Lifestyle
Poems, paintings and puppet shows: Making the arts accessible in Japan
Art is transformative, changing the lives of people all around the world. It nurtures self-expression, builds communication skills and fuels learning through imagination. In Japan, there’s a growing number of organizations dedicated to making the arts more accessible. From poetry exhibitions to puppet theater productions, these projects amplify the voices… Read
How to deal with your Japanese neighbors
Moving to Japan can be an exciting adventure. One thing that many foreigners don’t realize, however, is how important it is to get along with their Japanese neighbors. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city or a quiet town; understanding the local customs and how to build good relationships with your neighbors… Read
Why do they give? Donors speak about what moves them and how they plan end-of-year donations
What motivates people to donate to charities or causes they care about is often deeply personal. Donors name relatives or friends who have survived or died from illnesses. They recount tearful conversations with their children. They point to their aspirations for how their communities and the larger world could be… Read
Japanese foundation tests mobile meditation truck in Osaka city with promising results
Whether it’s in a Buddhist temple or under a waterfall, Japan is hooked on meditation. But can you meditate anywhere, even in a truck? Japanese foundation Kansai Innovation tested out a new project in Osaka Prefecture’s Kadoma City, involving a truck equipped with a meditation room developed by Panasonic. Along with a meditation cushion,… Read
Survey reveals surprising age trend among paid subscribers of electronic comics in Japan
“Those youngsters and their newfangled technology!” is something you’d probably think a middle-aged person would say to a kid. But what if the tables were turned and it were the older ones using the most tech in a certain scenario? Actually, that’s pretty much what an Internet survey conducted by Oricon ME between… Read
Kotatsu heated tables for sofas rising in popularity, giving Japan best of both worlds this winter
Kotatsu, tables with a heater attached to their underside and a thick quilt sandwiched between a two-layer top, are one of the coziest ways to keep warm while relaxing at home during winter in Japan. There is a drawback to all that toasty comfort, though, which is that kotatsu are generally… Read
What I love about autumn in Kyushu
For almost a decade, I came to Japan as a tourist, spending the summer months hopping between Tokyo and Fukuoka and plenty of places in between. Of course, this summer schedule meant I was very familiar with kakigori (shaved ice) and fireworks in the scorching heat and humidity. But, I was still green to… Read
Chaos at unstaffed Japanese bento shop shows pitfalls of technology
Unstaffed stores have become more and more popular in Japan recently, with everything from clothes to gyoza now available at any time of the day or night. Those looking for a Japanese bento or side dish can stop by a well-known chain called Origin Delica, which has an unstaffed store in Tokyo’s Nishi-Asakusa district. Our reporter Seiji… Read
Modern Japanese monsters and their folklore equivalents
Yokai (Japanese spirits) and mythical creatures of Japanese lore have inspired artists, writers and poets for millennia. However, as the Japanese culture has changed, so have depictions of the legendary creatures with the creatures changing from a source of fear and fascination to more diverse and playful depictions. Nowhere is this truer than in pop culture… Read
MailMate: DX-ing mail for expats, akiya owners and startups
During the course of a year, Japanese residents can expect all of the following in their post box: tax notifications, residence tax premiums, health insurance premiums, pension premiums, health cards, the end-of-year withholding tax certificate and an unhealthy dose of paper advertisements no one can read. In the land where… Read
