The latest Japan travel and culture news

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…

An illustrated samurai stands eats an apple in front of an orchard

Food

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…

Japanese Language

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…

A lesser known Japanese zoku, Karasu zoku

Entertainment

Three Lesser Known Japanese Zoku: Film, Music, and Fashion

The literal definition of the Japanese suffix "-zoku" translates to "tribe". However, it takes on a more nebulous meaning when describing subcultures…

Entertainment

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…

International residents in Japan's best cities for immigrants

Living in Japan

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.

History

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…

Living in Japan

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…