Like this post? Help us by sharing it! There’s one foodstuff that’s so intrinsic to Japan that word for it cooked (gohan ご飯, also meshi) is also the general meaning of “meal”. It’s part of the fabric of life. You guessed it, we’re talking about the humble grain: rice Rice has been cultivated in Japan […]
Culture & History
The conbini is king: a one stop shop for life
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! It’s late, you’re tempted to watch another episode of your favourite TV series and a snack would be the cherry-on-top to your night in. But how to find a place that can give you exactly what you’re craving? Maybe you want a sandwich. Maybe you want ice […]
The societal pressures that shape Japan
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! People see Japan as a country where there’s a great deal of pressure to conform to social norms. Although it’s something of a tired trope, the phrase ‘the nail that sticks up gets hammered down’ does have a degree of truth to it here. In my eleven […]
Exploring the everyday in Shin-Maruko, Tokyo
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! People come to Japan and expect the unexpected, but it is funny how many unexpected things you associate with the ‘normal’ and ‘everyday’ after living in Japan. Behind all the famous sights and scenes, people’s daily life ticks along with a societal rhythm very different to our […]
Hibaku Jumoku: Survivors of Hiroshima
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Ever since 1945, August 6th has been a big day in history. 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the day an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. There are many stories that come from ‘the bomb’ which killed an estimated 140,000 people initially and […]
The Olympics that didn’t happen: Tokyo 1940
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Tokyo was gearing up for the Olympics. Planned as a cornerstone of national pride, the Games were designed to showcase Japan to the world and cement its place as a modern, global leader. Posters were designed, travel companies began offering package holidays for the games, and the […]
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Tokyo was gearing up for the Olympics. Planned as a cornerstone of national pride, the Games were designed to showcase Japan to the world and cement its place as a modern, global leader. Posters were designed, travel companies began offering package holidays for the games, and the […]