Traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) come in different shapes, sizes and stories. Typically served with tea, the culture of gifting wagashi was mentioned in historical tales from the Muromachi era. At Toyama City's Matsukawa Teahouse you can learn how to make wagashi (complete with an interpreter), and then take a quiet river cruise.
Located near the JR Shinjuku Southeast Exit, this restaurant rests near a bridge leading into the Takashimaya Department Store. Countless sets of nostalgia grace the walls of the restaurant, all commemorating the illustrious career of pro-wrestler turned politician, Antonio Inoki.
For me, one of my “literary heroes” in this regard is Haruki Murakami. However, such is the humility of this genius, Murakami does not let such notions get to him. In fact he actually seems quite uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Nearly two million people live in Fukushima. The majority of the prefecture – the third largest after Hokkaido and Iwate – was untouched by radiation, while many areas that were impacted have reached levels below what is reported in many cities around the world. Visitors need not worry about eating the produce or drinking the water. The bigger concern is whether everything Fukushima has to offer can be packed into a single trip!
With its signature kappa (a Japanese mythological monster) mascot, Kappunk festival hosts dozens of punk rock bands from all over the world for 3 full days of hardcore rock festivities. It sparked a thought for me, how does Japanese punk culture compare to that of the UK or America?
Japan is home to some of the most unique and creative minds when it comes to fashion. Japanese fashion trends can also be regarded as something weird but still popular. Here are some of the strangest fashion trends originating in Japan that might be your inspiration for a new fashion style.
Japanese school uniforms were inspired by the European-style naval uniforms also known as sailor suits, where as boy's were inspired by the Japanese army. They try to make a school uniform that distinguishes the wearers as school age children but also looks attractive enough that they would want to wear it just like any other clothing.
Osaka has a rich and deep underground music scene ranging from electronica, to glitch, to hardcore punk, to metal, and everything in between. Additionally, many foreign acts who are touring Japan will make at least one stop in Osaka and have support from the local acts. A result of all of this is that Osaka is home to plenty of live houses and concert halls, big and small.
Asuka, the origin of the rising sun and arguably the first capital of Japan during the Asuka period, is an ancient village filled with precious treasures and natural wonders that are extremely significant to Japanese history.
It is a traditional strategy game that has since been rooted into the culture of not just China and Japan, but also Korea to Tibet over centuries. In recent years, Go has started to make its way across the entire world including Europe and even America as far as competitive sport goes.
The name means "doll town," and a long time ago the area was famous for its puppet shows, puppet makers, and puppeteers. Nowadays, the only remaining doll "theaters" are the two signature Ningyocho clocktowers. Shows run hourly from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. but be sure to have your camera ready, because they last only 2 minutes!
For much of Japan’s history, the majority of the population of Japan had been farmers. They would pray to their god and play drums to celebrate harvests, give thanks, or avoid disasters. This tradition birthed yearly festivals.
