With Japan winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic, not only did I find myself wanting to own every single piece of Shohei Ohtani’s memorabilia, but I also spent a considerable amount of time wondering “Why is Japan so good at baseball?”. Japan…
Pretty much anyone I’ve ever met that hasn’t spent a prolonged period of time in Japan has a certain view of the country. Normally, that comes under ‘crazy’, ‘wacky’, and weird. But why is Japan perceived as weird? Many people consider Japan…
I’ve lived in Japan for a while now, and what’s become clear to me over this time is the lack of physical contact I see. While I’m sure that it doesn’t mean people don’t love each other as much, it definitely got…
Before I came to Japan, I was completely on the side of people who took a shower in the morning rather than in the evening. After a few months of living here, I’m not so sure. Japanese people have baths at night…
Perhaps the most synonymous feature of Japanese architectural design is the curved roof. Whenever I used to think about Japan before I moved here, I envisioned large towns with roofs that curved up at the edges, which seemed to make practically any…
The more time I live in Japan, the more it becomes clear that so many people around the world romanticize it as a destination. While I’ve created this website which is dedicated to my love of the country, it’s important to realise…
From raw horse and whale to fermented soybeans and the infamous Fugu fish, Japan certainly has its fair share of interesting foods. So, what do the people of Japan traditionally eat on Christmas Day? Well, having lived in Japan for a few…
Every place has a standard address format, right?…
Before I started this article, I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was that made Japan so unique and special. It seemed to me that while most other countries blended into one, Japan stuck out like a sore thumb, but…
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…
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…
I'm pretty sure I can count on one hand the number of times I've fallen asleep on public transport.…
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…
I don't cook big meals, but even I would probably miss the oven!…
Most people know one thing about Japan. That they don’t use an English alphabet at all.…
Japan is a country that enjoys the journey as well as the destination. Both in a metaphorical and physical sense.…
I have way too many backpacks. One for weekend getaways, one for hiking and adventuring, one specifically for photography...…
Whether it's cute clothing, food, or anime, it seems Japan and it's people have a nationwide obsession with anything cute. But is that actually the case?…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This is a list of 8 of the most influential and famous traditional Japanese board games throughout the countries history.…
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…
A guide to Japanese Kei cars.…
If you're from the western world, chances are high that you've heard Japan referred to as the 'Land of the rising sun'. But why is this the case?…
Believe it or not, 'Surfing' in Japan dates all the way back to the Edo period (1603-1868)…
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…
If you've only ever slept on western style beds your whole life, the prospect of sleeping on the floor may sound strange to you.…
Japanese aesthetic principles and concepts are often hard to decipher into actionable and practical ways to help you in daily life. In this article, I’ve taken the time to identify the key principles Japanese culture has to offer and linked them to…
I was sitting in my garden the other day drinking some perfectly brewed green tea when I thought "Does Japan have good coffee too?"…
In England we get roughly 20 pathetic days of snow a year. That doesn't mean it settled and doesn't mean it was heavy! So it got me thinking, 'Where's the snowiest place on earth?'.…
If you've ever visited Japan then you know it's an extremely clean country. We explore how and why that happens.…
It's a time of the year that many of us probably celebrate and enjoy, but is easter celebrated in Japan?…
Starbucks has just released it's Cherry Blossom Drink for 2021 and this year it's been upgraded.…
Living a simple life means different things to different people. Now it's time to find out what it means to you!…