Babies have been stamped with ink on the forehead in a traditional ritual for their healthy growth at a Shinto shrine in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

The event which began at Fujitake shrine in …

posted by  Yubi | 6 years, 10 months ago | 1 comment

Sumiko Iwamuro knows a thing or two about juggling work.

She spends her days behind the counter at a family-run specialty gyoza restaurant and one or two nights a month moonlighting under her stage n…

posted by  Tanuki | 6 years, 10 months ago | 4 comments

An ancient ball game known as "kemari" was staged at a major shrine in Nara. The event held at Kasugataisha shrine is named "Manyo-kemari".

A non-profit organization working to preserve Nara's cultur…

posted by  Tanuki | 6 years, 10 months ago | 2 comments

Sanrio Entertainment Co. said Thursday it will offer the right to “date” its popular character Hello Kitty to people who donate ¥100,000 each through crowdfunding for a summer festival to be held at …

posted by  Tanuki | 6 years, 10 months ago | 1 comment

The city of Tokyo will be playing host to hundreds of talented artists from all around the world when it stages the third Tokyo International Art Fair by Global Art Agency (The GAA Ltd) on 26-27 May …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 6 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Just about 1 year ago Shun Kawakami’s branding agency artlessInc. opened a tea & coffee stand in Harajuku. But they recently relocated to a larger, cooler space under the Nakameguro train tracks.…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 6 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Since AKB has claimed Akihabara, Credit Saison has opted for the somewhat less iconic East Ikebukuro for its group, which comprises actual female employees of the credit card provider. Despite the na…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 6 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Tourists were given a rare treat Sunday when Kyoto’s Nishi Honganji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, opened its centuries-old Karamon gate for the first time in 34 years.

“This is my hometown bu…

posted by  Yubi | 6 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments

Legendary Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki has come out of retirement from making feature-length films.

Miyazaki's production base, Studio Ghibli, said on Friday that he had begun working o…

posted by  Tanuki | 6 years, 11 months ago | 2 comments

Take the train from Tokyo’s Kitasenju-station, about 80 minutes North-East up to Gunma Prefecture, and you will arrive at Ota station. In front of Ota station’s North Exit is the newly opened Ota Art…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 6 years, 11 months ago | 0 comments