Japanese summers are usually introduced by a warm, sunny spring season, but this year, the temperatures and conditions have been wildly erratic. However, ‘Tsuyu’ (the rainy season) has arrived on schedule as usual, bringing with it the typical heat and humidity that can be expected at this time of the year, and the realization that […]
Japanese Year in Sync with the Seasons
One of the first things I noticed, as a schoolteacher in Japan, is that so many countries start their school year in a different month. I come from Australia, where the school year is the same as the calendar year, and so the students begin their classes in January. Being in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s […]
Explore the Land of the Rising Sun
Japan, known as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, is the most developed country in entire Asia. Most of Japan’s terrain is mountainous and is dotted with numerous dormant and active volcanoes. Situated on eastern most point of the continent, Japan is an archipelago nation which comprises of more than 3000 islands. Japan is a […]
Baseball in Japan
This article is a few years old but still interesting for the history of baseball in Japan In recent years, the arrival in the United States of players like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui has enlightened Americans about the popularity of the sport in Japan. But most Americans don’t know that Japan has almost as […]
Japanese View of the Second World War
Nations, culture and what we are told act as kinds of lenses that greatly influence how we see events. We can gain a better appreciation of this by looking at how people from other cultures look at the same events in history and the world today. When working in Japan a few years back, I […]
Comfortable, Home-Away-From-Home and Cheap Tokyo Hotels
Tokyo is one of Japan’s forty-seven prefectures. It is situated near the eastern section of the Honshu main island. It is not only the most populous metro area in the world with 35-39 million people, it also has the largest metro economy in the world at $US 1.479 trillion. Matter of fact, Tokyo is regarded […]
Interesting Okinawa Hotels to Book During Your Stay in Japan
Okinawa is a great area to visit if you make a trip to Japan. Okinawa is a series of islands in the southern region of Japan. There are a variety of Okinawa hotels you could select from with luxurious and exotic ambiences. To narrow down your search here is a list of the most prominent […]
The Yakuza and the Use of Fear
Fear is a natural human response. It is as natural as breathing air or eating food to live. In fact, fear is a part of survival instinct. But in some parts of the world, fear is simply not acceptable. Anxiety and fear are seen as a weaknesses that cannot be allowed. In some cultures, ruthlessness […]
Child Fatalities And Gambling In Japan
On a business trip to Kobe, Fred and I went out for a drink. I wondered aloud if there were any statistics on pachinko fatalities. I was talking about the small children who suffered and died because of their parents’ gambling problems, not the gamblers who played pachinko. Immediately understanding exactly what I was talking […]
Best Souvenirs to Get in Japan
When traveling in Japan you are sure to encounter many intriguing items that are unique to Japan, which would make for fantastic gifts to share with your friends and family back home. So what are the best souvenirs to bring back from Japan? Luckily, many great gifts and souvenirs you can find in Japan are […]
The Rich History of Origami
The art of paper folding has existed for at least 14 centuries. While origami is traditionally associated with Japan, scholars dispute the exact date and location of origami’s development. China has an established history of paper-folding as well, and early paper folding traditions have been documented in several European countries, including Spain and Italy. However, […]
How to See a Sumo Match in Japan
Sumo is one of Japan’s most popular and long-running spectator sports with a 2,000 year legacy. Performed in the past to entertain the Shinto gods, sumo still holds much weight (literally) in the modern era. In sumo, two rikishi or wrestlers enter the ring wearing a silk sash. After throwing salt and performing rituals and […]
Japan The Sumo-Way of Negotiating
By Philippe Huysveld “Difference is a concept you must own, deepen and further put into practice.” (H. Lefebvre) In export business, success depends, among others, on the ability of managers to understand and manage differences of culture and society. Understand means, above all, to be able to put oneself in someone else’s place and to […]
The Best Time to Visit Japan
Japan, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Cherry blossom or Sakura in Japanese. Those beautiful leaves, ranging from a bright pinky colour to a pure snow white. Only problem they are not round very long. Sometimes only a week depending heavily on the weather. Wind and rain are cherry blossoms biggest enemy. Of […]
The Cherry Blossom Festival – A Tribute to Japanese Culture
My first thought about bringing food to a festival seemed kind of strange to me. This is a Cherry Blossom Festival, right? Silly me, who knew the Cherry Blossom Trees, known as Sakura, didn’t give any fruit. That doesn’t stop whole families from partying into the night during this very (very, very) short growing season […]
Ryokan, Japan – One of the Best Possible Travel Destinations
Japan has always been one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. Tourists want to revisit the country’s historic past and experience its rich culture. They would also want to check on the country’s diverse natural resources and have a taste of Japanese cuisines. The country boasts of several key cities and towns. There’s definitely […]
Popular Tourist Attractions in Kyoto
Kyoto is a beautiful city located in the central part of the island of Honshu. Annually, it receives over 30 million tourists. A large number of temples, shrines and historical sites still survive in this beautiful city. As there are many places to visit and popular attractions in Kyoto, you need to plan your trip […]
Planning a Ski Trip to Japan
Even though Japan has a lot of ski and snowboarding resorts across the country it received the recognition it deserves regarding the features and quality of the slopes only recently. Therefore, if you love winter sports, you could consider giving one of the resorts in Japan a try. In case you are planning a trip […]
Business Etiquette in Japan – Tips for the First Time Visitor to Japan
Visiting Japan for your first business trip can be a daunting experience. This article provides some tips for the first time business traveler to Japan. Etiquette generally is an important aspect of Japanese life and culture, so it should come as no surprise that business etiquette in Japan is one of those things Westerners would […]