Menu
Search
 
July 04, 2025
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

LIFE

Travel
Digital
Food & Drink
Style & Design
Language
Lifestyle
Karuizawa Distillers, which runs Komoro Distillery in Nagano Prefecture, has teamed up with the city of Furano and real estate developer Seibu Group to open a whisky distillery in Furano.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Beyond the lavender fields in Furano, a whisky distillery emerges
By Simon Daly
The region has teamed up with Karuizawa Distillers and property developer Seibu Group to build a state-of-the-art facility to make single malts.
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
LIFE / Food & Drink
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
By Tan Pin Yen
Want to be an advocate of Japan’s marine health? Look out for sustainably farmed fish the next time you dine at a restaurant.
Japan is mad about pets, and the Interpets trade fair showed to what lengths some owners will go for their furry friends.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Cats, dogs, meerkats, goats: Interpets trade fair draws furry hordes
By Shawn B. Swinger
From June 19 to 21, a veritable animal kingdom (and their owners) descended on the Intex Osaka convention center to try new foods and meet new friends.

Travel

Descendents of the original "Gonin Byakushō" families are the only vendors allowed inside the gates of Kotohira Shrine, where they sell "kamiyoame," a golden-hued, yuzu-flavored candy meant for good fortune.
Travel
At a mountainside shrine, yuzu candy made by imperial decree
By Lance Henderstein
Located in the mountains of western Kagawa Prefecture, Kotohira has yet to suffer — or benefit — from Japan’s overtourism rush.
Travel
In search of untouched Japan? Meet Hokkaido’s newest hiking trail.
By Justin Randall
Travel
Fighting Osaka Expo fatigue? Walk the 21-km Loop Line for a cure.
By Edward J. Taylor
Travel
Celebrating Japan’s defeat at Shimoda’s Black Ship Festival
By Todd Fong
Travel
Want to see the future at the Osaka Expo? Get in line.
By Thu-Huong Ha
Travel
Japan’s first Waldorf Astoria brings art deco luxury to Osaka
By Tan Pin Yen
Travel
A new tour of Tokyo’s most underground attraction
By Owen Ziegler

Digital

Since its introduction in 1985, Sega's UFO Catcher machine has come to define crane games in Japan.
Digital
King of Japan’s arcades, Sega’s UFO Catcher turns 40
By Gendel Gento
Where would Japan’s arcades be without the rows and rows of crane games that Sega’s influential machine helped popularize?
Digital
The Hitobito's Megan and Ben uncover the real Japan, one video at a time
By Patrick St. Michel
Digital
In Elden Ring Nightreign, the FromSoftware formula goes awry
By Owen Ziegler
Digital / ON: GAMES
Uh-oh, is the rest of the world making JRPGs better than Japan?
By Owen Ziegler
Digital
In Nintendo’s backyard, foreign indie game devs are thriving
By Gendel Gento
Digital / ON: GAMES
‘Drop the price’: Behind the pushback on Nintendo’s Switch 2
By Owen Ziegler
Digital
Nintendo to launch the Switch 2 on June 5
By Sam Byford

Food & Drink

Karuizawa Distillers, which runs Komoro Distillery in Nagano Prefecture, has teamed up with the city of Furano and real estate developer Seibu Group to open a whisky distillery in Furano.
Food & Drink
Beyond the lavender fields in Furano, a whisky distillery emerges
By Simon Daly
The region has teamed up with Karuizawa Distillers and property developer Seibu Group to build a state-of-the-art facility to make single malts.
Food & Drink
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
By Tan Pin Yen
Food & Drink
Come nightfall in Nakano, Thai eatery Orangutan opens its arms
By Kimberly Hughes
Food & Drink
The juicy tale of Saitama's prized yuzu
By Aarohi Narain
Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
One way to bring back the mojo in ‘old old old rice’
By Makiko Itoh
Food & Drink
Four restaurants from Japan earn spots on World’s 50 Best list
By Weiwen Lin
Food & Drink / Kanpai Culture
Kazutaka Ozawa: ‘The best wine is the one that brings you joy'
By Melinda Joe

Style & Design

Mexican designer Italia Segovia, 26, known as "Kumiko," poses for a picture wearing clothes from her brand Chicanjuku.
Style & Design
Mexican designer blends Chicano and Harajuku styles
By Raquel Cunha and Rafael Escalera Montoto
Designer Italia "Kumiko" Segovia says experimentation is great as long as it's from a place of knowledge and respect.
Style & Design / Longform
Revitalizing the space under Tokyo’s train tracks
By Alex K.T. Martin
Style & Design
Traditional home experts to gather at MinkaMeets event
By Laura Pollacco
Style & Design
Jeremy Strong brings male power-dressing to Cannes
By Adam PLOWRIGHT
Style & Design
Sculpted waves, sleek updos: Showa hairstyles are back in fashion
By Carol R.H. Malasig
Style & Design
Kazuki Nagasawa's sustainable designs are rooted in tradition
By Danielle Demetriou
Style & Design
Japan’s ‘tabi’ sock mecca runs on thread and memories
By Aarohi Narain

Language

An illustration of a scene from the fourth act of "Aoto Zōshi Hana no Nishiki-e" by Toyokuni Utagawa III (1862).
Language / BILINGUAL
Take your first steps into the world of kabuki with these basic terms
By Eric Margolis
The language of Japanese theater is full of double — even triple — meanings. Knowing the terminology is the first step in understanding it.
Language / BILINGUAL
How to get kicked out of a Kyoto home with a smile
By Yuko Tamura
Language / BILINGUAL
In the forecast for June — a lot of talk about the weather
By Yaeko Kabe
Language / BILINGUAL
What’s in a name? With new guidelines, the Japanese government wants to know.
By Yuko Tamura
Language / BILINGUAL
How to talk about change in Japanese — one forecast at a time
By Yuko Tamura
Language / BILINGUAL
Manga translators walk a fine line between meaning and mayhem
By Eric Margolis
Language / BILINGUAL
Closing the gap between what you learn and what you say in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura

Lifestyle

Japan is mad about pets, and the Interpets trade fair showed to what lengths some owners will go for their furry friends.
Lifestyle
Cats, dogs, meerkats, goats: Interpets trade fair draws furry hordes
By Shawn B. Swinger
From June 19 to 21, a veritable animal kingdom (and their owners) descended on the Intex Osaka convention center to try new foods and meet new friends.
Lifestyle
Why Japanese sunscreen is going viral — and selling out
By Natsuko Fukue and Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE
Lifestyle
The science of shinrin-yoku: Why forest bathing feels good
By Tomoko Otake
Lifestyle
Under shogi’s shadow, Tokyo’s chess lovers make their move
By Shyam Bhardwa
Lifestyle
'Rice swindler,' 'Face thief': Worried citizens invent new monsters
By Thu-Huong Ha
Lifestyle
So long, gateball. Japan’s seniors are ready to work those core muscles.
By Yuko Tamura
Lifestyle
How ‘hikikomori’ shut-ins ‘start to have dreams for the future’
By Eric Margolis
Read more LIFE stories
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

Latest News

Japan eyes 'golden share' as condition for aid to Rapidus
10 mins ago
Overseas voting for Upper House election begins
1 hour ago
GPIF logs $61 billion loss as weak dollar hits overseas assets
3 hours ago
Ex-Sumitomo Mitsui Trust official guilty of insider trading
3 hours ago
Japan's inflation is outpacing BOJ's view, expert says
3 hours ago