Japan

Yuri Chekalin04.08.2026

It is fascinating that Madama Butterfly, or Cio-Cio-San, has long been regarded as one of the most “Japanese” of European operas. Yet, in reality, it tells us far more about Western perceptions of Japan at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries than about Japan itself. The same can be said, in a different […]

Yuri Chekalin21.07.2026

There is a peculiar trick that history likes to play on us. It records the names of emperors, generals, conquerors, and men who spent their lives proving that they were important. It carefully preserves the dates of battles, treaties, and political intrigues. But every once in a while, history makes a mistake — a fortunate […]

Yuri Chekalin27.06.2026

In the city of Uchtensk, Bureaucracy lived. It never walked—it went through the proper approval process. It never spoke—it issued directives. Even its mirror reflected a person only after they presented valid identification. One day, a citizen attempted the impossible: to obtain a certificate stating that he existed. “Please fill out an application to receive […]

Yuri Chekalin19.06.2026

Today we’re heading to the very heart of Tokyo — Shibuya. As you’ll see, it’s like Times Square multiplied by a hundred. There are endless crowds, entertainment venues, restaurants, izakayas, and countless little eateries. Tokyo truly never sleeps. You can pass the time until dawn by drinking, playing billiards, reading manga in cafés, or even […]

Yuri Chekalin14.06.2026

Japan has long maintained a cautious immigration policy, emphasizing social stability and controlled migration. Introduction However, demographic challenges such as a declining birth rate, an aging population, and persistent labor shortages have compelled the Japanese government to reconsider its approach to immigration and visa policies. In recent years, Japan has introduced a series of visa […]

Yuri Chekalin12.06.2026

Oda Nobunaga is one of the most influential figures in Japanese history. Living during the turbulent Sengoku, or “Warring States,” period, he began the process of unifying Japan after more than a century of civil conflict. Through military innovation, political vision, and bold leadership, Nobunaga transformed the balance of power in Japan and laid the […]

Yuri Chekalin10.06.2026

The simple answer is that traditional Japanese home cooking tends to center around a main protein dish with a few additional vegetable dishes, and is typically eaten steamed with rice, miso soup, and pickles. This is also true for breakfast. The main dish can be fish, chicken, beef, or pork. The Japanese dislike lamb due […]

Kamil Askerkhanov26.04.2026

The Chinese stratagem works the other way around. While everyone is looking at the Persian Gulf and the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, I’ll try to carefully describe what’s happening further east, where the next step will be. The energy system is becoming the central axis of the current geopolitical shift in Asia. The blockade of […]

Yuri Chekalin19.04.2026

Disability in Japan is a complex and multifaceted issue, intertwining traditional cultural attitudes, government policy, and contemporary social change. Japanese society has historically placed great value on harmony, collectivism, and social responsibility, which significantly influences attitudes toward people with disabilities. On the one hand, Japan has a well-developed social support system. The government provides medical […]

Yuri Chekalin13.04.2026

Nanny robots in Japan are more than just a technological innovation; they reflect the profound social changes facing the country. Japan has long been known for its leadership in robotics and its commitment to incorporating innovation into everyday life. With an aging population and declining birth rate, such developments are especially relevant. One of the […]

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Madama Butterfly and the Japan of the Western Imagination

Beneath the Shadow of the Fleeting: A Woman’s Voice from the Heian Court

The Great Bureaucratic Seal

Notes from Japan: Hachikō

Visa Reform in Japan

Oda Nobunaga: The Unifier Who Changed Japan

Japanese Home Cooking Is Simple

“Making a Fuss in the East, Attacking in the West”

Disability in Japan

Nanny Robots Will Raise Japanese Children

The Michael Jackson Biopic is Missing its Most Controversial Story

Madama Butterfly and the Japan of the Western Imagination

The Spanish Civil War at 90: the Republic’s Response

Terminator Is about 80 Years Old