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ceremonies

Comic illustrates what Japan’s PM was likely thinking moments before emerging as Mario

C’mon Abe, you can do it! You’ve got nothing to lose… Except maybe your pride.
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Why didn’t Japan include any Pokémon character cameos in the 2020 Olympic promo?

Netizens fear Japan may have missed out on capitalizing on one of its hottest current exports.
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The fastest mochi maker in Japan reveals secrets of his technique【Video】

The man who kneads rice at incredible speeds of three hits per second lets us into his world and tells us why he lives for making mochi.

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Part of the family – Tokyo Shinto shrine’s blessings for children now available for pets too

Every fall, parents in Japan who have children that are three, five, or seven years old celebrate something called Shichi-Go-San (literally “Seven-Five-Three”). The family heads to a Shinto shrine, where the priest performs a blessing for girls aged three and seven and boys aged five, praying for them to have long and healthy lives.

But since some pet owners will argue that their animal companions are their children, certain shrines now offer Shichi-Go-San blessings for pets, too, some of whom show up wearing delightful pet kimono!

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