News

ENTERTAINMENT

Kwaidan: A Filmic Venture into Uncanny Japan

Eerie and beautiful, Kwaidan is the perfect introduction to the classic ghost stories of Japan. Further revelations await those who look deeper…

LIVING IN JAPAN

Tornadoes in Japan: A Rotating Rarity?

Tornadoes are far from the first natural disaster one thinks of in association with Japan - yet they occur more often than…

FOOD

Samurai Cultivator: The Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan

Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning…

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Pass the JLPT! How to Study for the JLPT Listening Section

The JLPT listening section can be challenging, especially for those living outside of Japan. Here's what you should know to ace the…

ENTERTAINMENT

Three Lesser Known Japanese Zoku: Film, Music, and Fashion

The literal definition of the Japanese suffix "-zoku" translates to "tribe". However, it takes on a more nebulous meaning when describing subcultures…

ENTERTAINMENT

Benshi: The Voice and Color of Japanese Silent Cinema

Once, professional live narrators for silent films in Japan were bigger stars than the actual actors onscreen. This is the story of…

LIVING IN JAPAN

Ranking Japan’s Best Cities for Immigrants

Perhaps it's surprising, or perhaps not—but when you weigh all of these factors, Tokyo is not the winner.

HISTORY

Queer Echoes: Koike Chikyoku, Unlikely Warrior Artist

The story of a little-know artist-turned-warrior during the waning days of the samurai -- and who just might have been a queer…