Spacey Ambient Japanese Music of the 1980s
My first introduction to the gentleness of Japanese music was from the SNES—AKA Super Famicom—game Pilot Wings. I don’t know if you remember, but in…
Japan
Japan Sees Rise in Vigilantism and Harassment During COVID-19 Outbreak
COVID-19 has brought to light the dark impulses of some people. Widespread panic buying resulted in massive hoarding while anxieties fueled xenophobic and even racist…
The Capy-barrier: Japanese restaurant using Capybaras to enforce social distancing
Japan, where the cramped comfort of an izakaya, huddled face to face business meetings and wedging oneself into a densely packed subway train are culturally…
Tongue-Tied Singles Turn to High-Tech Matchmaking Services to Help Break The Ice
Dating is hard, especially early on. It’s awkward, stressful, and expensive. I would know. If there were video footage of any of my many first…
Crazy Japanese Game Show Flashback
As a teenage suburbanite, I spent many a weekend flipping endlessly through daytime television because I had already finished every video game I owned and…
Who will become Okinawa’s next top model? You decide!
Every year in the height of summer, the MODECON Resort in Okinawa modeling competition takes place. The contest offers young women in Okinawa and Kyushu…
Fujitsu’s futuristic Cómodo gear is a wearable AC unit with biometric sensing & monitoring
Wearable AC gets cool You may have already seen wearable cooling gadgets before. The concept isn’t new. Using either small fans, sometimes combined with water…
Switch to teleworking prompts boom in ‘digicam-friendly’ clothing
In response to the announcement of the ‘state of emergency’ on April 7th, thousands of Japanese companies have switched from office work to telework. With…
Shikake Tegami Service: The illustrated love letter and a great gift for your beloved one
During these hard times, it is important to stay strong and remember to send our thoughts and feelings to those dear to us. In Japan,…
SNS Fans Do a Double Take: The End of Legendary Site Mixi—Well, Not Quite
The social media landscape is a little different in Japan than in other countries. While smartphone penetration is nearly ubiquitous and internet accessibility is notably…
The Restaurant Kichiri in Shinjuku offers the perfect environment for online drinking parties
Recently, to avoid spreading the COVID-19, many stores and restaurants had to be temporarily closed or switched to take out services only. Therefore, online nomikai/…
Pac-Man sake lineup celebrates video game legend’s 40th anniversary
Japanese roots Although it gained international fame and turned into a cultural phenomenon, some people forget that Pac-Man is a Japanese creation, developed in 1979…
A guide to Doraemon’s secret tools and gadgets with similar functions
There is a variety of gadgets that appear in the popular manga Doraemon written by Fujiko F. Fujio. Not only are there a few himitsu…
Okinawan Governor Seeks to Back Anti-hate Laws with Criminal Punishments
Japanese citizens are by and large peace-loving and tolerant. The vast majority obey the law, protect group consensus, and avoid rocking the boat. Nevertheless, in…
Studio Ghibli adds 6 new designs to embroidery brooch collection
Donguri Republic, a store specialising in Studio Ghibli gifts and souvenirs, is adding 6 new brooches to their “Full of Ghibli” embroidery brooch collection at…