If you’ve ever wandered the streets of Tokyo at night, you couldn’t have missed the silver cans of Strong Zero that a huge amount of tourists and locals alike seem to be holding. This isn’t your average canned drink, it’s…
If you’ve been to Osaka, have you ever wondered why there’s statues of smiling gnomes with their feet out everywhere? That character is named Billiken, he’s a beloved character in Japan but especially in Osaka. But why is he such…
Here’s an obscure Japanese term for you to learn, did you know about “マッチポンプ” or “match pump”? No? Awesome, you’re not wasting your time by being here then. Let me tell you about Japan’s term for profitable gaslighting. What is…
The anime world lost a pillar voice actor recently and it’s a shame many anime fans didn’t even know who she was. Atsuko Tanaka, a passed away at the age of 61 of an unknown illness. We only found out…
Although Osaka doesn’t quite get the attention Tokyo and Kyoto do, it’s still a major city and a place with much to do. One advantage it has is that its hotspots aren’t nearly as crowded and some of them are…
Japan’s known for a lot of things from tech, to temples and anime. But one thing not many people mention, is love hotels. Though their birth rates are down and the apartment walls too thin, the deed still gets done.…
Tsukimi/Otsukimi (月見/お月見), also known as Jugoya (fifteenth night), is a traditional Japanese moon-viewing festival that takes place every autumn to celebrate and gaze upon the beauty of the full moon. This centuries-old tradition is still observed today on the 15th…
Ever wondered if the nerd eating chicken tendies stereotype existed outside of the anglosphere? It does. And in Japan, they’re called “chigyu” (チー牛) or “chi-gyu” named after the abbreviation for cheese gyudon. But why? What ties this rather ordinary beef…
It’s the 7th of June, you know what that means! Oh you don’t? Well let me fill you in. Grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let’s dive into the tragic love story that is Tanabata. Have you ever…
Tucked away in Japan’s Suita, Osaka is a creepy looking marvel that’s both whimsical and profound, strange yet evocative. It’s called Taiyo no To (太陽の塔) or the Tower of the Sun. For those who haven’t had the pleasure (and perhaps…
