The Yakuza and the Way of the Would-Be Warrior
Ian Buruma on “Yakuza: A 400-Year History of the Japanese Underworld,” by Andrew Rankin.
japan
The Legend of the Paper Crane - Mazda Stories
Mazda Stories explores the ancient art of origami, its importance in Hiroshima and how it's believed to have miraculous powers…
Japan’s Quiet Monopoly Inside Every Robot Joint
Two Japanese companies control roughly half the market for the mechanism that lets robots move, and Chinese suppliers are closing in fast.
https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/japan-sewer-day-manhole-cover-sale/
How the Japanese Practice of "Forest Bathing"—Or Just Hanging Out in the Woods—Can Lower Stress Levels and Fight Disease
When the U.S. media began reporting on the phenomenon of “forest bathing” as a therapy for mental and physical health, the online commentariat—as it will—mocked the concept relentlessly as yet another pretentious, bourgeois repackaging of something thoroughly mundane.
5 Japanese Pens & Notebooks So Beautifully Made You’ll Never Want to Type Again - Yanko Design
There is a specific quality to well-made Japanese stationery that is difficult to name and easy to recognize. It is not about price or brand recognition. It is the sense that the object was designed by someone who used a pen every single day and got quietly frustrated with…
A Japanese band has sewn up the first-ever Heavy Metal Knitting Championship.
Tokyo has only two barley tea makers, and we visited one to see how mugicha is made
With barley tea going into glasses as the weather heats up, we find out what goes into making barley tea.
Japanese symbols that speak without words
I look at the Japanese symbols that carry meaning entirely on their own.
https://www.tokyoweekender.com/food-and-drink/restaurants-and-bars/kompakt-record-bar-tokyo/
‘The devil’s child’: the rise and fall of the only female yakuza
The long read: Mako Nishimura fought her way into the Japanese underworld, but drug addiction and the slow demise of organised crime gangs almost destroyed her
The Founding Story Behind Japan’s Oldest Whisky Maker
In 1899, a young Osaka merchant named Shinjiro Torii opened a small wine shop with an idea that would change the spirits world. More than 125 years later, the company is a global drinks conglomerate. Here is the full history of the House of Suntory.
The secrets of the shinkansen
Japan's railways are the finest in the world. Other countries can copy its formula.
Please your palate with Tokyo’s international grocery stores
The capital has a surfeit of specialty supermarkets with ingredients from all over the world — if you know where to look.
The yoghurt delivery women combatting loneliness in Japan
As loneliness deepens in one of the world's fastest-ageing nations, a network of women delivering probiotic milk drinks has become a vital source of routine, connection and care.
Johatsu: Into Thin Air (2024) ⭐ 6.3 | Documentary
1h 26m
Not a Diet: Why Japanese Meals Work
The most useful meal framework in my kitchen has nothing to do with dieting.
Tokyo startup envisions a world where nothing stays lost
Find Inc. is a Tokyo-based startup that provides a cloud service dedicated to lost items.
How Japan Built a Rare-Earth Supply Chain Without China
The 15-year effort by Japan is a model for countries now scrambling to reduce their dependence on Beijing’s critical metals.
Affordable Omakase Sushi Restaurants in Tokyo
We introduce five recommended spots for omakase experiences that won’t break the bank, located across central Tokyo.
Anison 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Anime Songs
Many anime tracks become mainstream hits, performed at concerts and karaoke bars nationwide. Here's a guide to the world of anison.
Out of Eden Walk: Getting by on the generosity of strangers - The World from PRX
On a long trip away from home, some of the most memorable moments come from the hospitality of strangers. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has come to rely on hospitality daily on his Out of Eden Walk, traversing the path of human migration. Host Marco Werman speaks to…
Backyard Coffee And Jazz In Kyoto, Japan
A "magical" experience, and what we get when we let people pursue their passions
Kappabashi Neighborhood Guide: Tokyo's Kitchen Supply Paradise
Kappabashi is a neighborhood best known for two things: kitchen supplies and a Japanese mythological being, the kappa.
