Before Meiji-era modernization and the spread of prudish Victorian morals, parts of feudal Japan were surprisingly sexually permissive. Case in point: yobai, or “night-crawling,” a courtship custom that allowed young lovers to test their compatibility before marriage with furtive nighttime visits. The situationship of yore… (OK, not really; it’s a lot more complicated than that.)
Other highlights from the web this week:
☆ When the Sony Walkman was released in 1979, it was quickly decried as a sign of the end-times and the unraveling of Japanese society itself. Here’s why.
☆ The seven absolute must-see art exhibitions in Tokyo in August, hand-selected by us.
— Callie Beusman, Editorial Director
It’s the middle of the night in rural Kyushu circa the 1700s. A young man is quietly making his way toward the house of a young woman who caught his eye during the last harvest festival. Today, she’s sleeping in a back room, which will give them extra privacy. He finds the door thanks to a fortunately forgotten lantern. He goes inside, and the girl tells him her parents are already asleep.
What a series of lucky breaks for the boy. Except — not really. Welcome to the fascinating world of feudal Japan’s “free love within rules,” known as yobai (night-crawling).
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Other highlights:
HISTORY
It seems ridiculous now, but the idea of listening to music that no one else could hear was once revolutionary — and deeply unsettling to many.
THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
You definitely don’t want to miss Nam June Paik’s early experimental video works at Watarium, or Lee Ufan’s serene sculptures at Scai The Bathhouse.
THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
From ambitious new restaurants and destination bars to flagship retail stores and unexpected attractions.
Travel in Japan:
Japan’s ancient capital remains filled with places where history and the supernatural still seem to overlap.
Its silhouette of crumbling high-rise concrete apartment blocks rising from the sea makes it one of the most visually arresting abandoned sites in the world.
Kamakura is a fantastic spot — but it can get really crowded. Here are a few alternate options.