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...
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💀 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...
Embracing Imperfection: Kintsugi, the Art of Golden Repair
Have you ever broken your favourite cup or plate and felt a little heartbroken? In Japan, instead of throwing such pieces away, there is a beautiful tradition of mending them, while also celebrating their history and imperfections. It’s called Kintsugi, or “golden...
Summer’s Here — and So Are the Mosquitoes!
A Simple Way to Stay Safe from Mosquitoes with Ceiling Mosquito Spray When the warm weather arrives, so do our favorite summer pleasures—barbecues, garden parties, holidays, and open windows. But with the sunshine comes an unwelcome guest: mosquitoes. You’re just...
The Enchanting Deer of Nara Park: A Journey Through History, Culture, and Coexistence
1. The Deer in Nara Park Tucked away in the ancient city of Nara, just a short train ride from Kyoto or Osaka, lies one of Japan’s most unique and magical destinations: Nara Park. This sprawling expanse of greenery, temples, and museums is home to more than just...
Nissan’s $7.5 Billion Loss: Unraveling Decades of Mismanagement and Missed Opportunity
In a stunning announcement that sent shockwaves through the automotive industry, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. recently revealed it expects a net loss of 750 billion yen (approximately $5.3 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 2025. This marks one of the most...
Japan’s Demographic Dilemma: Falling Birth Rates and a Super-Ageing Society
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of children under 15 was 13.66 million as of April 1, 2025. This figure is down 350,000 from the previous year, which kept declining for 44 consecutive years. It is the first time since 1950...