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6 articles Reset

Japan

Traditions11 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.

June 24, 2026Read

Japan

Arts13 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.

March 29, 2026Read

Japan

Society10 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.

March 23, 2026Read

Japan

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.

March 18, 2026Read

Japan

Arts13 min

CLAMP: Four Women Who Redefined Manga

The story of CLAMP, the legendary all-female manga collective, from their doujinshi origins to global dominance with Cardcaptor Sakura, X, xxxHolic, and more.

March 13, 2026Read

Japan

Philosophy14 min

Kaizen: The Japanese Philosophy of Endless Improvement

Born in postwar Japan at Toyota, the kaizen philosophy transforms daily life through tiny, constant improvements, at work and beyond.

February 26, 2026Read