Tobias has been working as an editor and a writer for over ten years.
Anyone who has lived in Japan for more than a year will tell you: residence taxes can be expensive! However, as diligent members of the society we live in, we accept this is the price we must pay for things like sanitation, roads, schools, government, and everything else that stops us from being three meals
Japan is — as those who live here, who visit, or those who want to do either will know — a nation where tradition and ritual are a part of everyday life. From remembering to say “ittekimasu!” when leaving the house to bowing in gratitude, small gestures like these are part of both the glue
In an age where Hollywood is obsessed with adaptations, reboots, remakes, sequels and, perhaps worst of all, prequels (sorry Star Wars Gen Zers, the prequels are trash), people are becoming increasingly weary of how we seem to keep seeing the same things over and over again. With the entertainment industry hooked on nostalgia, many people
Thanks to the popularity of manga and anime such as Ouran Highschool Host Club, or Maid-Sama!, many people have become increasingly aware of — and interested in — hostess clubs and themed bars and cafes. But what is a hostess club? What can you expect when you go into one? And are they more innocent
Tokyo, as Japan’s capital and most populous city, is the nation’s number one tourist destination: if you want to find something, you can almost always find it in Tokyo. This also goes for thrills of a somewhat illicit nature. To be frank up front: as sex work is, at best, legally dubious in Japan, so
The great outdoors is great no matter where you are, but nature and adventure in Japan is unlike any other place on Earth. From the lakes to the mountains to the plains, the landscape of Japan is unique, and offers experiences like no other. But what is it about camping in Japan that makes it
If you previously read our article on Buddhism in Japan (and if you haven’t, there is no time like the present) you may recall that Zen Buddhism is one of the best known sects of Buddhism in the west, thanks to interest in Japanese culture that sprung up during the boom years of the 1980s.
How often are you really yourself? What I mean is, do you act the same way around your friends as you do around your parents? How about between your siblings and your boss or professor? While some might consider changing who you appear to be based on who you are talking to to be “two-faced,”
In October, the Japan National Tourism Office (JNTO) held a media briefing to continue introducing the incredible opportunities that the Tohoku region in the north of Japan offers to those looking for adventure vacations. As with our last report, it became clear that not only is the region a great place to get away from
Last week, we detailed the ascention of Sanae Takaichi to become the President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and therefore her becoming the presumptive new Prime Minister of Japan, and the first woman Prime Minister in its history. However, since that time, there have been rapid — and unexpected — developments, which mean that
The Samurai have long held a place in the minds of people inside and outside of Japan. While ninja may have dominated the 1980s in the west, and there was a small manga called Naruto that you may be aware of, samurai are arguably the symbol of pre-modern Japan — perhaps second only in the
For anyone living in Japan to whom Christmas is one of the most — if not the most — important days of the year, it can feel a little strange to live in a country where not only is it not a public holiday, but there are few religious observances. However, Japan is very much