The holidays are among us, a time for family and celebration. It might come as a surprise to you that Christmas isn’t truly celebrated here in Japan. Christmas is a time for couples, not fami...

(header photo by Patrick Vierthaler) June and TSUYU With the passing of May’s blue skies and refreshing weather, June is finally here. While Japan may only have four official seasons, this time of ...

Sekku Part 2: Golden Week and Boy’s Day (retrospective report, updated mid-May) Once cherry blossom season is finished in Tokyo, attention immediately shifts to Golden Week. Golden Week takes place...

Food and the Seasons With the passage of Hinamatsuri, spring is finally upon us in Tokyo (article posted in mid-March). If you look up at trees in the city, plum blossoms should now be gone with th...

Can you smell the Autumn breeze? We’ve made it through the thick of the summer and now can enjoy some beautiful Autumn weather. Although everyone thinks that Cherry Blossom trees steal the show in ...

The anticipation and excitement of Japanese summers is one felt by all ages. Schools are out, and it’s the season for summer festivals and fireworks displays. Beaches turn into little resorts...