At the world's oldest hotel, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan , tradition and modernity intertwine to create a unique experience. For over 1300 years , guests have been drawn to its crystal-clear hot water...
In the realm of pottery, there exists an extraordinary Japanese art form that transforms broken fragments into something even more beautiful. This mesmerizing practice, known as "kintsugi," embraces...
The Yonaguni Monument , often referred to as Japan's mysterious 'Atlantis ,' continues to intrigue researchers and spark debate about its true origins. Discovered approximately 35 years ago off the...
A sense of intrigue and mystery surrounds the enigmatic keyhole-shaped kofun tombs of Japan. These captivating monuments, exemplified by the renowned Mozu Tombs in Sakai city, Osaka, have recently...
In 1614, a storm of persecution raged across Japan as Christianity was declared illegal. The crackdown led to the arrest and execution of missionaries, pushing the faithful underground. These...
A centuries-old relic associated with ancient Christian practice in Japan is causing a stir in the Japanese media. The item is believed to be an artifact preserved by Japan’s “kakure kirishitan” or...
In the captivating town of Yuasa, Japan, a remarkable secret has been safeguarded for an astonishing 750 years. It is here that the origins of soy sauce , a cornerstone of Japanese gastronomy , were...
In a small southern Japanese town called Fukuyama, there is a unique type of vinegar that has been brewed for over 200 years using a traditional fermentation method. It is called kurozu, a Japanese...
In the shadow of Japan’s Mount Fuji, lies the sprawling Aokigahara Forest, also known as Jukai , or the Sea of Trees, because its rustling branches reportedly resemble the sound of the sea. The...
Medieval Japan may be known for its honor, duty, and bravery, but there was also a darker side to the Samurai clans who ruled the era. Punishments for crimes were brutal and oppressive, with extreme...
Soy sauce is a ubiquitous ingredient in Japanese cuisine , adding flavor and complexity to dishes from sushi to ramen. But did you know that only 1% of Japan's soy sauce is made the traditional way?...
Traditional beauty tips and tricks from the Eastern hemisphere, particularly South Asia and Southeast Asia, are all the rage in the Western world. As more knowledge and information is disseminated...
Archaeologists in Japan excavated a site ahead of a new apartment building project. Little did they know they were digging into the spectacular home of the 8th century AD Prince Toneri! Located in...
In the world of traditional Japanese calligraphy , the ink used is as important as the artist's brush strokes . Sumi ink, made from a solid form and requiring years of production, has been revered...
Human history has undergone countless epidemics, some which have been nipped in the bud due to sparse populations, some due to prudent medical interventions. Some, like the recent COVID-19 pandemic...
Japan's ancient secret to better cognitive memory lies in the centuries-old abacus , a tool that has largely been abandoned globally but remains prevalent in Japanese education. Thousands of students...
Japanese art is full of surprises, including rowdy depictions of phallic contests, intercourse tournaments, and the unforgettable he-gassen fart battles. Bawdy, boisterous and downright delightful,...
The notion that pre-Columbian cultures from Europe, Africa, or Asia sailed across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to discover America, is a popular theory backed by numerous books and television...
Medical tests performed on a mummified mermaid corpse on display at a temple in Japan have been exposed as a hoax, although it isn’t made of quite what was suspected. The so-called “mermaid mummy” is...
When we think of Buddhism today, we think of pacifism, being at one with the world, love for one’s neighbor and nature, and other aspects of peaceful living. Modern Buddhist monks are devoted to...
Researchers in Japan were excavating an ancient kofun burial mound when they found an enormous shield-shaped bronze mirror and a giant 7-foot iron sword, the largest that have ever been discovered on...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if there was a parallel world in which the ancient Japanese Edo period existed today, where the modern world and the Shoguns could converge? With the...
Archaeologists excavating a burial mound at the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Osaka Prefecture in southern Japan, have found the remains of a rare wooden haniwa statue...
The Man from Taured, sometimes referred to as the Taured Mystery or the Man without a Country, is an urban legend about a man who arrives at a Japanese airport from an unheard of country called...
