U.S. service members and their families gather during the 2021 Hansen Festival, to enjoy an assortment of performances and fun-filled activities on Camp Hansen, March 13.
What are some of the best things to do in Aomori Prefecture? Located at the northern tip of Japan's main island of Honshu, Aomori is surrounded by beautiful seas on three sides and covered in large swathes of forests.
The Star Festival originated from the Chinese legend of two stars, Vega and Altair – lovers who were separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year on July 7.
In midsummer, many step out in yukata, or summer kimono, and gather in parks which are colorfully decorated with lanterns – to eat, drink and perform traditional dances to the beat of Japanese folk music.
Hinamatsuri, also called Doll's Day or Girls' Day, is a time when Japanese families display a set of dolls of the emperor and empress in traditional kimono attire.
Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing coronavirus spread, organizers for this year’s Tsutsuji Matsuri have cancelled the event planned from Mar. 1-22. Please visit Okinawa.stripes.com for the latest updates on this and other cancellations.
Unlike in South Korea or Bhutan, winter in Okinawa doesn’t take a lot of spicy hot-pot-type dishes to get through. That may be one reason why the subtropical island didn’t offer many spicy foods in the past.
Philip Troussier, the French coach who led Japan in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, blamed the weakness of young Japanese soccer players on convenience stores.
Since the arrival of COVID-19, we’ve had to change a lot of our usual pastimes and activities. Dining at restaurants in is not really a good option right now.
Turmeric, or “ukon” in Japanese, is a kind of ginger, known as a spice for Indian curry, and in Japan, it is mostly recognized as a food that can help avoid hangover.
