A record of what Japan says when it isn't talking to you.
Under every news story on Japan's most-read portal sits one comment thread, ranked by votes. I read one of them to the bottom, count what is in it, and translate what people actually wrote.
Not a subreddit you joined and not a curated feed — just whoever showed up under the article, in public, under a handle.
How a note is made
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01
One thread, read to the bottom
Not the top ten. Every comment, in the order the platform ranks them, until the thread runs out. What sits at the bottom is usually why the note exists.
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02
Counted before it is characterised
Total comments, where the votes actually pooled, which strains of anger recur — counted first, then read. The numbers come before the characterisation.
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Quoted verbatim, translated by me
Comments are reproduced exactly as written, with the Japanese original kept beside the English so you can check it. Commenter handles are withheld. Translations are mine and are marked as such.
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04
Published by hand
Nothing auto-publishes and nothing is generated on a schedule. If a note is late, it is because the thread was long.
Why there is no name on this
Commenting on Japanese public opinion under a real name changes what can be said about it — by the author, and by the people who reply. The work is checkable without knowing who I am: every quote carries its source and its retrieval date, and the original thread is one click away.
Quotation policy
Comments are quoted verbatim in the original Japanese, with the source linked, commenter names withheld, and quoted only as far as the commentary requires. Translations are mine. Source articles may expire (retrieval dates noted). The substance of this piece is the author's commentary.
Corrections and takedown requests: @puonhime on X.
New notes are announced on X.
The newsletter is not open yet. Until then, @puonhime is where each new note lands first.