One of the most important and most celebrated events happening in Japan during the summertime is Tanabata 七夕. This iconic event is celebrated on July…

At crowded public places in Japan, you are likely to see signs warning against aruki sumaho. Translated as “texting while walking,” the postings warn pedestrians…

Anyone who lives in a house with shoji, or traditional sliding paper doors, knows that the paper portions require replacement from time to time due…

Currently on Japanese Twitter, there is a trending hashtag of “＃あなたの狂った体験を聞かせて” (Tell us about a crazy experience you had). Let us introduce Ayaomi Hogi’s (@hogiayaomi)…

It is an obvious, perennial question, one that must pop into the head of every visitor within 24 hours of touching down at Narita, and…

From @home to at-home If you’ve ever visited Akihabara, or if you’ve been following grape Japan for a while, then you’ve probably heard of “at-home…

In recent years, Western countries have been loosening laws surrounding the use and possession of marijuana. The recreational use of the plant is legal in…

(Noriko Kameoka, Osaka Culture Section, The Sankei Shimbun / JAPAN Forward) Who would have imagined such a long period of inactivity in the performing arts…

2020 was supposed to be a great year for Japan, with the inbound economy expected to rise due to large scale events planned across all…

As many are aware, Japan has a notably high suicide rate. While it is far from the world’s highest-risk nation in the world, or even…

June has arrived, and along with it an unusually early rainy season comes knocking at the door. Source: Sankei Shinbun/Japan Forward/p> Muggy days, alternating between…

In late May, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared an end to the state of emergency enacted in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The lockdown, considered…

An abundance of kanji Although most Japanese people only use a few thousand kanji in their daily lives—six thousand if they’re very knowledgeable—that’s only a…

(Paul Martin, for JAPAN Forward) After more than 250 years of rule, the Tokugawa government’s power had begun to wane. The Japanese people had been…

The May 25th murder of George Floyd sent shock waves throughout the United States and the international community. A video of his arrest depicted police…