October 17, 2019
NISHINOMIYA/TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo — I stepped on the gravel with a flashlight in my hand, and saw a red iron bridge. This is the former site of the Fukuchiyama Line of the now-defunct Japanese National ...
On a tranquil rooftop garden in the middle of Tokyo’s bustling Ginza area, there’s a place where you can relax and enjoy an “orchestra without a composer.”
A nighttime event titled “Roof T...
It was a cloudy, unusually cool afternoon in early September when Michael Pronko and I pushed open the heavy door to Pit Inn, located at the edge of the Shinjuku Nichome area of Tokyo. Pronko, an A...
OKAYAMA — “Be the eyes of hope that won’t be afraid of sunken rocks. Step into the world from here, step into the future from here.” These words are engraved on one of the monuments standin...
FUKUOKA — Masterpieces of armor and swords are on display at “The Exhibition of Samurai,” underway at the Fukuoka City Museum until Nov. 4. The exhibition focuses on the items’ functionalit...
INUYAMA, Aichi — It all started with the movie “The Graduate” when I heard the music of Simon and Garfunkel for the first time in the film which starred a young Dustin Hoffman. Later, through t...
Flowers on the dinner table are not just for show, at least in an increasing number of specialty establishments that offer edible ones. In June, Gmgm cafe opened in the Koenji area of Suginami Ward,...
A group of young people visiting from abroad chat excitedly about the chance to try Japanese cooking. Older members call out to friends and revive long-running conversations. Anyone passing the bui...
AKI-OTACHO, Hiroshima — A ravine with towering sides, exposed rock faces and perfectly clear water — as I walked along the riverside path and the chirping of birds filled the air, a scene reminis...
NIKAHO, Akita — I went out to the seashore in Nikaho, Akita Prefecture, tempted by a suggestion from the manager of the inn where I was staying. “If you want to go to a michi-no-eki,” he said,...
The Nakamura Tsune Memorial Atelier houses a reproduction of the studio-cum-residence used late in the life of Tsune Nakamura (1887-1924), a Western-style painter who was active during the Meiji (186...
KASHIWAZAKI, Niigata — A materials manufacturer and retailer in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, has begun growing bananas using exhaust heat from its waste incineration facility. Shimoda Industr...
OSAKA — Sappa Boiler Co.’s small factory in Osaka’s Kita Ward maintains steam locomotives that play a leading role in attracting tourists. Domestic railway companies do not have the know-how ...
The owl stone statue “Ikefukuro” standing at the east exit of JR Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, is a popular meeting spot. The landmark was built in 1987 to commemorate the inaugurati...
The Interior Lifestyle Tokyo fair was like a maze, with more than 750 companies participating and numerous booths showcasing products that could set industry trends. I stopped at one booth after anoth...
NARA — Obitokedera temple in Nara has been known for bringing benefits to people who want to have children and pregnant women hoping for an easy delivery since the Heian period (794 to the late 12t...
With the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games less than a year away, workman’s clothes meant for construction sites and other blue-collar workplaces are enjoying a boom in sales. Profits are climbing ...
Sales of premium audio equipment that allows listeners to fully appreciate the rarefied quality of analog records have been experiencing a boom as a certain segment of music fans rediscovers a passion...
The Sept. 20 opening of the Rugby World Cup Japan is approaching. Spectators will be able to enjoy not only the athletic competition in the matches, but also the evolving technology incorporated in t...
It’s difficult to imagine life before air-conditioning. Tokyo’s sizzling summers drive most people to the shelter of artificially cooled interiors for a good portion of the day. But of course peop...
SEKI, Gifu — Relying on the description “Namonaki (nameless) Pond” on the corner of a tourist map, I single-mindedly climbed up a monotonous mountain path by car in Seki, Gifu Prefecture. After ...
KYOTO — Right in front of me was a sweet garden landscape, a common feature of the ancient capital. Gardens are found all over Kyoto, not just at temples and shrines, but also at public facilities, ...
The 10-minute walk from a nearby train station is probably when you’re firing up your imagination about what awaits you at an Asia meets Asia (AMA) performance. But the actual experience always conf...
TONO, Iwate — Partway up a hill in Tono, Iwate Prefecture, is the majestic, amazing sight of a massive rock sitting atop smaller rocks that act as a pedestal. “There’s a legend that the warrio...
