Knives used to carve them are specialized tools called “satou” or “hidari-ba” which are more like tiny scrapers than knives. They look like dental picks for mythical creatures to be used by monstrous dentists. I acquired my first set of satou knives from master carver Kazuaki Nakamura but I needed a knife suited to my individual needs: One that was curved in the opposite direction to the knife included in the set.
CultureAll Japan
Akira Fuyuno
November 6, 2018
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’ll almost certainly have Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple visit on your itinerary—and if not, you should. If you want a one-of-a-kind souvenir, a goshuin is just what you’re looking for!
CultureSightseeingAll Japan
Damian Rogers
November 2, 2018
What with new sounds, grammar that’s entirely different from English, and three writing alphabets that take years to master, Japanese is considered a very hard language to learn. However, it can also be easy in places, and for people interested in visiting or living in the country, speaking it is a valuable skill.
All Japan
Luna
October 29, 2018
Japan has a wealth of excellent, tense and exciting TV drama to offer the world. Here's the best three from the past decade.
CultureAll Japan
Peter Leonard
October 22, 2018
Traveling Japan is a special experience. For those lucky enough to spend a significant amount of time in Japan, these aspects of life may even become accepted as an everyday fact, but they never lose their uniqueness. Here are 4 unique things to notice when traveling Japan.
Food & DrinkTravel TipsAll Japan
Luke Houghton
October 15, 2018
So you landed in Japan on an ESL grant or some other job, hoping that you might be able to live in Tokyo or Yokohama, but instead you were posted in some one-horse town in the boonies. Japan is known for its powder snow in the north, scuba diving points in the south, and lots of hiking trails in between. There are millions of enthusiasts of both river fishing and sea fishing. Depending on where you live, there are places to go canoeing, or rafting, or cave exploring.
NatureAll Japan
Akira Fuyuno
October 12, 2018
It's also a great opportunity to try and speak a little of the local language; showing your interest and respect for the home culture whilst (usually!) making the eatery staff smile. So let's grab some handy Japanese foodie phrases and hit the soba shop, izakaya, sushi bar and beyond!
All Japan
Francesca Le Lohe
October 12, 2018
If you have been living in Japan or traveling the country, you are very familiar with the 100 yen stores called Daiso. You can get anything here. It is a paradise of abundance. But maybe you have found yourself frustrated with the number of times you had to run back here because the purchased item repeatedly broke.
ShoppingAll Japan
Annabell
October 9, 2018
There used to be thousands of ferry lines connecting the over four hundred inhabited islands of the Japanese archipelago. But that number has been steadily declining since the islands became increasingly connected by bridges and tunnels. It is a shame that we no longer have such charming little lines as the Tako Ferry. But despite the arguably diminished demand, some ferry lines are still alive and well.
Travel TipsAll Japan
Akira Fuyuno
October 5, 2018
“Kagura” refers to the Shinto theatrical dance dedicated to honor Shinto gods and are known to predate the Noh tradition, therefore, evolving as early as the 14th century. The Kagura Mai dance is perhaps one of the oldest forms of Japanese ritual dance performed in many shrines all over Japan, and consists of several types.
CultureAll Japan
Alma Reyes
September 28, 2018
Many travelers will be anxious about preparing themselves for visiting Japan. In tour guide books you can find tips on what Japan has to offer in comparison to your home country. But let me give you a little insight into what you will not find in Japan and how you can even benefit from it.
CultureTravel TipsAll Japan
Annabell
September 21, 2018
My mother and my grandmother used to make pickles at home all the time. We don’t see them being home made very much these days. If you want to have a uniquely Japanese experience at minimal cost, you might actually enjoy making “tsukemono” at home.
Food & DrinkAll Japan
Akira Fuyuno
September 3, 2018
Summer's here and for Japan, that means hot weather, exciting festivals, and fun cultural activities in every prefecture celebrated by all people young and old. With that said, Japan is the place to be this summer and here are 5 reasons why.
CultureFood & DrinkAll Japan
Koyomi
August 13, 2018
The Japanese serow is an animal that has appeared in pop culture as well. It has been seen in the soccer based game and anime, “Inazuma Eleven GO”, and it is also said that the Ghibli character, the “Forest Spirit” in its deer form from Director Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke is based on the Japanese serow. Even the ever-so-popular Pokemon that a lot of us grew up watching has a character representation of this animal.
NatureAll Japan
Koyomi
August 10, 2018
This year's big summer trend is turning your favorite soft drinks into clear versions! What's available, and are they any good?
Food & DrinkAll Japan
Peter Leonard
July 23, 2018
Japanese characters: for the first ten months I lived in Japan, I didn’t know how to read any of them. I was illiterate. When I walked the streets, I would look up at the signs on buildings and have no idea what they said.
CultureAll Japan
Dan Collins
July 7, 2018
There are thousands of variations of ramen, and you can argue that no two are the same. But it is generally acknowledged that ramen can be grouped into five basic types. Here is a quick rundown.
Food & DrinkAll Japan
Akira Fuyuno
June 13, 2018
Every language has proverbs, and these nuggets of wisdom contain rich insights into the culture and mindset. Japan is no exception. Here are six examples of Japanese proverbs.
CultureAll Japan
Peter Leonard
May 2, 2018
