Japan is famous for many things. Seen as a hub of wacky trends and colorful fashions, people associate Japan with innovation and uniqueness. However, there is another part of Japanese entertainment which is something of a phenomenon and now dominates the industry. It is Idol Culture, and it is attracting people both in the country…

Do you have a tattoo? If not, perhaps you are thinking of getting one. Many people have tattoos that symbolize things that are important to them, such as people, places, or nostalgic memories. Tattoos have different meanings around the world; for example, they have held different significant meanings in various tribes and religions for years.…

Sumire Nakamura, a fourth grader, now 9 years old is set to become the youngest Go Professional player at the age of 10, this year in April. According to the Nihon Ki- In Association, the girl passed an exam for gifted youngsters, allowing her to take her first step in becoming the youngest professional Go…

Japan is one of the world’s leading countries in the production of animated works. Although Dreamworks and Disney will no doubt come to mind when someone mentions animation, the Japanese company Studio Ghibli is renowned for its feature films and other animated works such as short films and commercials. With their stunning art style and…

During your trips to Japan, you will, of course, hear people all around you speaking Japanese. Common words and expressions you may encounter include “kawaii” (cute), “samui” (cold), “atsui” (hot) “ne!” (a tag question meaning “isn’t it?”, “aren’t you?”, etc), arigatou (thank you) and “mata ne” (see you), and more. Have you ever come across…

Hatsuyume (初夢) means the first dream of the New Year. It is traditionally believed to foretell the kind of year and luck you will receive for the year ahead. As New Year’s Day (1st of January) is a quiet celebration and people start resuming their regular routines the following day, hatsuyume is the dream you…

Sugoroku is a Japanese board game which has become a tradition for kids to play during the New Year’s Day. Usually children’s magazines would include additions to the game in their January issues. The history of Sugoroku can be traced back to the 12th century. In the 17th century, e-sugoroku (“e” meaning picture) which is…

Let`s discuss about the difference between Japanese People, Koreans and Chinese People looking at their fashion style. Imagine you come to Japan, but have no idea what language people use, but just by looking at their outfit you figure out their country. There are also other ways to recognize them(you can read more here), but…

Have you ever wondered how Japanese people celebrate Christmas? Well, maybe you haven’t as only less than one percent of Japan’s population is Christian and Christmas is not regarded as a national holiday here, in Japan. Nevertheless, Christmas is one of the largest and most popular holidays around the world and during this period of…

If you are in Japan throughout November or December, it will become obvious to you that Christmas is definitely celebrated here. Department stores and shopping arcades are lined with decorations, parks are lit up with lights and Christmas carols seem to be playing everywhere. Christmas in Japan, however, is not quite the same as Christmas…