Wait! Before You Go...
Let’s stay in touch. Get our free newsletter to get our best stories every week on Japan travel, culture, and news.
Want a preview? Read our archives.
Read our privacy policy
Essay
Why singles life in Japan tends to be less like The Bachelor and more like The 40 Year Old Virgin.
Did you know that Japanese once only had four colors? A look at the interesting evolution of color vocabulary in the Japanese language.
How Japan's most popular New Years custom has changed over the centuries.
How the oldest celebrated holiday in Japan has changed throughout the years, and the traditions that have come along with it.
Though sometimes honored more in the breach than the observance, Japan's philosophy of "waste not, want not" strongly influences everyday culture.
Born in an era in Japan when women's rights were more oppressed than ever, Kimura Komako never gave up the fight - even when that meant taking the fight overseas.
Shinto is more than a religion - it's also an indelible part of Japanese culture. Krys Suzuki discusses the structure, beliefs, and complex history of Japan's native faith.
50 years ago, someone managed to steal 300 million yen without firing a shot. Was it, as some say, the perfect crime?
How do Japanese Christmas traditions differ from those around the world? A look at how the holiday has evolved over the years.