“It’s an exhibition of about 40 years of pictures of buildings — I think people will get sick of it partway through,” joked modern artist Shinro Ohtake, 63, when describing his solo exhibition...
KYOTO — The Reizei family of Kyoto, the head family of a school of waka poetry, has been passing down its style of waka since medieval times. The history of the family dates back to the Kamakura pe...
AIZUMI, Tokushima — Indigo blue is the color used in the emblem of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The Yoshinogawa river basin in Tokushima Prefecture is a major production area of natural...
The understated, modern facade of Leafmania makes it stand out in Tokyo’s Iriya district — one of the capital’s old shitamachi neighborhoods. With no clear signage, passersby may struggle to fi...
TAKASAKI — Gunma Prefecture promotes itself as the nation’s “Haniwa Prefecture,” with fifth-century haniwa hollow clay figures being displayed at a museum in the prefecture. Haniwa-related...
Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, might be best known for its Great Buddha statue, abundance of historical sites, numerous temples, museums, beach areas and scrumptious eateries. But the area is also ri...
Every part of his body — even his fingertips — is filled with energy and emotion. This fire within allows flamenco dancer Siroco to express himself in many ways. His facial expression constantl...
KAWACHINAGANO, Osaka — Do you recall the very first day you were able to ride a bike? You may remember how you felt the wind with all your senses, or how you were excited just to be pedaling. The K...
A symphony by a once-forgotten composer will be the highlight of a Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra concert on Sept. 10, which will be conducted by the orchestra’s new principal conductor, Sebastia...
ITAMI, Hyogo — In October 1578, as the legendary warlord Oda Nobunaga was accelerating moves to unify Japan, he received news of a rebellion by one of his retainers. Araki Murashige had been appoi...
Despite its popularity among visiting children, operations of the monorail at Ueno Zoo will be suspended in November this year, as its cars and facilities are getting old. How did the monorail, sa...
Remember the film “The Bodyguard,” the blockbuster movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner? It was turned into a musical in London, and it’s coming to Japan in September. “And I —...
A spotlight shines on a bunraku puppet. Her face is delicately painted with thin but strong eyebrows and bright red lipstick, and her expression changes depending on the angle. This is not an exhibi...
MATSUDO, Chiba — A three-wheel truck drives along a dusty unpaved road, and a middle-aged deliveryman wearing a tank top rides a bicycle. Crowds of people watch TV in the street, and a red phone ri...
In mid-June, students at Shimogyo-Miyabi Elementary School in Kyoto enjoyed a traditional Japanese-style lunch: stir-fried pork and manganji togarashi peppers, a traditional vegetable produced in Kyot...
Elizabeth Tasker builds worlds for a living. She’ll take a star, scatter a “protoplanetary disk” of gas and dust around it, set it spinning, and observe what planets coalesce and how they arrang...
Three sought-after talents in architecture, music and fashion are eager to push past the boundaries of their genres to embody the subtle beauty of something in between and create “pleasant feelings...
KYOTO — “Iemoto” is the name of the system of family schools in traditional Japanese arts, such as the chanoyu tea ceremony and ikebana flower arranging, which have taught many disciples while ...
KAKOGAWA, Hyogo — Pubs that brew their own beer on-site have emerged one after another in Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture, and are popular among beer lovers. These craft beers have unique tastes that ar...
The Western-style building housing the Karasawa Museum stands in a quiet residential area in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. The museum was converted from a storehouse that was part of the residence of Tomitaro ...
A Bright Future By Joshua S. Goldstein and Staffan A. Qvist Public Affairs, 276pp The hotter it gets, the more I use my air conditioner. The more everyone uses their air conditioners, the hotte...
ICHINOSEKI, Iwate — Residents of Ichinoseki have worked hard to hand down their mochi rice cake culture over the years, while also making mochi dishes into local specialties. “A wooden hammer-s...
Shinichi Kitaoka, a political scientist and professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, examines Japan’s future role in the world while visiting various countries around the globe in his recently...
There are about 170 bustling shops along Kappabashi Dougu-gai street in Taito Ward, Tokyo, where visitors — in recent years, especially foreign tourists — can be overwhelmed by the sheer abundance...
