Category Culture

Billiken: The Man with the Magic Feet

An Illustration of the original Billiken statue with the tagline "things as they ought to be".

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…

Ebisu: The Lucky God of Fishermen

A Statue of Ebisu in Kochi

The picture below is a member of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi-fuku-jin). His name is Ebisu-sama. He looks really happy with a big smile. When you search for his image on the internet, he always seems happy, to the point…

Seishinryoku: The Spirit of Perseverance

An asian woman at the top of a mountain with the words "Seishinryoku" in the background.

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…

Tsukimi: Japan’s Moon Viewing Festival

Drawing of a Japanese couple viewing the bright full moon overlooking a city.

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…

Menhera: The Sad Reality Behind the Cute Face

4 variations of the Kurumi-chan LINE sticker, a popular character depicting Menhera.

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).…

Chigyu: A Delicious Stereotype

Image of the Japanese Chigyu meme compared to the American Virgin Walk meme.

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…