The Japanese subculture of Chindōgu (Unuseless Inventions)
Japan is well known for its cutting-edge technology, but much less well known for a delightfully absurd counterpoint to high-tech: chindōgu, which means “unuseless inventions.”
Japan is well known for its cutting-edge technology, but much less well known for a delightfully absurd counterpoint to high-tech: chindōgu, which means “unuseless inventions.”
Marie Kondo took the world by storm in the mid-2010s with her philosophy of keeping only items that “spark joy.” But in recent years, her media presence has waned. So, what happened to KonMari?
The Otamatone is a whimsical electronic musical instrument that looks like a cartoon eighth note come to life. Let’s take a closer look.
Japan drives on the left due to historical influence from samurai traditions and adopting British railway systems in the 19th century.
Japan’s exceptional cleanliness stems from cultural values, strict social etiquette, and collective responsibility, where citizens actively maintain public spaces and follow cleaning routines.
Experience authentic Japanese hospitality at Kyoto’s traditional ryokans. Enjoy tatami rooms, onsen baths, kaiseki dining, and serene gardens in the heart of ancient Japan.
There are many expressions in Japanese that are difficult to translate into other languages due to the connection of the...
Japan has produced two major exports in the fields of self-help and cleanliness in the past decade: Marie Kondo and...
“From Tatami to Tokyo: The Foreigner’s Handbook Apartment Hunting in Japan” by Brian Takahashi is a 54-page guidebook for foreigners...
One of the most common complaints I hear from fellow ex-pats, in Japan and elsewhere, is that the bureaucracy is...
Japanese knives, with their sleek design and razor-sharp edge, have earned a reputation for precision and elegance. But navigating the...
Tokyo is known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world. However, this doesn’t mean that living in Tokyo has to break the...