Japan

    The more you learn about Japanese culture and history, the easier it becomes to navigate Japan. This means learning why Meiji-period author Higuchi Ichiyō's face is on the ¥5,000 bill. Or studying the ins-and-outs of omiyage. Or discovering what it takes to land a job in Japan. Check out the articles below, and start growing your cultural understanding.
    1. Japanese Civic Duty: A Look at the Responsibility of 日本 Returning lost wallets. Keeping streets clean. Japan is the most responsible country in the world, right?

      | Austin
    2. Kanamara Matsuri: The Irony Behind the Infamous Japanese Penis Festival Katajikenai for reading this

      | Shoko
    3. Safety in Japan: Staying Alert in the World's 'Safest' Country Is Japan as safe as everyone thinks? If not, what can you do to protect yourself?

      | Rich
    4. Katsuobushi, The Dried Fermented Fish Rock That's in Almost Every Japanese Dish You've Ever Eaten It's not pretty, it's not fresh, it's hard as a rock, and it's what makes Japanese food taste like Japanese food

      | Linda Lombardi
    5. One Foreigner's Story of Becoming a Father in Japan Hospital's different. Language barrier. Wife having baby. What could go wrong?

      | Nathan
    6. Examining the Japanese Work Ethic So how much does Japan ganbaru anyway?

      | Austin
    7. Japanese Smoking Manners Posters Go ahead and smoke but don't be a jerk about it

      | Verity Lane
    8. Why the Japanese Countryside Is Emptying And what's being done to fix it

      | Austin
    9. Choosing the Best Yokai Books for You So many monsters, so many books... but we've got your back

      | Linda Lombardi
    10. The Power of Japanese Math Discover the heart behind Japan's love for and excellence in math

      | Verity Lane
    11. Don't Get Sued! Libel, Slander, and Defamation Laws in Japan Be careful what you print, even if it's true

      | Kaitlin Stainbrook
    12. Let's Nabe! A Beginner's Guide to Japanese Hot Pot Cooking Get ready to eat the most warm, comforting, fun, and easy to prepare meal you'll ever have.

      | Verity Lane
    13. How to View Japanese Swords Learn to appreciate one the world's coolest art forms

      | Nathan
    14. Japan's Wild Boar Problem How inoshishi, despite their cuteness, are ruining Japan

      | Adam Ledford
    15. Tokyo Travel Tips for the Neurotic Don't sweat the small stuff, we've got your back.

      | Linda Lombardi
    16. Japan’s Sacrificial Lamb – The Okinawa Military Base Controversy A recent election brings Okinawa's outrage with US military presence to the forefront once again.

      | Rich
    17. JET Program Interview: The Definitive Guide To Passing You've got the interview. Follow this guide to success.

      | Michael Richey
    18. Japonism: How Japan Shaped Modern Art An art history crash course revealing the Japanese influence on Western art movements.

      | Matthew Macewan
    19. Showa Shinzan Yukigassen Tournament: The World's Scariest Snowball Fight? And here you thought that snowball fights were fun and not painful.

      | Koichi
    20. Tanuki: The Canine Yokai with Gigantic Balls Not a badger, not a raccoon, and keep your eye on that teapot...

      | Linda Lombardi
    21. Surviving Japan's Medical System Going to the hospital is never easy. Now do it in a foreign country.

      | Verity Lane
    22. Ken Takakura and Bunta Sugawara: The Death of Yakuza Cinema Tofugu pays tributes to two titans of the Japanese film industry.

      | Rich
    23. Japanese Horror Fiction: Emotions Unearthed Playing your emotions like a skeleton plays his ribcage like a xylophone.

      | Rudy Barrett
    24. Japan’s Dependence on China’s Unsafe Food How to protect yourself from China's food safety meltdown.

      | Rich
    25. Michi No Eki: Japanese Stamp Rally in Hokkaido Gotta Stamp 'Em All!

      | Verity Lane
    26. Christians in Kyushu: A History How Jesus was introduced, accepted, and ousted from Japan

      | Adam Ledford
    27. Amezaiku: Japanese Candy Creatures Born from Sugar and Fire Fun to eat. Fun to watch getting made before you eat.

      | Linda Lombardi
    28. An Exclusive Interview with the Seikan Tunnel Stations Made possible by imagination and viewers like you

      | Matthew Macewan
    29. Wined, Dined, Brined, and Intestined: Acquiring a Taste for Japanese Delicacies Would you eat these if we... triple dog dared you?!

      | Verity Lane
    30. Spiders in Japan: The Tiniest Kaiju The Natural Predators of Mothra

      | Adam Ledford
    31. Bushido: Way of Total Bullshit Everything Tom Cruise taught you about samurai is wrong

      | Rich
    32. Beauty is in the Language of the Beholder Beautiful words for a beautiful time

      | Chelsea Bernard
    33. Atari, Hane, and Monkey Jumps How to Play Go

      | Nathaniel Edwards
    34. Megane Culture: Japan’s Love Affair with Glasses They reflect who you are on the inside and look super cute with that outfit.

      | Sanford
    35. Rascal’s Secret Plan: the Raccoon Invasion of Japan How one children's anime brought about the Araigumapocalypse.

      | Matthew Macewan
    36. The Unwritten Rules Of Job-Hunting In Japan The nail that sticks out doesn't get the job

      | Mami Suzuki
    37. Invasion of the Species Beetles, vines, and seaweed! Oh my!

      | Adam Ledford
    38. Halloween in Japan How Japan Made Halloween Their Own… Then Ruined It For Everybody

      | Mami Suzuki
    39. How to Find a Job in Japan as a Foreign Exchange Student Work it out!

      | Austin
    40. Who’s that Pokémon? Yōkai Edition! No Silph Scope Required

      | Kristen Dexter
    41. The Skeletal Structure of Japanese Horror Fiction Digging into the Guts of Japanese Folklore

      | Rudy Barrett
    42. Over a Thousand Years of Service: Japan’s Oldest Businesses Reign Supreme(ly Old) Where Tokugawa Ieyasu stayed and where the Meiji Empress ordered her mochi

      | Linda Lombardi