The Ome Kimono Museum houses around 500 pieces of clothing related to the Imperial family and samurai families in an old private house and other items in a residential area in the mountains in Ome, T...
MIYAKO, Iwate — Small glass milk bottles are being reused to create a local specialty of this port city east of Morioka. When people usually order donburi, they are brought a large bowl of rice to...
Want a chef to cook for you at home? Services to send professional chefs to homes or other designated places have been diversifying their offerings to meet customers’ needs, from preparing baby foo...
AOMORI — If you want to eat fresh pasta in Aomori, seek out Konkitchen in a residential area near Aomori University. The Italian restaurant has a refreshing mint green exterior and is run by the o...
KATANO, Osaka — Day by day, the green deepens on the trees of Osaka City University’s Botanical Gardens, which protect and provide public access to trees and other vegetation from Japan and aroun...
You may know a good work of craftsmanship when you see one, but do you know the effort and technique that goes into making it? Learning how seasoned artisans produce fine works may convince you that t...
“Nessun dorma,” one of the most famous operatic arias of all time, sounded fresh like never before. The renowned aria sung by Teodor Ilincai as Calaf did not stand out disproportionately in the J...
FUNABASHI, Chiba — An urban project called “street piano” has been attracting passersby at a commercial facility in Chiba Prefecture, as anyone can sit and play a public piano there for free. ...
IKEDA, Osaka — An anime featuring wombats being kept at a municipal zoo in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, has been receiving praise for its self-deprecating dialogue using the Kansai dialect. The anime...
Hayashiya Sanpei I (1925-1980) was a rakugo comic storyteller nicknamed the “Laughter King of the Showa era,” which stretched from 1926-1989. He was loved by many for his cheerful nature, and he ...
“Are you Chris Broad?”
He was, and he had just been stopped by a young Norwegian pair as he filmed the exterior of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo in the early-summer sunshine.
Total stra...
WAKAYAMA — Used as a fortress by the Japanese military until the end of World War II, the four-island chain of Tomogashima is known as the “Island of Laputa,” as it closely resembles the floati...
The world premiere of the new musical “Disturbance,” which depicts a case of domestic violence that leads to murder, was held in Tokyo on July 2-4.
Based on a true story and adapted from a book ...
SUSAKI, Kochi — At the center of a plate placed before me was the head of a moray eel. Although it had been simmered, the face looked as if it was staring at me, making me feel quite afraid. The d...
In recent years, the term “tsukuri-oki,” or “tsuku-oki,” has become so popular among busy people that many cookbooks have been prompted to focus on this approach. The term literally means “m...
MYOKO, Niigata — A family from Myoko, Niigata Prefecture, opened a soba noodle restaurant in 2001 to help preserve a local buckwheat variety that is cultivated only at the foot of Mt. Myoko. Kosoba...
Ken Watanabe played the lead role in “The King and I,” a musical that has been staged in the two sacred sites of the theater world — Broadway in the United States and the West End in Britain. W...
A basketball-style dribble here, a punched pass there, then suddenly, a forward kick. And always a lot of running — usually done to set up a finishing thump off someone’s foot.
But it’s not all...
Conductor Kazushi Ono hopes that the forthcoming production he will conduct of Puccini’s opera “Turandot” will inspire the world.
This will be the first joint production by two major Tokyo ven...
YOKOHAMA — It’s hard to know exactly where I am, even as I use the map feature on my smartphone. Buildings along the street cut off my view, and I’m at a loss as to my location. “That’s Yo...
For avid skiers and snowboarders, Tokyo’s Kanda district offers excellent shopping conditions. It is a sporting goods district with little parallel anywhere in the world — about 50 specialty stor...
An object depicted in a painting may appear to be 3D depending on how it is painted. The angle from which an object is viewed may alter the observer’s perception of it. Such optical illusions are k...
ICHIKAWA, Hyogo — Everyone can enjoy golf, from top pros to amateurs, regardless of age or gender. Among the several kinds of golf clubs that serve as partners to players, the iron is particularly ...
TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo — As part of efforts to promote the city of Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, as the birthplace of carbonated water in Japan, a local tourism association has created a “Takarazuka Hi...