The sushi cone that changed everything
Inspired by ice cream cones, Tokyo’s “temaki-zushi” made sushi handheld, affordable — and a quietly radical moment in Japanese dining.
10 Untranslatable Japanese Words You Need To Know
Explore the fascinating world of untranslatable Japanese that reveal unique aspects of Japanese culture and daily life.
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
Since 2018, Sanya Cafe has been building community in one of Tokyo’s most colorful — and infamous — neighborhoods.
Hōshi: A Short Documentary on the 1300-Year-Old Hotel Run by the Same Japanese Family for 46 Generations
Hōshi, a traditional Japanese inn in Komatsu, Japan, holds the distinction of being the second oldest hotel in the world—and “the oldest still running family business in the world.” Built in 718 AD, Hōshi has been operated by the same family for 46 consecutive generations.
These Are the Best Small Towns in Japan
Visiting small towns is the best way to discover the real Japan. Here's how to visit small towns in Japan in 2025, 2026 and beyond.
The Golden Age of Japanese Pencils, 1952-1967
It was the summer of 1952, and the executives of Tombow Pencil were about to revolutionize the Japanese pencil industry—or, possibly, fall flat on their faces. Hachiro Ogawa, the son of founder Harunosuke Ogawa, was Tombow's managing director, and he had just finished a…
My Quest to Find the Owner of a Mysterious WWII Japanese Sword
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by a traditional katana my grandfather had brought home from Japan in 1945. Years later, I decided it was time to find the heirloom’s rightful owner.
4 Can’t-Miss Towns in an Often Overlooked Corner of Japan
Kyushu, often passed over by international visitors, is rich in crafts, history and culture. Here are four destinations to consider.
How onigiri, not as famous as ramen or sushi, became Japan’s soul food
The humble sticky-rice ball’s popularity has shot up because it’s simple to make, is gluten-free and is versatile.
How Japanese Companies Are Benefiting From the Chips Battle
With subsidies and a $6 billion acquisition, Tokyo wants to make its companies indispensable in the global supply chain.
On Himalayan Hillsides Grows Japan’s Cold, Hard Cash - The New York Times
A shrub in impoverished Nepal now supplies the raw material for the bank notes used in Asia’s most sophisticated financial system.
The Unique History of Japanese Plastic Food Samples
Tokyo Weekender went to Yamato Samples in Toshima city to find out the ins and outs of Japan’s fascinating food sample culture.
Cassettes Are Back Again, But In A Big Way In Japan
Cassettes are making a comeback yet again, but this time it's Japan that's leading the way.
Please sir, I want Sumo: How Sumo wrestlers fuel up for fights
A look inside the sport’s nutrition — and one dish in particular — reveals athletes who are much healthier than many of us realize. | Sport
We are sakuraco
Explore new authentic Japanese snacks every month. Indulge in hand-selected seasonal sweets, snacks and tea made by local makers. Worldwide shipping.
A Japanese Island Where the Wild Things Are
In the pantheon of yokai, spooky beings of Japanese folklore embody anxieties ancient and modern. On Shodoshima, an art contest helps bring new ones to life.
Shop info
Information on the location and business hours of Sukiyabashi Jiro's store.
From Prejudice to Pride | Hakai Magazine
In the 20th century, Japanese anthropologists and officials tried to hide the existence of the Indigenous Ainu. Then the Ainu fought back like their cousins, the bears.
Japanese vending machines: the cutting edge of merchandising … and on the b
Media reports focusing on Japan's quirky vending machine culture dive into what new items are on offer and the risk they face due to competition from convenience stores.
Japanese Vending Machines at Night Juxtaposed with a Wintry Hokkaido Landsc
“In Hokkaido where I live, winters are harsh and snows are deep,” says photographer Eiji Ohashi. “Every day can become rather inconvenient” due to the constant snowfall. But heavy snows also bring wintry wonderlands and the discovery of small pleasures. One snowy night. Ohashi…