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From Forest to Fork
From Forest to Fork
How This Tiny Japanese Restaurant in Izu Changed How I Think About Food Forever
Curious & Hungry
Apr 29
Tokyo, the Poorest City in Japan
Tokyo, the Poorest City in Japan
Tokyo attracts crowds, but the truth is, it doesn’t pay enough — it’s actually one of the most financially difficult places in Japan.
Hiro Taka
Apr 28
Last Night, While Washing Dishes, I Caught Myself Thinking in Japanese.
Last Night, While Washing Dishes, I Caught Myself Thinking in Japanese.
There are 2 paths to language learning
Melanie Carrigy
Apr 28
What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Japan as an International Student
What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Japan as an International Student
I didn’t know about these before I went to Japan
Kevin Jonathan
Apr 27
The Japanese Lunch System Western Schools Desperately Need
The Japanese Lunch System Western Schools Desperately Need
Because packing lunchboxes is a broken, burnout-inducing mess
AliceNakae
Apr 23
Trending
Why Japanese People Are Obsessed With Luck
Why Japanese People Are Obsessed With Luck
And why gambling addiction is so common here
Ragnar Miljeteig
Apr 18
How to Get Japanese People to Talk to You
How to Get Japanese People to Talk to You
Three keys: off-seasons, off-times, and always look twice
Clairine Daphne Tjahjono
Apr 7
The End of “Easy Fuji”? Climbing Mount Fuji in 2025
The End of “Easy Fuji”? Climbing Mount Fuji in 2025
A guide to issues facing the mountain and tips for visitors
Hiro Taka
Apr 10
Our Son Was a Daughter for 10 Minutes In Japan
Our Son Was a Daughter for 10 Minutes In Japan
The beautiful experience of home birth and the angel who helped us.
Chris Thompson
Sep 29, 2022
Beyond Barriers: Living in Japan with a Disability
Beyond Barriers: Living in Japan with a Disability
Japan has been thought of as lagging other countries in accessibility. Times have changed in a positive way.
Kathy Matsunami
Apr 9
Want to Wear a Kimono in Japan?
Want to Wear a Kimono in Japan?
Here’s What Locals Want You to Know
AliceNakae
Mar 31
Tokyo’s Hidden Paradise: The Ogasawara/Bonin Islands
Tokyo’s Hidden Paradise: The Ogasawara/Bonin Islands
Rare Nature, Rich History, and Warm-Hearted Islanders — A Destination That Will Captivate You
Hiro Taka
Mar 27
Write for Japonica!
Write for Japonica!
Send us your stories on Japanese life and culture
DC Palter
Jan 21, 2023
How I Entered Japan on a Tourist Visa and Stayed for 10 Years
How I Entered Japan on a Tourist Visa and Stayed for 10 Years
An unplanned leap of faith
Ms O, Naturally Inspired
Mar 25
Pollen Allergies as a National Crisis in Japan
Pollen Allergies as a National Crisis in Japan
And how the government is trying to tackle it with gene-editing, mass replanting, and more
Ragnar Miljeteig
Mar 27
Japan’s Lunch Culture
Japan’s Lunch Culture
Lunchtime in Japan isn’t just about satisfying your hunger — it’s a reflection of workplace dynamics, social norms, and team bonding.
Kathy Matsunami
Mar 15
The Strange Expectations of My Japanese In-laws
The Strange Expectations of My Japanese In-laws
The conditions they placed on our marriage
AliceNakae
Jun 16, 2024
An Ode to the Japanese Konbini
An Ode to the Japanese Konbini
The legendary convenience stores are gonna be what I miss most about Japan.
Vincent Van Patten
Feb 5
Everything’s Better When the Sun Goes Down
Everything’s Better When the Sun Goes Down
Nocturnal views of a famous Japanese garden
Joe Honton
Sep 3, 2024
The Takarajima Incident — Tragedy on Treasure Island
The Takarajima Incident — Tragedy on Treasure Island
English whalers’ demand for beef has dire consequences
Diane Neill Tincher
Jun 14, 2022
Inside the World of Japan’s Secretive Hostess Clubs
Inside the World of Japan’s Secretive Hostess Clubs
What Motivates the Girls Who Work There?
Shawn B. Swinger
Sep 13, 2023
My Approach to Learning Kanji While Travelling in Japan
My Approach to Learning Kanji While Travelling in Japan
Starting with 71 easy-to-read placenames
Joe Honton
Mar 4, 2024
What I’ll Miss Most From Two and a Half Years Living In Japan
What I’ll Miss Most From Two and a Half Years Living In Japan
Reflecting on the most beautiful chapter of my life
Vincent Van Patten
Feb 19
8 Flowers of Japanese Spring that Aren’t Sakura Cherry
8 Flowers of Japanese Spring that Aren’t Sakura Cherry
Wisteria, shibazakura, plum blossoms, and many more to enjoy
Justsomethingg
Jan 21, 2024
Kanji Notes: 01 “酒 SAKE”
Kanji Notes: 01 “酒 SAKE”
A Japanese novelist writes easily and casually about her thoughts on kanji, the tool she uses
Etsu Okabe | 岡部えつ
Mar 29
Why Japan’s Ban on Dual Citizenship Should Be Lifted
Why Japan’s Ban on Dual Citizenship Should Be Lifted
And why people secretly keep double citizenship
Federica M
Jun 20, 2023
Will Nissan and Honda Merge?
Will Nissan and Honda Merge?
Corporate mergers in Japan are different from anywhere else
DC Palter
Dec 18, 2024
5 Reasons Why Japanese Is One of the Easiest Languages to Learn
5 Reasons Why Japanese Is One of the Easiest Languages to Learn
Japanese is the most regular, structured language in the world
DC Palter
Feb 10, 2022
Add some Japanese vibes to your everyday playlist
Add some Japanese vibes to your everyday playlist
A short and selective tour of the Japanese scene from 1979 to today
AInJapan
Mar 17, 2024
Japan Is Not the High-Tech Paradise You Think It Is
Japan Is Not the High-Tech Paradise You Think It Is
For all the engineering marvels that Japan is known for, the country lags in digital technology
Alvin T.
Aug 28, 2024
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