Venture Café: Japan’s Innovation Hub Celebrates 100 Events
Every Thursday, innovators across Tokyo; entrepreneurs, business people, students, househusbands, and housewives, wake up with a sparkle in their eye. They know that come 4…
Japanese Yoga influencers offer peace of mind during difficult and lonely times
I’m likely not alone. From an anecdotal perspective, the popularity of yoga seems to be increasing in Japan in recent years. I’ve noticed more online…
A visit to Crayon Shin-chan’s BuriBuri Cinema Studio and his hometown in Saitama, Kasukabe
Kasukabe City is located in the Saitama Prefecture and the place is very famous for being Crayon Shin-chan’s hometown. Fans all over the world come…
Top cafes where you can enjoy the finest Matcha drinks and desserts in Tokyo
Matcha has become very popular among all generations and its culture has been booming outside of Japan, too, gaining fans all over the world. For…
Sensōji Temple’s Kaminarimon Gate Gets a New Giant Lantern
With social distancing measures keeping everyone away from one another, this lockdown is the perfect time for a make-over. What better time to restart than…
Murderers on the lamb, police abuse-incited riots all part of life for Osaka’s day laborers
The streets of Osaka can be rough. You’d be forgiven for not noticing upon first glance. Japan itself is an incredibly safe nation, especially when…
Whisk up traditional Japanese green tea at home like a matcha master with handy all-in-one Ippukubox
Matcha is a green tea powder, traditionally drank during Japanese tea ceremonies and lauded for its health benefits. Thanks to its popularity these days, the…
Customizable Mother’s Day animal bouquets are the perfect gift for pet-loving moms
My Peridot is a Japanese flower shop that puts an undeniably cute spin on flower arrangements. They specialize in making boxed flower gifts and bouquets…
Kumano region tops poll as Japan’s no. 1 travel destination for 2020
The Kumano region, Japan’s spectacular “land of the gods”, has won the top tourism award in a poll of GaijinPot readers, who were asked to…
Mothra Sneakers: Cool Leather Cocoons for Your Feet
Last year, footwear company Patrick collaborated with the Godzilla franchise to create these king of kawaii Chibi Godzilla trainers. Ever since, citizens across Japan have…
Watch slapstick YouTuber Hikakin keep a straight face interviewing Tokyo governor Koike
Japan has its own entourage of internet celebrities and online influencers, but perhaps none are as well known as Hikakin. Famous for beatboxing and vocalized…
Crayon Shin-chan figurines are as mischievous as the iconic anime character himself
30 years after its initial publication, Crayon Shin-chan is still undoubtedly popular—spawning volumes of manga, over a thousand anime episodes, and even video games and…
Getting your inter-generational groove on: Japanese jazz of the 1970s
As an English teacher, I’ve had the good fortune to meet many interesting students: prominent business leaders, exceptionally talented young people, artists, and entertainers. A…
Teleworking mum accidentally uses polite language on her kids and slang on her boss!
In Japan, as in the rest of the world, working from home during the coronavirus lockdown has become the new normal for millions of people….
Miss Going Out? Why Not Take a Stroll Through the Virtual Market?
How many weeks has it been now, stuck inside while under Coronavirus lockdown? For us folks in Japan, we’ve been under some level of lockdown…