Food & Drink

The Summer When Japan First Tasted the Fizz

How Cider and Ramune Brought a New Kind of Joy to the Meiji EraDuring the Meiji era, Japanese people encountered a fasci...
Entertainment

The Botan Dōrō (The Peony Lantern) Swaying in the Darkness — Why This Ghost Story Is So Beautiful

In Japan, ghost stories are traditionally told during the summer.Listening to tales that send a slight chill down your s...
Nature & Animals

The Beauty of Viewing Goldfish from Above: Goldfish Appreciation and Japanese Aesthetics

Today, goldfish are often enjoyed in the same way as tropical fish, viewed from the side through a glass aquarium. Howev...
Home & Lifestyle

A Time When Clothes Were Taken Apart to Be Washed

Today, we can wash our clothes easily with a washing machine. Modern detergents and appliances make laundry a simple par...
Food & Drink

A Japanese Summer Tradition: Making Red Shiso Juice at Home

A Summer Drink That Captures the Colors of the SeasonFor generations, Japanese families have found many ways to make the...
Education & Childhood

“Yokutte Yo”: A Meiji-Era Trendy Phrase Among Female Students

“Ah, yokutte yo.”When people hear this phrase today, many may imagine an elegant “ojou-sama” (young lady) character from...
Food & Drink

Bento Boxes and the Birth of School Lunch in Meiji Japan

How children’s lunches reveal a changing societyWhen lunchtime came, children opened the lids of their bento boxes.Today...
Entertainment

Kamishibai: Japan’s “Motionless Movie” Before Television

1. IntroductionWhen people hear the word kamishibai, they often think of children's entertainment. In reality, however, ...
Entertainment

Stories Told Through Light: Kenji Miyazawa and Gentō-kai (Magic Lantern Shows).

How Did People Experience Stories Before Television and Movies?Today, we can enjoy stories through television, movies, a...
Food & Drink

What Is the “32 Chews” Health Method? The History of Fletcherism in Japan

From the Meiji to the Taisho period in Japan, a dietary practice known as the “32-chew method” briefly attracted attenti...