Japanese Food
The Only Reliably Vegan Meal in Japan
Shojin ryori is more than Japanese vegan food. Learn what temple cuisine excludes, how its courses work, where to eat it, and what a Koyasan stay with dinner costs.
Japan Know How archive
Author: Kaori Miyata
Japanese Phrases
Ohayou, Konnichiwa, Konbanwa: the Clock Decides
Konnichiwa is not an all-purpose Japanese hello. The right greeting depends on daylight, your relationship, the setting, and whether a work shift is just beginning.
Japanese Home
What Kondo Actually Wrote, in Order
Marie Kondo did not order readers to keep only 30 books, and “spark joy” is an imperfect translation of a Japanese verb. Here is the original KonMari sequence, what you do only once, and which familiar claims came from the television version rather than the method itself.
Japanese Food
Eating by Religious Rules in a Pork-Dashi Country
Finding a restaurant is only the first step. Learn how to check halal certification, ask about mirin, dashi, and pork broth, and arrange kosher meals before traveling.
Japanese Phrases
The Register Americans Do Not Notice
Volume carries social meaning in Japan. Learn why an ordinary American speaking voice may feel forceful on a train or in a small restaurant, how to respond when corrected, and which phrases can repair the moment.
Japanese Home
Where a Family Puts Things With No Basement
Japanese homes without basements rely on deep oshiire closets, seasonal rotation, overhead spaces, and rented trunk rooms. Here is how the system works through the year—and what it costs when the apartment finally runs out of room.
Japanese Home
Two Burners, a Fish Grill and No Oven
A standard apartment kitchen is a meter of counter, two gas burners and a broiler drawer. What that does to recipes, and what Japanese cooks use instead.
Japanese Home
What Every Symbol on the Panel Does
Japanese toilet panels became easier to read after manufacturers introduced shared pictograms in 2017. Here is what the rear-wash, bidet, dryer, stop, flush, and Otohime controls do — and which button to press first if something goes wrong.
Japanese Home
Everyone Uses the Same Water, in Order
A Japanese bath is organized around a clear sequence: wash outside the tub, soak in clean hot water, reheat it when necessary, and sometimes reuse the remaining water for laundry. These Japanese terms explain the controls, equipment, and household habits you will encounter.
Chinese Zodiac
Collecting the Animal Year in Paper and Metal
Japan’s animal-year stamps are regular seasonal products, but the matching Mint set follows a different calendar and buying process. Here is when each collectible appears, where to find it, and when an application may lead to a lottery.