Waking to the chiming tunes that ring through the streets at 6am. Taking in the smell of coffee that fills the house. Savoring the hearty breakfast, as the citizens of Taketa city wake and bustle by the cafe window on the ground floor. That is the...
Art brand Heralbony made its mark for the first time in Nagoya, opening an exhibition in RAYARD Hisaya-Odori Park on September 18. The collection is presented in collaboration with BRING, a circular economy brand that creates new clothes from...
Japanese entertainment is one of the country’s biggest cultural exports. Japan has enormous soft power through its games, animation, comics and music. The industry produces a lot of wonderful distractions along with more serious-minded art. Modern...
Despite the former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, declaring in 2013 to improve gender equality and to promote women’s empowerment in Japan, it’s hard to say the country’s attempt to create ‘a society in which all women...
Sustainability-minded nonprofit Retocos set a target to turn eight islands in Saga prefecture into “organic islands,” growing herbs and plants for cosmetic use. To the north of Karatsu-city, there are eight small beautiful islands all...
Bubble tea was a huge trend in Japan from around last year; there are long queues for buying one, and new shops were opening one after another. And of course, I was a customer. The first shop gave me the bubble tea in a plastic cup with a plastic...
While Taketa City is well-known for its beauty in its surroundings. One can see the majestic mountain ranges and enjoy the sights while bathing in the many hot springs. Yet many do not realize how many wonderful artisans have gathered here, each...
Blue Globe Tokyo is a new sustainable cafe located in Omotesando, Tokyo, that opened its doors in September. This cafe has a mission to promote an ethical lifestyle while fostering an environment filled with smiles. This calling is reflected in the...
Since the end of World War II, Japan has officially been a pacifist nation. Article 9 of the Japanese constitution renounces the nation’s right to use war to settle international disputes. There have been attempts to reform the constitution and...
Early last month, OGICO has released Japan’s first body scrub made from upcycled ingredients. The HUG BROWNE Espresso Body Shot (170g, 2500 yen) is a locally produced body scrub made from upcycled coffee beans. These beans are used espresso...