culture– category –

Sometimes, all you need is 10 minutes of calm. Incense matches are a simple, stylish way to add scent and stillness to your day—without the smoke, ash, or setup of traditional incense. You light them like a match, let the flame go out, a...

Japanese incense is more than just a pleasant aroma—it's a quiet, centuries-old practice rooted in mindfulness, nature, and everyday life. Whether you discovered it during a visit to Japan, heard about its use in meditation, or simply wa...

I was born in Nagoya, went to university in Shiga, and worked part-time in Kyoto all through my student days. To me, Kyoto isn’t just a place I visited—it’s a place I lived, wandered, got lost in, and fell in love with over and over agai...

When most people think of Japan, they picture ancient temples, cherry blossoms, or bustling street crossings in Shibuya. But if you're looking for something truly unique—something you won’t find anywhere else in the world—teamLab is it. ...

If you've never experienced a Japanese sauna, totonou might sound like just another wellness buzzword. But for many of us in Japan, it’s something much deeper—something physical, emotional, and almost spiritual. I was born and raised in ...

Tokyo isn’t just about Shibuya’s scramble crossing or the towering presence of Tokyo Tower. Beneath the polished image lies a sprawling, often chaotic, but always creative subculture that pulses through the city’s lesser-known neighborho...

As someone born and raised in Japan—and a self-proclaimed anime otaku since high school—I’ve been deeply moved by stories like Evangelion, Slam Dunk, Your Name, and many more. Anime shaped my youth, and I still remember how I cried, laug...

Tokyo isn’t just about neon lights, sushi, and shrines—it’s also a sauna paradise hiding in plain sight. As someone born and raised in Japan and now over 30 years deep into the sauna lifestyle, I can confidently say that the sauna scene ...