Young Japanese urbanites are staying single for longer and looking for a way to live alone while retaining a sense of belonging and community. OYO Life aims to give cash-strapped Gen Yers and Zers the opportunity to rent affordable, fully-managed apartments, houses, or houseshares in Tokyo.

As solitary lifestyles take over Japanese adulthood, those who choose to live alone are often the object of fear and pity in the press. Rather than accepting this stigmatised portrayal, Japan’s solitary population is pushing for a more nuanced understanding of their lived experiences.

Watching other people study might not make for the most thrilling entertainment, but in Japan, clips of strangers studying are going viral. With a widespread sense of disconnect among young people, students are turning to online videos to share in a sense of community.

What’s got Japanese people worried about their work-life balance? Why are more men staying at home to raise the kids? And how did Halloween become a national holiday? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats and case studies to explore behavioural norms shared by Japanese people in 2017.