Tokyo International News Agency

With the arrival of the Obon holiday and national summer breaks, the term "Hirukatsu" (midday activities) has taken social media by storm in Japan. While "Asakatsu"—the practice of making productive use of early morning hours—traditionally receives the spotlight, a new lifestyle trend has firmly taken root during extended holidays: spending midday hours effectively on hobbies, live streaming, and studying. The Surge of "Hirukatsu Streaming" in the VTuber Community This trend is particularly prominent within the live-streaming and Virtual YouTuber (VTuber) industry. Led by summer special programming like "Niji Noon" from the major VTuber agency Nijisanji, numerous streamers and content creators have been starting live broadcasts around noon. The content spans a wide variety of topics, ranging from popular game playthroughs like Resident Evil and Monster Hunter to interactive fan games and casual chatting streams. As viewers spend more time at ho...

The phrase "driving school" recently trended on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan, sparking a heated debate over memories of obtaining a learner's permit and the controversial attitudes of instructors. The catalyst was a viral anecdote about an instructor who sarcastically told a student, "With driving like this, you're going to run someone over someday." Without missing a beat, the student shot back, "How many people are in your family?" This darkly humorous exchange, where a simple question was unintentionally perceived as a chilling threat, resonated deeply with many users and opened the floodgates for shared experiences. Opinions on instructor behavior are sharply divided between those who see it as "unreasonable" and those who view it as "essential safety education." Many posts criticized the "authoritarian attitude" and perceived "poor personality" of certain instructors. Common grievances included stories ...