Discover Japan

What Is Kendo (剣道)? Japan’s Martial Art of the Sword

What Is Kendo (剣道)? Japan’s Martial Art of the ...

A bamboo sword. Protective armor. And a powerful shout echoing across the dojo. This is kendo (剣道)—Japan's modern martial art of swordsmanship. At first glance, a kendo match can look...

What Is Kendo (剣道)? Japan’s Martial Art of the ...

A bamboo sword. Protective armor. And a powerful shout echoing across the dojo. This is kendo (剣道)—Japan's modern martial art of swordsmanship. At first glance, a kendo match can look...

What Is Pachinko (パチンコ)? Japan’s Loud and Colorful Gaming Halls

What Is Pachinko (パチンコ)? Japan’s Loud and Color...

Flashing lights. Thousands of tiny silver balls. And a wall of sound that hits you the moment the doors open. This is pachinko (パチンコ)—one of Japan's most distinctive forms of...

What Is Pachinko (パチンコ)? Japan’s Loud and Color...

Flashing lights. Thousands of tiny silver balls. And a wall of sound that hits you the moment the doors open. This is pachinko (パチンコ)—one of Japan's most distinctive forms of...

What Is Beni Shoga (紅しょうが)? Japan’s Bright Red Pickled Ginger

What Is Beni Shoga (紅しょうが)? Japan’s Bright Red ...

Bright red. Sharp, tangy, and slightly spicy. And sitting on top of everything from yakisoba to gyudon. This is beni shoga (紅しょうが)—Japan's distinctive red pickled ginger. It might look like...

What Is Beni Shoga (紅しょうが)? Japan’s Bright Red ...

Bright red. Sharp, tangy, and slightly spicy. And sitting on top of everything from yakisoba to gyudon. This is beni shoga (紅しょうが)—Japan's distinctive red pickled ginger. It might look like...

What Is a Torii (鳥居)? Japan’s Sacred Gateway to the Shinto World

What Is a Torii (鳥居)? Japan’s Sacred Gateway to...

Bright red gates standing in a forest. A giant torii rising from the sea. Thousands of vermilion gates winding up a mountainside. Few sights feel more instantly Japanese. These distinctive...

What Is a Torii (鳥居)? Japan’s Sacred Gateway to...

Bright red gates standing in a forest. A giant torii rising from the sea. Thousands of vermilion gates winding up a mountainside. Few sights feel more instantly Japanese. These distinctive...

What Is Napolitan (ナポリタン)? Japan’s Ketchup Spaghetti That Isn’t From Italy

What Is Napolitan (ナポリタン)? Japan’s Ketchup Spag...

Spaghetti. Ketchup. Onions, green peppers, and sausage. It might sound Italian... but you probably won't find this pasta dish in Naples. This is Napolitan (ナポリタン)—one of Japan's most nostalgic Western-inspired...

What Is Napolitan (ナポリタン)? Japan’s Ketchup Spag...

Spaghetti. Ketchup. Onions, green peppers, and sausage. It might sound Italian... but you probably won't find this pasta dish in Naples. This is Napolitan (ナポリタン)—one of Japan's most nostalgic Western-inspired...

What Is Neko Manma (ねこまんま)? Japan’s “Cat Rice” That Isn’t for Cats

What Is Neko Manma (ねこまんま)? Japan’s “Cat Rice” ...

A bowl of steaming rice. A handful of bonito flakes. A splash of soy sauce. And a name that sounds like it belongs in a cat's dinner bowl. 🐱🍚 This...

What Is Neko Manma (ねこまんま)? Japan’s “Cat Rice” ...

A bowl of steaming rice. A handful of bonito flakes. A splash of soy sauce. And a name that sounds like it belongs in a cat's dinner bowl. 🐱🍚 This...