Mamoru Hosoda’s 2012 anime film “Wolf Children” is a captivating yet emotionally complex journey that transcends the realm of fantasy. Its a potent exploration of life struggles, including grieving the […]
Travel in Japan
Why are Japanese people buying up old Shinkansen food carts?
The Central Japan Railway Company has decided to phase out the iconic on-board snack cart services on the Shinkansen bullet trains. This decision is due to waning demand, a shortage […]
Japan Questions
Is Japan’s work culture really that bad?
While the Japanese workplace has traditionally been characterized by long working hours, strict hierarchies, and a focus on collective harmony, a shift has been under way over the past decade […]
Japanese Culture
Yukio Mishima: Genius?
Yukio Mishima, the enigmatic figure of Japanese literature, remains a subject of fascination and controversy even decades after his death. Revered as a literary genius by many and condemned as […]
Japanese Culture
Outsider vs Insider Views of Japan: Getting Down and Dirty
People find Japan fascinating. Yours truly included. Guilty as charged. However, the lens through which Japan is perceived differs vastly between outsiders and insiders, leading to contrasting perspectives that shape […]
Books on Japan
Review: “Japan Sinks” by Sakyo Komatsu ★★★★☆
“Japan Sinks” by Sakyo Komatsu, translated into English by Michael Gallagher, is a hard core disaster / sci-fi novel that depicts the aftermath of a series of large-scale natural disasters […]
Housing in Japan
House prices in Japan: a very short introduction
As with most countries, the cost of a house in Japan varies dramatically depending on location, size, age, and other factors. But let’s start with age, because this is something […]
Japan Questions
Will Japan sink?
This is an odd, yet frequently asked question online. One that seems to come and go in cycles. And it is connected to environmental change. The idea of Japan sinking […]
Books on Japan
Review: “Japan Travel Guide: Things I Wish I’d Known Before Going to Japan” ★★★☆☆
“Japan Travel Guide: Things I Wish I’d Known Before Going to Japan” by Yuki Fukuyama and Ken Fukuyama is a self-published detailed guide book aimed at first-time visitors to Japan. […]