Japanese men have the highest amount of paid parental leave at their disposal, yet only a small proportion take it each year due to an intense working culture and entrenched gender norms. So, what are brands and the government doing to encourage fathers to get more involved in their kids’ lives?

A common manga storyline is theisekai– an adventure in which a protagonist is swept into an alternate universe where they escape the drudgery of real life to fulfill their destiny. A Japanese illustrator has revamped theisekaito show how Japan’s work culture is inescapable – even in fantasy.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused people around the world to suddenly and drastically alter their everyday habits, but what will the lasting impact be? Canvas8 spoke to three experts to explore the long-term implications of the crisis on how we spend, socialise, and stay healthy.

The #KuToo movement is drawing global attention to the inequalities Japanese women face in the workplace. Most companies in the country still have strict dress codes, but women are pushing hard to change this, firstly by ditching demands that they wear high heels.