Nov 5, 20263 min readBefore the Ramen, There's a Boss Fight: Japan's Ticket MachinesOrder before you sit, pay before you eat. For first-timers, the hardest part of a Japanese ramen shop is the wall of buttons at the entrance.
Nov 5, 20263 min readNo Tipping in Japan: The Country Where the Bill Needs No MathIn America, paying means passing a small math exam in public. In Japan, the number on the bill is simply the number you pay.
Nov 5, 20263 min readDon't Open It Before You Pay: Japan's Unbreakable Store RuleIn America, sipping a drink before the checkout starts a debate. In Japan, it starts an incident.
Nov 2, 20264 min readCulture Day in Japan: The Holiday That Used to Be an Emperor's BirthdayNovember 3 celebrates "culture" — but it began as the day Japan's postwar constitution was announced, on a date that once honored Emperor Meiji.
Nov 1, 20263 min readJapan Is Not Just Tokyo — A Local's Guide to the Japan Beyond the GuidebooksFrom anime pilgrimages and hot springs to quiet seaside towns in Shonan — welcome to the Travel section of Real Japan Life.
Oct 31, 20264 min readNo Trick-or-Treat in Japan: What Halloween Really Looks Like HereNo children go door to door — in real Japan, Halloween belongs to cosplaying adults, quiet neighborhoods, and pumpkin-flavored everything.
Oct 31, 20263 min readDoes Everyone in Japan Love Anime? In Real Life, Adults Rarely Talk About ItAnime is one of Japan's biggest cultural exports — but for most adults living here, it barely appears in everyday life.
Oct 30, 20264 min readWelcome to Real Japan Life! — Between the Japan You Imagine and the Real JapanNo ninjas on the streets and no sushi every day — a friendly look at everyday Japan, its culture, its trends, and the places locals actually enjoy.