KOSHU, Yamanashi — When it comes to wine, red, white and rose come to mind. Yet there is another color to add to that list: orange. Orange wine is characterized not only by its color, but also a di...
UJI, Kyoto — I was at a teahouse near the main gate of Byodoin temple in the heart of Uji, a city famous for green tea production. I ordered a glass of beer, but the item delivered to me did not see...
SAIKI, Oita — The two colorful nishikigoi carp had arched tail fins, as if swaying while swimming in a stream. I was drawn by the red and yellow patterns that appeared beneath their whitish, translu...
The many buttons can seem as chaotic as the instruments in an airplane cockpit for first-time visitors to Japan. Such high-tech hardware on a toilet seat was a surprise for Asa Ekstrom, too, but also ...
OKAYAMA — Municipal efforts to support sexual minorities are spreading through the nation, as seen in Okayama Prefecture. This spring, the Soja city government in the prefecture launched a “pa...
AKITA — The Yokote Masuda Manga Museum has reopened in Yokote, Akita Prefecture, after undergoing renovations since April 2017. Opened in 1995, the municipal government-run facility boasts a coll...
This museum related to shishimai lion dancing looks just like an ordinary house from the outside. The moment I entered the building, however, I stopped in my tracks. It was like a pack of lions stari...
Vegan options at restaurants and on supermarket shelves are increasing in Japan to better serve tourists from the United States and Europe, where diets free of animal products are common. Now efforts ...
About nine years have passed since the death of playwright Hisashi Inoue, whose philosophy was to make difficult concepts easy to understand and present simple ideas in-depth.
Komatsuza, a theatrica...
The Ameyoko shopping street in Tokyo’s Ueno district is home to many busy shops in an area between Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station. It is one of the capital’s iconic commercial streets, and ...
TAKASHIMA, Shiga — Spring water known as “shozu” (living water) bubbles up in many places in the Harie district of Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, on the northern part of Lake Biwa, and local resi...
Cafes are not only for coffee lovers these days. An increasing number of establishments is also catering to those who don’t drink coffee. There is a theme park feel to these cafes, showing how coffe...
NARITA, Chiba — At first, it looks like a piece of regular koppe-pan, a kind of long bread roll that resembles a hot dog bun.When you take a bite, a savory aroma accompanies the delicately soft text...
This month’s featured recipe is nanban-zuke, one of the most popular dishes in my cooking classes for non-Japanese people. The dish usually features cooked fish marinated in a vinegar-based sauce al...
Pizza and shaved ice are not usually what comes to mind when thinking of ramen, but this was not your typical lunch. I was tagging along on a tour with Brian MacDuckston, a ramen obsessive based in To...
The dome-shaped building, with an enormous pair of rounded windows looking out on an inlet of Tokyo Bay, resembles the head of a goggle-wearing swimmer emerging from the water.
At least, that’s h...
In this column, chefs and cooking experts share recipes that are easy to prepare at home. Sea bream has been used for dishes for celebratory occasions in Japan since ancient times. Cooking expert H...
The popularity of Italian food has caused a headache for Italian authorities. Amid concerns over the spread of “fake” Italian food around the globe, an event featuring authentic Italian tastes was...
Vienna has come to Tokyo. Not today’s Vienna, but the Vienna that was at the height of its glory at a pivotal point in art history that can be called the “Vienna Turn of the Century.” It was a t...
Kazuki Yamada, a principal guest conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, will bring an interesting program elaborately put together with lesser-known gems to the orchestra’s concert on J...
More and more meat-centered restaurants are giving discounts and other privileges to seniors who may tend to avoid eating meat. These restaurants also emphasize the benefits of eating meat, such as ef...
Illustrator Tatsuro Kiuchi is prolific. Based in Tokyo, he has created a range of materials for books, magazines, newspapers and advertisements, among other mediums, with his clients spanning the glo...
For Ike Nwala, it was pure chance. He knew nothing about it until about 15 years ago when he came across a DVD shop in Seattle’s Chinatown where he saw “owarai” Japanese comedy for the first tim...
Gwenael Nicolas constantly craves the unexpected. The Tokyo-based French designer always looks to the future and seeks new possibilities in his work. His mission, he says, is not to simply create som...
