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Hello, Sakuraco community! We hope you’re doing well. Here are the winners of the January 2026 Reviewer Contest!

A perfect example of Japan’s love for color and art can be found at JR Ueno Station in Tokyo. For decades, a large mural has graced a wall in the train station, bringing light and joy to countless people. In a moment of profound positivity and progress, much-needed restorations to the mural are nearly complete!

Kyoto shrines preserve history within their walls, and their network carries the old days into modern Japan. Visiting them can be a memorable way to learn about Japan’s past and understand how spiritual traditions coexist with modern life.

Aaron and Claire make Japanese home cooking simple and realistic to try. Here are three re-cook friendly dishes, from Butadon to Omurice and Buta no Kakuni, that you can confidently make at home.

Many people know the soft pink cherry blossoms. However, sakura in Japan includes a wide variety. 

Matcha is a finely crafted green tea powder that represents elegance and a deep appreciation for nature in Japanese tea ceremony culture. This tea flavor is widely used in many types of Japanese sweets and snacks, including Tsujiri no Sato. L

Japan’s artistic traditions draw from its deep cultural roots. Calligraphy is one of its most popular forms; it is taught in schools both as a subject and as an art, and is used every day. At higher levels of study, it requires balance, flow, and inner discipline.

Nara, Japan, is home to some of the country’s oldest and most treasured Buddhist artifacts from the Nara Period.

More senior citizens in Japan are going back to university. Many are in their 50s, 60s, or older and want to learn new skills. Some hope to prepare for a second career after retirement.

Cherry blossoms brighten Japan’s spring landscape with their delicate pink hues, and they also find their way into kitchens across the country, where cooks transform these fleeting petals into flavorful ingredients for both sweet and savory dishes. 

Cherry blossom petals and hanami feel timeless, but this spring tradition has a clear story. The first hanami “pictures” were not phone photos. They were written records, poems, and paintings made over 1,200 years ago at the imperial courts in Japan.

If you are interested in history, you may already know that the Jomon Period stands out as a time when people carefully learned to live in close harmony with nature.