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What is Golden Week?

Golden Week was last week. You may have heard of it, you may have not. Golden Week takes place in Japan at the very end of April and lasts through the first week of May. People take vacations, travel the country or abroad, and generally have a great time regardless of the ensuing crowds. But [...]

New Form of Japanese Advertising Too Sexy?

It’s edgy, it’s innovative, it’s in your face. It’s also super sexy. But could it be… too sexy? Japan’s latest advertising fad is sweeping the nation, offending, arousing, and selling product faster than you can say, “Damn, baby – you want fries with that shake?” The Science of Absolute Territory Image source The premise behind [...]

Keeping Trains Safe

When the Tofugu team was in Japan earlier this year, Japan’s safety measures (or lack thereof) astounded me. In the US, everything has to have a label and a warning, otherwise people will get hurt and sue the hell out of each other. But that’s not the case in Japan. For whatever reason, Japanese culture [...]

Real Men Don’t Wear Shorts

Summer is fast approaching! Warm weather, cool drinks, and what else? Shorts? No! Well, at least not if you’re a sophisticated and respectable fellow out and about in Japan. Shorts over there just aren’t viewed the same way they are here in America. If you live in Europe or some other fashionable place, the rules [...]

Walk Like a Japanese Person

I take public transit to Tofugu World Headquarters every day, and in the couple of years I’ve been commuting, I’ve seen people commit every faux pas in the book, and generally do some stupid, stupid things. I’ve watched people step in front of moving vehicles, spit on other people, and generally disregard all rules of [...]