seasons
This artist’s pet cat marks the changes of the seasons as surely as the flowering of the cherry blossoms.
The summer is seriously no time to be in any part of Asia, really. While you might exaggeratedly fan yourself with your hand and joke about frying eggs on the sidewalk when thermometers in your hometown start creeping past the upper-20s (Celsius) come late July, society in Asia is basically devolving into Lord of the Flies, with people in China retreating into caves, those in Japan sweating buckets and people in Vietnam desperately scrambling for whatever random object they can find to fend off the violent rays of the sun, lest they literally burst into flames.
That last one, we suppose, is good for us, as at least it’s resulted in a few photos for us to chuckle over as we write this from our ice-filled summer cave bunker.
Are there ever times when you feel really glad to have been born where you were? Maybe you’ve felt that way during a holiday, or while eating your favorite local food, but regardless, most of us have had those moments when we’re just plain thankful to be a citizen of a particular country.
Internet portal Mynavi Woman was curious to learn the specific situations and things that made Japanese people happy to be Japanese, and so in typical Mynavi fashion they opened up an internet survey in July to find out. Those results are finally in, and we’re happy to present to you the top 10 things that made Japanese respondents feel lucky to be nihonjin!
One of the trickier aspects of adapting to life in Japan is getting the hang of the numerous seasonal customs. While your acquaintances aren’t likely to get that bent out of shape if you miss a day or two, completely adhering to proper etiquette involves managing a year-round schedule of sending gifts and written salutations to friends, family, and business associates.
The sentiment is definitely admirable, but don’t Japanese people don’t find this all to be a huge hassle? Actually, it turns out some of them do, as shown in a poll of the top five seasonal traditions people in Japan would like to do away with.
MOST POPULAR
Now
10 sakura-viewing events to enjoy the Tokyo area’s cherry blossoms in 2023
Shinjuku izakaya’s all-you-can-eat-and-drink plan is one of Tokyo’s best secret cheap eats
Starbucks x Snoopy collaboration is coming to Japan for a limited time
Shrine in Japan issues “beautiful woman certificates,” so we went to get one【Photos】
Kodansha to release popular manga in Japan and USA simultaneously in K Manga this May
Tokyo ramen restaurant bans customers from watching YouTube videos on their phones while eating
An interview with two Japanese dating service scam sakura【Interview】
In search of Japan’s largest melon bread with Mr. Sato
7-Eleven’s new whipped cream sandwich takes Japanese convenience store food to a whole new level
Gigantic new anime store opening soon in Tokyo, and here’s a sneak-peek【Photos】
Weekly
Japan’s number-one cosplayer Enako cosplays as Valorant character in amazing transformation- Gigantic new anime store opening soon in Tokyo, and here’s a sneak-peek【Photos】
McDonald’s adds a Japanese daifuku pie to its menu for a limited time
Japan’s newest capsule toys: Capsules that Absolutely Won’t Open【Photos】
Giant 1,431-square meter arcade and bar opening in downtown Tokyo from Bandai Namco
Retro PlayStation bags and accessories take you back to the ’90s without breaking the bank- Shinjuku izakaya’s all-you-can-eat-and-drink plan is one of Tokyo’s best secret cheap eats
- 7-Eleven’s new whipped cream sandwich takes Japanese convenience store food to a whole new level
Virtual YouTubers in our world? Giant signs at Tokyo stations show Hololive talent and human fans
Tokyo park lighting up with gorgeous digital cherry blossom art display this spring
Monthly
Message to foreigners at Japanese convenience store sparks controversy online
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Japan’s randoseru school backpacks keep getting more expensive, so now parents can rent them- Japan’s number-one cosplayer Enako cosplays as Valorant character in amazing transformation
- Gigantic new anime store opening soon in Tokyo, and here’s a sneak-peek【Photos】
Cherry blossom Totoro tableware, interior decoration line arrives for Ghibli-style sakura spring
New Japanese KitKat combines two flavours in one for brand new taste sensation- Japan’s newest capsule toys: Capsules that Absolutely Won’t Open【Photos】
Ghibli Park visitors caught in lewd acts with anime character figures- McDonald’s adds a Japanese daifuku pie to its menu for a limited time
Yearly
Manga artist wants Japanese teachers to feel, for two seconds, how dumb their girls’ dress code is
One Punch Man manga artist’s amazing “practice” drawing is so good we think he might not be human
Sony’s wearable air conditioners selling like cold cakes in heat-stricken Japan
Travelling to Japan soon? Beware the “Three Small Hells” awaiting tourists upon arrival
Japan ends travel ban on individual tourists, waives visa requirements for certain countries
One Piece’s Luffy spent years of manga’s publication without saying a word to one of his nakama
Pokémon Center apologizes for writing model Nicole Fujita’s name as Nicole Fujita
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Image-generating AI’s picture of “Final Fantasy VII Cloud” is so wrong, yet so right
New Studio Ghibli humidifiers breathe anime magic into your home
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Tokyo ramen restaurant bans customers from watching YouTube videos on their phones while eating
An interview with two Japanese dating service scam sakura【Interview】
In search of Japan’s largest melon bread with Mr. Sato
7-Eleven’s new whipped cream sandwich takes Japanese convenience store food to a whole new level
Gigantic new anime store opening soon in Tokyo, and here’s a sneak-peek【Photos】
Pizza Hut adds a “too much coriander” pizza to its lineup in Japan
Edible 10-yen coins become a hot new trend in Tokyo【Taste test】
New Japanese pro-wrestling members are too pretty for words 【Photos】
Lawson Store 100 sells two new simple, inexpensive bento showcasing popular Japanese side dishes
How would Pokémon Scarlet and Violet look with pixel art? Awesome. Japanese fan shows【Video】
Urinal privacy curtains at rock festival make us think organizers don’t get how peeing works
-
