JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Ikezu-Ishi: Are Kyoto’s “Rude Rocks” an Insult, or a Kindness?
Some domestic tourists point to one local custom, the "rude rock," as proof of Kyoto spite. But it isn't even specific to…
folklore
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
CULTURE
Pentagrams and Boulder Gods: Japan’s Shrines That Break the Mold
A boulder as an object of worship. A "breakup shrine" that's a stone covered in papers. Meet the Shinto shrines that defy…
TRAVEL
Kinsokuchi: Why You Can’t Enter Japan’s Forbidden Places
Looking for a great spot to go on your Japan vacation? Well, don't go to any of THESE places unless you wanna…
CULTURE
仙台四郎 (Sendai Shirō): The Silent Man Sendai Calls a God of Fortune
How a man in Japan's city of Sendai became regarded as a "god of good fortune" whose image still persists today.
CULTURE
This Japanese Seal Holds an Epic 108 Characters
What's the longest name you can fit on a traditional Japanese seal? How about the nom de plume of a legend with…
CULTURE
Mihara Ryōkichi: The Kokeshi Dolls Savior
The story of one prolific folklorist's lifelong quest to save Miyagi Prefecture's handicrafts, history, and folktales.
CULTURE
The Legendary Cat Yokai of Odoriba Station, Yokohama
It's not often you see a subway station dedicated to dancing cat spirits - but that's exactly what you'll find at Yokohama's…
HISTORY
Abortion In Japan: A History
A look at how abortion in Japan evolved throughout the ages, from a financial necessity to a call for the acknowledgment of…