Unusual Japan: Pilgrim dogs
Japan's spiritual richness is undeniable! Animist, Shinto, and Buddhist traditions are deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and pilgrimages remain a common practice. But…
Pop culture: monuments dedicated to Tokyo
Japan's international influence stems from its pop culture. Japanese animation, a cornerstone of this "soft power," is an integral part of Japan's cultural heritage. And as proof:…
These untranslatable Japanese expressions (2)
The Japanese language is full of concepts and expressions that are sometimes amusing, sometimes surprising, sometimes poetic. Let's take a look! Itadakimasu (いただきます) Expresses appreciation for the person who prepared the meal…
Japanese cinema in Japan: the 10 biggest hits
Did you know that Japanese cinema is extremely prolific? Few productions are exported to our countries because Japanese cinema is primarily geared towards the local audience –…
Comiket: the world's largest fan convention
If you're a pop culture fan, you're probably familiar with major conventions like Japan Expo in Paris or Comic-Con in San Diego. But are you familiar with…
Yuru-Kyara (ゆるキャラ), these kawaii Japanese mascots
Did you encounter any unusual characters during your travels in Japan? We call them mascots in France, but in Japan, they're known by another name…
10 Japanese songs that smell like summer
The sound of cicadas isn't the only music to serenade our ears this summer. Discover our musical selection of 10 songs to accompany your summer! GReeeeN -…
Hanabi 花火, the summer fireworks
Summer in Japan is the season for yukata (浴衣), matsuri (祭り), and also fireworks, which are called hanabi (花火, literally, fire flowers). A brief history of fireworks…
The yukata 浴衣, the traditional summer outfit
In Japan, summer is a particularly festive season. Temperatures rise as matsuri (祭り, festivals) and hanabi (花火, fireworks) take place throughout the archipelago. It's the perfect opportunity…
Our friends the emojis (絵文字)
Did you know that emojis are Japanese? The word emoji itself is Japanese: "e" 絵 / え meaning picture and "moji" 文字 / もじ meaning character. The emojis that…