Lifestyle
Japanese amusement park offers mask stickers so guests can silently ‘scream’ on roller coasters
Tokyo Disneyland and other Japanese amusement parks recently amused netizens worldwide by asking visitors to please refrain from screaming when riding the attractions. To stop the potential spread of coronavirus, visitors were asked to instead "scream inside their hearts" to keep any germs from flying out. But that begs the question; how are you… Read
'Zashiki warashi' -- the mythical children who look after your house
Perhaps you’ve heard of zashiki warashi? They’re pretty famous in Japanese folklore, and still crop up regularly in anime and manga. They’re ghostly children who act as guardians of family homes. There are lots of variations of zashiki warashi across Tohoku, the northeastern part of the Japanese mainland, with minor differences in appearance… Read
6 online workshops to experience Japan from home
In our current world of social distancing, activities aimed at keeping us home whilst still being able to have an enjoyable time, are becoming more and more in demand. Luckily for us, we live in the 21st century where technological innovations allow us to connect with anyone in the world! From the… Read
Surviving selfies: Japan's 'purikura' photo booths cling on
A pair of Japanese schoolgirls primp their hair before a long mirror, preparing for the perfect shot. But they are not taking a smartphone selfie, they are using a purikura photo booth. Old-style photo booths have staged something of a comeback in parts of the world in recent years, for… Read
TeamLab art exhibition turns acorn forest into wonderland of color
TeamLab is a group that creates art work with the latest digital technology in both Japan and overseas, such as “TeamLab Borderless” in Odaiba, Tokyo, their famous exhibitions at Shimogamo Temple, one of the world’s heritage sites in Kyoto and Singapore art museum. TeamLab announced that starting Aug 1, inHigashi Tokorozawa… Read
Rilakkuma will greet your guests and celebrate your big day with first official wedding plan
Since the recent global pandemic put a damper on many a wedding, the number of events taking place has taken a nosedive and put the wedding plan industry in a precarious postion. Escrit, a Japanese company which produces weddings and receptions, are hoping to uplift the industry with a collaboration… Read
80,000 sunflowers take center stage at Osaka’s Himawari Festa
Japan has a number of festivals spread across the year which pay honor to the country’s numerous plants and flowers. In spring we have the sakura festivals, in early summer there are the hydrangea festivals, and in the autumn a number of festivals and events center around chrysanthemums. But we… Read
Eleanor Roosevelt visits a burakumin village and Emperor Hirohito in 1953
If you walked the streets of Tokyo in June 1953, you would have witnessed a city being pulled in three different directions. It had been a little less than eight years since the Japanese surrendered, ending World War II, and the physical and emotional scars were still visible. Despite the… Read
'Whitening' creams undergo a makeover but colorism persists
The world's biggest cosmetics companies have been selling a fairy tale that often goes something like this: If your husband's lost interest in you, if your colleagues dismiss you at work, if your talents are ignored, whiten your skin to turn your love life around, boost your career and command… Read
Time traveling online survey gets Japanese people nostalgic for their youth
In Japan, eras are defined by the reigning emperor. Currently, Japan is in the Reiwa era, after the abdication of former Emperor Akihito last year. Much like eras in Western culture, Japanese eras are remembered through major events, fashion styles, and pop culture, and many people remember previous eras fondly. But if they… Read
