Discover the Sky of Poppies’ Crimson Beauty at the Chichibu Kogen Farm in Saitama Japan
Many people are aware that spring is one of the most beautiful and significant seasons in Japan and automatically associate the spring here with sakura…
Cooled Masks Sold in This Vending Machine Turn Out to Be a Hit
Masks have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue, here in Japan and across the larger international community. While their effect against the COVID-19 infection…
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 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…
The sorcerer of straight lines: Rokkakudō DADA’s atmospheric art
There are no curves in the world of 六角堂DADA (Rokkakudō DADA). And yet, with only straight lines, the artist conjures up compositions which are at…
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…
Spotted Eels at COVID-closed Sumida Aquarium Have Forgotten What Humans Look Like
Everyone is having a hard time adjusting to the new normal of social distancing and on-again, off-again lockdowns during the current pandemic. We’ve touched on…
Japanese convenience store collab with 450 year old tea specialists on ‘Umami Matcha’ desserts
For the dessert-lovers among us, one of the best parts about living in Japan is the wealth of trendy cafes with delicious and beautifully presented…
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,…
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer team up with Baby Star Ramen to bring us Tanjiro’s favourite flavour
In some good news for Demon Slayer fans, it seems brands are keen to get in on Kimetsu no Yaiba collaborations for their products. As…