As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each…
Todd FongDecember 20, 2021
Venturing into the heartland of samurai history and culture may be closer than you imagine. If you find yourself in…
Cherise FongDecember 15, 2021
What if I told you that here’s also a hidden place where the ultimate bushido (The Way of the Warrior)…
Toshiko SakuraiDecember 10, 2021
In shrines and temples of Japan, you’ll find omamori, or amulets, of all kinds. While some places of worship may…
Ariel LeeNovember 9, 2021
If you have ever been to Japan, you may have noticed short curtains hanging at the entrance of shops and…
Eva ColomeraOctober 29, 2021
Fushimi Inari Taisha, or Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine (伏見稲荷大社). Beyond its famous red gates, we are talking about one of…
Toshiko SakuraiOctober 8, 2021
Since the beginning of time, people have always tried to find answers or reasons for those situations or phenomena in…
Lucia TsujiguchiOctober 7, 2021
Having the world’s spotlight during the Olympics was the perfect opportunity for the Japan Cultural Expo to showcase the richness…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 27, 2021
It was impossible to avoid cyberpunk or sci-fi evocations while standing in front of the legendary Nakagin Capsule Tower. It…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 27, 2021
A samurai on the run. A distraught courtesan. A relentless fox. History and folk tales collide on stage, where a…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 18, 2021
How many video game franchises have worldwide International Championships to their credit? How many hold annual parades starring their most…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 10, 2021
In August 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki endured two of the most deadly attacks in history. Each hosting…
Manon ChauvrisAugust 5, 2021
You'd have to have been hiding under a rock in 2016 not to have heard of Your Name (君の名は, Kimi…
Toshiko SakuraiJuly 1, 2021
Japan is known for its beautiful juxtaposition of the old vs new, with traditional architecture scattered amidst city skyscrapers. Every…
Lia YewJune 13, 2021
Greetings and manners are especially important at business meetings in Japan. Be sure to observe the proper etiquette when exchanging…
VoyaponJune 11, 2021
A quick look at manners in Japan, including daily greetings and how to bow properly to show respect at different…
VoyaponJune 2, 2021
Death. That mystery yet to be solved. That unanswered phenomenon that all cultures try to understand. The path to the…
Maria PeñascalMay 26, 2021
Situated in the west of the Japanese Alps, in the north of Gifu prefecture, the Hida (飛騨) region is home…
Marie BorgersApril 30, 2021
In the culture of traditional Japan, the mountains have always held a deeply spiritual connection to the people. There is…
Todd FongApril 21, 2021
There are two majority religions in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism, which are part of Japanese people's daily lives. Religion and…
Gaël FaulconnierApril 17, 2021
Spring is a wonderful time for nature lovers. Trees blossom with flowers, landscapes turn green, and we switch our heavy…
Maria PeñascalMarch 25, 2021
If the wind blew strong through Tokyo’s Kokyo Gaien (皇居外苑) National Garden on Sunday, gusting through rows of a captivated…
Cherise FongMarch 19, 2021
Some of them are small, and others are large. Some have long and thick fur, while others have to wear…
Yvonne TanakaMarch 18, 2021
Nagano (長野) in central Japan is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges where the mighty Chikuma River joins the Sai. It…
Mark WebsterMarch 13, 2021
The city of Kanazawa (金沢市), bordering the Sea of Japan, is a place where old and new harmoniously co-exist. During…
Mark WebsterMarch 13, 2021
No doubt, the most striking piece of artwork inside the National Theatre of Japan in Tokyo is the Kagamijishi (鏡獅子),…
Cherise FongMarch 5, 2021
