by Zoria Petkoska The spontaneous Halloween bash that has been going on annually for several days around October 31st in Shibuya might never be the same again. The street party is a Tokyo legend, being free in every sense of the word… until now. What happened in Shibuya Halloween 2018? In 2018, according to the…

by Martin Danker On October 1, 2019, Japan’s consumption tax finally increased to 10%. This had been long in the making, and something Japanese residents knew would eventually happen. However, within the first days of the consumption tax increase (which went up from 8% to 10%), retailers and consumers have been failing to adjust, and…

On October 1 2019, the 10% consumption tax officially went into effect in Japan. Before the tax increase, the whole country witnessed massive consumption waves, in which people rushed to buy goods for storage, especially luxury items. On the last day of the old tax rate (September 30), shops and malls saw long lines queued up at checkout counters to save that 2%. What…

by Martin Danker Dramatic stories about people who complained about the babies they had to sit next to during a long flight are far too common, from this model who was criticized after posting an Instagram Story complaining about a baby , to this passenger who was kicked out of a plane for refusing to…

Special skilled residence status (特定技能, tokutei gino) is a great opportunity for all foreigners currently living inside and outside Japan, wishing to have a stable job, and to eventually settle down in this most developed country of Asia. This status of residence has only been put into effect since this April (2019), but it has made a…

by Zoria Petkoska Hello September and hello anticipation for Halloween and everything Autumn themed! Many brands in Japan started unveiling their seasonal items, and Krispy Kreme is one of the most creative among them! The beloved American doughnut brand in Japan fuses cultures perfectly and blends seasonal autumn flavours with Halloween symbols. *Author’s photo Author’s…

by Martin Danker Tokyo is a megacity of enormous proportions, but compared with other metropolis that have constantly push the envelope to make taller skyscrapers (some of which constitute supertall skyscrapers), Tokyo is a city that has been quite conservative with its approach to tall structures. This should come as no surprise, considering that Japan…

Rugby World Cup host city Kumagaya is offering international rugby fans the chance to sample Japanese sake while riding on its scenic mountain train, the SL Paleo Express. The SL Paleo Express is a steam locomotive that runs through Chichibu between Kumagaya City and Chichibu City in Saitama Prefecture. From September 1 through October 14,…

Umashima might not be as famous as Aoshima, the famous Cat Island located in Ehime Prefecture. Nevertheless, this small island in Fukushima Prefecture is also home to a large population of felines, 90, to be exact. However, that number has decreased at an alarming rate, and now the feline population totals 30. The Crime この投稿をInstagramで見る…

The last week of July marked the official end of the rainy season. This year, the rainy season that usually takes place in June, came in late. As a result, rainy days extended to most of July, with the heat and humidity associated with Japanese summers just looming around the corner. As soon as the…