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Where to eat: Food worth the wait, restaurants and shops that keep Tokyo lining up for more

Where to eat: Food worth the wait, restaurants and shops that keep Tokyo lining up for more

Posted on Sep 9, 2013 in Japanese customs, Must see, Things to do, What to buy, Where to eat, Where to shop |

Once a year, around the time that Michelin publishes its Tokyo guide, headlines roar about this city being the dining capital of the world. And it is. But it’s not just the arm-and-a-leg, mortgage-your-kids dining scene that makes Tokyo great. The fanaticism for detail and dedication to fresh, seasonal ingredients trickles all the way down to the places we actually eat at: the ramen shops, the gyoza dumpling joints, the udon noodle restaurants and the confectionary stores....

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When do Japanese People Have Their First Kiss?

When do Japanese People Have Their First Kiss?

Posted on Sep 9, 2013 in Japanese customs, News, Stories about Japan |

Japanese men aren’t known for being the most romantically aggressive bunch. Many young Japanese women lament over having to take the lead just to get out of the dugout and onto first base. If Japanese guys are so reluctant to get touchy-feely, you’ve got to wonder: at what age do Japanese people have their first kiss?    Japanese mobile company NTT Docomo conducted an online poll that asked respondents to divulge when they first closed their eyes and puckered up. The...

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Japan Prefers Pets to Parenthood?

Japan Prefers Pets to Parenthood?

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in Japanese customs, News, Stories about Japan |

In a smart and expensive neighbourhood of Tokyo, Toshiko Horikoshi relaxes by playing her grand piano. She’s a successful eye surgeon, with a private clinic, a stylish apartment, a Porsche and two pet pooches: Tinkerbell, a chihuahua, and Ginger, a poodle. “Japanese dog owners think a dog is like a child,” says Horikoshi. “I have no children, so I really love my two dogs.” Many Japanese women like Horikoshi prefer pets to parenthood....

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Why actions in Japan speak louder than words

Why actions in Japan speak louder than words

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan |

Foreigners are often upset when their Japanese counterparts break verbal commitments or fail to live up to the signed agreements. Where the foreigners themselves “fail” is that they are ignorant of the etiquette and ethics of the Japanese and do not realize that what they think is wrong, may be regarded as right in Japan. The reality behind a pleasing facade In formal official dialoge in Japan, especially with government bureaucrats and politicians, what you...

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How the Japanese perceive and use knowlegde vs. the Western way

How the Japanese perceive and use knowlegde vs. the Western way

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan |

Until 1990, when Japan’s so called “bubble economy” began to lose steam, many Western business and political leaders were frustrated at the continuing momentum of Japan’s economic juggernaut- and their seeming inability to understand it, much less slow it down. The feeling that Japan was playing unfairly resulted in a backlash against Japanese management practices that were once touted as worthy of copying. This irrational reaction was soon...

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Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Stories about Japan |

    Japanese design is famous the world over, but what is it exactly what we are looking at? I always believe if you know a bit of the back ground of things, it becomes easier to better appreciate the intentions of the designer and to appreciate something beyond face value. In this blog posting I aim to explain two different, but intertwined Japanese design principles.   Wabi-sabi a form of Japanese aesthetics   Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a...

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