Toyokazu Nagano is no ordinary photographer. Whereas most kinen shashinka, or commemorative photographers, will have their subjects don traditional attire and adopt the exact same poses as the hundreds of patrons before them, Nagano is instead on a mission to commemorate the moments in our lives that all too often go uncelebrated, building whimsical scenes around his subjects that let their true personalities shine out.
It should come as no surprise, then, to learn that the idea for setting up a portrait studio that celebrates life’s little moments and does away with the kimono, sombre expressions and set poses should have come from a series of genuinely adorable, laugh-out-loud-funny photos of his daughters taken on a place that quickly came to be known as the “Magic Road”…
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Tokyo luxury hotel offers month-long stays with free breakfasts, might be cheaper than apartment
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
Tokyo luxury hotel offers month-long stays with free breakfasts, might be cheaper than apartment
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
Hamster abandoned at Tokyo ramen restaurant gets new home
We take a cat yoga class at a Japanese rescue cat cafe
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
McDo…raemon! McDonald’s Japan offering Doraemon Shake and pie for festival season
Pizza Hut releases a ramen pizza in Japan, and it took half a year to perfect
Live-action Spirited Away stage play is finally available for on-demand streaming
Ghibli releases a Howl’s Moving Castle that walks and lights up【Video】
The pros and cons of using Fluffy Foam Soy Sauce【Taste test】
KFC becomes KFCheese with new pie and raclette “drowning” burger in Japan