I used to work at an ESL school for young children. And while it was mostly a happy environment, I quickly grew accustomed to the…

Some children seem pre-wired, knowing precisely what buttons to push to get under your skin. You can trust me on this one. I was a…

Sometimes it’s incredible how quickly things happen. One moment your young child is playing gleefully, and the next, they are screaming. Even more worrisome, the…

The best part of traveling is easily the food. So many authentic dishes unavailable in your home country are on offer at reasonable prices. Personally,…

Every parent frets over the health of their children. Are they eating healthy? Are they up-to-date on all their vaccines? Is that bump on their…

Animal videos are always entertaining. Simply taking a few minutes to watch pets being derps, i.e. r/AnimalsBeingDerps, always brightens my day. On the other hand,…

You should never judge a book by its cover. With today’s increasingly sensitive PC culture (ポリコレporicore in Japanese), perhaps this adage has never been more…

“Do you believe in ghosts?” While the question sounds like the rhetorical opening to an episode of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” it always…

It’s a relatable problem: a young, bright-eyed, and energetic child becomes a disastrous dinner-time guest. Despite mothers and fathers slaving in the kitchen, there is…

In recent years, Japan has been stepping up its environmental efforts. The country plans to make the 2021 Olympics entirely green, companies are cutting back…

It’s painful to watch: a frazzled single parent managing an upset or out-of-control toddler. I can picture the countless times I’ve been shopping only to…

Like any culture, Japan has its fair share of superstitious beliefs and old wives tales. Consumers avoid facing north while snoozing and refrain from writing…

There is a lot us young rapscallions can learn from older generations. While the culturally sensitive and information-dense lifestyles of millennials and Gen Zers have…

Like other indigenous groups, the Ainu people of Hokkaido and the north-eastern Honshu island of Japan have experienced marginalization. After the Japanese government annexed their…

If you’re an avid reader of Grape Japan, you’re well aware that Japan is experiencing a robot renaissance. According to the World Robotics – Industrial…