Culture
Don’t Miss These Japanese Music Festivals Coming in 2026
From seaside stages to mountain backdrops, here’s your guide to Japan’s most anticipated music festivals of 2026
Book Review: The Memory Police By Yoko Ogawa
Which do you trust: your memory or the crowd?
Book Review: “An I-Novel” by Minae Mizumura (Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
A bilingual meditation on navigating belonging in isolation
The Best Japanese Mystery Novels to Read
Honkaku, thrillers and crime sagas — Japan’s got it all
Tokyo Neighborhood Guide: Thrifting in Shimokitazawa
Where to start your secondhand journey in Tokyo’s thrift city
LGBTQ+ Anime That Strive To Get It Right
No heavy-handed yaoi or male-gaze pandering yuri here
Does Japan Celebrate Chinese New Year?
Welcoming the year of the horse on February 17
Tokyo Trends: Spring 2026
Where urban edge meets delicate detail
10 Must-Read Japanese Novels Set for Release in 2026
Read ahead of the flow by picking up these translated masterpieces as they hit global bookstore shelves
Yuji Nishida’s Apology: The Final Boss of Japanese Politeness
The sincerest bow the internet has ever seen
The Best Japanese Films for Beginners Learning Japanese
Why children’s stories and quiet domestic life work better than reading textbooks will
Tokyo Music Scene: New Releases February 2026
Your monthly dose of new music from Japan
Japanese Netflix Shows You Can Watch With English Subtitles
Yes, Netflix does count as studying
Most Popular J-Pop Artists to Watch in 2026
Who to have on your listening radar this year
Exploring Japanese Traditional Incense and the Art of Kodo
Yoshimi Higuchi and the spirit of incense
The Top 10 Japanese Movies Of All Time
How would you rank your favorite Japanese cinema?
Upcoming Movies in Japan in 2026
Enjoyed Demon Slayer? Here are 7 movies to keep on your radar this year
Video Games Set in Japan
From samurai adventures to yakuza melodrama, these games let you live your wildest dreams in Japan
10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2026
A curated look at the anime everyone will be talking about this year.
Tamagotchi Takes Over Roppongi Museum
Tamagotchi turns 30 and Bandai kicks off celebrations with exhibition at Roppongi Museum
Where Did The Meme “You Met Me at a Very Chinese Time in My Life” Come From?
The TikTok and Instagram trend explained
Japanese LGBTQ+ Films To Watch in 2026
Love, heartbreak and the untold tales of Japan’s queer community
What Is Oshikatsu? How Japan’s Fandom Culture Is Redefining Connection and Self-Care
From itabags to plushies, discover how Japanese youth are finding comfort in their faves
Kagura: Theater from Heaven Joins the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Kagura, a variant of Shinto theater, may not be as well known to foreigners as kabuki and noh
Tokyo Comic Con 2025
The world’s fandoms converge
How to Lose Weight the Japanese Way
Wa – the art of balance by Kaki Okamura
How to Make an Autumn Ikebana
Beginner tips for nageirebana
Dami Lee on the Organized Chaos That is Tokyo
Is Tokyo ugly?
Lafcadio Hearn (Yakumo Koizumi) and His Many Lives
The Irish-Greek wanderer who became Japan’s foremost folklore chronicler
Romantic Horror in Japanese Folklore and Literature
Japanese stories of love and ghosts that offer something both delicate and terrifying
Japanese Halloween Costume Ideas for 2025
Draw inspiration from Japanese horror folktales
The Ultimate Koi Appreciation Guide
Where and how to admire Tokyo's prettiest swimming art
Tsukimi: Japan’s “Forgotten” Moon Celebration
From agricultural ritual to Heian court culture to a McDonald’s burger
Gorpcore: History of “Outdoor Fashion” and the Japanese Brands To Know
Why outdoor clothing is popular in Japan