Top convenient goods and items perfect for the hot summers in Japan
Due to the high humidity and hot weather during summers in Japan, many companies have been competing to create the most convenient and unique items…
Japan
English Proficiency in Japan Is Surprisingly Low in International Rankings. Here’s Why.
As an ESL teacher for over a decade, I’ve taught a wide variety of classes. Whenever I meet new students, I naturally try to get…
Japan Gourmet: Summer limited-edition dishes and food
I think that one of Japan’s charms is represented by the seasonal changes that occur every year. In the changes that take place every year,…
Japanese shipping company staff use their lunch break to make another company’s day
“A wonderful thing happened today.” Japanese Twitter user Karu (@carolpolca1), who works for an umbrella rental company “Nature Innovation Group Corporation”, started off her Twitter…
Hopeful Japanese assembly member campaigns with “Abe Masks” as her bra
If you’ve ever been in Japan during political campaign season, particularly for regional elections, you’ve likely seen the standard campaign posters set up by candidates…
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…
Japanese Twitter user makes clever handle to prevent umbrella theft
During Japan’s testing rainy season, an umbrella is a must. But there are always those who end steal (or sometimes mistakenly) take your umbrella from…
238 cats found in house: despite Japan’s love of pets, ownership issues still remain
As in all countries, the people of Japan love their pets. According to Wikipedia, the country has been experiencing a pet boom since 2003. In…
Repurposing Plastic Fish Soy Sauce Containers to Help Clean Up the Pandemic
Although a clean society, Japan does have some issues with waste. Rubbish sorting rules are notably detailed, and towns like Kamikatsu are stringent recyclers. Nevertheless,…
Karakuri ningyō: the world’s first robots
Robots and Japan are practically synonymous. The Japanese government and some of its biggest corporations see the 21st century as one of ‘human co-existence with…
Felt artist packs adorably realistic cat heads into furry “cat frame” portraits
Wool-felt art is done by knitting wool fibers into shapes with special needles. In the past, we’ve seen talented artists in Japan use it to…
The discreet charm of Japan’s anti-smoking campaign
In common with other countries, the number of smokers in Japan is in steady decline. Currently, around 28% of Japanese men and 9% of Japanese…
To Osaka Resident Misty Fujii, Black Lives Matter is Personal
John O’Donoghue, for JAPAN Forward Where are you from? This is a question often asked of foreign residents in Japan. While it can get repetitive,…
Kento Yamazaki to star in film adaptation of Heinlein’s SF classic “The Door into Summer”
Kento Yamazaki is a popular actor and model known for playing L in the Death Note TV drama series, as well as playing the lead…
Photographer captures breathtaking floating flowers in purifying fountain at Japanese temple
Fukuoka-based photographer Masashi (@masashi_photos) often shares his beautiful photography on Twitter. The photos he recently took at Dazaifu-tenmangu, a temple in Dazai city, Fukuoka prefecture,…