The latest Japan travel and culture news

The proposed marriage of Japanese Princess Mako to a regular citizen hits a snag that reveals some of the problematic elements of…

Japan loves the ocean (it’s surrounded by it, so it’s almost a survival instinct), and a favorite Japanese pastime is going to…

Nakada Holdings, which runs a chain of kushikatsu (deep-fried meat skewer) restaurants, decided to get a leg up on the law, and…

At the height of her fame, Osen suddenly disappeared.

The tale of two very similar women, and their very similar struggle.

A fateful encounter in Tokyo with a bottle of Hibiki 17 led me to explore why Japanese whiskey is flying off shelves…

The tackle that stunned a nation - and the brave apology.

How a former hostess kept one step ahead of the police - and nearly ran out the statute of limitations on her…

Note: Since this piece was published, Krys Suzuki has written a fuller article on the history, myth, and cultural import of Aokihagara. Please…