The National Banana Research Institute in Yanaka, Tokyo
In case you’re wondering, this is not a genuine research institute, at least not officially. It’s just a shop that sells Japanese bananas. Still, considering…
Written By : George Lloyd
Zashiki warashi: the mythical children who look after your house
Perhaps you’ve heard of zashiki warashi? They’re pretty famous in Japanese folklore, and still crop up regularly in anime and manga. They’re ghostly children who…
Geshary Coffee: Tokyo’s finest speciality coffee shop
For many years, the English-speaking world was famous for its terrible coffee, but the last 20 years have seen a radical shake-up of coffee drinking….
Why are fruit and vegetables in Japan so expensive?
The price of fresh fruit and vegetables in Japan is a real shocker. In the case of fruit, it’s commonplace to hear people say that…
Karakuri ningyō: the world’s first robots
Robots and Japan are practically synonymous. The Japanese government and some of its biggest corporations see the 21st century as one of ‘human co-existence with…
The discreet charm of Japan’s anti-smoking campaign
In common with other countries, the number of smokers in Japan is in steady decline. Currently, around 28% of Japanese men and 9% of Japanese…
Survey of pet owners finds Japan’s dogs in rude good health
One of the most remarkable things about modern Japan is how quickly a country with practically no history of pet ownership has become a nation…
What every fiancé should know before meeting his father-in-law
Are you planning to pop the big question to your girlfriend? Do you dread the prospect of meeting your father-in-law for the first time? If…
Doing a circuit of Mt. Fuji by car
After almost three years in Japan, and countless sightings of Fujimi-this and Fujimi-that, I still hadn’t had a proper look at Mt. Fuji. I’d seen…
Mu: a clue to a legendary lost kingdom in Ojima Komatsugawa park
A few days ago I was cycling down the River Arakawa when I came to Ojima Komatsugawa park. Being on a spur of land that…
Husband in hot water after receiving a parcel from ‘Your Mistress’
Who’d have thought that a card from a parcel delivery company could cause so much trouble? Instagram user Tomoshikaida recently got home to find a…
Why are so many Japanese women pigeon toed?
It is an obvious, perennial question, one that must pop into the head of every visitor within 24 hours of touching down at Narita, and…
Japanese-Spanish actor Yu Shirota speaks out against cyberbullying
The death of female professional wrestler Hana Kimura on May 23, 2020 prompted a great deal of sympathy from fans concerned about the impact of…
Coronavirus and Olympics top of agenda as election for Tokyo governor kicks off
Prepare yourself for several weeks of being deafened by hoary platitudes broadcast from slow-moving people carriers: campaigning for the Tokyo gubernatorial election has officially kicked…
Former Justice Minister arrested amid vote-buying scandal in Hiroshima
On Thursday, prosecutors arrested Katsuyuki Kawai, a member of the lower house member known for his close ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his…