“We who have witnessed the obscenity of war and experienced its horror and terrible consequences have an obligation to rise above our pain and suffering and turn the tragedy of our lives into a triumph.”–Ron Kovic The 1945 firebombing of Tokyo by U.S. warplanes is the single most destructive bombing raid in human history. In…
Tiffany Rhodes: All You Need to Know About Being a Recruiter in Japan
With perseverance, determination, and the right credentials, it’s possible to build the career of your dreams in Japan. For Japan’s foreign residents, a career in corporate recruitment is one of the most viable pathways to success. Recruitment isn’t for the faint of heart, but great rewards await those who approach the industry with the right…
A Talk With Shochu Expert Christopher Pellegrini
This article is particularly exciting for me because I had the opportunity to chat with one of the world’s leading authorities on shochu, Chris Pellegrini. A Japanese spirit evangelist, Chris is passionate about spreading the gospel of shochu and awamori. He made a convert out of me! From talking shochu 101, to clearing up the…
Michele Fujii: How to Learn Japanese Literature, Language, and History
Literature, language, and history are intertwined. Studying one without exploring the others is like sailing without a rudder. The longer I live in Japan and study Japanese, the greater my curiosity about Japanese history and literature has grown. However, making the transition from textbook learning to native-level literature is intimidating. With greater access than ever…
Ben Shearon: Investing and Saving for Retirement as a Foreign Resident in Japan
Investing and saving for retirement is an intimidating prospect, even in your home country. Add in the layers of complexity that come with retiring as a foreign resident abroad, and you may be tempted to give up on the endeavor entirely. That would be a grave mistake, as Ben Shearon, founder of RetireJapan, explains in…
Coralie Camilli Talks about Her Crossover Experience with Aikido and Kickboxing
In late 2020, I interviewed French philosopher and Aikido martial artist Coralie Camilli about her experience in Japan and her then-newly released book about the philosophy of martial arts, in which her Japanese experience played a great part. When I heard that Coralie plans to return to Japan and that her martial arts career has…
Norifumi Suzuki: Now Is the Time to Launch a Startup in Japan
Japan’s expanding startup ecosystem can be enigmatic to the outside world. There’s no shortage of online debates as to whether Japan should emulate the popular startup ecosystems of the United States or, in typical fashion, blaze its own trail to success. One thing that most experts agree on, however, is that a robust startup ecosystem…
Momoka Miyoshi’s Modern Take on Buddhist Statues
Momoka Miyoshi is a young sculptor who made a sensation on social media thanks to her graduation art project, Day Off. The statue shows a Nio guardian–a Buddhist figure that usually stands at the entrance of temples with an angry face–on its day off. The statue’s gentle expression as it is holding a baby provoked…
Andrew Hankinson: Transporting You to Japan through the Power of Podcasting
Whether you’re curious about culture, eager to start a business, or fascinated by the arts, podcasts are an excellent way to immerse yourself in the contemporary zeitgeist of Japan. One of the rising stars in the ever-growing Japan podcast scene is Now and Zen Japan, produced by Andrew Hankinson, senior managing director at Zwilling J.A….
Norio Tera: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Japan’s Media and Entertainment Industry
Following the news is critical for getting a pulse on what’s really happening in Japan—the events and trends that are shaping Japanese culture in real time. Additionally, Japanese entertainment such as television shows, video games, and comics refract culture as a prism does light, enabling people all over the world to analyze and reflect its…