The Tokyo International Film Festival
Oct 31, 2024 By William Farrow
It is no surprise that the country of legendary and lasting film directors like Akira Kurosawa, Ishiro Honda and Yasujiro Oz would have an international film festival. As of 2024, the Tokyo International Film Festival is on its 37th run and will be held from October 28th until November 6th....[ Click to read more ]
The Tokyo Ramen Festa
By William Farrow
I will open this with a confession: This article was painful to write. Not in the sense of finding the prose to convey the message nor in the sense that the subject matter was utterly devoid of inspiration to help its transition to the written word, but rather...well...just look at...[ Click to read more ]
All About Yatsushiro Myoken Festival
Oct 25, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Dating back to roughly the 14th century, Yatsushiro Myoken is one of the oldest festivals in Japan. Spanning over two days, it takes places every year in Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto. This colorful event is filled with floats, dances, performances, and great food. History of the Festival Yatsushiro Myoken was...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween in Nagoya
Sep 27, 2024 By William Farrow
As the years go by, old heads in the various foreign communities have noticed something: Halloween only seems to get more popular. The Japanese public has a more general awareness of the event and it has begun nicely occupying the general public's mind in that open spot after Silver Week...[ Click to read more ]
Kawagoe Festival 2024
By Michael Stigall
Taking place annually on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October, the Kawagoe Festival is the pride of the City of Kawagoe every year and has over 360 years of traditions behind it. The entire "Little Edo" area of town is blocked off to automobile traffic and the Karazukuri Old...[ Click to read more ]
Halloween in Tokyo 2024
By Michael Stigall
Halloween is probably one of the greatest examples I can think of when I reflect on how Japan has changed over the last decade or so as well was the friction generated by those changes. You see, once upon a time in Tokyo, celebrating Halloween meant dressing up in a costume...[ Click to read more ]
Your Summer Prep Checklist
May 31, 2024 By William Farrow
As the sun begins its daily climb earlier and earlier with each passing day, the familiar signs of summer have begun to show. Experienced Japan residents know what this means - Long, humid days interspersed with intense rainfall depending on how the typhoons play out for the season. Summer can...[ Click to read more ]
Kiyosu Castle, The ‘Other’ Nagoya Castle
By Bert Wishart
For first-time visitors to Nagoya, Nagoya Castle is usually the first port of call. This is kind of understandable, as both its grandness and its location makes it an obvious focal point. That said, having been built after the Warring Period (15th-16th century) had come to a close, it is...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo Fireworks Festival in 2024
By Michael Stigall
Fireworks and summer festivals are arguably the best part of summertime in Japan, with days spent wearing yukata and jinbei traditional clothing while munching street food and nights spent outside watching literally hours of explosions and enjoying the atmosphere of the festival, and the crowds. Summer festivals are a rare...[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo Oktoberfest 2024
Apr 30, 2024 By Michael Stigall
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Japan loves beer. So it's no surprise there's an Oktoberfest festival happening somewhere at any point in the year. For Golden Week, Octoberfest is coming nearly half a year early in late April and early May. For those of you who...[ Click to read more ]
