What is a Mikoshi in Japanese Culture? Have you ever seen a picture of an ornate carriage with royalty or royal cargo inside that is transported on people’s shoulders? Many...

It all started with an online image of a tray of adorable hamsters in 2016. As with most viral content, the internet quickly labeled it Japanese hamster bread. This baking...

It’s time to upgrade your packed lunch with a Japanese bento box! If you didn’t know, bento is a single-serving take out meal, usually lunch, that’s been prepared, packed, and...

Claw machines are some of the most challenging arcade games and the most addicting! While some may say these machines are rigged, we say it's all fun and games. In...

What is Dagashi? You might be old enough to remember those retro candies you could buy for a quarter at the corner store when you were young: Bazooka Bubble Gum,...

Cats: you either love them or you hate them. But not in Japan; in Japan, cats are a universally beloved part of culture and are believed to bring good fortune...

If you're familiar with white sesame seeds, you'll want to immediately start eating black sesame seeds and black sesame-flavored foods. These tiny seeds pack a punch of flavor while adding...

Remember that excited feeling when you were given a few quarters as a child and could pick a toy, sticker, or temporary tattoo from the vending machine outside the grocery...

If you don’t consider bread to be a dessert, then you’ve clearly never tried anpan. For those who don’t know, anpan is a Japanese sweet roll that is primarily filled...

Every year, sakura season, aka Japanese cherry blossom season, is a highly anticipated event and a large part of Japanese culture. During this time, each sakura tree produces a stunning...

Valentine’s Day in Japan (and White Day too) In true Japanese fashion, Valentine’s Day appeared in Japan and then gradually refashioned itself over time. A Tokyo company called Mary Chocolate...

Sakura no hanami (桜の花見), or “cherry-blossom viewing,” is not to be trivialized in Japan. Like die-hard skiers keeping close tabs on snowfall predictions, some Japanese people keep a close eye...