Kid Dressed Like This on First Day Back to School During Pandemic
On April 7, 2020, Japan’s government declared a State of Emergency for 7 prefectures to curb the spread of COVID-19. A little more than a…
Made in Japan
Japanese man opened online bar as a woman but then this meddling app got in the way
Dear Diary, Day 47 of lockdown. Cabin fever! Yes, I think I have cabin fever. With the hazardous conditions outside, I’ve been cooped up here…
Japan to give all residents the equivalent of around 930 USD for free
Japan has pledged to give 100,000 yen to every resident in Japan to lessen the economic impact of COVID-19. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scrapped an…
Matchmaking site lets cat lovers meet for online drinking party during coronavirus lockdown
With social distancing being the new normal in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, more and more activities are now being done online. In Japan,…
Cherry blossom viewings canceled, Japanese residents turn homes into sakura sanctuaries
COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns have people down. Restaurants and bars are empty as nightlife has mostly ground to a halt. Residents have few options…
Ainu My Voice – a documentary focusing on the modern-day struggles of the Ainu people
Of all the indigenous people of Japan, the Ainu are arguably the most well known amongst both the Japanese and international communities. An ancient tribe…
This kawaii Instagram couple is pushing the bounds of genderless, unisex fashion
Japan has a reputation for being fashionable. Just take a walk down Takeshita Street, “kawaii central,” near Harajuku station. This insanely crowded pedestrian shopping area…
Corpse hotels and DIY funeral kits: advancements in Japan’s undertaking industry
Every year hundreds of professionals convene at the annual ENDEX show. Known as the life-ending industry exhibition, the conference gathers leading companies showcasing their funeral…
Paper-packed Ocean Salt Kit Kats let you fold origami sea animals and fight plastic waste
Switching to paper packaging Since 2019, Nestlé has been tackling the problem of marine plastic waste, replacing its plastic packaging with a more environment-conscious paper…
SUSHI RAMEN remixed Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” with bodily sounds and the result is strangely catchy
If you follow music, then you know Billie Eilish. The 18-year-old has experienced runaway success. Her 2019 album “When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We…
Chicken nuggets with Kiri cream cheese centers now at MINISTOP convenience stores
If you’re mostly staying at home these days in Japan, apart from the occasional trip to the store to stock up on food and supplies,…
Celebrate Japanese Children’s Day with Barbapapa carp streamers you print at home
As we’ve introduced before at grape Japan, one of the customs practiced by many Japanese people in the days and weeks leading up to Children’s…
Amabie monster wagashi sweets are the cutest corona-fighters yet
Amabie is popular these days in Japan, and understandably so. Rediscovered just over a month ago in the Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive (see…
Godiva Japan makes its first foray into cheese foam drinks
As a subtrend of the most recent wave of boba tea popularity in Japan, cheese foam toppings seem to be everywhere in drink stands these…
Bandai’s new Neon Genesis Evangelion Tamagotchis let you raise adorable Angels as pets
Throughout the years, iconic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion has been be involved in a number of crossovers and collaborations, including canned coffee, 90’s grunge…