Lifestyle
7 must-know things about the Japanese home and kitchen
My first experience of a typical Japanese home was at my homestay mother’s house in Gunma prefecture when I was a student. Later in the years, while working in Niigata prefecture, I relived the experience in my own apartment which was also equipped with a typical Japanese kitchen. It was… Read
'Polka dot queen' Yayoi Kusama to open museum in Tokyo
World famous Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known as "the queen of polka dots", will open a museum exhibiting her works in Tokyo in October, an official said. Kusama, 88, is known for her use of vivid color in her works that often depict polka dots and spotted pumpkins. She often… Read
How to make an entire origami schoolgirl and sailor suit out of a single piece of paper
Aside from origami’s pure beauty, what makes the paper-folding art form so fascinating is its versatility, From a sheet of paper, even beginners can quickly learn to make such popular Japanese motifs as cranes, maple leaves and shuriken. Of course, those simple projects are just the beginning of what you can do with origami. If, for example, your skills… Read
Kanagawa governor visits Vietnam to promote friendly relations
Since 2015, the Kanagawa Prefectural Government has held “Vietnam Festa in Kanagawa,” the largest-scale Vietnam event in the country, jointly with the Vietnamese Embassy to Japan. In the business field, the prefecture is actively supporting Kanagawa-based companies entering the Vietnamese market, and promoting Kanagawa's appeal to Vietnamese tourists. To further develop… Read
Japan is running out of swordsmiths, and a strict apprenticeship requirement is a big reason why
Although it might sound unusual for artifacts with a centuries-long history, swords are currently in vogue in Japan. Museum exhibitions of historically significant katana have been attracting large, enthusiastic crowds in recent years, but the blades’ surging popularity is yet to solve a few problems. In 1989, the Japanese Swordsmith Association counted… Read
Labor-short Japan more at home with automation than U.S.
Thousands upon thousands of cans are filled with beer, capped and washed, wrapped into six-packs, and boxed at dizzying speeds — 1,500 a minute, to be exact — on humming conveyor belts that zip and wind in a sprawling factory near Tokyo. Nary a soul is in sight in this… Read
These easy DIY bath bombs can be made with ingredients from the 100 yen shop
In Western countries people generally forego a bath in favor of a quick shower, but for many people in Japan, a soak in the bath is part of their nightly ritual. Baths are a great way to relax after a tough day, and sprinkling in some aromatic bath powder or tossing in… Read
Breaking up isn't easy …. especially in a foreign country
Being dumped in a different country is heartbreaking and frustrating to say the very least. But, before you cover yourself with your futon and refuse to leave the house for the next few weeks, read on for a few tips that will help you deal with it, eventually helping you… Read
Brain power: Would free university make Japan better?
In 2016, the number of babies born in Japan fell below 1 million for the first time since 1899. The country’s fertility rate—the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime—was 1.44, while Japan is said to need a rate of at least 2.07 to maintain its… Read
Japanese women asked what they would do if they had a man’s body for one day in survey
Japanese survey site Minna no Koe recently polled Japanese women about what they would do if they were a man for one day. 4,043 respondents weighed in with their hypothetical plans, so let’s take look at the top eight. 8. Give someone a kabe-don (3 percent of respondents) While the maneuver doesn’t require any exclusively… Read
