The latest news, trends and photo galleries from Japan by Japan News and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper founded in 1874.
A sea horse aquaculture farm in Minami-Kyushu, Kagoshima prefecture, is attracting tourists ahead of the Year of the Dragon because the Japanese word for sea horse is “tatsu no otoshigo,” which means “spawned baby dragon.” Read more
Donald Keene, who introduced the charms of Japanese literature to the world, in his later years published a book about Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841). Read more
The appetizing smell and sizzling sound of an okonomiyaki savory pancake being prepared on a hot griddle, or teppan, can make anyone’s mouth water. Read more
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Discarded glass bottles collected in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, were recycled and transformed into dragon figurines at Okazaki Garasu Kobo Aoi workshop for the Year of the Dragon. Read more
A soda drink containing pieces of “entsuke” gold leaf — which is made using a technique registered on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list — has been put on sale by Hakuza Inc., a gold leaf manufacturer and retailer in Kanazawa. Read more
Rabbits holding flowers, poodles with collars and parakeets in bright colors — all perched on sticks — greet me with a sweet aroma as I enter a candy shop in Tokyo. Read more
The Cultural Affairs Agency is looking to create a music award to honor Asian artists as early as 2025, Commissioner Shunichi Tokura said in a recent interview. Read more
Small-scale farmers in Tokyo are increasingly expanding the boundaries of agriculture through the use of digital technology and other means. Read more
Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto features a large Zen meditation space that spans about 200 square meters. Read more
During the sweltering summertime, yokan, the Japanese jellylike red bean sweet, makes for a refreshingly cold dessert. Read more
Sony Group Corp. has started a “foster parent” program for unwanted Aibo dog robots, which will transfer them from their owners to hospitals and nursing care facilities. Read more
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unmanned shops drew interest as a way to prevent infection and cater to contact-averse customers. Read more
Completed clay bells, hand painted as dragons ahead of the up- coming new year, are lined up at the Musashino Jindaiji Gama pottery plant in Chofu, Tokyo. Read more
Just as analog records are gaining popularity as a way to listen to music, 8 mm film is staging a comeback as people reevaluate its use for making movies. Read more
Film cameras as well as instant cameras are making a comeback among the younger generation. The unique nature of analog photography seems to have attracted them. Read more
Soba noodle stands on railway platforms, known as ekisoba, have long allowed passengers to quickly stave off hunger while waiting for their train. Read more
On Oct. 21, Nagashi somen — somen noodles flowing in cold water on bamboo pipes — traveled a distance of 2-1/2 miles, a feat that was formally recognized as a world record in Taketa, Oita prefecture. Read more
Japan wants to work with the United States and the European Union to promote technology that can recover and recycle metals from used electronic devices, according to government sources. Read more
In the small, declining town of Asahi, one man for two decades has been planting vistas of flowers, hoping to attract visitors. Read more
At the Beigoma Shiryokan museum in Kawaguchi, a city known for its foundry industry, local elementary school students gather to play beigoma, a game using special spinning tops. Read more
With its burgundy hue, the newly developed Yamato Rouge sweet corn has been all the rage on social media, and the company that developed it couldn’t be happier. Read more
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