Aomori’s artistry thrived all the way back in the Jomon period (13,000–300 BC). This era was named for the cord markings on its pottery, a decorative practice that would develop into intricate variat…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 1 day, 6 hours ago | 0 comments

As of the end of September, 34 Japanese ramen chains had filed for bankruptcy since January. This makes 2020 the first year since 2000 in which total bankruptcies had surpassed 30 by this point. The …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 1 day, 6 hours ago | 0 comments

Contaminated water that will reportedly be released into the sea from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant contains a radioactive substance that has the potential to damage human DNA, a …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 1 day, 6 hours ago | 0 comments

Planning a special meal, and want to make sure you get a seat? Here’s a quick rundown of how to make restaurant reservations in Japan—with both English and Japanese-language options.

First, though—yo…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 5 days, 5 hours ago | 0 comments

Beginning this Friday, October 23, 2020, the annual Design Art Tokyo descends upon the city, transforming retailers and cafes and all sorts of venues into galleries. For 12 days, Tokyo becomes an ope…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 5 days, 5 hours ago | 0 comments

Maisa Tsuno, a member of popular Japanese rock band Akaiko-en, has died, the group's agency said Monday, with police suspecting suicide.

The 29-year-old guitarist and songwriter for the four-member f…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 5 days, 5 hours ago | 0 comments

You may not have heard of Ken Kutaragi but you most certainly have heard of his invention: the PlayStation. The former chairperson and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment has now taken on a new role a…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 6 days, 2 hours ago | 0 comments

When I first came to Japan, I heard the rumors about how infamously difficult the N1 exam was. A common story going around the foreign community at the time was that the N1 of the Japanese Language P…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 1 week, 1 day ago | 0 comments

A Japanese tourist left stranded for over 200 days at the foot of the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu due to the coronavirus pandemic had the site all to himself when he was finally able to visit …

posted by  banzaitokyo | 1 week, 1 day ago | 0 comments

Japanese painter Ayune Shojima creates colorful oil paintings filled with flora and fauna that seemingly overflow from the canvas. In her new series titled “Circle of Wind,” Shojima illustrates the s…

posted by  banzaitokyo | 1 week, 1 day ago | 0 comments