This week's installment of Japanophiles features a lively conversation with a foreigner making his home in Japan. Bartholomeus Greb, a native of Poland, manages Kiya Ryokan, a historic inn established in 1911. He is currently exploring aven…

This week’s installment of Japanophiles returns, offering lively conversations with those who have made Japan their home. We speak with Ivan Vartanian, a US-based photobook producer who has earned the confidence of the country’s foremost ph…

This episode of Japanophiles continues our series of vibrant conversations with foreigners embracing life in Japan. Alex Bennett, a New Zealander, dedicates himself to understanding bushido, the samurai way, and its echoes within martial ar…

Spanning the treacherous waters between Honshu and Hokkaido, the Seikan Tunnel stands as the world's longest undersea passage. Its construction, a monumental undertaking spanning twenty-four years, demanded immense dedication and exacted a …

The region of Japan blanketed in snow for nearly half the year experiences prodigious snowfall annually. The inhabitants have long developed practical strategies for enduring the severe winters, and more recently, inventive methods of drawi…

Japanese comedy has long diverged from its Western counterpart, cultivating a unique sensibility for eliciting laughter. The country boasts a remarkable variety of humorous pursuits—from stand-up and sketch to elaborate theatrical productio…

The Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway stands as the city's vital artery, its most significant road network. Initiated half a century ago with a modest 4.5-kilometer section constructed for the 1964 Olympics, it has since evolved into an intrica…

The fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms in Japan coincides with a period of significant transition. As late March gives way to April, graduations occur nationwide, followed by the welcoming ceremonies for students and employees embarking on …

Japan’s streets often strike visitors as remarkably clean, a testament to a cultural emphasis on resourcefulness deeply ingrained in this island nation's history of scarcity. Yet, like other industrialized countries, Japan is not immune to …

"Jidaigeki," meaning "period dramas," encompasses plays, films, and television dramas that portray Japan from its earliest eras through the time of the samurai. These narratives originated as kabuki theater, and the first jidaigeki broadcas…

Despite possessing the lowest obesity rate among industrialized nations, Japan presents a curious paradox: weight loss appears to be a national preoccupation, embraced by everyone from schoolgirls to business executives. This raises the que…

Across Japan's steep-sided canyons, colossal dams punctuate the landscape, a testament to human engineering. These structures serve vital purposes: water supply, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation. Yet, such benefits often ex…

Japan's beloved izakaya – traditional pubs – provide a welcoming space for refreshing drinks, thoughtfully prepared comfort food, and a vibrant, convivial atmosphere. These establishments generally fall into two categories: independently ow…

For decades, Japan's beer market was largely controlled by the established breweries. However, in recent years, craft beers from smaller producers have risen to prominence. Now, these Japanese craft beers are gaining recognition internation…

Fermented foods form a cornerstone of the Japanese culinary tradition, manifesting in a diverse array of preparations: soy sauce, miso, vinegar, pickles, natto, and many others. Their inherent ability to preserve and their rich nutritional …

Japan holds the global top spot for umbrella sales, with a staggering 140 million purchased annually. In a land frequently touched by rain, the umbrella is an essential item; yet, on sunnier days, many choose to carry parasols for protectio…

Each year, the business districts of Japan become a theater for a significant contest: the pursuit of a first job. As their university studies conclude, students dedicate their final year to securing a permanent position with comprehensive …

This week’s installment of Japanophiles features a lively conversation with a foreigner making his home in Japan. In Takasaki, a city north of Tokyo, Amir Takahashi operates a thriving bakery. Originally from Iran, he arrived in Japan at th…

Even after years of formal study, many Japanese find themselves struggling with English. This perhaps explains the considerable success of Japan's English conversation industry, which generates hundreds of billions of yen annually. This epi…

Japanese students spend years learning English, typically beginning in elementary school, yet the most effective methods of instruction remain a persistent puzzle. In the second installment of our exploration of English education in Japan, …

Japan's shrines and temples are testaments to enduring craftsmanship, built with refined methods honed over generations. This installment spotlights the shrine and temple carpenters—the skilled artisans who shaped many of the nation’s most …

For over four centuries, Bunraku has thrived as a cornerstone of Japanese performing arts. This tradition seamlessly blends stylized storytelling and music with puppets so vividly rendered they seem poised to breathe. Today on Japanology Pl…

Each year, children in Japan anticipate their summer break, a period typically spanning from late July to late August. How do these young people occupy themselves during the warmest months? Their schedules often fill with a mix of homework,…

Swimming is a cherished pastime for Japanese people of all ages, from the youngest children to the elderly. In the era of the samurai, proficiency in swimming provided a distinct advantage on the battlefield, and their methods have been car…

Japan embraces its summer heat with a beloved tradition: haunted houses. Dozens of these attractions, often found within theme parks, offer a unique brand of chilling entertainment. They draw crowds seeking respite from the oppressive heat,…

Japan's volcanic landscape gifts the country with an abundance of hot springs, cherished as *onsen*. These natural baths have offered physical and spiritual renewal for centuries. In times of upheaval, they tended to wounded samurai, and th…

This installment of our Japanophiles series offers a glimpse into the lives of foreigners drawn to Japan. From an early fascination with samurai, New Yorker Andrew Mancabelli pursued a career as an armorsmith in the country. Yet, the demand…

Cameras are woven into the fabric of daily life in Japan, ranging from pocket-sized digital models to professional-grade SLRs and those integrated into smartphones. Japanese craftsmanship has garnered these cameras worldwide acclaim, prized…

The Japanese possess a remarkable talent for packaging, transforming even the simplest items like convenience store rice balls into objects of thoughtful presentation. From ingenious wrapping to elaborate cardboard boxes, meticulous care is…

Tokyo presents a remarkable spectrum of dwellings, ranging from detached houses and towering apartment blocks to compact homes on small plots and sprawling dormitories. Many residences demonstrate ingenious spatial planning, exemplified by …

This installment of our Japanophiles series offers a glimpse into the lives of foreigners embracing Japanese culture. For centuries, Japanese homes have primarily been constructed from wood. Yet, modern construction methods have led to a de…

Approximately twenty thousand species of seaweed are estimated to exist. Among these is kombu, a variety of edible kelp. Cultivated and consumed in Japan since antiquity, kombu is far more than a mere culinary ingredient; it holds symbolic …

A crucial element of any journey is selecting accommodation. In Japan, travelers encounter a diverse range of choices, spanning from time-honored Japanese inns known as ryokan to compact capsule hotels offering individual sleeping pods. Ove…

In Japan, cleanliness has long been regarded as a fundamental aspect of a virtuous life. This ethos is increasingly resonating globally, as the world embraces a distinctly Japanese approach to order and neatness. Today, we explore this prac…

Less than an hour's train ride from central Tokyo, Mount Takao draws approximately 2.7 million visitors annually. This verdant, wooded sanctuary has long been considered a dwelling place for sacred beings. Today, we speak with Shujin Sato, …