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Craving for more Japan Nuggets?
We are almost back! As summer slowly winds down, Japan Nuggets returns next week with a new season of curious questions, surprising facts, and fascinating stories about Japan. Until then, here’s a little teaser. Today’s picture shows a beautiful vermilion… Continue reading
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Ready for a summer break?
It’s almost August – and that means it’s hot and humid in Japan. But it’s also one of the most vibrant times of the year, with festivals, fireworks, and celebrations taking place across the country. Japan Nuggets is soaking up… Continue reading
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What’s the meaning of the waving cat in Japan?
You see it often in Japan. By the entrance of a shop or restaurant. On a counter. In a window. A small cat, paw raised, gently ‘waving’ people in. They come in all shapes and sizes. Carved from wood. Molded… Continue reading
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Is sake the national drink of Japan?
At least, that’s what I thought when I moved to Japan. But walk into any izakaya (Japanese pub) and you see beer everywhere. Wine, whiskey and mixed drinks are common too. Sake? Not so much. Still, sake has a… Continue reading
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Don’t you just love Japanese toilets?
Yes, it can be intimidating to encounter one for the first time. So many buttons, so many potentially embarrassing disasters waiting to happen. But they can be conquered. And hand on heart, having lived with one, I’m now in love.… Continue reading
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Do Geisha still exist in modern Japan?
When you picture traditional Japan, geisha are probably among the first images that come to mind. Yet you are unlikely to run into one on the street. In fact, among my Japanese colleagues and friends, only one had ever seen… Continue reading
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Got gacha-gacha?
Walk through any Japanese city, you can’t help but notice little charms dangling from people’s bags. Sometimes it’s just one, sometimes several. Some are little plush toys, others are tiny figures. A friend told me that what you chose to… Continue reading
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Ever gotten lost in the world’s busiest train station?
Raise your hand if you’ve been to Tokyo and gotten lost in Shinjuku Station. Mine is up – multiple times. Shinjuku Station isn’t just large. It operates on a scale most cities never reach. Tourists panic, first-timers slow down, locals… Continue reading
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What do dragons reveal about Japan?
What are dragons to you? Are they fire-spitting monsters, to be feared and avoided? In my children’s books, they were violent, dangerous villains burning villages and castles. From medieval legends to modern fantasy, in much of Western culture the dragon… Continue reading
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Why is so much food individually wrapped in Japan?
Shop in any Japanese supermarket and you’ll quickly notice it: three carrots wrapped in plastic, two bananas packaged together, individual peaches protected with foam netting and plastic. At first glance, it can seem excessive. At train stations you find single… Continue reading
Japan Nuggets
Curious questions, candid answers on everyday Japan
