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Why Don’t Japanese People Have Beards?

If you’ve ever been to Japan, you may have noticed the distinct lack of facial hair pretty much anywhere you look. At first, I thought it was purely genetics, but maybe there’s some sort of cultural reason (just like why Japanese people…

10 mins read
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Why Do Japanese People Bow?

Here in the UK, shaking someone’s hand is the most common way to greet them. It’s polite, formal, and a sign of respect to the other person. But if you’ve ever been to Japan or seen it on TV, you’ll notice they…

9 mins read
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Can You Learn Japanese While You Sleep?

I've always dreamed about being able to learn Japanese whilst exerting the least amount of effort possible. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy an intense study session, but Japanese is an incredibly heavy language sometimes.…

11 mins read

The Subtle Differences Between a Kimono and Yukata

If you had to name five things that were quintessentially Japanese, I would hazard a guess that your list would include a Kimono. I’ve worn one quite a few times, and other than looking absolutely fabulous, it’s a great way to centre…

13 mins read

9 Japanese Music Artists You Should Listen To

After receiving some cough*interesting*cough comments stating I was too hard on J-Pop, I thought it best to do an entire post dedicated to my favourite Japanese music artists.…

11 mins read
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6 Japanese Sports Brands You Should Buy From.

I don’t consider myself a sports fanatic. Well, except for skiing anyway… Before I wrote this article, I honestly couldn’t name even one Japanese sports brand. I have, however, heard of a fair few of them but not realised their connection to…

11 mins read
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Why does Japan still use outdated technology?

On the surface, it’s easy to write off-Japan as a country of flying cars and robot butlers. However, as with countless things surrounding Japan, the actual situation is a lot more complex. Today we’re going to discuss Japan’s unusual and perhaps surprising…

18 mins read

Exercise The Japanese Way (Without Going To The Gym)

If you live in the United States or United Kingdom, as most of you do, it’s likely you’re constantly bombarded with gym culture on social media. But maybe not so if you happen to live in Japan. So, in a country that…

10 mins read
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7 Minimal Japanese Clothing Brands.

Japan is well known for it’s …’Overt’ fashion trends. *Cough, Harajuku, Cough* Don’t let your assumptions of Japanese fashion fool you, though. The country is home to far more than you often see on the T.V and in pictures. It’s clear that…

15 mins read

10 Most Popular Hobbies in Japan.

I have 3 main hobbies. Well, to be fair I’m interested and love learning about everything on the planet BUT… If I had to narrow it down it would be: This website (and Japan), Photography, and Reading. I frequently bounce around and…

15 mins read

Japan’s Reverse Valentines Day.

Ahhh, holidays. Love them or hate them, they come around every year without fail. And for some reason (to me) it seems as though they are a little more commercialised each time, at least in the west. So whilst valentines day here…

9 mins read
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How many mountains are in Japan?

Quite often I find myself pondering strange questions about Japan. In the past, that’s led me to find out why Japanese cars are so boxy, why Japan is so clean, and why it snows so much. But today, we’re going to find…

9 mins read

63 facts about Japan you probably didn’t know.

Japan is a country known for its bright lights, innovative technology, and beautiful scenery. But in this article, I aim to show you some of Japan’s lesser-known facts that prove how truly interesting it is as a country. On this list you’ll…

51 mins read
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The 7 Best Online Japanese Stores

I’m lucky enough to live in Japan which means I only have to take a short walk to pretty much any shop I want. Crazy, cute, minimalist, hyper-technical, it’s all at my disposal! But what if you don’t live in Japan but…

27 mins read
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The edible Japanese face masks made of bread.

Over the past year and a bit, the demand for face masks has shot up almost exponentially. This has led to a whole host of innovative and interesting face coverings, but non as strange (or unique?) as the melonpan facemasks. Whilst we…

6 mins read
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Why is the Tokyo subway so crowded?

If you’ve ever seen a documentary about Japan, chances are that somewhere along the line you saw a video (or 10) of people squished into train carriages like sardines. But can’t one of the most advanced and populated countries in the world…

16 mins read