Kigumi Museum in Waseda is great for fans of traditional Japanese carpentry
As the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games demonstrated, one of the native traditions of which Japan is proudest is carpentry. For millennia, its carpenters…
Life
Stuck-at-home consumers turn to indoor picnics to get a taste of summer
In Japan, residents are still forced to manage their summer plans to some degree around the ongoing pandemic. Many are taking the current conditions as…
With many festivals cancelled, you may need to be creative to enjoy summer at home
Despite summer being in full swing and the Olympics just around the corner, many residents in Japan and abroad are spending a lot of time…
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…
Mask Mist, a menthol spray to freshen up your face mask
Face masks have always been popular in Japan, and the coronavirus has made them indispensable. Now that the summer is upon us, our face masks…
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…
Three “freaking awesome” Japanese words from skateboarding commentary!
Unusually informal skateboarding commentary goes viral Recently, the Olympics have been flooding the headlines, but on July 25th a different kind of story was trending…
Japanese produce stand goods to be saved in industry-government-academia collaboration
CoCooking Co., Ltd., which operates the popular service TABETE allowing customers to “rescue” leftover or unused food from participating shops and restaurants, is collaborating with…
Help (not) wanted: immigration politics in Japan
Japan is suffering from a terrible labour shortage. A Manpower survey of human resources managers around the world found that HR managers in Japan have…
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 –…
Chingodō in Asakusa: a shrine dedicated to tanuki (racoon dogs)
Chingodō (鎮護堂) is a small Shinto shrine in Asakusa which is dedicated to the tanuki (狸), a small, furry animal that is a mainstay of Japanese…
As hard times continue during the pandemic, mindfulness products may help provide relief
According to a survey released by the OECD, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, in May this year the proportion of people with depression…
Japanese Twitter user shares unexpected reaction to maskless elderly bus passenger
In Japan, if you wanted to go anywhere outside of your home right now, you’d need to have your mask on. Convenience stores, restaurants, and…
These photos from Kyoto’s ‘Temple of Wind Chimes’ captures the magic of Japan’s summer
Located in a part of Kyoto known for matcha, Shōjuin Temple 正寿院 in Uji has been giving tourists a splendid view to enjoy their tea…
![The current state of dagashi: What Japan is losing along with its dagashi shops [News Crossing]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/dagashi_wn_top-768x576.jpg)
The current state of dagashi: What Japan is losing along with its dagashi shops [News Crossing]
By Nozomi Matsukawa 松川希実, withnews As people’s lifestyles change, nostalgic dagashi* “penny snacks” are disappearing one by one. What is the meaning of dagashi in…