Harajuku is more than just a neighborhood in Japan. Harajuku is a monolith of fashion, aesthetics, and culture that can’t be found or replicated anywhere else. There are so many...
The History of Kabuki Kabuki theater is a classical Japanese art form that has endured since the Edo period (1603-1867). A stylized display of dance and drama, kabuki has deep...
Donburi is a classic part of Japanese cuisine, and you’ll see signs for it all across the country. But it’s often a little confusing to work out what donburi actually...
It's almost that time of year again when you’re expected to shower your dad in Father's Day Gifts! For some, this holiday throws them into a gift-giving frenzy. For others,...
The Seasons of Japan There are four distinct seasons in Japan, and they are each a celebrated occasion. Spring, summer, fall, winter in Japanese is haru, natsu, aki, fuyu (or shun-ka-shū-tō). Each season...
Welcome to the latest installment of Bokksu’s Guide to Japanese Monsters, your source for all beings spooky, scary, syncretic folk religious, sneaky, and sometimes even “on your side.” We’ve been...
What is Kanji? Kanji (漢字) is one of three writing systems of Japan. Kanji are Chinese characters that are best described as ideographs, or written representations of ideas. In other...
You may see children leaving Japanese markets and convenience stores with colorful snacks featuring the character Umaemon and wonder what they’re eating. Likely, they’re enjoying umaibo, puffed corn classic Japanese...
You can't have tea in Japan without enjoying the snacks and sweets that go along with it! Next time you offer your guests some tea, impress them with these facts...
A Brief History of Cup Noodles Japan might be called the Land of the Rising Sun, but it’s also the land of endless culinary variety and novelty when it comes...
What is Umeboshi? Plain and simple, umeboshi are pickled plums. Ume (梅) means “plum” and boshi (干し) is a form of the verb “to dry” (干すhosu). In reality, ume are...
The Japanese know there’s nothing better than a chocolate covered banana, and if you want to get in on the trend, keep reading on to learn more about choco bananas!...