Sources / References Policy
Inside Japan, Explained is built to explain Japan with clarity, context, and responsibility.
This page explains how this site uses sources, references, first-hand observation, and editorial interpretation.
Our basic approach
This site separates three types of information.
First, public sources.
Second, first-hand observation.
Third, editorial interpretation.
This separation is important because not every statement works in the same way.
Some information should be supported by public sources.
Some information comes from everyday observation.
Some information is an editorial explanation written to help readers understand context more clearly.
Public sources
When an article uses public information, this site aims to refer to clear and reliable sources when needed.
These may include:
Official websites
Public institutions
Tourism organizations
Dictionaries
Academic or educational sources
Reliable publications
Local government information
Publicly available documents
Official service pages
Public sources are especially important when an article discusses information that may change over time.
Examples include:
Travel rules
Transportation information
Opening hours
Prices
Official guidance
Public safety information
Visa or immigration-related topics
Health, legal, financial, or government-related information
This site does not replace official sources.
Readers should always check official sources for time-sensitive, legal, medical, financial, immigration, safety-related, or official travel matters.
First-hand observation
Some articles include first-hand observation from a Japanese perspective.
These observations may come from Japanese language knowledge, everyday experience, cultural comparison, or ordinary situations in Japan.
First-hand observation is useful because many parts of Japanese culture are difficult to understand through direct translation alone.
However, first-hand observation is not the same as universal fact.
A field note from a Japanese perspective should not be read as a claim about every Japanese person, every region, or every situation in Japan.
When this site includes first-hand observation, it is used to add context, not to replace evidence.
Editorial interpretation
This site also includes editorial interpretation.
Editorial interpretation means explanation, comparison, framing, or conclusion written by the editor to make a topic easier to understand.
For example, an article may compare a Japanese phrase with an English expression.
An article may explain why a custom may feel different to international readers.
An article may describe a common misunderstanding and explain why it happens.
These explanations are written to support understanding.
They are not meant to exaggerate cultural differences or rank one culture above another.
How sources are used
When sources are used, this site aims to make them easy to identify.
A source may be linked directly in the article.
A source may be listed near the end of the article.
A source may be mentioned in the text when it is important to understand where the information comes from.
The goal is not to decorate an article with links.
The goal is to help readers check important information and understand the basis of the explanation.
Changing information
Japan changes over time.
Public rules, travel information, prices, business practices, and local guidance may change.
When an article includes information that may become outdated, this site aims to update the article when needed.
Articles may include a “Last updated” note when relevant.
If readers need the most current information, they should check official sources directly.
Use of AI tools
AI tools may be used to support research organization, outline creation, editing, translation assistance, or consistency checks.
However, AI tools are not treated as final sources.
AI-generated text is not accepted as proof by itself.
When an article needs factual support, public sources, direct observation, or human editorial judgment are required.
Articles are reviewed and edited by a human before publication.
No fake sources
This site does not intentionally create fake sources, fake quotes, fake statistics, or fake official information.
If a source cannot be verified, it should not be presented as verified.
If information is uncertain, the article should make that uncertainty clear.
Correction policy
If an article includes an error, outdated information, unclear wording, or a missing source, the site aims to correct it.
If a correction changes the meaning of an article in an important way, a note may be added to explain the update.
Readers can contact the site if they notice a possible error or missing source.
Contact
For source-related questions, corrections, or reference concerns, please contact:
contact@insidejapanexplained.com
Final note
Inside Japan, Explained is not an official government guide.
It does not provide legal, medical, financial, immigration, or official travel advice.
This site is built to support clearer understanding of Japan through context, careful wording, first-hand observation, and responsible use of sources.