culture_art

When you decide to live and work in Japan, you will find the people are very hardworking. So how do people enjoy themselves, and what do they do for relaxation and entertainment? I am Japanese, raised in America, having moved back to Tokyo twenty years ago. Growing up, I returned almost every summer to visit relatives and friends and developed

Japanese food and eating habits are enviable because of their evident health consciousness. Japanese love to eat, and many Japanese people even travel to enjoy different kinds of food. However, the Japanese always consider food not just food but a means to have a healthy life. The Japanese diet typically consists of fresh and unprocessed ingredients. Some main items in

There are many unspoken rules of etiquette in Japanese business, and Japanese seating protocols are no exception. The importance Japanese people give to formal seating arrangements is evident from the fact that there is a Japanese word for it: It is (Sekiji 席次). The seating protocols in Japan reflect the cultural tradition of hierarchy, status, and rank prevalent in Japanese

The “Art of the Bowing” or Ojigi (お辞儀) in Japan is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Bowing is a way to show respect while greeting others or apologizing to others.Unlike the Western handshake, bowing takes on many shapes, sizes, and forms. Bowing is done for greetings, farewells, and apologies and also while praying in shrines. In short, it is prevalent

Many people portray Japan as “all work, no play”. However, the sheer number of work-related parties and other alcohol-fueled get-togethers occupying the calendar paints a vastly different story! Japan has many work and non-work-related events, each with a unique name and specific character. To understand your nijikai from your bonenkai, we present the complete list of work events and parties

Japan is a society of many unspoken and unwritten rules. People here grow up with these prevalent Japanese unspoken rules, which parents and teachers directly or indirectly teach. However, as a foreigner, it’s vital to understand these rules to better integrate with Japanese society. We call Japan’s rules and etiquette “unwritten and unspoken” because, though they are spoken inside society,