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UNSEEN JAPAN

Essay

Dual tornadoes strike the Izu islands in Japan.

Tornadoes in Japan: A Rotating Rarity?

Tornadoes are far from the first natural disaster one thinks of in association with Japan - yet they occur more often than you may realize.
An illustrated samurai stands eats an apple in front of an orchard

Samurai Cultivator: The Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan

Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning days of the samurai.
Woman with headphones and cell phone

Pass the JLPT! How to Study for the JLPT Listening Section

The JLPT listening section can be challenging, especially for those living outside of Japan. Here's what you should know to ace the test.
A scene of a benshi performing.

Benshi: The Voice and Color of Japanese Silent Cinema

Once, professional live narrators for silent films in Japan were bigger stars than the actual actors onscreen. This is the story of a lost cinema art form.

Ranking Japan’s Best Cities for Immigrants

Perhaps it's surprising, or perhaps not—but when you weigh all of these factors, Tokyo is not the winner.
An Edo-era woman with naginata and brush stands before the colors of the Lesbian flag, symbolizing the queer aspects of this story.

Queer Echoes: Koike Chikyoku, Unlikely Warrior Artist

The story of a little-know artist-turned-warrior during the waning days of the samurai -- and who just might have been a queer woman.
Tokyo crowds

What Is My Worth as a Foreigner in Japan? A Pandemic Query

Our author discusses how the pandemic has laid bare elements of how the Japanese public and government perceive the foreign residents in their midst.
Read real japanese book series

Pass the JLPT! How to Study for the JLPT Reading Section

The JLPT reading section is likely the most difficult part of the entire test. Why? While all other questions are relatively straightforward, reading comprehension questions tend to be abstract.
A rabbit, moon, Tsukimi dango, autumn leaves, and more -symbols of Tsukimi.

Appreciating the Moon in Japan, Land of the Rising Sun

Although Japan is the land of the rising sun, with its indigenous religion centering around the sun goddess, we cannot overlook the importance of the moon in Japan's culture.

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