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We had a lovely chat with Rachel and Jun about their story, from their early beginnings to how their videos continue to inspire people around the world. We’ve gathered and crafted their reflections into this special feature, so you can experience their story in a way that feels just like their videos: warm, genuine, and…

Imagine holding a small dish that glows as if sunlight is trapped inside it. This perfect example of Japanese ceramics resembles glass, with its colors deep and luminous, outlined with threads of silver. That’s the magic of shippo yaki.

From small corner shops with paper lanterns to busy chain restaurants near train stations, izakaya are a fixture of Japan’s social life.

Japan is often linked with peaceful gardens, quiet temples, and wooden tea houses where a graceful tea ritual occurs. This is chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony), a practice that is much more than drinking Japanese green tea. Starting with Zen Buddhism, which has been refined over centuries, it combines art, religion, philosophy, and social life into one mindful tradition. 

In Japan, daily life often blends tradition with modern convenience. You might walk past a vending machine right after visiting a centuries-old shrine. One tradition that has stayed strong over the years is the use of omamori—Japan’s beloved good luck charms.

There is something timeless about the Japanese onsen. For centuries, these natural hot springs have been more than places to bathe. They are sanctuaries of renewal, reflection, and connection with nature. Surrounded by mountains, forests, or coastal views, onsens invite visitors to pause, breathe, and experience the restorative warmth of mineral-rich waters. While traveling to…

One of the best-known Japanese folktales is “The Monkey and the Moon,” in which animals mistake the moon’s reflection for the real thing. The story is a quiet lesson about illusion and reality.

The moon is vital in Japanese culture; it symbolizes change, mystery, and peace. Poetry, folklore, and festivals draw from the nation’s long history with the lunar cycle. Artists across the centuries have used it as inspiration. Some simply tried to capture its beauty or explain its deeper meaning. Japanese moon art in particular captures this.

One of the oldest and most popular card games in Japan is hanafuda. People still play it today. Hanafuda is a matching game featuring cards with beautiful artwork. Today, we’ll explore this classic game. It is for anyone who has never heard of the game and those who want to play.

Let’s discover more about this beautiful area in the country’s southernmost region and explore the many things to do in Okinawa!

Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” is one of the classic masterpieces of Japanese prints. As one of the first Japanese artworks to gain global fame, The Great Wave helped introduce Japanese art overseas and shaped how the world views Japan’s rich artistry. Discover the novelty behind The Great Wave and how it influenced both the Japanese and foreign art scenes. 

Origami, the art of paper folding, was once woven into formal ceremonies and religious rituals. People were fascinated by seeing paper come to life with each fold. However, its beauty is also thanks to the origami paper’s texture, rich color, and nature-inspired pattern.