Simple sketch elevates photo of sunset into a touching work of art
Japanese artist unit sara (@sara2626_if) is a duo composed of photographer Arai and illustrator sako. Arai takes photographs and her boyfriend, sako, draws illustrations, creating…
Studio Ghibli teams up with Yoshida & Co. on adorably fluffy Totoro Porter bags
Yoshida & Co. are a Japanese company known worldwide for their ‘Porter’ line of bags and accessories. The Porter brand was created 60 years ago,…
Do tanuki really transform when you put a leaf on their head? Zoo in Japan puts the rumor to the test!
Sometimes called Japanese raccoon dogs, tanuki hold a special place in Japan. They are often depicted in folklore as magical shapeshifters and as traditional statues,…
Parent crafts amazing quality kitchen for kid…using 100-yen store items
100-yen stores in Japan are full of surprises. While the conversion rate isn’t always straight up the same (especially these days), the Japanese equivalent of…
Meet Pochi, the bodybuilder Pomeranian cutie!
As most people who own one would attest, Pomeranians tend to make up for their small stature with big attitudes and loud barking. Pochi, a…
$11 for three carrots? Price tag at Japanese supermarket is wrong in more ways than one
People make mistakes. Yet, some of the mistakes are so extraordinary that they make you wonder: “How could this have happened?” One day, Japanese Instagram…
![One of the pitfalls of using a smartphone while lying on your back [manga]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/83038_02main-768x576.jpg)
One of the pitfalls of using a smartphone while lying on your back [manga]
For many people around the world, smartphones are a convenient and—some may even say—an indispensable part of their lives. In addition to staying in touch…
Parents tell son to get married but he goes full samurai instead in ironic twist on Japanese idiom
Parents often stay involved in their children’s lives once they’re adults because they worry about their future. If they are unmarried, it’s not uncommon for…
Japan’s black fallen leaf incense is the coolest way to scent your room
Founded in 1893, Japanese incense maker Kunjudo has been built a reputation for combining the traditional incense manufacturing history of Awaji Island with creative modern…
6-year-old recreates classic scene from The Ring in impressive 3-D art project
If you were to see Sadako from the classic Japanese horror film Ringu (The Ring), your first inclination would likely be to flee in terror,…
Tofu packaging can actually come in quite handy during a natural disaster
Preparation and response for natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami are stressed a lot in Japan. Aside from following proper safety protocol, there is…
Japanese dog returns from the groomer looking like an ice cream bonbon
“He went for a trim and when he came back, his head had turned into a Pino.” Such was the caption on a hilarious photo…
Filial son’s camera to monitor elderly mom turned “useless” for adorable reason
Most of the time, children worry about their aging parents. In Japan, where the senior population is growing year by year, many families have surveillance…
Genius icing cookie artist turns sugar into a mini plate of gyoza dumplings
“…They really made them from scratch! This is god-tier cookie crafting” “The ingredients are so detailed…! You must be a genius.” “The attention to detail…
Father and bossy cat’s comic book relationship delights Twitter
Japanese Twitter user Marco77774 has gained quite the following for routinely documenting the odd but adorable relationship the fours cats he lives with have with…