Culture7 min
Lolita fashion: the origins and styles of a Japanese look
Inside Japanese Lolita fashion. From the streets of Harajuku to communities worldwide: the origins, the substyles and the strict codes of a singular aesthetic.
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Japan
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.
9 articles
Food7 min
Ichiju-sansai: the structure of a Japanese breakfast
One soup, three dishes: the ichiju-sansai rule that organises the Japanese breakfast. Rice, miso, grilled fish, natto, tsukemono, and how to rebuild it at home.
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Culture6 min
Kit Kat in Japan: the limited-edition frenzy
How a British chocolate bar became a Japanese cultural phenomenon. More than 400 flavours, a good-luck charm for exams, and regional limited editions.
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Traditions12 min
Hanami: The Japanese Art of Cherry Blossom Viewing
A complete guide to hanami in Japan: its thousand-year history, the cultural meaning of sakura, the best viewing spots, picnic etiquette, and blossom forecasts.
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Arts14 min
Shojo: How Girls' Manga Conquered the World
From Meiji-era magazines to Sailor Moon and Fruits Basket, discover how shojo manga revolutionized comics, invented a unique visual language, and amplified women's voices in the manga industry.
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Society11 min
Otome Games: Japan Reinvents the Love Story
From Angelique's 1994 debut to global hits like Hakuōki and Uta no Prince-sama, discover how otome games became a billion-yen industry and a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
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Arts9 min
Japanese Idols: From AKB48 to Morning Musume
From Tsunku's auditions to Akimoto's Akihabara theater, explore the Japanese idol groups that reshaped pop culture and influenced all of Asia.
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