Culture

The Monk In Mascara: The Gender Fluid Monk Who Divides His Time Between Makeup Artistry and a Tokyo Monastery

Since an early age, Kodo Nishimura has considered himself gender fluid. “I am like the color…

Ed’s Picks: Top 5 Japanese Albums of May 2020

Whether in search for a summer anthem or teasing towards a September release (traditionally ripe…

How to Make Bento: 3 Easy Tips and Tricks

A sandwich wrapped in plastic, a flask of soup or a meticulously arranged symphony of food…

6 Japanese Animated Movies for Beginners

From kid-friendly adventures to watch with the whole family to gritty animated movies with adult…

15 Audiobooks to Listen to on Your Post-Lockdown Japan Commute

Audiobooks have become varied and experimental over the past couple of years, making them a…

Summer Reading: 7 Travel-Inspired Japanese Novels to Get Your Wandering Fix

Summer might just be the best season to travel across Japan, from the lavender fields…

Learning Japanese Language: The Worst Katakana You Need To Know

As a man who has always regarded katakana as a lifelong enemy, the not so…

The Future of Ikebana – Japan’s Traditional Floral Art

“With Japanese, the arrangement of cut flowers in vessels of various kinds has become a…

Artist Andrea Terceros Finds the Positive During a Pandemic

“Sometimes you need these pandemics to rethink society and how things work.” Andrea Terceros’ words stayed…

10 Podcasts About Japan You Can Listen to Right Now

For times when you feel a little disconnected with music, podcasts are often solid options…

Seasonal Japanese Ingredients and How To Use Them: Shiso

The seasonality of Japanese vegetables is a part of what makes them so special. A summertime…

A Day in the Life of a Matcha Whisk Craftsman

Over 90 percent of Japanese matcha bamboo whisks are made in one small village in…

Learn Japanese: An Introduction to Japanese Dialects

You could say that Japan has as many dialects as it has prefectures, and that wouldn’t…

Announcing the TW Together Instagram Live Lockdown Party Lineup for Friday, May 22

Update: The TW Together Live Lockdown Party will be rebroadcast on the Tokyo Weekender Facebook…

“Art Saves Lives”: International Artists Stranded in Tokyo Try to Change the Narrative of a Worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic

The career of Icelandic and Chinese painter Eirdís was just taking off in Beijing when…