Japonica
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The Ancient Setsubun Festival and the Modern World
The Ancient Setsubun Festival and the Modern World
The 1300 year old festival raises modern concerns of safety and waste
Dōkyō — The Rasputin of Japan who Almost Became Emperor
Dōkyō — The Rasputin of Japan who Almost Became Emperor
Buddhist priest and one of Japan’s 3 Great Villains
Will Sake Viva! Contest Winners Attract the Sober Youth?
Will Sake Viva! Contest Winners Attract the Sober Youth?
Two winning ideas and the debate surrounding the National Tax Agency’s funded promotion of alcohol
Kiso Horses — Overcoming the Disastrous Consequences of Meiji Era “Improvements”
Kiso Horses — Overcoming the Disastrous Consequences of Meiji Era “Improvements”
A critically endangered breed of adorable little horses
How I Managed to Pass the JLPT N1 without Any Preparation
How I Managed to Pass the JLPT N1 without Any Preparation
No textbooks, no tuition, and no memorizing kanji lists — but there’s a twist.
How You Can Benefit from Bathing in the Forest — Shinrin-yoku
How You Can Benefit from Bathing in the Forest — Shinrin-yoku
Use the concept of Japanese Forest Bathing, Shinrin-yoku, as an antidote to the digital age and urbanization
In 2023, the Year of the Rabbit, this is the Shrine You MUST Visit
In 2023, the Year of the Rabbit, this is the Shrine You MUST Visit
Okazaki Jinja in Kyoto is the Rabbit Shrine of Good Luck
A Noodle Shop Owner, Taxi Driver, and I Walked Into a Bar
A Noodle Shop Owner, Taxi Driver, and I Walked Into a Bar
How did you learn your Japanese conversation?
How I Learned the Art of Expressing Gratitude from Japanese Culture
How I Learned the Art of Expressing Gratitude from Japanese Culture
Why We Should Give Thanks for Every Small Kindness
6 Predictions for Japan in 2023
6 Predictions for Japan in 2023
Let’s see which ones will turn out to be correct at the end of the year!
Struggling with big numbers in Japanese? This trick never fails
Struggling with big numbers in Japanese? This trick never fails
Instantly remember big numbers in Asian Languages. Works the other way around too!
30 Topics We’d Like to Publish in Japonica
30 Topics We’d Like to Publish in Japonica
Consider writing an article on any of these prompts
Why Japan’s Low Birth Rate Solutions Continue to Fail
Why Japan’s Low Birth Rate Solutions Continue to Fail
Japanese women need childcare, role models and more sleep, not a one-time cash
The Magnificent Cranes of Izumi, Kagoshima
The Magnificent Cranes of Izumi, Kagoshima
The Largest and Most Diverse Migration Ground in Japan
Why Japanese People Love to Abbreviate Everything
Why Japanese People Love to Abbreviate Everything
The byproduct of tradition and cultural habits
This Is the Japanese Idiom Everyone Needs to Learn in the New Year
This Is the Japanese Idiom Everyone Needs to Learn in the New Year
It teaches you to cherish every moment — for it is never coming back.
Rejected From Japan’s Startup Visa: Don’t Make Our Mistake!
Rejected From Japan’s Startup Visa: Don’t Make Our Mistake!
Read our year-in-review for the status signaling, confusion, inauthenticity, and humility that occurred in 2022.