More Than Just a Seasoning Soy sauce is one of Japan's most famous culinary exports. Today, it can be found in kitchens and restaurants around the world, adding depth and umami to countless dishes. For many people, soy sauce is simply a condiment served alongside...
More Than a Traditional Craft When people think of traditional Japanese crafts, they often imagine delicate ceramics, lacquerware, or handmade paper. Hidden among these famous crafts is Kabazaiku, a unique form of woodcraft made from the bark of wild mountain cherry...
A Visit to a Traditional Japanese Sake Brewery Nabedana Sake Brewery in Chiba Prefecture. During a recent trip to Japan, I had the opportunity to visit a traditional sake brewery in Chiba Prefecture. Walking through wooden corridors, fermentation rooms, and storage...
The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami was one of the most powerful natural disasters of the 21st century. On the afternoon of March 11, 2011, the ground began to shake across northeastern Japan. At first, it seemed like another earthquake. In a country that...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...