The unique practice of ohaguro is a very traditional dyeing process in Japan whereby teeth are dyed black. Of course, this practice has all but died out now, and nowadays people both in Japan and around the world wish for the whitest teeth they can get. Teeth whitening is a normal process and an increasingly…

The “hime cut” (姫カット) is a very popular hairstyle which originated in Japan. It is the favorite of fashionistas, including celebrities across the world from Taylor Swift to many Asian celebrities. It is said to make one look prettier and increases elegance and grace. Let’s take a look at this exotic hairstyle! History The hime…

With the arrival of June, this marks the beginning of summer as temperatures climb higher and the sun sets later in the day. In the kyuureki (the Japanese lunar calendar), the month of June is called Minazuki (水無月) which means the month with no water. As to why this is so, it is said that…

Many years ago, in high school, I was a total otaku. I loved JRPGs, anime, and most of all samurai. I have always loved the idea of a lonely warrior who can match wits as well as blades. So, naturally I fell in love with anime such as the classic Ruroni Kenshin series, and when…

Ball games are popular all around the world and Japan is no exception. During the Heian Period (9th till 12th century AD) a non-competitive sport known as ‘kemari’ was extremely popular. It was so popular that it has even been revived in the modern times. The objective of the game is to have the ball…

During the Heian period, which lasted roughly from the 9th to the 12th century, there was a very unique and fascinating standard of beauty. One important aspect of beauty for Japanese women during the Heian period was sporting incredibly long hair. This must be the dream era for admirers of long hair! Long Hair, Don’t…