Tsukemono – Common pickle dishes The following are some of the more common types of tsukemono (Japanese pickles) that travelers are likely to encounter. Most tsukemono can be found nationwide, except where noted, however the exact ingredients of each tsukemono type may vary from region to region and household to household. Umeboshi Umeboshi are Japanese...Read More
Godzilla Did you know the original Godzilla (“ゴジラ” Gojira in Japanese), was made as an anti-nuclear protest film? In 1954, a Japanese fishing boat inadvertently strayed into the U.S. H-bomb testing range of the Bikini Atoll. The crew aboard were subsequently irradiated, with one dying of radiation poisoning. With the memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki...Read More
Sumo wrestling is Japan’s national sport. It originated centuries ago as entertainment for the religious deities of the Shinto religion. Many of the original rituals of the performances are still in practice at Sumo matches today. In accordance with tradition, only men can wrestle professionally. The rules of the matches are very straightforward; the first...Read More
Cosplay in Japan is very popular and quite a big business, with many shops, events, and even conventions dedicated to the fun pastime. “Cosplay” is a contraction of costume and play and consists of people dressing up as characters and acting out scenes. These characters are from books, movies, video games, TV shows, and especially...Read More
Are you a voluntary or involuntary corona virus shut-in, and tired of watching Gilligan’s Island reruns? How about a virtual tour of Japan through Japanese movies. Watching Japanese movies is a great way to learn more about Japan, its people and culture. Here are some of our suggestions. I have tried to provide a wide...Read More
Atami Onsen Overall Onsen Rating Atmosphere Atami Onsen (the literal translation of Atami is “warm ocean”) is located on the Pacific Ocean at the north-eastern edge of the Izu Peninsula about 100 km (70 miles) southwest of Tokyo. There is a Shinkansen station for the Tokaido Shinkansen that runs between Tokyo and western Japan...Read More
If you have never been to Japan, you may be surprised to know that there are more than 5.5 million vending machines all over the country, approximately one machine for every 40 people. Anyone can own one for an application fee of about 10 thousand yen (about $2000 USD) and if you choose the right...Read More
What is Katsuo Tataki? Katsuo (bonito or skipjack tuna in English) is a medium-sized fish related to tuna and mackerel. The meat of the Katsuo looks similar and has a similar texture to tuna meat. Katsuo is commonly used in Japanese cooking, but that is a subject for another blog. “Tataki” is a cooking method...Read More
New Year’s Day (shogatsu) is said to be the most important holiday for the Japanese. It begins at night on December 31st and goes until January 3rd. During this time, most businesses’ are closed and families come together for the festive period. In Japanese culture, the new year is a clean slate. As a result,...Read More
Christmas is celebrated not because of religious reasons but because of its festive mood. It is celebrated like Valentine’s Day and is the most romantic time of the year for couples. Young couples reserve dinner at high-end restaurants and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve while many others hold parties. Unlike in western countries, Christmas is...Read More
