Survey Reveals Japanese People’s Creative Uses for Rental Cars

There's a trend of customers returning rental cars with zero mileage on the clock. So what exactly are they using them for?

By 2 min read

Culture

The ABCs of LGBT+ in Japan

A crash course in Japanese vocabulary to help you navigate all sexualities and genders under the LGBT rainbow 🌈.

By 2 min read

Culture

Petty Breakup Stories Go Viral On Japanese Twitter

From typing loudly to kanji usage, sometimes it’s the small things that get to us the most.

By 4 min read

Culture

Petition Against Forcible Hair Dyeing in Japanese Schools Receives Nationwide Support

Should students have to dye their natural hair to go to school? These 17,730 signatures say no.

By 2 min read