Kanna Livingston 
Japanese drugstores, or yakkyoku, can be daunting. Even if you feel pretty good about your Japanese ability, names and descriptions of medicine can be highly technical and heavy on the kanji. With shelves bursting with more products than you ever knew existed, finding the right medicine might seem like an impossible task. And kampo-yaku, … Read more
Leaving the house when you have young children can be stressful. If you ever find yourself in Osaka with your little ones, check out these 7 things to do in Osaka with kids (babies & toddlers) They all offer nursing rooms and changing areas. You won’t have to worry about finding a place to change … Read more
To say that Osaka Station is a busy place is a huge understatement. It’s the busiest railway station in western Japan, serving over a million passengers every day (together with its neighbor, Umeda Osaka station). And there’s so much stuff jam-packed into the areas surrounding the station that you wouldn’t need to go very far … Read more
Japan is a great place if you like to drink. Izakayas, or Japanese-style pubs, aren’t hard to find. They’re fun, rowdy places to drink the best of what Japan has to offer along with some delicious food. If outdoor drinking is your thing, you’re in luck. It’s legal. Just head to the closest convenience store … Read more
Looking for an apartment in Japan? Be prepared for a long and complicated process involving tons of paperwork. And, you’ll need quite a bit of money, too. Even for Japanese people, moving is frustrating.The upfront costs are incredibly high and come with strange, outdated fees like “key money”. But, if you’re a foreigner in Japan … Read more
Do you like to cook? Do you love it when you make a dish and your friend’s taste buds dance with delight? If so, these cool Japanese kitchen gadgets will make your work in the kitchen much easier – and way more fun. What comes to mind when you think of a Japanese kitchen? You … Read more
Famous for both its abundance of electronics shops and for being the anime/manga center of Tokyo, Akihabara is a vibrant, wonderfully geeky district. There are tons of shops, selling the latest cutting-edge electronics and anime/manga, along with collectibles, games, toys, etc. And there are also some very unusual cafes, like maid cafes – where women dress … Read more
The world of Japanese snacks is colorful and playful… and sometimes quite bizarre. Snacks can come and go in the blink of an eye. It’s not uncommon for Japanese snacks to disappear from existence forever – and sometimes after a very short stint. You probably wonder why. It’s partly because the Japanese obsess over seasonality. … Read more
From traditional tea ceremonies that artfully prepare matcha to the palate cleansing konacha served at sushi restaurants, tea is an essential part of Japanese culture and cuisine. With dozens of different types, there’s a Japanese tea for everyone. Japanese tea tastes great. It gives you a whole slew of health benefits. There’s no reason not … Read more
Despite my Japanese heritage, I’ve always shied away from cooking Japanese food. The subtle, complex flavors intimidated me. Creating the right taste seemed impossible. But it’s not that difficult at all. I began to enjoy cooking once I found the key to making Japanese food taste great. Would you like to know the secret? You’ll … Read more
Japanese soy sauce, or shoyu, is an essential part of Japanese cuisine. Without this sauce, many of your favorite Japanese dishes would not exist. But did you know soy sauce comes in different flavors, colors, and textures? The dark, salty sauce you find on the table in Japanese restaurants is the most commonly used… but … Read more
You probably reach for instant ramen when you’re too tired to cook. I don’t blame you. Instant ramen gives you a quick, easy, and tasty meal. But did you know instant ramen was created to feed the poor, hungry people of Japan after World War II? You’ll get a quick history of instant ramen in … Read more
7 Best (And Closest) Hotels for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Where will you be for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics? If you’re lucky enough to be in Tokyo, expect exciting things – sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding, and karate will be making their Olympic debut. Baseball and softball will return to the games, after being dropped from … Read more
A pen is just a pen, right? Nope. Not when it comes from Japan. A pen transforms into a technologically advanced work of art once the Japanese get a hold of it. Japanese stationery stands apart in a league of its own. You have to try some of these things to believe they actually exist. … Read more
It’s often said that knives are the most important tools in your kitchen. That’s why so many chefs use Japanese knives – they do the job like no other. If you’re looking to buy a Japanese knife, there are some important things you might want to consider. Check out this guide to learn how to … Read more
Useful Japanese Phrases for When You Go to the Doctor Going to the doctor in Japan can be a mixed experience, especially if you don’t speak much Japanese. Japan has a “hybrid” healthcare system, meaning that the government pays for 70% of costs (or more if you’re a low-income elderly resident) and the remaining 30% … Read more
Are you looking to add a new rice cooker to your kitchen? It’s probably no surprise that the best ones are made in Japan. With so many rice cookers to choose from, picking the right one can feel daunting. In this article, I will share the 5 best Japanese rice cookers you can get … Read more
The secret to cooking Japanese rice is all in the prep. If you want delicious, fluffy rice, follow these steps to prepare and cook your rice. It will take a little bit of time and effort to prepare, but you’ll be treated to a perfectly cooked bowl of amazing rice. This guide will cover all … Read more
On a recent trip back to Japan, I overheard two young Japanese women talking about what they’d missed most while living overseas for a year. Together, they said, “Conbini!” and started laughing. And I nodded my head in agreement because, yeah, I miss them too. And for good reason: conbini, short for convenience stores (spelled … Read more
One of the best ways to learn the Japanese language and culture is to make Japanese friends.But for many of us, meeting someone new can be hard – and awkward – and it can take us out of our comfort zone.And if you’re still learning how to speak Japanese, it may seem intimidating or even … Read more
Visiting Japan and don’t have time to learn 2,000 kanji? That’s the number of kanji that are commonly used in Japan in everyday life.These days, if you stick to the larger cities like Tokyo or Osaka, you can probably get by without knowing any at all. But in the smaller cities and towns, you’ll be … Read more
Let’s face it – if you’re new to Japan, you’re probably gonna make a few cultural mistakes. And you wouldn’t be alone. Deeply rooted in tradition and religion, Japan has a rich and complex culture, with what seems like a million unwritten rules. That’s pretty tough to navigate, even for Japanese people. Just like with … Read more
When you’re learning to speak Japanese, it can sometimes feel like you’re learning more than just one language. That’s because you use different words and grammar depending on who you’re talking to. It’s expected that you acknowledge a person’s social status in the language that you use. If you’re going to interact with Japanese people … Read more