Divine Protection: Temple Stands Despite Bombing by Japan

In what is now nearly-forgotten history, Japan invaded China in 1937, more than two years before the official start of World War II in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. In the early morning of June 1, 1938, as fighting between Japan and China escalated, a company of Japanese invaders attacked Luyi County, Henan Province. As ...

Tatiana Denning

The Rising Immortal Platform.

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Restores the Taiwanese and Japanese Flag Patches

Hollywood has chosen the U.S. over China after it responded to the outcry from fans who noticed the Taiwanese and Japanese flags were missing from the black bomber jacket worn by Tom Cruise’s character in the trailer of the movie Top Gun: Maverick. In the original Top Gun film, which premiered in 1986, Cruise’s navy pilot character ...

David Clapp

'Top Gun: Maverick' jacket.

Japanese School Lunches Vs. American School Lunches

School lunches in the U.S. have been questioned for years. Most often, it is only the quality of the food that is discussed. Efforts have been made to improve this aspect, but what about the other factors involved? Are we so focused on the food itself that we’re missing a larger, more critical concept? This video of lunchtime in ...

David Clapp

Asian girl wearing a backpack and carrying a lunch tray looks for a seat among students in the school cafeteria.

Japan’s Tachibana Fruit, Once Revered by Royals and Poets, Now Endangered

In Japan, the variety of flora and fauna can be quite enticing. It is home to several exquisite flowers and fruits that are not so popular outside the country. One such example is the Japanese orange variant called tachibana. It is a citrus fruit that tastes unique, unlike a typical orange that you might buy ...

Max Lu

Tachibana citrus tree in front of temple, Japan

Shima Enaga: Tiny Birds in Japan That Look Like Cotton Balls

Specific wildlife species native to Japan are adorable, and one such example is the tiny Shima Enaga bird. The Shima Enaga is a subspecies of the long-tailed bushtit. They are also known as the silver-throated tit or silver-throated dasher. The Shima Enaga are tiny birds (at 5-6 inches in length, including their tail at 3-4 ...

Emma Lu

Shima Enaga sitting on a branch quizzically looking out.

The Traditional Technique for Harvesting Sea Salt by Hand in Japan

Japan is a country known for its technological prowess and rich heritage of handicrafts and arts. However, little is known about one ancient tradition of Japan, that of harvesting sea salt by hand. In some regions of Japan, harvesting sea salt by hand is still practiced and the quality of salt made by the method ...

Max Lu

Okunoto Suzu Salt Farm Village on Noto Peninsula, Japan – a field for extraction of salt from sea water and traditional Agehama-method tools.

The Art of Japanese Swordsmithing

The popularity and cult status of Katana or swords used by mighty Samurai warriors is hard to overlook. The secret of these swords being so lethal lies in the hands of veteran Japanese swordsmithing. Katanas were crafted so strong that warriors used them to cut other swords! The long-bladed katanas are still created using traditional ...

Max Lu

Samurai sword.

Japanese Children Win at the Starting Line

Japan has always led the way with its unique approach to education. Their traditions are embedded in their education system so that Japanese children inherit a solid foundation of virtue and morality, along with academic knowledge. China, on the other hand, has been focussing more on a child winning than being virtuous. China’s education system ...

Kathy McWilliams

Japanese school children.

15 Tips to Remember When Visiting Japan

Japan is a sophisticated nation acclaimed for its friendliness and hospitality. If you don’t want to make a fool of yourself while visiting Japan, pay attention to the following. 15 tips when visiting Japan 1. Don’t eat while you walk. 2. Don’t chat on your cell phone on public transport. If you have to use ...

Max Lu

Japanese building overlooking Mount Fuji.