When we tried McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets last year, with their Karasa Mashimashi Spicy Sauce (which translates as spicy sauce with extra spice added), we…

While hologram technology has certainly made strides, for example enabling dead musicians from 2Pac, Michael Jackson, Billie Holiday, Roy Orbison and Amy Winehouse to go…

Denny’s American diner chain has a bit of a different image in Japan, compared to how it is perceived in the States. Though it’s most…

Mount Fuji, unequivocally one of the most recognisable symbols of Japan, has had its image recreated again and again, in paintings, in print, in sculptures…

Themed cafes and restaurants are ubiquitous in Japan, and you’ll often see one pop up for a new movie or anime release. But the quality…

Foreign travelers are often perplexed by some of the more unusual toppings available for pizza in Japan–such as corn and mayo–but every once in a…

While not unique to Japan, the art of paper cutting, known as kirie 切り絵 (literally “cut images”) in Japanese, has been practiced as early as…

It’s easy to feel down on a rainy day, even more so on a rainy night where everything around you is dark. Unless you’re a…

Acclaimed manga artist Junji Ito has carved out a place for himself in the hearts of horror fans both at home and abroad, based not…

Earlier this year, we saw a stunningly gorgeous traditional Japanese style umbrella (wagasa) inspired by the country’s equally beautiful cherry blossom season. While fluttering sakura…

On June 1, the organizing committee of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games announced the route for the Olympic torch relay races, which will…

It’s not easy to run a kawaii business and make all customers happy in Japan, especially when you’re trying to compete in the highly competitive…

When preparing for the upcoming humid rainy season known as tsuyu (梅雨) in Japan, bookstore and oddity shop Village Vanguard might not seem like it’s…

Lego is loved all over the world by children and adults alike, and some Lego creations (such as this pop-up book of Himeji castle or…

Yōchien 幼稚園 (literally “Kindergarten”) is a monthly magazine geared towards kindergartners published by Shogakukan Inc. One of the most popular features is the attached supplement…