Why Are There So Many People of Japanese Descent In Hawaii?
Drawn by tales of a bountiful paradise, the first Japanese laborers arrived in Hawaii in 1868, wide-eyed and seasick after months…
14 Things An American Wished He Knew Before Visiting Japan
Traveling to Japan can be an eye-opening experience for American visitors. While fascinating, aspects of Japanese culture and customs may seem…
William Copeland: The Brewmaster Who Started Kirin Beer in Japan
William Copeland was born Johan Martinius Thoresen in 1834 in Arendal, Norway. As a young man, he apprenticed under a German…
Japanese Prison is Like “Living in a Military Bootcamp” (Harsh Rules, Forced Labor)
The Japanese prison system is known for its strict discipline and regimented routines. Prisoners in Japan experience a highly controlled environment…
Japanese Police Random ID Checks and Bag Search On Foreigners: What You Need to Know
Getting randomly stopped by the police is an unfortunate reality that many foreigners face during their time living in Japan. Requests…
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…
End of content
End of content