Japan Disrupts Salaryman Culture with Virtual Snack in Akihabara
Introduction In recent years we’ve seen technology disrupt entire industries, revolutionizing basic services at the heart of our lives. The taxi industry by Uber, television…
Only in Japan
How to forget the year at your bōnenkai party
December has rolled around and the end of the year is drawing nearer. As the nights become colder and the days become shorter, it can…
Starbucks Japan Rings In The New Year With Jiggly Mochi And Kinako Frappuccino
Coming off Santa Boots, strawberry short cake, and nutty chocolate Christmas-themed Frappuccinos releases, Starbucks Japan is now shifting its focus toward the country’s central holiday…
Catch Lucky ‘Fukubukuro’ Bags Packed With Pokemon Merch and Doughnut Vouchers at Japan’s Mister Donut
Japanese doughnut chain Mister Donut has become the representative for adorable Pokemon doughnut treats since the release of their adorable Pikachu face shaped treats last…
Spending New Year 2020 in Tokyo? These Cute Mouse-Themed Sweets Make Great Gifts
Oshōgatsu is coming, Oshōgatsu is coming! What’s that, you ask? It’s the Japanese word for New Year’s, and a special time for Japanese families to…
Japanese Photographer Captures Breathtaking Images Of Gifu Castle Against Reiwa Era’s First Cold Moon
The last full moon of December is known as the Cold Moon, but this past week’s holds a special value in Japan as being the…
From fish genitalia to raw horse meat: 5 izakaya foods for adventurous eaters
A lesson from Big Bird A child of the nineties, my first exposure to Japan was the gutsy, gripping, epic, and eye-opening documentary, Big Bird…
How a 19-year-old Haiku poet is turning Japanese politics upside-down
Changing the political system with an app What were you doing when you were 19? If you were anything like me, you had a menial…
The Rise of Companion Robots in Japan
Humans are social creatures, but what happens when their social networks break down? Depression, cognitive decline, cortisol imbalances, and so on, and so on [1]….
The Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum
A hidden gem in Musashi-Koganei Lots of tourists make it to Tokyo’s preeminent historical museum, the Edo Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku. It’s a shame that…
Kokoro Care Packages: Flavors of Small-Town Japan at Your Doorstep Anywhere in the World
Jessy LeClair for JAPAN Forward It does not get much better than regular deliveries of small-batch Japanese food. I should know. On the 18-hour-plus haul…
These New Chibi Godzilla Trainers are Enormously Stylish
Godzilla has been rearing its spectacular, sometimes delicious, head a lot during 2019 in celebration of the kaiju kings 65th birthday. Out of the beasts…
A Visit to The Tokyo Kite Museum
The small loft housing more than 3,000 kites in central Tokyo Tako no Hakubutsukan is a museum just east of Tokyo station dedicated to Kites….
Write “Boba Tea” In One Kanji Character? Calligrapher Monyaizumi Suggests A Way
Boba Tea Boom As the end of the year approaches, it seems to be a safe bet that the sweet drink megatrend of boba tea…
Top Kansai Area Holiday Season Illuminations
Christmas is around the corner and although you would think it’s a national holiday in Japan, it isn’t. Everywhere you go there’s Christmas music playing,…