Yokai Alert: Ghosts and goblins spotted at onsen theme park, Yunessun
Coming in at the upper end of any must-see-must-do Japan travel bucket list is the act of visiting an onsen. With so many options to…
Culture
You’ve never seen Noh like this before! Toei’s Noh spectacle is a fantastic, immersive experience
Noh theater The classical Japanese dance-drama Noh 能 is one of Japan’s most famous and internationally recognized art forms. Performed since the 14th century, it…
Temple priest explains why you shouldn’t lightly explore haunted places in Japan
In the summer, some Japanese exploring hobbyists visit rumored haunted spots to feel “chilly”. a However, Rokusyaku Houshi, a master monk of Nichiren Buddhism (@6SYAKU_HOUSHI)…
Consumers turn to stylish canes and burial accessories as they say goodbye to loved ones
As is widely known, Japan has a graying population. As residents continue to age, this demographic is causing the undertaking industry and the culture as…
Shinjuku’s Isetan releases gorgeous collection of Taisho Era kimonos and accessories
Shinjuku’s Isetan department store has announced an event called Taisho Roman Hyakkaten DX from July 28th to August 2nd. From antique kimono, to modern clothing…
Bilingual singer NANO to launch podcast for global audience: “NANO to the WORLD”
On Monday, August 2nd, 2021, Japanese-American bilingual singer NANO, famous in the anime song concert scene in Japan and abroad, and renowned internationally for contributing…
Celebrating Tanabata in Japan and making wishes that are out of this world
The Japanese calendar is full of holidays unfamiliar to many Westerners. While Hina Matsuri, or Doll’s Day, and a few others are famous abroad, there…
Shoeface, which turns old kimono and traditional Japanese garments into stylish shoelaces, opens international online store
Earlier this month, Shoeface, a Japanese company that repurposes old or discarded kimono and traditional fabrics into stylish and distinct shoelaces, opened up its first…
TeamLab Planet’s Floating Flower Garden unveils exclusive original blue orchid at new exhibit
Art museum teamLab Planets Tokyo DMM is celebrating the three year of their milestone since opening Tokyo. This summer, they are holding a new orchid…
What is wabi sabi?
Wabi sabi 侘び寂び is a Japanese concept that often has foreigners scratching their heads in bafflement. The first part of the expression – wabi –…
Kotodama: the belief in the magic power of words
Kotodama (言霊) refers to the belief that words have mystical powers. It combines the word for ‘speech’ (言 koto) and the word for ‘soul’ (霊 tama). Kotodama presupposes that…
Kyoto now has its own lofi & hip hop video with a hunky ‘street god’ and recorded sounds from the city
During a time when a lot of us were kept indoors, one new thing we were tasked with was to find a way to entertain…
Crowdfunding project to save former Osakan brothel-building-turned-restaurant Tai Yoshi Hyakuban
Japan is a country full of architectural marvels and wonders. Whether you’re looking at a historic temple made using the kanawa-tsugi method (entirely free of…
Theatrical release of “The Flowers of Passion” documentary on Japan’s underground idol scene
You may have heard about the underground Japanese idol scene, and some of our readers may even have had a chance to attend some live…
Get your fragrance on the go with stylish paper incense sticks and case from Japan
The use of incense in Japan is steeped in tradition, but that doesn’t mean renowned makers are afraid to put new twists on their aromas….