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…
How Ikkyu Built Trust with Kyushu Tea Producers
Aldo and Joëlle arrived in Japan more than ten years ago. Attached to good terroir, they wanted to import Italian products. However, unpredictable events made them move to Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu. There, they fell in love with the local green tea and, with some friends, they ended up founding Ikkyu, an online…
Richard Katz: Inflation, Startups, and Japan’s Economic Future
The longer you live abroad, the more vested you become in the economic stability and success of the country you now call home. Having lived in Japan since 2009, my livelihood is firmly rooted here, and I can’t help but be intrigued by Japan’s unique economic situation. After briefly exploring how the current wave of…
Lee Chapman: Chronicling Change in Tokyo through Street Photography
Tokyo-based photographer Lee Chapman is no stranger to change. The Manchester, England, native came to Tokyo in 1998, and through his photography, he has been shedding light on the overlooked backstreets of the city ever since. With work featured in the Guardian, The Japan Times, and The Economist, just to name a few, Lee’s portfolio…
Aguyoshi In Milano
In November 2021, I interviewed Aguyoshi, a dance duo formed by contemporary dancers Aisa Shirai and KEKE. They usually explore the streets of Japan and their shapes through funny improvised dances that keep getting more and more attention online. As proof of their growing popularity overseas, the duo was invited to perform at the Triennale…