Tokugawa Yoshinobu, born Matsudaira Shichirōma on October 28, 1837, in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), was the 15th and final shōgun of Japan, marking the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the transformative Meiji Restoration. His life and decisions…
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…
Another day another term! Have you ever heard the term Seishinryoku? If you did, you might remember it from karate or judo class. It’s a Japanese word that might sound a bit mysterious or intriguing, but it holds a profound concept…
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.…
Japan and KFC have long had an unusual history. From its Christmas tradition as a replacement for turkey dinners to its reputation as a high quality restaurant chain. Quite the opposite of what we think of in North America when…
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…
Have you ever stumbled upon this cute LINE sticker character with the black hoodie just being cute? Her name is Kurumi-chan. She’s actually one of many faces of a cute but concerning fashion subculture called Menhera (Short for mental health).…
Japan’s a country known for its cutting-edge tech and innovation but if you’ve ever visited, you’d know that innovation and adoption are two different things. Despite coming up with some of the most bleeding-edge stuff, the average Japanese person lives…
Even if you’re not a bookworm, you’ve probably heard of Haruki Murakami at some point. His books are international bestsellers that captivate a worldwide audience across various cultures and languages thanks to how universally relatable his characters and their inner…
