Devon Lord Moncrief
Devon Lord-Moncrief lives in the US, but he absolutely loved Japan when he visited for a month. Traveling from Tokyo to Osaka to Kyoto and back to Tokyo, Devon loved every restaurant he ate at, every shrine he visited, and every awesome retro game store he discovered. Devon may live in the US, but his heart stayed behind in Yokohama, watching the sun set across Osanbashi Pier. At home, Devon can be found playing games, watching anime, and working out.
Articles by Devon Lord Moncrief
Oita is Home to Awesome Rock Carvings!
Japan may be super famous for anime, ninja, and ramen, but it’s also a profoundly spiritual and religious country. In fact, its relationship to Buddhism dates back centuries. Of all the shrines and religious sites to visit, look no further than the Magaibutsu in Oita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu!
Meiji University Horse Escapes from Campus!
It’s January 2026, and the year of the horse has begun. In the Chinese Zodiac, the horse is the seventh of twelve signs.. For a particularly wily and rascally horse in Kawasaki, it meant that it was high time to hightail it out of Meiji University on the morning of Monday, the 5th.
NHK Drama: What is “Queen of Mars”?
Mars has long stood as one of the most enduring and popular destinations for speculative science fiction. In December last year, NHK released a new live-action drama set on Mars. Queen of Mars takes viewers to the red planet, mixing political tension, alien mystery, and sweeping adventure. What is Queen of Mars? In the distant...
“Kuma” Was 2025’s Kanji of the Year
In Japan, there is an annual event in which the public votes on a kanji character to represent the year. Held at the end of the year, the event is meant to showcase Japan’s overall state, for better or worse. The kanji can summarize an event, mark a change in economic health, or celebrate a...
Nihonbashi: Why Is It Under Redevelopment?
Within the heart of Tokyo, Japan’s largest metropolitan area, lies the Chuo district, a bustling downtown area that draws countless tourists every year. Within Chuo itself is Nihonbashi, a smaller section of Tokyo, most famous for its namesake landmark: the Nihonbashi Bridge.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Was Made in Japan!
A beloved Christmas tradition in the United States is watching the 1964 stop-motion TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Although it feels thoroughly American, the studio that brought Rudolph to life was actually based in Japan.
