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. Japan’s Helvetica Turns out, it's not that simple

      | Hashi
    2. How To Eat Like A Buddhist Monk A month of experience condensed for you to taste

      | Koichi
    3. The Nail That Sticks Up... Conformity in Japan

      | Hashi
    4. 7 Things You Can Do In Japan But Not In America Yay! Culture!

      | John
    5. Seizo Fukumoto: The Samurai Actor Who Dies for a Living He's been on the business end of a prop sword for over 50 years

      | Hashi
    6. The Great Otaku Pilgrimage Going to otaku places in Japan and around the world

      | Hashi
    7. Japan's Romance with the Fax Machine *Insert Screetching Fax Machine Noises Here.*

      | Hashi
    8. Nurikabe: Hitting the Wall in Japan When you take that shortcut home at night...

      | Fiona
    9. Japan's Sanpaku Eye Superstition A Japanese superstition that tells you your fate via your eye shape

      | Hashi
    10. 10 Japanese Movie Title Translations That Make No Sense In what world does Napoleon Dynamite become Bus Man? This one.

      | Hashi
    11. Japan's OTHER Languages It's not just Japanese, ya know!

      | Hashi
    12. Tea Ceremony: What Not to Do Learn how to act with examples of how not to act

      | John
    13. Radio Calisthenics (aka Rajio Taisō) Keeping Fit the Japanese Way

      | Fiona
    14. Why is Northern Japan Full of Communists? Hint: Mix country folk with alcohol

      | Hashi
    15. 25 Ways to Save Money While Traveling in Japan Japan isn't as expensive as people say...if you know what to do.

      | Ashley T
    16. Japan's Most Dangerous Game: Rock, Paper, Scissors 最初はグー、じゃんけんぽん!

      | Hashi
    17. Mr. Right Could be Waiting Just Around the Corner. Every Corner. Male Hosts are here for you

      | John
    18. Why Do Japanese People Wear Surgical Masks? It's not just to keep from getting sick

      | John
    19. Why Japanese People Can't Walk and Talk at the Same Time If you're lips are moving, don't move your feet!

      | John
    20. Japanese Universites Get An "F" Great colleges if you don't like working very hard

      | Hashi
    21. Sento: What Not to Do Learn from a bathing goofus

      | John
    22. Japanese Table Manners: What Not to Do Learn from a Japanese meal-eating goofus

      | John
    23. Kendo Striving For Perfection When Perfection Is Impossible

      | Koichi
    24. Japanese Home Visit: What Not to Do Learn from a Japanese home-visiting goofus

      | John
    25. Japanese Train Etiquette: What Not to Do Learn from a train-riding goofus

      | John
    26. Is Kobe Beef A Big Scam? Maybe for the Price alone

      | Hashi
    27. Traveling to Japan for the First Time: Planning a 1-2 Week Trip Making your first trip to Japan an awesome one

      | Koichi
    28. The 10 Most Ridiculous Japanese Stereotypes Wait, so you mean the Japanese don't eat sushi for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

      | John
    29. The Great Japanese Beer War Asahi vs. Kirin vs. Sapporo

      | Viet Hoang
    30. Yaeba: Why Crooked Teeth Are Straight up Beautiful in Japan Beauty is in the tooth of the one you're beholding

      | Hashi
    31. Idolatry; Or Why AKB48 Has Taken Over Japan Singing and Dancing your way into your heart

      | Hashi
    32. Japan’s Crow Invasion Ca-caw gimme your garbage!

      | Hashi
    33. In Japan, Vikings Are All-You-Can-Eat Buffets These vikings won't kill you (unless you lack self-control)

      | John
    34. Growing Up With An Irrational Fear Of The Number Four I'll take three... no, make that five.

      | Koichi
    35. The Rise and Fall of Bosozoku Violent Japanese Biker Gangs Just Aren't What They Used To Be

      | John
    36. Fruit You Won’t Find Outside Of Japan If you can... send them to us!

      | Hashi
    37. Why Are There Swastikas In Japan? Yeah, we heard you asking.

      | Hashi
    38. White Day! Japan's Answer To Valentine's Day

      | Hashi
    39. How to Drink in Japan Get smashed like the locals

      | John
    40. Botaoshi: Knock Down That Pole Or Die Trying No, This is Sparta

      | Viet Hoang
    41. Onbashira The Japanese Festival Where You Ride Down Mountains On 20,000lb Logs For Some Reason

      | Koichi
    42. Japanese Superstitions That Will Fill You with FEAR! Eating fired eel and melon together will result in DEATH, by the way...

      | Viet Hoang