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Contributor

Mairi McLaren

About:

Mairi McLaren has worked in Japan for over 16 years as a teacher, writer and translator. She is the founder of popular English-learning website britisheigo.com and has published a number of best-selling language books.

Recent content:

Japanese Toilet

In Praise of the High-Tech Japanese Toilet

May 11, 2023

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren

Why Japan is One of the World’s Safest Countries

Jan 10, 2023

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren

When Hikikomori Age: Japan’s “8050 Problem”

Oct 22, 2022

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren

Cutting the Fat: Why is Japan’s Obesity Rate So Low?

Aug 26, 2022

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren

Culture, Innovation

Translation Machines No Substitute For Language Learning

Jul 1, 2022

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren

Why Does Japan Rank so Poorly for Gender Equality?

Mar 29, 2022

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren

Mask Dependency: Why the Japanese won’t be ditching their face masks anytime soon

Jan 26, 2022

<img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' data-srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' height='30' width='30' decoding='async' data-src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' class='avatar avatar-30 photo lazyload' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' /><noscript><img alt='' src='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-30x30.jpg' srcset='https://www.newthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Mairi-McLaren-60x60.jpg 2x' class='avatar avatar-30 photo' height='30' width='30' decoding='async'/>

Mairi McLaren