(by Arielle Busetto for JAPAN Forward) Jotaro Saito doesn’t go unnoticed when walking down a street. The day I met him at Kanda Myojin, he…

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

Japan’s gorgeous cherry blossom season often steals headlines with its bevy of sakura-flavored goods, but the lesser known Japanese plum blossom (ume) are every bit…

Japanese Voices 日本語のままクールジャパン is a regular series designed for learners of Japanese to enjoy real Japanese language programming from Nippon Broadcasting System, one of the…

Instant noodle giant Nissin always has its finger on the pulse of pop culture, as it has demonstrated time and time again through collaborations with…

Upmarket tea proprietors Lupica have collaborated with animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli before to bring us tins of original loose tea leaf blends, inspired by the…

Ever popular, Japanese convenience store desserts are like little cups of heaven. Despite being reasonably priced, they’re always beautifully presented and delicious, and we are…

Japanese retailer Felissimo specializes in all sorts of cute and creative animal-themed goods, but their YOU+MORE! series (a play on the pronunciation of “humor” in…

Located in the beautiful prefecture of Nara, Japan, Tōdai-ji (Eastern Great Temple) is celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to the…

As our readers may know, we like to regularly introduce talented Japanese illustrators and painters who regularly produce high quality art in their own unique…

Japan’s food scene is notoriously difficult to navigate for vegetarians and vegans. But in the cosmopolitan city of Tokyo, it’s no surprise that options are…

Japan has seen some adventurous flavor offerings from Pepsi, including salty watermelon, Christmas cake, and sakura-flavored cola. Last year, the soft drink giant released a…

Grab your robes and wands because the first ever official Wizarding World of Harry Potter Cafes have appeared, as if by magic, in Japan! Initially…

Creative Japanese online retailer Felissimo has built up quite a catalog of quirky but cute releases in their YOU+MORE! series (a play on the pronunciation…

Akiba Zettai Ryoiki’s absolutely kawaii maid cafe zones Akiba Zettai Ryoiki has made a name for itself with its super kawaii mood, its foreigner-friendly attitude,…