A potted history of Kabukichō, nightlife capital of Tokyo
Kabukichō is a visual fest. It must have more neon than any other Tokyo neighbourhood, which is no small boast in the most neon-saturated city…
Japanese history
SmartHR’s emotional anime traces a century of work in Japan with pixel art by Motocross Saito
“100 YEARS OF WORK in JAPAN” On August 18th, 2021, SmartHR Co., Ltd., a Japanese company specializing in HR cloud software, released a new company…
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…
Pondering the archetypal outsider at the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Park in Shinjuku
Lafcadio Hearn, known in Japan as Koizumi Yakumo, was a Meiji-era (1868-1912) writer whose descriptions of Japan had a huge impact on how the outside…
The Fascinating Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Post-war Repatriates
Don’t be put off by the cumbersome name. The Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Post-war Repatriates is a fascinating place. Though little-known,…
Kuge: Japan’s original art snobs have a lot to answer for
Traditional Japanese artistic disciplines like calligraphy, the tea ceremony, and flower arranging are loved and admired around the world. But why are they enveloped in…
Zoom lecture about Kagawa Toyohiko, “the Gandhi of Japan” on March 30th
Kagawa Toyohiko Kagawa Toyohiko (賀川 豊彦 1888-1960) was one of the foremost peace campaigners and internationalists of the twentieth century. He was known as ‘the…
Remembering the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923
Much is made of Tokyo’s ability to blend the old with the new, as if a conscious choice had been made as to what to…
Hachiko, Japan’s favourite dog, may not have been so loyal to his master after all
Ssh! Don’t say it too loud or you’ll frighten the neighbours, but Hachiko, Japan’s favourite dog, may not be the epitome of loyalty he’s cracked…
A pioneering pet lover: the “Dog Shogun,” Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Japan’s cats and dogs are a secretive bunch. Although you wouldn’t know it from walking the streets of Tokyo, for the majority of owners like…
Japanese history, but with all of the historical figures reimagined as cats
This animation show makes learning Japanese history a fresh and fun experience, by reimagining historic and powerful figures as feline characters. With Japan’s great love…
Hinatsuba: New Manga About A Swordswoman Who Challenged Late Edo Period Gender Expectations
In honor of International Women’s Day, March 8th, we would like to introduce Hinatsuba, by Koichi Masahara, an exciting new manga recently announced by publisher…