Hanako Montgomery
Reporter, VWN
hanako.montgomery@vice.comCovers all things Japan and sometimes East Asia—from social issues, politics, working life and quirky what-did-I-just-read pieces.
Zebra That Galloped Through Seoul’s Streets Has a Heartbreaking Backstory
After losing his parents, Sero started picking fights with his kangaroo neighbor and refused his favorite food—carrots and apples—his zookeepers said.
Japanese Men ‘Regret’ Groping Girl Statues in Anime Theme Park
The men said they were truly sorry for “disgusting” people, after photos of them touching statues suggestively went viral in Japan.
Asia’s Most Overworked Country Wants to Improve Work-Life Balance—By Raising Work Hours
A proposal to increase the number of maximum weekly working hours was met with anger in South Korea, a country known for its grueling work ethic.
‘Atmosphere of War’: North Korea Said 1.4 Million People Just Enlisted to Fight the U.S.
Young North Koreans have turned up in droves to “defend the country and annihilate the enemy,” state media said.
YouTuber-Turned-Lawmaker Sacked for Never Showing Up For Work
In his seven months in office, 51-year-old Yoshikazu Higashitani has never shown up for work.
Ex-Hotel Boss Dies by Suicide After Admitting to Changing Communal Bathwater Only Twice a Year
70-year-old Makoto Yamada was found dead on a mountain road less than two weeks after he quit the hotel.
Japan’s Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming Earlier and Earlier. Blame Climate Change.
Tokyo’s cherry blossoms have begun blooming, tying records set in 2020 and 2021 for the earliest start dates on record.
A Studio Ghibli Theme Park Opened and Men Are Filming Themselves Groping the Characters
The beloved studio, co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki, is known for films such as When Marnie Was There and Oscar-winning Spirited Away.
Mutilated Cats Are Being Found Across a Japanese City and Schools Are Terrified
Cat body parts have been found partially buried in dirt, on a park bench, and hanging off from the bars in a schoolyard.
Japan Will No Longer Have the Developed World’s Lowest Age of Consent
The age of consent in the Asian country has remained unchanged since it was set in 1907.
The World’s Dumping Ground for Nuclear Waste Doesn’t Want Fukushima’s Wastewater
Japan’s plan to discharge more than 1,000 tanks of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific has incensed island nations.
Scientists Finally Found Out What a ‘Monkey Mermaid’ Mummy Really Is
Using a CT scanner, researchers have learned what’s been kept under wraps for all these years.