Culture
[Hidden Wonder of Japan] Spring Strawberries! Pick Them at Local Farms in Chiba
“Strawberry fields forever,” as the Beatles once wrote. Certainly in Japan, considering how little land there is to gr
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Like Humans, Inuyama’s Monkeys Enjoy A Good Fire, Too!
The fire crackles in the chilly winter air and they gather around the warm embers of the flame. […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] At Setsubun, Sumo Wrestlers, Celebrities Hurl Soybeans at Adoring Crowd
It was cold and sunny on February 3, but many braved the chilly weather anyway for a very specific […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders] ‘Hina Tsurushi Kazari’ Color the Streets of Inatori For Girls Festival
As January draws to a close, the preparations for the Hina Matsuri on the third of March are underway, […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Kanazawa Carries On Edo-Era Kaga Tobi Firefighter Festival
Sometimes, traditions have hidden histories to uncover. Other times, the origins can be surprisingly obvious and yet
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] 2-meter Tuna a Day Brings Good Luck This Way
In Western culture, we normally think of the New Year as being the one big “hurrah” between the last […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Pray for the New Year with Colorful Mayudama at Kinomiya Shrine
Kinomiya Shrine in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, is quite a sight at this time of year. The Shinto priestesses, [&hel
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] 2019’s Most-Loved Personalities As Mataro Ningyo Dolls
There is a dollmaker shop in Tokyo’s Naka Okachimachi neighborhood specializing in dolls that serve as charms for the
Blog
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Daruma for 2020? Why Not a Cute Mouse from Hiratsuka?
Except for the uninitiated, most everyone in Japan will know that daruma is normally a papier maché good luck [&hellip
Blog
[Hidden Wonders] Dried Persimmons: Traditional Japanese Sweets Survive Typhoon Hagibis
Dried fruit. What could possibly be so special about it? It helps to know that before the Portuguese […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Doraemon Gets A Nostalgic Reprint for 50th Anniversary
In Europe, few people would be ignorant of the name of Doraemon, the manga character brought to life […]
Blog
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Sento in Kumamoto Welcomes Foreigners to Bathe with Mascot
Yoyasuyu, a public bathhouse in the Chuo ward of Kumamoto, has been temporarily decorated with illustrations of Kumamo