What did old Edo look like?
Tokyo is built on the site of the old city of Edo. There are few traces of the old city, but the street pattern of…
Edo
The tiny doors of Tokyo
I like to think that the layout of a city reflects the frame of mind of those who built it. Just as Beijing is a…
How the Great Fire of 1657 shaped modern Tokyo
Take a stroll around modern Tokyo and the city appears to be the epitome of orderly peace and calm. It’s hard to believe that it…
Vape Like a Samurai with this Japanese Kiseru Smoking Pipe E-Cigarrete
If you’re a fan of samurai films, or any sort of early Japan period piece fiction, chances are you’ve encountered a scene of one of…
“ZVP: Zatoichi vs Predator” is an Epic Mashup of Samurai and SF Film Genres
In a rare confluence of genres, the recently released fan-made short film called “ZVP: Zatoichi vs Predator” combines jidaigeki (historical film usually featuring samurai sword-fighting…
Japanese Legendary Great Wave Woodblock Print Now Available As Tokyo License Plates
Japan has strong vehicle regulations, so aesthetic customization of cars, such as colorful license plates, can be difficult. Despite allowing LED lights shining under the…
Be An Expert In “Excel” To Achieve Realistic Japanese Edo-Period Painting
Photoshop may be the key software tool for most designers, but this brilliant artist has a different view of it. She uses the commonly known…
Samurai Smartphone Parade: Japan Replaces Swords With Phones To Hilariously Teach Us Safety
As great as smart phones have been for our convenience, they can also lead to some lapses in safety. Walking around while texting or looking…