Traditional Japanese New Years’ Foods – Osechi Ryori
Nov 24, 2022 By Ray Proper
Osechi-ryōri are traditional Japanese foods eaten at the start of the new year. The osechi tradition has been alive in Japan since the Heian Era (starting in 794). The foods are easily recognizable by the special bento boxes called jūbako, often stacked for larger families or parties. Like many places...[ Click to read more ]
Winter Illumination in Nagoya 2022
Nov 23, 2022 By Ray Proper
Christmas Day in Japan is just another working day, for the most part. The most exciting facet of the Christmas and holiday season in Japan is that all traces of it are gone by morning on December 26. Without fail, every bell, light, garland, and decoration will come down, and...[ Click to read more ]
Buying Holiday Decorations, Wrapping Paper, and Lights in Nagoya
Nov 09, 2022 By Ray Proper
Holidays in Japan are bright and colorful affairs, and Nagoya is no exception to this rule. If you are looking for decorations, lights, or other holiday materials there are a few good sources you should know about. Costco (Wholesale Warehouse) If you have a lot of gifts to wrap, you will...[ Click to read more ]
Thanksgiving in Tokyo
Oct 12, 2022 By Jason Gatewood
Let's face it: Thanksgiving is purely a North American holiday, meaning we shouldn't expect much fanfare here in Tokyo on the fourth Thursday of November. In most parts of Japan, you may only have one choice if you want to indulge in a holiday feast -- do it yourself... minus...[ Click to read more ]
Seven Spooky Japanese Halloween Costume Ideas
Sep 27, 2022 By Bert Wishart
So, Halloween is coming and you are getting ready to dust off that old ghost, vampire or witch costume that you wear every year. But this year why not try something different, something that takes its inspiration from the local folklore? Below are some ideas for spooky Halloween costumes that come from...[ Click to read more ]
Osu Street Performers’ Festival
Sep 17, 2022 By Bert Wishart
October brings the Nagoya Festival, a massive parade throughout the city celebrating three great warriors and historical leaders connected to the city: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, this is by no means the only - nor even the most interesting - of the festivals celebrating the city's great history this month....[ Click to read more ]
Saio Festival in Mie
May 30, 2022 By Bert Wishart
From Elsa to Cinderella to Snow White, princesses are held in extremely high regard in Japanese culture. But it isn't just your common-or-garden Disney princess that enraptures the attention of the Japanese public; the adoration of Princess Aiko, and the furor surrounding the marriage to a commoner of Princess Mako,...[ Click to read more ]
Super Bar DJs – Nagoya’s Coolest DJ Events
Mar 31, 2022 By Bert Wishart
If, like Edwin Starr, you like the sound of funky music (and that it sho nuff turns you on) then you will want to find some awesome places to check out the best DJs spinning their stuff. Now that the covid-19 regulations have been relaxed somewhat, you may also want...[ Click to read more ]
Setsubun Festivals in Nagoya 2022
Jan 25, 2022 By Ray Proper
Setsubun, or "That Bean-Throwing Festival," celebrates the beginning of spring in Japan. Celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival, its association with the Lunar New Year makes this festival a sort of New Year's Eve. A special ritual accompanies this association to cleanse away the evil...[ Click to read more ]
Festivals to Look Forward to in 2022 in Kobe
Dec 27, 2021 By Justin Hanus
Annual festivals and events have taken a hit in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Things are some way off returning to normal, but there's hope we can look forward to a brighter 2022 as some of the staples of our social calendar return. Kobe has a...[ Click to read more ]
