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. Takarazuka's Crossdressing Starlets Beauties That May Just Be Better Than Real Men

      | Aimee Zink
    2. The Many Japanese Calendars And the Ways Japan Tells Time

      | Kristen Dexter
    3. Is Japan Really Conservative? You can't do this, you can't do that... or can you?

      | Austin
    4. More Than Gaijin Specific Ethnic Groups Living in Japan

      | Laguna Levine
    5. Meet the Ogasawara Islands! The Ogasawara Islands speak out

      | Matthew Macewan
    6. Noboru Iguchi: Master of Movie Mayhem Japan's master of Schlock

      | Rudy Barrett
    7. Rice: The Crop That Sparked the Tokugawa Miracle In the beginning... there was rice!

      | Christina Trouten
    8. Special Education on Japanese Special Education Resources for the Handicapped

      | Laguna Levine
    9. Omamori: Protecting Yourself in Little Ways Pass that test! Be safe while you drive! Find a boyfriend!

      | Verity Lane
    10. Why Japan Laughs At Zombies Bbbbbraaaainnnnzz Braaaainzzz!! HEY! Why aren't you running?!

      | Rudy Barrett
    11. The Culture of Less Is More Or Less

      | Sanford
    12. City Life Outside Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto Living that Inaka life. Represent!

      | Laguna Levine
    13. All About Hikikomori Japan's Missing Million

      | Kaitlin Stainbrook
    14. Unagi: Delicious Past and Dim Future Unagi is one Japan's most delicious dishes. Too bad you won't be eating it for long.

      | Linda Lombardi
    15. HELP! I Don't Know How to ALT! Tips for becoming a better team teacher

      | Verity Lane
    16. Better Than Pokémon!? How Yo-Kai Watch Is Marketing Itself To Japanese Children

      | Rich
    17. Tomoe Gozen: Badass Women in Japanese History A warrior worth a thousand men

      | Chelsea Bernard
    18. Raw Egg On Rice Is A Japanese Feast The egg. The rice. The feast.

      | Mami Suzuki
    19. A Beginner’s Guide to Shōchū Delicious alcohol (glug glug)

      | Adam Ledford
    20. Japan’s Solar Revolution The Sky’s (Not) the Limit"

      | Rich
    21. Shopping in Tokyo - A Shopaholic's Guide How to get the most bang for your buck in the world's most expensive city

      | Jessica Shortz
    22. How to Care for Your Beetle Beetles are a Boy's Best Friend

      | Linda Lombardi
    23. Is That A Marimo In Your Pants Or Are You Just Happy To See Me? Lovable Algae Balls You Can Keep As Pets

      | Verity Lane
    24. Being Fat in Japan By Someone Who Lost Over 100 Pounds Here

      | Laguna Levine
    25. Where to Find Nuts in Japan You can order online, sure. But when you want to buy nuts with your own two hands...

      | Rich
    26. Sampuru: Japanese Food Models It looks good enough to eat, but look closer before you dig in

      | Linda Lombardi and Hashi
    27. Shinto Tropes for Otaku Folks Be less of a baka-gaijin and learn the truth behind that anime!

      | Christina Trouten
    28. Tenugui: A Cloth Without Limits The very Japanese cloth with everyday uses

      | Rich
    29. How to Get your Japanese Driver's License Pass the infamous Japanese driver's test

      | Verity Lane
    30. Sailor Moon: Positive Female Role Model Since 1992 The Power of Friendship!

      | Jessica Lord
    31. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Japan Edition Ancient Japanese Creatures based on real life mini monsters

      | Chelsea Bernard
    32. Coffee In Japan: 120 Years Of Mornings A History Of Coffee In Japan and How It Became So Popular

      | Rochelle and Viet Hoang
    33. Forget Pet Rocks, Cultivate Your Own Rock Garden And Feel the Zen While You Do It

      | Matthew Macewan
    34. How Japanese Black Companies Oppress Workers and Ruin Lives Welcome to the team…and the nightmare

      | Mami Suzuki
    35. Taijin Kyofusho - A Very "Japanese" Social Anxiety A social phobia that goes beyond social phobias.

      | Lenna
    36. The Ultimate Guide To Pooping In Japan Don't Let that Toilet get your down!

      | Jessica Shortz
    37. The Yuta, The Noro, And The “Okinawan Witch Trials” Japan's lesser known Salem Witch Trials

      | Adam Ledford
    38. The Art Of Social Warfare In The Japanese Workplace Grab your weapons! Let's go!

      | Laguna Levine
    39. Hidden No More What Happens When The Intellectually Disabled Join Japanese Society

      | Anne Evans
    40. Waging Epic Battle With Japanese Tops and Beigoma An old timey toy that still has kids hooked

      | Rich
    41. Kawaii Japanese Food Characters The delicious history of characters made of foods

      | Linda Lombardi
    42. Anime Before It Was "Anime" Before Osamu Tezuka. Before color. Before sound.

      | Michael Richey