The Decline and Revival of Sento: Japan’s Public Bath Culture
There was a time when the sento was simply part of daily life in Japan. Before homes had bathrooms, the […]
There was a time when the sento was simply part of daily life in Japan. Before homes had bathrooms, the […]
Foreigners experiencing Japanese delivery services for the first time tend to say the same thing: the accuracy is unreal. If
Calling a Japanese convenience store a “convenience store” is technically accurate and deeply inadequate. In Japan, konbini are infrastructure —
Before eating in Japan, you say itadakimasu. After finishing, you say gochisousama deshita. These rituals are so deeply embedded in
Travelers to Japan almost universally notice the same thing: vending machines are everywhere. Down narrow backstreets, along mountain roads, at
In Japan, where you sit is not a matter of preference. In meeting rooms, at izakaya, in taxis — seating
For most of Japan’s postwar history, leaving your company was not a career move. It was a statement — and
For Japanese office workers, the workday does not end at six o’clock. The nomikai — the after-work drinking gathering —
Netflix, YouTube, social media — Japanese anime is being watched on every platform, in every country. Demon Slayer, Attack on
The word “kawaii” is now used around the world. Fashion, characters, food, interior design — Japan’s kawaii has grown beyond