Predominantly based in Hokkaido, Ainu are an indigenous people from Japan. Shunted out and forcefully assimilated by their Japanese counterparts, what is left of the culture is preserved by culture centers and…

Last week the world reacted with confusion and bafflement to Japan’s Sake Viva! campaign aimed at pushing younger people to drink more alcohol. In an increasingly aware society, with mocktails and non-alcoholic…

Ask people to name one symbol of Japan and undoubtedly Mount Fuji will be up there as one of the top answers. While the country’s largest peak is climbable only one season of…

What began as a treat for Japanese aristocrats in the 11th century turned into one of Japan’s most popular summer treats in the Meiji Period (1868-1912). From its simple origins, shaved ice…

In line with the rising temperatures, Japanese artists turned up the heat in July with a range of hyper-fast, remixed and electrified releases. In our latest review of the best albums of…

July saw a multitude of high-quality tracks and videos welcoming in the summer. Whittling down the releases to a readable number was a tough task this month, with the overspill likely to sneak…

With restaurants, shops and clubs on every corner, the face of Shibuya is constantly changing, but Love Hotel Hill retains a unique charm. The illicit area behind Dogenzaka has remained as a reliably…

With travel restrictions easing and borders opening, there will hopefully be more opportunities to come in and out of Japan in the coming months. So, what kind of gifts should you buy…