CULTURE
Hajichi: The Banned Traditional Tattoos of Okinawa
These tattoos, native to the Ryukyuan people, were once banned from being practiced. Now, they're making a comeback.
okinawa
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CULTURE
TRAVEL
Don’t Miss Out on Japan’s Five Most Charming Prefectures
A 2020 survey reveals the most charming prefectures in Japan according to locals. Is your favorite amongst the top five?
LAW & CRIME
Japan Gun Laws Spur Astonishing Okinawa Crime
A recent robbery in Okinawa highlights something of a trend in generally gun-less Japan: crimes committed with imitation weaponry.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
What’s Up With Okinawan Names? A Language History
Why are Okinawan names difficult for even mainland Japanese speakers? How the languages of the Ryukyu kingdom survived - despite attempts to…
FOOD
Unique Japanese Food: Cuisine You’ll Only Find in Japan
Do you know shirako, konnyaku, and chankonabe? Go beyond ramen and learn about a host of unique Japanese ingredients and food prep…
CULTURE
The Lesser-Known Festivals of Japan: Scary Edition
These festivals in Japan may not be as well known as some of their counterparts, but they're guaranteed to send a chill…
HISTORY
Saigo Takamori: Hero of the Meiji Restoration
How the "last samurai" Saigo Takamori escaped exile and changed Japan forever - before he rebelled against the new state he helped…
FEATURED
The Indigenous Ryukyu People of Okinawa
Discover the history of the indigenous Ryukyu people, the culture that inhabited Okinawa before it was ever even a part of Japan.