In many parts of Europe, Christmas is a deeply cherished family celebration. Streets glow with warm lights, Christmas markets fill the air with the smell of mulled wine and roasted nuts, and families gather around beautifully decorated trees to enjoy traditional...
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Japanese Dagashi: The Sweet History of Japan’s Beloved Penny Snacks
What Is Japanese Dagashi? If you’ve ever walked through a small Japanese neighborhood, visited a local festival, or watched an anime where children gather around a tiny snack shop, you may have noticed colorful, playful sweets known as dagashi. Dagashi are traditional...
🚗 Japan Car Culture Today: From CEOs’ Favorite Cars to the Rise of “Car-Free” Young People
At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, taken place in Tokyo from 30th October until 9th November (https://www.japan-mobility-show.com/en/), Japan’s leading automakers - Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and others - showcased not only futuristic models but also their CEOs shared their...
🩸 Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc (2025) – The Epic Finale That Captivated the World
The worldwide phenomenon Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has once again taken the global stage—this time with its latest movie, “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc (Mugenjō-hen)” (2025). Released in Japan in July 2025 and now showing across cinemas worldwide, the film...
Bears in Japan: Rising Encounters and Lessons from Europe
Introduction — Why the Bear Problem Feels So Close to Home In recent years, reports of bears wandering into Japanese towns and villages have surged. From farmlands and school routes in rural areas to suburban neighbourhoods, bear attacks in Japan that once seemed rare...
Japanese Summer Vacation: From Edo-Era Traditions to Modern-Day Escapes
When summer arrives in Japan, it’s time for Japanese summer vacation — a short but treasured season filled with travel, festivals, and unique ways of coping with the heat. While today’s holidays might involve overseas trips, theme parks, and shopping malls, the...
💀 Ghost Stories and Guts: Japan’s Summer of Spooks
When summer arrives in Japan, it’s not just fireworks and festivals that take center stage—ghost stories, haunted houses, and supernatural legends also come alive. From eerie forests to candlelit kaidan and traditional tests of courage, the season is rich with...
🎉 Festivals and Fireworks: The Heart of Japanese Summer
When summer rolls around in Japan, there is one thing that brings everyone out into the streets in yukata and sandals: matsuri, or summer festivals. From the sounds of taiko drums echoing through the night to the sparkle of fireworks lighting up the sky, Japanese...
Japanese Toilets: From Squat Toilets to High-Tech Wonders
Japan’s bathroom tech just took a major leap. In July 2025, TOTO announced that its next-generation Neorest LS-W and AS-W smart Japanese toilets, launching in Japan on August 1, 2025, will include an integrated “Stool Scan” sensor that turns your daily bathroom visit...
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Legendary Anime That Shaped Sci-Fi and Robot Culture
Why Mobile Suit Gundam Still Captivates Fans Today For anime fans in Southern Europe—especially those in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus—few titles hold as much legendary status as Mobile Suit Gundam. Often referred to as the "father of real robot anime," this epic...