Maiko, or apprentice geisha, are one of the main attractions of the ancient capital of Kyoto. Young maiko in their elegant kimonos, with their...
Imagine around 500 people, all wearing imperial kimonos from the Heian period, parading down the streets of Kyoto. In the first such ceremony of...
Thanks to the passionate interest of my two sons in all things pertaining to railroads, I have traveled to isolated freight yards, passed many an...
Tozaburo Yanagiya, 42, is a storyteller with a drive to spread the word on rakugo, a traditional form of Japanese comic storytelling. If you ask...
Recently, the current Emperor Heisei emerged from Ise shrine with the three sacred treasures of the Imperial regalia, known collectively as the, Sanshu-no-jingi. These...
In 2016, Seibu Railway released a series of posters, which it displayed inside its trains and on platforms. An instant hit, they have become so...
Progress was slow, but no one seemed to mind. This was a festival, and people were in a good mood. As the purple-robed Shinto...
On March 3 in Japan it’s Hinamatsuri, the girls’ festival where wishes for the good health are made for young females in the family. It’s...
When living in Japan, you might notice that as you approach March 3 the decorations for Hinamatsuri start appearing. During this festivity to wish...
Ukiyo-e has a very specific kind of aura to it. Because of its long history and beauty, it is often seen as something inaccessible. ...
On a cold afternoon in late December, JAPAN Forward visited the home and studio of Shoko Kanazawa, a world-famous calligrapher based in Kugahara, on the...
New Year’s festivities in Japan are filled with cultural traditions, and the Tokyo International Forum aims to help Japanese and foreigners alike learn as you...
