The debate continues over whether plying a carp with booze is inhumane treatment of animals or a treasured part of Japan’s cultural heritage.
ceremony
While many people immediately think of samurai when Japan is mentioned, you might not expect to find many swordcrafters still working in the modern-day. And certainly not out in public for everyone to see!
However, the start of every year sees a gathering of swordcrafters in Gifu Prefecture where they ceremonially pound a piece of steel in a centuries old traditional ceremony. It looks cool and must be great exercise to work off all the osechi calories too!
This must be a summer for fake funerals. In July, Hatsune Miku found herself interred in Nico Nico Douga videos following a politician’s speculative remarks. And now a Lexus car is at the center of a new round of Internet amusement after some commenters noted that the company’s “car delivery ceremony” is oddly similar to a funeral.
In case no one told you, it’s obon this week in Japan! For many people this means a well-deserved long vacation and a trip home. It also means lots of fun cultural events. As you may know, obon is a Buddhist holiday all about the spirits of deceased ancestors coming back for a short visit. Tourou nagashi, literally “lanterns flowing,” is a special ceremony where, as the name implies, lanterns are set afloat, usually down a river. It’s a fun way to spend your evening and an incredible sight as well! This week, we headed to Azuma Bridge in Asakusa, Tokyo to check out the ceremony!
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japanese government discussing stricter copyright laws on cosplay, top cosplayer Enako chimes in
We learn the dark secret of Japan’s Woodstock rice balls, still want to eat them【Taste test】
Japanese professor launches crowdfunding project to recreate amazura, a lost Heian Era sweetener
At at-work, on-the-desk oden maker is exactly the office morale booster we need
Japan’s Moonlight Nagara train service ends, leaving a hole in overnight rail travel
Japan’s Matsuya restaurant chain debuts Massaman Curry, we find it Thai-rrifically tasty
All words in Evangelion theme replaced by cat meow in official remake by original singer【Video】
Japan’s legal age of adulthood dropping by two years, but do teens understand what that means?
YouTube video about home-grown, home-cooked, traditional Chinese food causes major controversy
In the midst of coronavirus, a 1,000-year-old food is being revived in Japan
Weekly
- Japan’s legal age of adulthood dropping by two years, but do teens understand what that means?
- YouTube video about home-grown, home-cooked, traditional Chinese food causes major controversy
We finally get our mouthwatering Ichiran Ramen fukuburo lucky bag- Japanese government discussing stricter copyright laws on cosplay, top cosplayer Enako chimes in
Japan now has talking Evangelion ATMs
Tokyo ramen restaurant’s brilliant idea: takeout cups of just ramen broth!【Photos】
Japanese politician posts photo of his dinner, netizens pity him over his depression meal
Woman asks for eight-hour taxi ride in Japan, arrested when she doesn’t pay gigantic fare
Tokyo airport’s new train line to make getting into, out of the city easier for JR pass holders
Host King Roland goes to Akihabara disguised as a foreign otaku 【Video】
Monthly
McDonald’s releases an Oreo and Spam burger for a very limited time
Top 100 manga of all time chosen by survey of 150,000 Japanese people
Here’s why Japanese supermarkets play “cheap” background music all day, according to Twitter
English mistake on new Japanese beer leads to suspension of sales before its release
We try a rotating sushi restaurant in New Delhi, are surprised to find no rotating sushi- Japan’s legal age of adulthood dropping by two years, but do teens understand what that means?
Japanese media finds out if it’s cold enough to “fry” an egg on the street in Hokkaido- YouTube video about home-grown, home-cooked, traditional Chinese food causes major controversy
Flying in Japan? Your flight may soon be arriving at “Hatsune Miku Airport”
7-Eleven Japan’s banana milk sparks controversy over deceptive packaging
Yearly
Nintendo puts out important notice for casual gamers who’ve bought a Switch during the pandemic
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Studio Ghibli releases 400 images from eight movies free to download online
A Pokémon glitch no one discovered in 18 years has been found…by a pet fish in Japan?!?【Videos】
Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Parasite movie releases free official wallpapers to download as backgrounds for video calls
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation
Man sheds half his body weight, looks like a handsome model in just one year
Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
Akihabara saying goodbye to landmark as giant Sega arcade announces it’s closing for good
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Japan’s Matsuya restaurant chain debuts Massaman Curry, we find it Thai-rrifically tasty
All words in Evangelion theme replaced by cat meow in official remake by original singer【Video】
Japan’s legal age of adulthood dropping by two years, but do teens understand what that means?
YouTube video about home-grown, home-cooked, traditional Chinese food causes major controversy
In the midst of coronavirus, a 1,000-year-old food is being revived in Japan
Japan has a new Hershey’s cereal that doubles as a toast topping
Resi Stay Nishiki hotel in Kyoto adds a special Maiko Hello Kitty room for tourists with taste
Celebrate Spirited Away’s 20th birthday with themed, whimsically embroidered baseball jacket
Ippudo serves up plant-based tonkotsu ramen in Japan for a limited time
One Piece sets out to find its most popular character in the world in massive survey
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
Do you use these “Philippine English” words and phrases?
-
