We at Grape Japan have a healthy interest—*cough* obsession *cough*—with cats. What else would you expect from an online platform. We’ve covered underwear that can…

Japan continues to struggle to limit the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s prepares to step down, the number of daily…

Japanese summers are muggy and brutal, and 2020 was no exception. Natsubate 夏バテ, summertime fatigue, is a real problem as the subtropical island nation’s humidity…

Do you remember the movie Cable Guy? It’s an old one, but something of a cult classic. Starring Matthew Broderick and Jim Carrey, it tells…

I can still remember stepping off the plane when I arrived in Japan some years ago. Homeless, friendless, and phone-less, I was incredibly nervous and…

Japan can be a rough place for people with disabilities. Spend some time trekking through off-the-beaten-path train stations, and you’ll likely notice an abundance of…

We’ve been waiting for flying cars for quite some time. The original Blade Runner, circa 1982, depicted flying cars incorporating seamlessly into the post-apocalyptic world…

In Japan, there is a traditional poem known as 辞世, jisei, or death poem. With origins in Zen Buddhism, such poems are written by authors,…

Other than a fear of hard work, I have no phobias. Nevertheless, I grew up with my mother and older sister, both of whom have…

Kids grow up so quickly. They are pudgy little munchkins laughing at rustling curtains one day, and, before you know it, they are heading off…

Smartphones have changed the camera and film industry. Analogue photography film producer Kodak filed for bankruptcy back in 2012, although Japanese Fujifilm successfully diversified and…

I love going out to eat. Before the pandemic struck, every weekend was a chance to discover new restaurants and novel dishes—while weekdays were reserved…

It’s hard to walk through a toy shop and not feel a little nostalgic. The home of anime, Japan has more than its fair share…

As we’ve discussed before, Japan is largely a cash based society. Despite, at times, a healthy interest in digital cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, consumers rely heavily…

I enjoy cooking. And I’m very lazy. If you’re anything like me, you likely ignore the cookbook and spin up dishes using your “gut” to…