On the Cards

The government says its new registration system for foreign residents will make our lives easier. But some lawmakers and privacy rights activists claim that Big Brother lurks around the corner

Sky High

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2009 It’s easy to [...]

War Story

Gregory Hadley's Field of Spears recounts a dramatic—and little-known—episode from the closing days of World War II. Yet as the author discovered, the story didn’t finish with the war's end

MacArthur Garage

The legendary US general gets a bar of his own in Atsugi

Golden Age

Stuck in Tokyo for Golden Week? Lucky you. With everything from cosplay festivals to street fairs to beer factory tours, the city and environs offer more than a week's worth of fun. Here are our top picks.

Playtime in the City

Find your inner athlete with the help of a local sports team

Marijuana Underground

Celebrity busts and student smokers have Japan's authorities in a tizz. But what do users make of Japan's ganja explosion? Shaun Davies delves into Tokyo's marijuana subculture to find the answer

Open Season

Celebrating 150 years as the international face of Japan, Yokohama gets ready to greet the crowds

On the Road to Justice

A motorcyclist sets out to keep his family's killer behind bars

Pretty in Pink

As Tokyoites get pumped up for hanami season, Metropolis offers tips, trivia, history—and wigs

Going Native

Tokyo's thriving Ainu community keeps traditional culture alive

Tokyo 2050

Futuristic super-hub or graying has-been: what's next for our favorite metropolis?