CULTURE
Aokigahara, Japan’s “Suicide Forest”: Drowning in a Sea of Trees
Why has Aokigahara, a forest full of legend and history, gained notoriety as a haven of death?
shinto
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CULTURE
TECHNOLOGY
A Subway Train in Japan Gets a Second Life…as a Vending Machine
A long-serving train car on Tokyo Metro's Ginza line isn't heading entirely for the scrapyard: a part of its gets to live…
CULTURE
Hatsumode: Japan’s First Shrine Visit of the New Year
How Japan's most popular New Years custom has changed over the centuries.
CULTURE
New Years in Japan: Its History and Traditions
How the oldest celebrated holiday in Japan has changed throughout the years, and the traditions that have come along with it.
CULTURE
Mottainai Culture: The History and Philosophy of Waste in Japan
Though sometimes honored more in the breach than the observance, Japan's philosophy of "waste not, want not" strongly influences everyday culture.
CULTURE
Shinto: The History and Practice of Japan’s Native Religion
Shinto is more than a religion - it's also an indelible part of Japanese culture. Krys Suzuki discusses the structure, beliefs, and…
POLITICS
The 2 Billion Yen Ascension: Japan’s Budget-Busting Royal Ritual
When the new Emperor takes his throne in 2019, Japan’s taxpayers will spend billions on a Shinto religious rite. Some - including…
TECHNOLOGY
QR Code of the Gods: Will Tech Save Religion in Japan?
From drone-riding Buddhas to monk rentals on Amazon, Japan's temples and shrines are finding unique ways to stay solvent during uncertain times.