JAPANESE LANGUAGE
You Can Write These Japanese Loan Words in Kanji (But Probably Shouldn’t)
We typically write them in katakana now - but these Japanese words originally had kanji. How many of these can YOU read?
Edo era
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JAPANESE LANGUAGE
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Tako! How Did “Octopus” Become a Japanese Insult?
Did someone just call you an "octopus"? How "tako" became both a fish and an insult in Japanese (spoiler alert: it involves…
FOOD
Tsukudani: The Fishy Preserves that Saved a Shogun
June 29th is "Tsukudani Day," a minor holiday for the fish-and-seaweed dish. It's also the food that saved shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's life.
CULTURE
Japan’s “Mermaid Mummy” Finally Identified via New Research
A team of researchers set out to discover the true identity of a "mermaid mummy" enshrined in a Japanese temple. The result?
CULTURE
The Old Edo Towns of Japan
Want to experience Edo-era Japan? Check out the Koedo areas of Japan that strive to preserve a moment in time.
HISTORY
How Odaiba Got its “O”: A Brief Tokyo History
The island of Odaiba is one of Tokyo's major landmarks. Not long ago, however, it didn't even exist. Discover Tokyo history rising…
HISTORY
Was Divorce in Japan’s Edo Era Easy?
Divorce in Japan's Edo era was a simple affair...if you were a man. For women, "divorce temples" provided a way out.
FEATURED
The Disappearance of Meiji: Why it’s Hard to Find Tokyo’s Recent Past
In Tokyo, the recent past is often obscured beneath endless concrete. Take a journey through the city's history to discover why.