
Every country has its signature drink: vodka in Russia, tequila in Mexico, and wine in France. For Japan, the first word that probably comes to mind is sake. But actually, the correct word is nihonshu (日本酒), which literally means “Japanese alcohol”. Here’s a fun twist: in […]

Indigo blue and the dyeing process (Aizome) are such an instrumental part of traditional Japanese culture that I never once doubted that they originated in the country. However, I later learned that Japan actually learnt it from China in the 7th century, and that it had […]

Most often associated with Japanese monsters, Yokai is a broad term that encapsulates any and all supernatural phenomena. Although the term Yokai may sound unfamiliar, you have likely encountered Yokai already in some way, especially if you are a fan of Japanese pop culture. Many of […]