Japanese Twitter user finds valued anti-demon Buddhist ritual dagger for $5 at recycle shop
Japan boasts a lot of oddity and specialty shops that offer rare goods, but Hard-Off (yes make your jokes), a second-hand, recycled, and second-hand goods…
Art
The Role of the Japanese Sword in Noh and Kyogen
Paul Martin, for JAPAN Forward Someone once said that studying the Japanese sword is one of the quickest ways to get a profound understanding of…
Japan’s “black cat” delivery service gets its most adorable driver with mini delivery truck
Kuroneko Yamato, although referred to as “Yamato Transport” in English, translates literally to “Black Cat Yamato” from Japanese. The company is one of Japan’s largest…
Japanese sweet shop celebrates Star Festival season with magical Milky Way jelly and more
Today, July 7th, is known in Japan as Tanabata 七夕, or Star Festival (Qixi Festival in China). According to legend, this is the one day…
Japanese carpenter crafts beautiful bookcase replica of “Tanjiro’s box” from Demon Slayer
Nezuko is a favorite character of many fans of hit anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, but not many would envy her mode transportation. During…
Japanese photo-artist Tanico reverses proportions in common Japanese dishes
Photo-artist Tanico Photo-artist Tanico can create breathtakingly beautiful montages of cityscapes and nature, creatively accentuated with text. In recent months, however, his food-related work seems…
Touching “A Whisker Away”-esque manga of deceased wife returning as cat to comfort husband
If you’re an anime fan, you may have recently noticed A Whisker Away floating its way up your Netflix recommendations page. The 2020 feature-length film…
Japanese artist gives cats gorgeous and regal Renaissance art treatment
Japanese artist Tokuhiro Kawai’s gorgeous oil paintings would look right at home in a museum dedicated to the noble art of the Renaissance, particularly if…
New Studio Ghibli tote bags let you perch your favorite characters on your shoulder
Japanese retailer Donguri Republic (Donguri Kyowakoku) is a paradise for Studio Ghibli fans, having released merchandise inspired by the beloved animation studio that includes a…
Renowned Japanese kimono maker releases gorgeous Animal Crossing designs
Players of Animal Crossing: New Horizons have been on a great streak of creativity when it comes to designing their islands, including recreations of old…
Bandai Namco’s “Den-On-Bu” dance music character project assembles all-star cast
During the Asobinotes Online Fes held on Sunday, June 28th, Bandai Namco Entertainment’s fledgling sound entertainment label Asobinotes announced an exciting new project called “Den-On-Bu.”…
Japanese inventor makes face mask that rises to let you eat, other “useless machines” for pandemic times
Although it has become somewhat of a political issue in some countries, medical authorities mostly concur that that wearing a face mask is useful the…
This Bearbrick bear may be horrifying to all but the most devoted wagyu lovers
Medicom Toy Inc.’s internationally popular B@ARBRICK bear collectible toys are famous for their artist collaborations. Since artists aren’t limited to sticking to cute and innocent…
Music of the Ainu indigenous people is strangely hypnotic
Although Japan is largely considered homogeneous, minority groups do exist. Twenty-five thousand residents are considered Ainu, an East Asian ethnic group indigenous to the northern…
Video illustrator revives Akihabara’s ghost town streets with cyberpunk digital art
Tokyo’s Akihabara district is often labeled as a somewhat of a paradise for anime, video game, and tech enthusiasts. The bustling otaku hub offers a…