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Mongolian Gers: What they are and the Do’s and Don’ts of Ger Etiquette

Asia/Oceania · February 7, 2021

A photo by Patrick Schneider (via Unsplash). A single white ger stands on an arid swathe of land with the door open. The interior door is blue with an orange frame.

Mongolian gers have been an intrinsic part of Mongolian culture for thousands of years. Yet rather than simply a relic of former times, Mongolian gers are still very much a part of modern-day living. Even today, more than half of the Mongolian population continues to live in gers. This includes 60% of people who live […]

White Day in Japan: Japan’s Complicated Second Valentine’s Day

Asia/Oceania · January 15, 2021

A tiered jewelry display in a department store, showcasing various necklaces, next to a sign that says 'White Day 3.14'.

You may feel like one Valentine’s Day a year is enough, but Japan’s confectionery industry thinks otherwise. In addition to celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14th, Japan’s 2nd Valentine’s Day, known as White Day in Japan, occurs exactly one month after on March 14th. So, why have two Valentine’s Days and how are they different […]

Valentine’s Day in Japan: The Meaning of the Chocolate you Give

Asia/Oceania · January 13, 2021

valentines day japan

You might be surprised to learn that Valentine’s Day in Japan is celebrated rather differently than in much of the rest of the world. Firstly, it’s a day when only women give gifts to men, usually in the form of chocolates or cookies. And, secondly, it’s not an exclusively romantic holiday. Valentine’s Day in Japan […]

Seijin no Hi: What Happens on Coming of Age Day in Japan

Asia/Oceania · January 11, 2021

A group of Japanese women in formal furisode kimono stand chatting outside the venue of their Coming of Age Day ceremony in Tokyo.

Coming of Age Day in Japan or Seijin no Hi (成人の日) is an important Japanese holiday held annually in January each year marking the rite of passage into adulthood for 20-year-olds. Japan’s Coming of Age Day, a national holiday, celebrates young people becoming legal adults, entering society with new freedoms that come with adulthood as […]

Fugu Fish: The poisonous Japanese Puffer Fish you can buy online

Asia/Oceania · January 10, 2021

A photo of a puffed up fugu fish with a grey spotted top, white underbelly and green eyes lays atop a wooden surface. Photo by Brian Yurasits (Unsplash).

Fugu fish may just be Japan’s most notorious dish. In the country’s capital, fugu, also known as Japanese puffer fish, blowfish or globe fish, is a seasonal delicacy. Highly sought after in winter when fugu are at their plumpest, Tokyo’s fugu restaurants proudly display the latest bulbous catch in highly-visible tanks, later to be served […]

Japanese Rock Paper Scissors: How ‘Janken’ Rules Life in Japan

Asia/Oceania · January 5, 2021

Four people, two children and two adults, play janken against one another outdoors. The girl chose paper, and the boy scissors, while the two adults (faces not shown) chose scissors and rock, resulting in a draw.

You may view ‘Rock Paper Scissors’ as just another children’s game that, like other hand gesture games or ditties, passes the time and keeps them amused for a while. However, Japanese rock paper scissors, known as janken (じゃん拳) or janken pon (じゃん拳ぽん), takes on a whole new level of meaning and importance in daily life. […]

Dublin Statues and their Surprising, Tongue-in-cheek Nicknames

Europe · January 2, 2021

The Molly Statue, Dublin. Molly Malone stands in a low-cut dress with puffy sleeves and long skirt, pushing a wooden trolley with three woven baskets sitting on top.

The Irish love poking fun. Nowhere is that more apparent than a look at the many Dublin statues and monuments whose names have been given a little dose of Irish humour. So engrained into local culture have the nicknames become, that some might be hard pressed to remember their real names! So grab your walking […]

Inu no Hi: Japan’s ‘day of the dog’ for pregnant women

Asia/Oceania · January 1, 2021

Photo of dog and pregnant woman by Jonathan Smith

Inu no Hi, literally meaning the ‘Day of the Dog,’ is an important pregnancy ritual and rite of passage for pregnant women in Japan. As dogs are widely believed to have easy and uncomplicated births as well as large litters, dogs are considered to be a symbol of smooth delivery and an animal deity of […]

Japanese Dates: How to Read a Japanese Calendar

Asia/Oceania · January 1, 2021

japanese calendar 2018

Understanding how to read a Japanese calendar is an important part of life in Japan. While it may seem intimidating at first when you see a combination of letters and numbers, luckily the Japanese date system is extremely easy to master once you understand a few basic concepts. First of all, to understand Japanese dates […]

A Japanese Christmas: How Christmas in Japan is unlike anywhere else

Asia/Oceania · December 19, 2020

Shiodome Winter Illuminations Tokyo Japan

Like a number of Western holidays in Japan, Christmas seems to be getting bigger every year. Christmas in Japan is an interesting mix of traditions from abroad with some unique Japanese Christmas interpretations thrown in. Here are 8 things that make the Japanese Christmas experience its own. Table of Contents 1. Christmas Eve is the […]

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Recent Posts

  • Mongolian Gers: What they are and the Do’s and Don’ts of Ger Etiquette
  • White Day in Japan: Japan’s Complicated Second Valentine’s Day
  • Valentine’s Day in Japan: The Meaning of the Chocolate you Give
  • Seijin no Hi: What Happens on Coming of Age Day in Japan
  • Fugu Fish: The poisonous Japanese Puffer Fish you can buy online
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