The Tale of Two 7-Elevens: How Convenience Stores Evolved Differently in Japan vs. the USA
Step into a 7-Eleven store in Japan and you’ll find a bright, clean interior with freshly made bento boxes, onigiri rice…
7 Ways to Say Hi in Japanese – More Than Just Konnichiwa!
Many people think that “konnichiwa” is the only way to say hello in Japanese. However, there are actually various greetings that…
Jiro Ono: The Legendary Sushi Master Who Has Fed Obama and Bourdain
In a quiet corner of the Ginza subway station in Tokyo, there is an unassuming door bearing only a modest wooden…
Yasuke’s Incredible Path From Slave to Japan’s First Black Samurai
In the 16th century, a young African man was captured and sold into slavery, embarking on an extraordinary journey that would…
Why So Many Japanese Share the Same Surnames
For centuries, only the aristocratic and samurai classes in Japan had surnames. The common people were known just by their given…
16-Year-Old Wins Top UK Animation Award for Futuristic Japanese Street Food Film
16-year-old Euan Garbut from Glasgow won the Young Animator of the Year UK 2023 award in the 3D animation category for…
This $13,000 Kei Car is Japan’s Best-Selling EV (not Tesla)
While Tesla dominates the global electric vehicle (EV) market, Japan’s best-selling EV is not a luxury sedan but a tiny, affordable…
The Curious Tale of Ranald MacDonald, Japan’s First English Teacher
In 1848, a 24-year-old man named Ranald MacDonald arrived on the shores of northern Japan after convincing the captain of a…
Sazae-san Syndrome: Japan’s Bittersweet Sunday Evening Tradition
In Japan, Sunday evenings take on a somber tone as families across the country tune in to the long-running animated show…
The Man Who Lost $204 Million In Vegas
The clickity-clack of the roulette wheel was music to Terry Watanabe’s ears. He watched intently as the dealer spun the wheel…
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