Coming of Age Day: How Japan Celebrates Turning 20
What is Coming of Age Day (Seijin no Hi), and why do young women wear elaborate furisode kimono? Japan’s national holiday for turning 20, explained.
Why Lifetime Employment Is Fading But Still Shapes Japanese Careers
Does lifetime employment still exist in Japan? Shushin koyo, the ‘three sacred treasures’ of postwar work culture, and why the old system still shapes careers today.
The Meaning Behind Japanese Funerals and Mourning Customs
What do you wear to a Japanese funeral, and why should the cash gift envelope have old bills, not new ones? Japanese funeral and mourning customs explained.
Why Japanese Schools Make Students Clean Their Own Classrooms
Why don’t Japanese schools have janitors? O-souji, the daily student cleaning routine, and the values it’s meant to teach from elementary school onward.
Why Taxis in Japan Have Automatic Doors (and Other Taxi Etiquette)
Why do Japanese taxis have automatic doors, and should you open them yourself? Taxi etiquette, payment, and why fares are so high in Japan.
Why Japanese Weddings Follow Such Strict Rules
How much cash should you give at a Japanese wedding, and why do brides change outfits so many times? The strict etiquette behind Japanese wedding traditions.
What Furusato Nozei Reveals About Japan’s Relationship With Hometowns
What is furusato nozei, and how do Japanese taxpayers get free gifts for paying tax to a town they’ve never visited? Japan’s hometown tax system explained.
The Unspoken Rules of Riding a Bicycle in Japan
Can you ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in Japan? The unwritten rules of Japanese cycling, mamachari culture, and what actually gets you fined.
Why Japanese People Text “Otsukaresama” After Every Workday
What does otsukaresama mean, and why do Japanese coworkers say it constantly? The workplace phrase that has no clean English translation, explained.
The Unwritten Rules of Sharing Food in Japan
What is torizara, and how much should you take from a shared plate in Japan? The unwritten rules of communal dining at izakaya, nabe, and family meals.