Vietnam Festival and Vietnamese Restaurants in Tokyo
May 10, 2016 By Bert Wishart
Some years ago, as those with youth and a seeming abundance of time on their hands tend to do, I went backpacking around South East Asia. Whilst there I fell deeply in love with Vietnam. Its scenery was staggering, its people were on the whole cheerful, and the food... My...[ Click to read more ]
Kobe Matsuri: A Japanese Celebration with Western Influences
Apr 22, 2016 By Justin Hanus
Although the Kobe Matsuri is a relatively young street festival - it began in 1971 - the roots of the celebration twist much further back in time to an unexpected source. Back in the 1930s, when Japan was not immune from the ills of the worldwide economic depression, city officials...[ Click to read more ]
Brazillian Festival Nagoya
Apr 08, 2016 By Ray Proper
Brazilian Festival Nagoya is a little slice of Latin America in Hisayaodori Park, Sakae. You can enjoy a variety of Brazilian foods and products from the many vendors, as well as sports, music, and arts direct from Brazil. Come out and meet the Brazilian community and friends as you enjoy the sights, sounds,...[ Click to read more ]
Nagoya Vegan Gourmet Festival
Apr 06, 2016 By Admin
Among recent arrivals, vegetarians and vegans have it comparably rough in Japan. If there was ever a country set up to be difficult for those with "out of the ordinary" needs, this is it, and top that off with a double whammy of unfamiliar language and foods, then paired with a narrowing of options and...[ Click to read more ]
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Hiroshima
Feb 22, 2016 By Justin Hanus
For many people around the world, the month of March means St. Patrick’s Day and all of the fun celebrations that come along with it. These days, it’s not just Western countries or predominantly Irish populations of people who join in the cultural festivities. Many parts of the East, including...[ Click to read more ]
Mihara Shinmei-ichi Daruma Festival in Hiroshima
Jan 26, 2016 By Justin Hanus
If you’ve spent some time in Japan, you’ve probably come across more than a few of those small, round, brightly colored dolls that sit on shelves and stare at you from one or two white eyes. A bit unsettling at first, these legless, armless, “daruma” dolls are quite charming when...[ Click to read more ]
Sapporo Snow Festival 2016
Jan 20, 2016 By Bert Wishart
If you crave the wintery beauty of ice and snow, you might be interested in the Sapporo Snow Festival, where snow is not in short supply, at least partially thanks to organizers having it shipped in by the truckload. What is the Sapporo Snow Festival? One of Japan's most popular...[ Click to read more ]
Toyohashi Demon Festival 2016
By Bert Wishart
There are many elements of Japanese folklore that instantly grab the attention, but at this time of year, thanks to the upcoming Setsubun celebrations it is probably the 'oni' - roughly translated as demon or ogre - that is the greatest focus. At the beginning of Spring you can often find depictions...[ Click to read more ]
The First Month of the Year, Kansai Style!
Dec 24, 2015 By Justin Hanus
With the holidays over and the winter cold setting in, it can be difficult to find reasons to leave your house in the first month of the new year. Fortunately for people living in the Kansai region, there are too many exciting traditional events and festivals in January to risk...[ Click to read more ]
Nagoya Meshi Expo
Oct 20, 2015 By Bert Wishart
In Japan, the cuisine of a local region is something of which to be particularly - sometimes fiercely - proud, and Nagoya is no exception to this. Nagoya food (Nagoya Meshi) is hugely varied and diverse cuisine, encompassing the traditional 'washoku' as well as the more modern 'yōshoku'. Whether it is...[ Click to read more ]
