Tokyo’s 5 O’Clock Chime – What Is That Song? One doesn’t have to be in Tokyo — or anywhere in Japan — for long before…
Jisei: The Art of Japanese Death Poems The 19th-century poet Kiba wrote the above verses shortly before his death. The metaphor of…
Omisoka: The Bells Ring for You on New Year’s Eve New Year’s Eve, celebrated around the world in a variety of ways, is known in…
Has the Amabie Warded Off Covid-19? A Look Into Japan’s Yokai Gone Viral Just as the Greeks had Cardea, the goddess of door hinges, in the Edo era,…
Nengajo: The Japanese New Year’s Card Tradition and How to Send Your Own It’s been a year that many of us are eager to farewell. The Covid-19 pandemic…
Celebrating Oshogatsu: An Introduction to Japanese New Year Traditions Surrounded by friends and usually with a drink in hand, much of the world celebrates…
Japan Back Then: The Stories That Gripped the Nation in the 1980s With Tokyo Weekender turning 50 this year, we continue our roundup of news from the…
Kamakura Hanko is Preserving a Japanese Legacy The majestic heights of Mount Fuji. Geisha walking the streets of Gion in Kyoto. Cherry…
‘Sanmitsu,’ ‘Ai no Fujichaku,’ ‘Kimetsu no Yaiba’: What Were Japan’s Top Buzzwords for 2020? Since 1984, Japan has been gathering information on what its people are talking about. But…
The Fight to Save Japan’s Remote Villages through 44 Resilience Values The village of Nakatsugawa, located in Iide, Yamagata prefecture, is one of the most uniquely…
Osechi Ryori: The Meaning Behind Japan’s Traditional New Year Food In many western countries, you’re probably likely to spend part of New Year’s Day sleeping…
A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Ceramics, Porcelain and Pottery Japanese food isn’t just about eating right. Following the codes of Japanese hospitality, the presentation…
Sumo Training: How To Diet Like a Sumo Wrestler Sumo is more than just the national sport of Japan. Its tradition and culture. And…
The Making of Amezaiku, Japan’s Candy Artistry Across a wooden bench, a stage is being assembled. Calligraphy brushes in miniature, a stainless…
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie in Japan and other Seasonal Autumn Recipes While most wouldn’t peg pumpkin as a Japanese ingredient you’ll be surprised at how much this…