A Brief History of Japan’s Female Samurai

In a number of Hollywood offerings, you have seen the fearsome Japanese Samurai warriors and their astonishing warfare skills. While a lot of people, especially in the Western nations, think of samurai warriors as only male, the truth is female samurai warriors did exist. In fact, the women warriors in the Samurai clan were as ...

Emma Lu

An actress or a geisha posing as Nakano Takeko, the famous female samurai warrior (Onna-musha) of the Aizu Domain.

Japan’s 5 Longevity Secrets

Among the world’s developed countries, Japan has the highest life expectancy. What accounts for this known fact, you may ask. There are several reasons for the longevity of Japan’s citizens. These include one’s genetic inheritance, the overall improvement of living standards, engaging daily in healthy eating habits, and maintaining a realistic balance between work schedules ...

Emma Lu

Elderly Japanese man sitting outside in Kyoto and painting the architecture.

The Inspiring Story of Why 2 Japanese Olympians Combined Their Medals

Winning an Olympic medal is a major achievement for any athlete and it is a matter of pride for his or her country. Yet the Olympic Games are not only about winning medals. Two Japanese Olympians, Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Ōe, were pole vaulters who shared their medals, blazing a path for Olympic humility and ...

Max Lu

Shuhei Nishida (front) and Sueo Ōe during the medal ceremony at the Berlin Olympics.

Japan’s Remarkable Mount Fuji Culture

The Japanese people are struck by Mount Fuji’s beauty throughout the seasons and the nation has been in awe of it since ancient times. Locals learned to respect the mountain’s fiery nature, as it is an active stratovolcano. Mount Fuji is situated on the island of Honshu and is 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from ...

Trisha Haddock

Japanese building overlooking Mount Fuji.

A Guide to the Amazing Kokeshi Dolls of Japan

Japan is known for its amazing cuisine and progress in technological fields; however, the Asian country also has some age-old arts and crafts that have been nurtured and preserved over the years. One such example is the craft of kokeshi dolls. Kokeshi wood dolls have their origins in Japan’s tōhoku region. Its origin can be ...

Raven Montmorency

Kokeshi dolls.

Ohaguro: The Traditional Japanese Sign of Beauty

Ohaguro — or “blackened teeth” — is a practice in which people, mainly women, dye their teeth black. While the custom of Ohaguro was practiced in different parts of the world, It is most commonly associated with Japan. Society has always dictated what is attractive and beautiful, and this is no exception. Up until the end ...

Troy Oakes

Japanese Geisha in Kyoto with face painted white and wearing a purple kimono, holding a paper parasol.

The Origins of Mochi, Japan’s Chewiest Favorite Tasty Treat

Mochi is something you can’t get away from in Japan. It’s one of Japan’s most interesting foods, and it’s so chewy and delicious that it alone will have you yearning to return to an authentic Japanese mochi shop once your vacation is over. It is an often sweet, but also savory, variety of rice-based food made ...

Emma Lu

A pack of different colored mochi.

Japanese Custom of Removing Shoes: Intriguing With Many Positive Benefits

If you have been to Japan, you know that its people have deeply entrenched traditions about removing their shoes before entering homes and other indoor places. Why is the Japanese custom of removing shoes such a huge part of Japanese culture and society? The Japanese custom of removing shoes before entering a house stems from the Heian period ...

Emma Lu

Shoe removing is a huge part of Japanese culture and society.

Japanese Mealtime: The Profound Meaning of Itadakimasu

One ritual that everyone observes at Japanese mealtime before partaking of the food, regardless of gender or occasion, is to utter “itadakimasu” and clasp the hands together in front of the chest. The Japanese are renowned for being attentive and considerate in their hospitality, making them consummate hosts. Guests in Japan also have a set ...

Emma Lu

Japanese mealtime: A table loaded with dishes for breakfast and a Japanese family sitting with hands clasped to show gratitude for the meal.