Traditional kotatsu evolving to meet modern-day needs
Contemporary lifestyles in Japan are reflected in new types of kotatsu, traditional tables with internal heating that are often draped with a futon (quilt) to retain warmth. Read more
Focus on Japan
The latest news, trends and photo galleries from Japan by Japan News and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper founded in 1874.
At trendy cafes, customers cuddle pigs
First there were cafes that allowed pets. Then came cat cafes, where lattes took second place to feline interaction. The latest craze in Japan: The pig cafe. Read more
Interest in Japan’s traditional cuisine has grown globally
More than 10 years have passed since washoku — Japanese cuisine — was registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in December 2013. Read more
Express train tuned up to reduce motion sickness
The Yakumo express trains, notorious for plaguing passengers with motion sickness due to their considerable tilt on curved tracks, will launch a new type of car this spring to improve the ride. Read more
Designer wraps kimono styles into current fashion trends
Maria Kawahara, a kimono designer, believes that the traditional garment can be worn more freely — with a belt, for instance, if one doesn’t have an obi, or even with boots or high heels instead of zori (traditional thong sandals). Read more
‘Baby dragons’ get ready for big year
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
The poet and the painter: Museum in Japan brings them together
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
Restaurant repays kindness with okonomiyaki
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
PHOTO: Dragons from the fire
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
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Gold leaf company introduces festive sparkling beverage
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
Beautiful, elaborate amezaiku sweets soothe the soul
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
An Asian version of the Grammys is in the works
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
Seeds of digital revolution bearing fruit, and veggies, in urban Tokyo
Small-scale farmers in Tokyo are increasingly expanding the boundaries of agriculture through the use of digital technology and other means. Read more
Zen temple in Kyoto welcomes visitors to its meditation space
Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto features a large Zen meditation space that spans about 200 square meters. Read more
Japan’s yokan masters create art on a plate
During the sweltering summertime, yokan, the Japanese jellylike red bean sweet, makes for a refreshingly cold dessert. Read more
Sony starts ‘foster parent’ program for Aibo
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
Staff-free stores a fast-growing market in Japan
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unmanned shops drew interest as a way to prevent infection and cater to contact-averse customers. Read more
PHOTO: Year of the Dragon
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
Art students go old-school, create works with 8 mm film
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
Digital generation gives analog photography a shot
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
Japan’s original fast food relevant in new ways
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
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