Reiwa

Photo courtesy of the Prime Minister’s Official Residence
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Japan celebrates emperor’s birthday Feb. 23

Employees in Japan will have the day off and government offices will be closed on this day so plan ahead if you have official business.
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Speakin’ Japanese: Emperor talk

The Emperor’s Birthday is a national holiday in Japan. Try the useful phrases for the Emperor’s special day or your own!
Emperor Naruhito Photo by 江戸村のとくぞう, Wikipedia Common
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Crowds and pomp as Japan’s new emperor to be enthroned Oct. 22

Japan’s new emperor will be enthroned Oct. 22, a day declared a national holiday. Most public offices will be closed and some public transportation will be on a weekend/holiday schedule.
Ceremony of succeeding symbols of imperial authority. Source: Wikipedia
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Get ready for 10 days of traffic, closures, crowds across Japan

If you’ve spent time in Japan, you know cities clear out and airports, train stations and tourist traps are all abuzz from late April to early May. It’s a time of year that presents “golden” opportunities to travel Japan – or to stick close to home and bask in an empty city free from the crowds and mayhem.
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Did you know?: Gengo, Japan's imperial era calendar

In Japan, we follow both the Western calendar interchangeably with the “Gengo” calendar. Gengo is the name of the Imperial era for the Japanese calendar. 2019 is Heisei 31 in Japan. On April 1st, Japan revealed the new era name as the current emperor will abdicate the throne to his son at the end of this month. Beginning May 1st of this year, the...
Photo by Shoji Kudaka
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VIDEO| Taste of Okinawa: Making island's delicious doughnuts

Want to have some fun in the kitchen? Well, you should make her some Okinawan doughnuts. Sata Andagi are very simple to make, even if you are not an expert in the kitchen. It’s time to put on an apron and get cooking!
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Cuisine: Indian, Japanese

VIDEO| Quick and tasty Japanese curry in a bag

These pouches are a great way to add a little Japanese curry into your weeknight dinner menu repertoire.
Photos by Shoji Kudaka
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VIDEO| Okinawa Kitchen: Cooking up island's famous braised pork belly

If you have traveled to Okinawa, you may have stumbled across a dish fit for kings. It’s true, rafute, or braised pork belly, was served as a staple to Okinawan royalty.
Photos by Shoji Kudaka
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Cuisine: Japanese

VIDEO| Not feeling good? Japanese comfort foods perfect cure!

Winter is the time where there are more chances of getting sick than in any other seasons. This winter looks no less unforgiving with a very contagious variant of COVID-19 adding another obstacle to the already difficult season.
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My Faves: Okinawan snacks that bring the heat

Unlike in South Korea or Bhutan, winter in Okinawa doesn’t take a lot of spicy hot-pot-type dishes to get through.
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Cuisine: Japanese

Traditional portable dish, 'bento' highlights lunch in Japan

During lunch, you may have witnessed a Japanese coworker eating out of a home-packed box. Or maybe during a stroll in the park, you noticed a salarymen sitting on a bench with a smartphone and a little wooden lunch box.