culture

Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade

A simple envelope leads to funding children’s aid, and providing steady work for people with disabilities.

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Why you shouldn’t call this food “Hiroshimayaki” if you’re talking to people from Hiroshima

There are two main types of okonomiyaki, but people in Hiroshima don’t like one of the names the rest of the country has for theirs.

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Start saving room now – Japanese grocery store’s biggest sushi roll yet is coming for Setsubun

The “super-thick” ehomaki is a luxurious way to ensure good luck for your home and family in the coming year.

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Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】

Higashiyama doll artisans deliver some festive holiday cheer alongside their more traditional Japanese lineup.

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More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it

With increasing numbers of people embracing nengajo-jimai and switching to digital equivalents, many now find they are left feeling empty.

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Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month

Inbound tourism boom and Japanese New Year’s traditions are too much for the world’s most famous sushi town to handle simultaneously, request says.

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Shimane has a secret hot spring town that feels like stepping into an old Japanese film

A World Heritage hot spring town with retro bathhouses and seafood feasts.

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Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitors

If these walls could talk, they would probably scream.

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This hot springs town in Japan sets fire across a mountain every winter in a beautiful tradition

Plus, another traditional festival involves giving a very icy bath to recently wedded grooms.

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Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings

Collaboration with American art museum puts the works of Hokusai and Hiroshige in the Prussian blue spotlight.

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What makes something “kawaii” to women from Japan, China, and South Korea? Survey investigates

Let’s find out if a cute thing for one woman is still cute for another from a different country.

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The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】

10 great getaways from Japan’s crowded capital, all within two hours of Tokyo Station.

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Kyoto’s for-adults immersive samurai theme park announces opening date

Renovations are almost finished for Toei’s Uzumasa Kyoto Village.

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Tokyo National Museum seeking donations to pave over pond, create space for beer and music events

Public reactions to redevelopment plan for Japan’s largest collection of historically significant artwork has been less than positive.

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Giant digital sumo wrestler now stopping trains at Tokyo station【Video】

Playful PlayStation team celebrates local Ryogoku culture and takes a PS5 to Kanda Shrine for a traditional autumn event.

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This beautiful Nara inn was once home to a Living National Treasure

Art, history, and high-end dining make for a unique Japanese getaway.

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Top Japanese baby names for 2025 feature flowers, colors, and a first-time-ever favorite for girls

Annual survey finds the most popular names and kanji characters for new babies.

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Japan Legal Wedding service offers a path for travelers to hold destination weddings in Japan

Company offers wedding services at shrines, temples, and castles in northeastern Japan.

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Reports that using -chan in Japan constitutes sexual harassment are at least a little exaggerated

Sound-bite version of legal ruling is an imbalanced substitute for a proper meal/understanding of the situation.

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Beautiful vintage Japanese manhole covers being offered for sale by Aichi city【Photos】

A chance to own a literal piece of Anjo’s history.

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