[ad_1] Happy New Year! For New Year’s 2022, we explored New Year’s Traditions in Sendai, and the unique decoration that is the Sendai-style kadomatsu. This year, we go to the other side of the Ōu Mountains and explore the Namahage, one of the symbols of New Year in Akita Prefecture. While namahage are fierce, oni-like …
Namahage: In Japan’s Akita, Demons Ring in the New Year Read More »
[ad_1] It seems everything is becoming a subscription these days. However, one company in Japan may have just taken the concept too far. Noraneko Bank, a company in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward that manages stray cats, opened its “Neko Hodai” (ねこホーダイ, “Unlimited Cats”) service on December 15th. For a paltry sum of 380 yen (around USD …
Japanese Company Suspends Controversial New “Cat Subscription” Service Read More »
[ad_1] Japan’s katakana alphabet allows the language to borrow words from English, Spanish, French, and many other countries and tongues from around the world. Some of these words both sound like and mean exactly what you think they are. You can pick up some パン (pan, from the Spanish word for “bread”) at a Japanese …
Beware These False Friends Between English and Japanese! Read More »
[ad_1] Wireless earphones have easily become an essential part of our everyday lives. But in terms of their aesthetics, there’s not much to choose from. Most wireless earphones generally feature standard designs and colorways. But did you know that in Japan, you can buy wireless earphones based on your favorite anime characters? In Japan, large …
Interesting Japan-Exclusive Collaboration Earphones – ZenMarket.jp Read More »
[ad_1] A Korean restaurant in Japan found out the hard way that, when it comes to free machine translation tools, you get what you pay for. Hangsome (ハンサム) , a Korean specialty restaurant operated by Ikka Dining Project in Ishikawa, Chiba Prefecture, wanted to print a sign welcoming customers in Korean. According to local media …
Google Translate Fail: Japan Restaurant Tells Customers “Go Away” in Korean Read More »
[ad_1] The recent change to the age of adulthood in Japan is prompting changes to the country’s “Coming of Age” ceremonies. However, rather than lower the age of the ceremony itself, most locales seem content with a simple rebrand. Coming of Age ceremonies in Japan date back to around 1948. The ceremonies are held by …
As Adult Age Lowers, Japan’s “Coming of Age” Ceremonies Rebrand Read More »
[ad_1] Terao Saho (寺尾紗穂) begins this year’s “Someone’s melody” with her breathy voice floating down from a piercing high note along with a flowing piano arpeggio. This characteristic, lighter-than-air lilt to her voice has defined Terao’s nearly two-decade-long musical career. But an especially melancholy edge and a full orchestral backing make her 2022 solo effort …
Terao Saho: Singer-songwriter-essayist floats between real and ethereal Read More »
[ad_1] Japanese reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, becoming the fourth minister to leave the cabinet appointed by Kishida in August. Three other ministers have quit in close succession due to scandals, some involving funding and ties with the Unification Church. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s close …
Reconstruction minister quits over election law violation allegations Read More »
[ad_1] Marie Kondo wants you to know that her approach to cleaning isn’t no “ordinary cleaning”. The world-famous Japanese tidiness guru discussed her philosophy of cleanliness with national newspaper Asahi Shimbun. “The method of cleaning I’m advocating isn’t the everyday method of returning things to normal or tidying up here and there in the gaps …
Marie Kondo: My Cleaning Method is “Tidying Up the Past” Read More »
[ad_1] A woman employed by the Tokyo Taxation Bureau in Japan has been fired from her job for working eight separate jobs as a sex worker. The Bureau said the woman violated regulations against holding a second job. According to local media reports, the woman, 24, says she started working in order to cover her …