The most common question you’ll likely be asked upon making a new Japanese acquaintance is “Why did you come to Japan?” In 13 years here I’ve been asked this question by our hosts hundreds of times. My response has varied so much over the ...

Mizukiri owes his life to one of those rare gems among us who refuse to turn a blind eye when they encounter a creature in need.

Some ARK staff have called this 10-year-old mix of Norwegian elkhound and Australian cattle dog "the Chris Hemsworth of dogs," in reference to the actor's portrayal of Thor.

This green-eyed beauty, with a thick mane of fur, looks like a gray lion, and he's even more beautiful when you see him in the flesh.

From Toyama to schools far and wide, Jack Lee Randall lives his lesson — that art can thrive wherever people are.

Kyoto is adapting to meet the needs of hordes of tourists, but importing foreign customs purely for profit is not the way to go.

Weighing no more than a rather large cat, 2-year-old Cockle has something of a feline nature to him.

Black Eye speaks with professionals trained to offer guidance to those struggling to cope with a new environment.

It was "love at first sight," says Liz Shek-Noble of when she saw Bateau featured in The Japan Times last June.

Chapuche is a doll of a cat and likes nothing more than to roll over and have you give her a belly rub, but she's got a little mean look that keeps some people away.

After failing to win respect for his craft in Japan, 17th-generation bladesmith Murray Carter brought the Yoshimoto name to Portland.

Though he's a mature, healthy dog of 14 years of age, the one thing Shinta loves as much as people is toys.