“I don’t want people to struggle like me,” said Shinjiro Atae, making an announcement that is extremely unusual in conservative Japan.

Across East Asia, populations are graying faster than anywhere else in the world, and while younger generations shrink, older workers are often toiling well into...

Japan reopened its borders just in time for the winter season. The Niseko area is straining to meet the pent-up demand.

The contests reflect a culture that often judges women by their appearance and slots them into rigid, gender-defined roles.