The story of Yasuke, the Black Samurai
The legendary tale of Yasuke, who holds the distinction of being the first known foreign samurai in Japan, is a…
The perception of tattoos in Japan
Despite the popularity of Japanese art and the imagination around prestigious tattoo artists who imitate this art in the West,…
Art | Culture | Entertainment
Geisha: The Artists of Japan
Geishas are traditional performers of Japanese arts and music. They specialize in dancing, singing, and playing various instruments, including hand…
History of homosexuality in Japan
Sexuality in Japan was once a very open topic. Contrary to what is generally thought, homosexuality did not occur exclusively…
Akihabara, the mecca of Otaku culture
Akihabara (秋葉原), sometimes abbreviated as Akiba is the central district of Tokyo famous for its electronics stores. In recent years…
What Is A Tsuchinoko In Japanese Mythology and Folklore?
The Tsuchinoko (ツ チ ノ コ) is a snake-shaped yōkai. The name is prevalent in western Japan, and in the…
All About Japanese Pachinko
Pachinko is a Japanese game/gambling machine that could be described as a cross between a video slot machine and pinballs….
Top 10 Japanese novels
Japanese literature has a long history. Since the Chinese writing system was imported, a Japanese style of literature began to…
Japanese Mythology and Folklore – Kirin
This creature is from Chinese origin, but due to cultural exchange it was transmitted to Japan. Descriptions vary, but usually…
Ninjas, the mercenaries of Japan
Black-clad figures with their faces covered cross the courtyard, climbing the walls like spiders and pacing the rooftops, swift as…
Music legends of Japan
Within the musical world of Japan there are two acts that have gone down in history as legends and continue…
History of Japanese literature
While the writing system was introduced to Japan relatively late, this is not a detriment to the richness that Japanese…
History of Japan, Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo Periods
I’ll talk about the periods Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo (1573-1868). After settling in Kyoto, Nobunaga fought against the most powerful Buddhist…
Japanese Mythology and Folklore – Tsukumogami
The Japanese have a belief that objects that are 100 years old take on a life of their own. The…
The Idols of Japan
In Japan there are many groups or bands made up of artists who dance, sing, act and appear on television…