Japan is in the middle of a historical hero, [W:Ryoma Sakamoto] (1836-1867) boom. He was a leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period (1852-1869)….

      This fall,  “Iga Ryu Shuriken Uchi Senshuken (Iga School Shriken Wielding Championship)” hosted by Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum and Iga Ueno Tourism Association will be held for the…

  — ABOUT  Wasabi Stories… —   “Make a resolution, and you’ll bring your power into full play” Today’s story teller is an architect, [W:Tadao Ando]. He told about the…

When you read, watch or play Japanese manga, movies, anime or games, you may often find some characters are very odd and think “what is this?” In this article, I…

An “inro” is a traditional Japanese case for holding small objects especially medicines. It was also an accessory of samurai; they usually hang inro around their waists.      …

I read an interesting blog about the town I often go. Let me share it with you. The place is called “Shin-Okubo” where it is close to Shinjuku Station in…

I want show you some pictures of toro taken in [W:Okayama Prefecture].   Do you know toro?   It’s a Japanese lantern consists of wooden frame and paper. The each…

      In Japan, there are various places that you can peek in the life in Edo period (1603-1868), but many of them are crowded and expensive. Fukagawa Edo…

        Last weekend, Sanja Matsuri, one of three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo, was held in Asakusa, where 1.6 million people visited to enjoy various events, venders…

    Japan is in a “Sengoku (the Age of Civil Wars) era” boom now. There are films and TV series themed in the era, and people are into the…

  Until November 7, various events will be held in [W:Nara Prefecture] to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital. This is the official mascot character for the festival,…