Every year in Kumamoto, fire lights up the sea in one of Japan’s most mysterious and striking summer festivals—the Shiranui Fire Festival of the Sea. This unique event blends legend, science, and ritual, all focused around strange lights said to appear over the ocean.

Racing on a slot car track may seem like a relic of the past, but it has carved out a lasting home in Japanese hobby culture. Tucked between modern gaming and remote-controlled toys, this hands-on pursuit continues to draw fans of engineering, model-building, and motorsport. While not mainstream, the community around slot car racing is...

The Japanese language is filled with special words that describe deep feelings, habits, and ways of seeing the world. Many of these don’t have direct English translations but express something instantly recognizable. Let’s take a look at some words you should know.

Japan’s summer season lights up with vibrant energy thanks to its many Japanese matsuri festivals!

Onosato is a young sumo wrestler who has reached the highest professional sumo rank: yokozuna. Known for his strength, skill, and calm personality, Onosato has quickly become a symbol of the sport’s future. His recent promotion to yokozuna–the highest rank– marks a significant moment in his career and in sumo history. With a strong amateur...

Nintendo has officially revealed its highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 console. Japanese consumers will have two options: a Japanese-only version sold at a lower price than the multi-language version.