Lifestyle
Japanese photographer captures Great Buddha’s ritual cleaning
Buddha statues can be seen at temples, sitting quietly with calm and peaceful faces. The size range is wide, but when you have to stand back to see the whole picture because it is so tall...the statue looks overwhelmingly majestic. As you can imagine, the bigger the statues are, the… Read
Preparing your child to walk to school in Japan without you
Perhaps the biggest and most immediate change that accompanies your child’s graduation from kindergarten to elementary school in Japan is his/her newfound independence. No longer assumed to require around-the-clock supervision, their first step out alone will likely be the walk to school and home again. Although most kids are delighted… Read
Japanese beauty brand drops word 'whitening' from its products
Beauty ideals differ somewhat from country to country, and here in Japan, one of the longstanding trends has been to lighten the skin, using all sorts of products from cleansers through to moisturisers and makeup. It’s a beauty standard supported by the skincare industry, with the word “whitening” widely used to promote products, but now one… Read
Japanese service turns 15,000 restaurants nationwide into food kitchens for needy kids
In recent years, child poverty has become a major social issue in Japan. In response, the number of Children's Food Kitchens, known in Japanese as 子供食堂 kodomo shokudo, has been growing nationwide. Through initiatives by local residents and local governments, kodomo shokudo provide free or low-cost hot meals to children, as well as… Read
Japan’s 'Care for Care Workers' project offers much-needed support during pandemic
Since February 2020, Japan, like much of the world, has been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. As of March 2021, people are still being urged to telework and refrain from unnecessary activities outside of their house in order to prevent infection. However, there are some industries where people have to… Read
New ‘2-on-1’ style online lessons look to turn 'eikawa' business on its head
“In the lesson, I can talk to my teacher one-on-one, and I can understand almost everything that he/she says. But I can't keep up with the speed native speakers talk at and often wonder how to make conversation.” If you’re an English learner or an English teacher, and this sounds… Read
Why is the Japanese wig industry flourishing in the pandemic when other businesses struggle?
Since the pandemic started around this time last year, many businesses have been struggling to make ends meet. In addition to many being forced to close or limit their hours last year, with the change of lifestyle that came from “stay-home” and “no crowd” recommendations, the demand for many products and services… Read
All you need to know about Japanese cherry blossoms
“Sakura, sakura, ima saki hokuru” (桜、桜、今咲き誇る; cherry blossom, now you are in full bloom) sang Naotaro Moriyama, son of the gorgeous Japanese folk and Jazz singer, Ryoko Moriyama. There are countless songs written and sung about cherry blossoms, as it’s the most important season here in Japan. The time for… Read
S.RIDE taxi cars in Tokyo will soon become moving ad galleries with new advanced window tech
Public transportation isn’t just a way to get people from one point to another—it’s also provided opportunities for various companies and organizations to promote their goods and services to a diverse audience. In Japan, it’s very common to see paper as well as digital advertisements on trains, whether hanging from the ceiling or paneled… Read
Some of Japan’s most iconic vending machines will soon be no more
Anyone who has spent time in Japan has seen their fair share of vending machines. There’s an estimated one vending machine for every 34 people, and even in the most unlikely of places, you’re sure to spot one offering up something practical or something rare and luxurious. But perhaps not for much longer. Nichirei’s Hot… Read
