Kobe Takes the Lead In Japanese Fashion
Jan 23, 2017 By Justin Hanus
It was the late 1800s when promotionally minded French dress designers began hiring women to wear their latest creations to high-profile public events like parades and horse races right on the streets of Paris. It was not long before retailers in New York brought the concept with them back to...[ Click to read more ]
Ritualistic Ceremonies Could Be Your Cup of Tea in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
In Japan you can enjoy a cup of tea or you can immerse yourself in Japan's Way of Tea, a ritualistic tradition that focuses on the way green tea is prepared and presented. Japan came relatively late to tea, first enjoying the hot beverage in the 9th century. China, it...[ Click to read more ]
Land of the Rising Sun is No Mere Slogan
By Justin Hanus
The "Land of the Rising Sun" is not just a catchy marketing slogan drummed up by the Japan tourism bureau. In fact the slogan is not even of Japanese origin, but Chinese. Centuries ago the Chinese began referring to the Japanese islands as the place where the sun comes from....[ Click to read more ]
Tokyo Auto Salon 2017
Dec 28, 2016 By
Not being a speed demon myself it is hard to relate to the fast and furious aesthetic, but I definitely see it on the streets of Tokyo; for better or worse! If that is your thing, you are in the right place for it, and this is your event! The Tokyo...[ Click to read more ]
Getting Theatrical at Nagoya’s Kabuki Cafe
Dec 27, 2016 By Bert Wishart
When one thinks of Japanese high art, alongside haiku, ukiyo-e, and the movies of Yasujiro Ozu, kabuki is most probably one of the first mediums to come to mind. However, much like the plays of Shakespeare, that some 9,000km away were beginning to gain popularity at around the same time, Kabuki, the...[ Click to read more ]
Take an Authentic Japanese Cooking Class in Kyoto
Dec 21, 2016 By Justin Hanus
One of the most memorable and exciting aspects of traveling or living among a different culture is exploring the cuisine. While going to an authentic restaurant may be enough to get your foodie fix, sometimes the most excitement and delight comes from the challenge of preparing the dish on your...[ Click to read more ]
No Bad Apples in the Bunch – Fruit as a Status Symbol in Japan
By Justin Hanus
There are quite a few things that evoke the saying, "Only in Japan." Fruit as a status symbol is one. Like many things where those in other cultures go dully about their business, the Japanese have instead raised the growing of fruit into an art form. The lust to produce...[ Click to read more ]
If It is Important in Japan There’s a Mascot
Oct 24, 2016 By Justin Hanus
In their original incarnation, mascots were intended to provide luck; and so you found them most often with military units, sports teams and schools. More recently mascots have been created to generate money but in Japan mascot mania goes far beyond even commercial motivation. There are mascots oozing civic pride for...[ Click to read more ]
The Wisdom of Ancient Stones – Tsunami Stones
Sep 27, 2016 By Justin Hanus
Japan is a most beguiling land of ancient wisdom and modern technology. The two beliefs often mingle and sometimes conflict. One place where ancient culture and a present grounded in science have rubbed against each other is the tsunami stones that are seen in many coastal locations of the island...[ Click to read more ]
The Art Beneath Our Feet
By Justin Hanus
Travel to France and you might well come home with an extensive photographic collection of stained glass cathedral art. Travel to Japan and you might well return with an extensive photographic collection of manhole cover art. What's that you say? A municipal sewage system might not seem like the most...[ Click to read more ]
