KotobaInteractive
Journal

The Kotoba Interactive journal.

Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.

Glossary
2 articles
Serveuse en costume de maid dans un maid café japonais.
JapaneseSociété14 min

Maid Café: Origins and Codes of the Japanese Meido Kafe

History and rituals of the Japanese maid café (メイドカフェ): birth in Akihabara, moe culture, the okaerinasaimase welcome, cheki photos, etiquette and variants.

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Trois distributeurs automatiques de boissons alignés le long d’une rue japonaise, éclairés la nuit.
JapaneseSociété9 min

Vending Machines in Japan: Why Are They Everywhere?

Four million machines, from city corners to mountain trails. The history, the reasons, and the wild variety of Japan's vending machines.

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