Culture & Customs Japanese Trivia Part3: The Mysterious Connection Between Oni and the Zodiac
When people think of the Japanese zodiac, they usually imagine cute animals, lucky charms, and New Year's traditions. Bu...
2025-06
Culture & Customs 
Culture & Customs Japanese Trivia Part2: How Japan Uses the Zodiac – Daily Life, Cultural Differences & the Missing Cat
When most people hear about the Japanese zodiac, they might think of colorful New Year’s cards or cute animal figurines ...
Culture & Customs Japanese Trivia Part1: What’s the Japanese Zodiac? – Origins, Legends & the Birth of KeeeeN-G
When visiting Japan, especially during New Year’s season or at souvenir shops near shrines, you’re likely to come across...
Culture & Customs 🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Part 6: How Convenience Store Meals Reflect Modern Washoku
When most people think of traditional Japanese food, they picture sushi, tempura, or kaiseki meals served at elegant res...
Culture & Customs 🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Part 5 Chopstick Taboos in Japan: What Not to Do at the Table
When you visit Japan, it won’t take long to notice how important etiquette is—especially at the dining table. Among the ...
Culture & Customs 🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Series – Part 4 Fermented Foods: Miso, Soy Sauce, and Pickles in Everyday Japanese Meals
In Japanese cuisine, some of the most important ingredients don’t just add flavor — they come alive. Miso, soy sauce, an...
Food & Drink 🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Series – Part3 Why Is There Wasabi in Sushi? The Difference Between Japanese and Overseas Sushi
🐯 Story from a Friend: “Wasabi Burned My Brain!”One of my American friends, Alex, told me a funny story from his first t...
Culture & Customs 🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Series – Part 2 The Power of Dashi: Why Japanese Soup Stock Is So Much More Than Just Flavor
When my Canadian friend Sophie visited Japan for the first time, I took her to a small, family-run restaurant in Kyoto. ...
Culture & Customs 🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Series – Part 1 What Is Washoku? And Why Did It Become a UNESCO Cultural Heritage?
🥢 “Japanese food is so beautiful… it looks like art!”That’s what my friend Mark from California said during his trip to ...
Culture & Customs ⛩️ Japanese Trivia Part 5: Hamaya and the Culture of Good Luck Charms in Japan
What Is a Hamaya?When visiting a Japanese shrine around New Year's, you might see people carrying a decorative arrow wit...