My Neighbor Totoro as a delicious serving of soba noodles
Tororo soba is popular way to enjoy soba buckwheat noodles in Japan. The dish tops the noodles with tororo–a gooey white topping made from grated…
Japan
Hilarious “Don’t feed the dolphins” sign in Shikoku is fishy for the wrong reasons
When it comes to sea creatures, Japan has no qualms with eating just about all of them, from wales to the toilet dwe-, I mean…
Kasanel dorayaki ice cream roll adds matcha flavor; launches Showa Era parody commercials
A small pancake filled with red bean paste, dorayaki is one of those iconic Japanese traditional sweets. A staple of Japanese sweets shops, and a…
IKEA Japan serves up plant-based katsu curry
IKEA Japan continues to stock its shelves with plant-based and vegan alternatives to comfort foods. Following up on their plant-based instant ramen, IKEA stores in…
Ultimate Humane Act in Wartime: The Story of the Unknown Japanese Boy Scout Soldier
Robert D. Eldridge, PhD, for JAPAN Forward More than 75 years ago, on one of the islands Japanese and U.S. forces battled over during World…
Popular YouTuber Yun oversees line of scented moisturizing alcohol-based hand gels
From September 15th, 2020, Direct Tech Co., Ltd. will release a line of scented moisturizing alcohol-based hand gels called “Liypaint.” The line is supervised by…
Artist crafts amazing miniature pop-up book dollhouse of Japanese demons
Yokai is the term for demons, sprites, ghosts, and all other supernatural apparitions of Japanese folklore. They can be neutral, malevolent, and sometimes even kind…
Japanese shrine meticulously recreates grounds in Animal Crossing—and it’s open for visits
A Japanese shrine in Tokyo has been recreated complete with festival activities and decorations on the popular Nintendo Switch game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Players…
Fire Force teams up with Roll Ice Cream Factory on limited collaboration menu
Fire and ice. The two may be polar opposites but as the saying goes, opposites attract. Here’s a good example. Roll Ice Cream factory is…
Manga Artist Wakes Up to a Mid-Flight Surprise
Manga artist Chihiro Fujisawa (@uwabamic) was sketching on her tablet during a recent flight from Hokkaido to Tokyo. Reproduced with permission from Chihiro Fujisawa (@uwabamic)…
Who Gives Up Their Seat on a Crowded Train?
Grape held its essay contest grape Award 2020 this year from May to August. Contestants could write about one of two themes; heart-stirring or heart-stirring…
Can Japanese men warm up to parasols as a way to beat the heat?
Japanese summers are muggy and brutal, and 2020 was no exception. Natsubate 夏バテ, summertime fatigue, is a real problem as the subtropical island nation’s humidity…
Is home life in Japan that different from your home country?
I can still remember stepping off the plane when I arrived in Japan some years ago. Homeless, friendless, and phone-less, I was incredibly nervous and…
![Touching story of a girl who learns to view her disability in a new way [manga]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/wheelchair_finished-768x576.jpg)
Touching story of a girl who learns to view her disability in a new way [manga]
Japan can be a rough place for people with disabilities. Spend some time trekking through off-the-beaten-path train stations, and you’ll likely notice an abundance of…
Toyota-backed SkyDrive successfully tests drone-like car. Are flying cars finally coming?
We’ve been waiting for flying cars for quite some time. The original Blade Runner, circa 1982, depicted flying cars incorporating seamlessly into the post-apocalyptic world…