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…
kansai
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
TRAVEL
Ashiya: How to Visit Japan’s Most Exclusive Small Town
Ashiya, a leafy enclave between Osaka and Kobe, carries a cachet no other Japanese town quite matches: old money, hillside mansions, and…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why This Japanese Phrase from Kansai Sounds Strange to the Rest of Japan
It's a phrase that confuses Tokyoites. But to many in the Kansai region, it's a daily expression rooted in the region's unique…
FEATURED
“Osaka Expo Sucks” Trends as Long Lines, No Wifi, and a Crappy App Mar Opening
Long entrance lines, an eight-hour wait for sushi, and other planning catastrophes further marred an event that came pre-marred.
TRAVEL
Expo 2025 Can’t Sell Tickets, Might Need Japanese Taxpayer Bailout
Will the World Expo 2025 in Osaka be a financial bust? It's trending that way - and Japanese taxpayers might be on…
TRAVEL
Why Is Osaka Expo a Bust With Japan’s Inbound Tourists?
The Osaka Expo takes place next year. But does anyone care? A lack of support among inbound tourists as well as its…
CULTURE
Kansai Expo 2025 Logo Wishes for Sweet Release of Death
The winning logo for the Kansai Expo 2025 was met with skepticism on Japanese Twitter - and spawned an avalanche of parodies.
SOCIAL MEDIA
After the Storm: Japanese Social Media Captures Pictures from Typhoon 21 (“Jebi”)
From toppled trucks to dumpsters and vending machines "driving" down streets, Japanese social media users captured some amazing footage of "Jebi", a.k.a.…