Japan

    The more you learn about Japanese culture and history, the easier it becomes to navigate Japan. This means learning why Meiji-period author Higuchi Ichiyō's face is on the ¥5,000 bill. Or studying the ins-and-outs of omiyage. Or discovering what it takes to land a job in Japan. Check out the articles below, and start growing your cultural understanding.
    1. Japanese Seaweed! There is More Than One Seaweed on the Menu!

      | Adam Ledford
    2. Shunga: Japan's Ancient Erotica This article is totally NSFW

      | Rich
    3. The Minabe-Cho Government And The Rise Of Umeboshi Fascism Onigiri-only umeboshi

      | Mami Suzuki
    4. Japanese Legal Loopholes How Japan Looks Innocent While Breaking the Law

      | Rudy Barrett
    5. Japan's Three Climates A Virtual Journey Through the Wilds of Japan

      | Matthew Macewan
    6. Ono no Komachi and The Standard of Japanese Female Beauty How the Akita Bijin became the envy of Japan

      | Kristen Dexter
    7. Japan's Garbage Disposal System Explained Sort or die!

      | Verity Lane
    8. Yakan Chuugaku: The Japanese Night Time Junior High Where The Uneducated Learn To Read Good Hot, steamy, educational nights

      | Mami Suzuki
    9. How to Spice up Your ALT Lessons with the Nine Intelligences A new strategy for English teaching in Japan

      | Rich
    10. 10 Not-Japanese Foods Lost in Translation So close… yet so far

      | Laguna Levine
    11. Kamaboko - A Pureed Fish Cake Fit For Celebration The cake that can swim

      | Mami Suzuki
    12. Bishounen Girl meets boy, boy likes girl, girl meets girl-like-boy…

      | Sanford
    13. The Japanese Name Satou And Its Rise To #1 If you're family name is Satou, congratulations! You're the greatest

      | Mami Suzuki
    14. Abenomics 3 Arrows Explained Finally you can understand what's going on inside Abe's head

      | Austin
    15. The Cicadas' Song Japan’s Summer Soundtrack

      | Rich
    16. Komainu: The History of Japan’s Mythical Lion Dogs On your roof, guarding your shrine, and kicking kaiju butt

      | Adam Ledford
    17. A Long History of Japanese Names Where did all these names come from?

      | Mami Suzuki
    18. Kitsune: The Divine/Evil Fox Yokai A 50/50 chance you'll live

      | Linda Lombardi
    19. The Delicious Road: a Japanese Dessert Journey A north to south sweets expedition

      | Matthew Macewan
    20. Becoming a Child in Japan Learning Through Curiosity and Humility

      | Laguna Levine
    21. Top 10 REAL Pokemon You Can Find in Japan! Catch 'em all for realsies

      | Rudy Barrett
    22. How "Cow Poop" Became A Real-Life Japanese Family Name Looks good on a family crest

      | Mami Suzuki
    23. Origami for Kids Improving Children's Minds One Fold at a Time

      | Rich
    24. The Road to Understanding Japanese Pottery A road made of bricks, which also used to be made like pottery!

      | Matthew Macewan
    25. Ghibli’s Uncertain Future, Post-Miyazaki Marnie, Goro, CGI, oh my!

      | Shoko
    26. Onigiri: The Rice Ball Perfectly seasoned, a pop of flavor from the filling, warm or cold, always delicious.

      | Sanford
    27. Murasaki Shikibu: Badass Women in Japanese History The World's First Novelist was - That's Right - A Heian Poet

      | Chelsea Bernard
    28. Peace and Japan How Japan Got Militarized. Again.

      | Austin
    29. Let's All Get NAKED! Onsen and Body Image Don't Be Shy, Jump In!

      | Verity Lane
    30. The Ryukyu King And His Fantastic 1-Year-Long Parade A tribute mission for the ages

      | Adam Ledford
    31. 10 of Hello Kitty's Most DISTANT Relatives Sanrio characters are too dull or too weird

      | Michael Richey
    32. The Social History of Ramen Slurp slurp slurp some knowledge

      | Linda Lombardi
    33. Five Ways To Experience Japan Without Leaving Home Because not everyone can afford to leave town

      | Jessica Shortz
    34. Kato Kiyomasa and the Hosokawa Lords of Kumamoto

      | Adam Ledford
    35. A Crash Course in Japanese Poetry Japanese Poetry is like a Deep, Deep Ocean - Take That First Leap Here!

      | Jessica Shortz
    36. Namahage: Akita’s New Year’s Ogre The awesome tradition of scaring kids into a year of good behavior

      | Kristen Dexter
    37. How To Shoot A Samurai Film At Toei Uzumasa Eigamura

      | Mami Suzuki
    38. Mastering the ALT Self-Intro Class Learn to introduce yourself to classrooms full of Japanese kids.

      | Verity Lane
    39. Surviving Sports Festival Undoukai in Japanese Schools

      | Rich
    40. Top Ten Real Life Kaiju of Japan Don't get stomped on

      | Rudy Barrett
    41. Karuta: Gotta Catch 'Em All! An old Japanese Card game brought into the Light

      | Chelsea Bernard
    42. Mimikaki: Ear Cleaning and Romance in Japan Of Love and Earwax

      | Rich