The city of Morioka in Iwate Prefecture inspired the poet Kenji Miyazawa, whose poetry continues to inspire visitors to this day. Though he was little-known in his lifetime,…
Tokyo’s Castle Tintagel, named after an English castle associated with the legend of King Arthur, teaches students how to fight like the European knights of the 14th and…
A small island in the Seto Inland Sea, Naoshima is also known as one of Japan’s “art islands.” The island is a hub for contemporary art, featuring multiple…
The two chefs at Tokyo’s Alter Ego have developed a range of new recipes for Alter Ego’s seven-course omakase tasting menu. Some will change with the seasons, while…
Cooked oysters have been a crucial component of the Japanese cuisine since the Edo Period. Oftentimes considered a risky no-no by the Japanese upper class, raw oysters didn’t…
Sharp Corp. on Monday released three new models of its RoBoHoN humanoid robot with a wider range of use for families and corporate clients. The new lineup —…
The Super Cup’s annual mascot meet-and-greet event has become a hotter ticket than the match itself. Attendees snapped photos with their favorite characters from around the country on…
The plum blossom, or “ume” in Japanese, originated from China, and is often referred to as a symbol for health, hope and renewal. They can bloom as early…
Japanese “sofubi” (soft vinyl toys) aren’t necessarily for kids — art collectors and hardcore fans have been snatching up the creepy-yet-cute toys. In the 1990s and 2000s, independent…
“The main purpose of makeup for men is to simply add the necessary and eliminate the unnecessary … for us, makeup is just an extension of self-grooming,” says…
Valentine’s Day in Japan is traditionally a time for women to give men “obligatory chocolate.” But recent surveys show that more and more women are instead buying chocolate…
Hotel-cafe combinations are the latest trend in what has been Japan’s efforts to accommodate the increasing number of tourists. These Instagram-worthy spots do just that, while also providing…
When you hear the name “Toyota,” the first thing that comes to mind is the eponymous Japanese car brand. Toyota — which was originally known as Koromo until…