All About Japan

Japan Packaging Design Award 2021

Every two years, the Japan Packaging Design Awards celebrate the achievements of stellar and captivating product designs, and the winners for 2021 have just been announced.

Japan Looks to AI for COVID-19 Countermeasures

Japan’s government launches a panel of experts to discuss formulating coronavirus countermeasures using artificial intelligence and the supercomputer Fugaku.

Eerie Long-Exposure Photographs of Torii

In 2019, German photographer Ronny Behnert traveled around Japan visiting various torii gates. And while everyone who visits Japan surely has countless torii pictures, his long-exposure photos are like something from another world.

Buddhist Monk on Celebrating Sexual Diversity

Makeup artist and Buddhist monk Kodo Nishimura discusses their views on sexual diversity and faith.

Robo-Scorpion Chair Perfect for Villain Lair

If you’re going to be spending several hours a day at your computer, aesthetics are important in keeping your wellness level up. And if that aesthetic is "techno arachnid super-villain," then there’s really only one sensible furniture choice.

Get Your Hands on 'Twilight at Nihonbashi'

Learn how you can score one of these cool, ukiyo-e-inspired photos that are great as phone wallpapers.

Roadtrip 5 Awesome Spots on the Noto Peninsula

Discover the secrets of the Noto Peninsula, situated on the wild northwestern coast of Honshu. Although remote, this area has it all; beautiful natural sights, historical architecture, fine handicrafts and relaxing hot spring resorts!

Post-Abe PM Contender Suga Masks on the Rise

A Japanese rubber mask manufacturer anticipates greater demand for masks of leading post-Abe PM contender Suga Yoshihide.

More Foreign Than Japanese Residents in 2019

The Tokyo area welcomed more new foreign residents than Japanese citizens last year, marking the first time for the foreign population to increase faster than the Japanese one for the area since the ministry began separating such demographic data in 2012.

Toyota's Pandemic Profits Plunge to 98%

Toyota Motor Corporation's operating profit plunges 98 percent for the April-to-June quarter.

Tadao Ando Livens Shibuya with Toilet Project

Famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando shows off his circular submission to the Tokyo Toilet project.

Huge Harajuku Shopping Structure Set for 2022

The west corner of Jingumae Crossing has largely remained unchanged for the past 50 years, but that's set to change in 2022 with a new, reflective shopping complex.

Ukiyo-e Couple Show Ancient Art of Sleeping In

Turns out Japanese folks were hitting the snooze button before electronic clocks even existed. How? By getting roosters drunk!

Manned Flying Car Goes on Test Flight

A Japanese venture company successfully conducts a test flight of an experimental flying car with one person on board.

Cool Tech for Buildings in the Age of COVID-19

Japanese giant conglomerate Softbank Group has unveiled a building in Tokyo upgraded with technologies in line with the “new normal” imposed by the pandemic.

Not All Use Chopsticks the 'Traditional' Way

As a society that thinks thoroughly about etiquette, there is, of course, a prescribed way to hold chopsticks. But, the vocabulary around the method being "correct" is being slowly changed to be called the traditional way, as we learn in this video.

Sony Reveals New Self-Driving EV Prototype

Sony unveils a prototype for its self-driving electric vehicle that uses 33 state-of-the-art sensors that support autonomous mobility.

Honda Unveils New Compact Electric Vehicle

Honda is showing off its first compact electric vehicle equipped with state-of-the-art digital technology.

Viewing Wartime Hiroshima with Virtual Reality

A group of local high school students revives wartime Hiroshima using VR technology to see what Hiroshima's A-bomb Dome looked like before the destruction.

Shibuya Public Restrooms Get Designer Makeover

The Nippon Foundation is collaborating with the ward and 16 world-renowned architects and designers to transform 17 public lavatories.

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