We've written about Japanese tea as well as Japan's infamous tea ceremonies before, and it's plain to see that tea is a very important part of Japanese culture. But who made this happen? Who were the tea wizards that … [Read more...]
In most major cities of the world, you'll find large, prestigious museums: the Museum of Natural History in New York City; the Louvre in Paris; the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. Then there are more offbeat, … [Read more...]
Did you know Japan had not one, but two Robin Hoods? Yes, these two stole from the rich and gave to the poor, risking their lives to help the common people. They were called Ishikawa Goemon and Nezumi Kozo. They might not … [Read more...]
Hundreds of years ago, in an era of world history when Western countries were beginning to explore Asia, Japan stood apart from most of the rest of the world when it looked at the situation, thought "Nah," and shut its … [Read more...]
It's always strange to see which Westerners are famous in Japan yet unheard of in their own homelands. Aside from foreigner tarento who appear on TV shows, commercials, and magazines today, there are a lot of historical … [Read more...]
Growing up in a computerized world, I've never really thought too much about the problems faced by people using typewriters. It’s pretty damn hard to make a Japanese typewriter (known in Japanese as a 和文タイプライター). … [Read more...]