Why Are The Japanese Obsessed With Anime?

A question a friend recently asked was "Why are the Japanese obsessed with anime?" but I am not that involved in the whole anime thing. So, I went forth and asked some Japanese people what they thought on the subject. What's Anime? 'Anime' is short for 'animation' in Japanese and basically refers to all cartoons … Continue reading Why Are The Japanese Obsessed With Anime?

Basic Japanese for Travellers

Welcome to Japan!So, you're in Japan and you're ready to go have an amazing time. Here is some basic Japanese for travellers like you to help you on your way! Greetings Hello - konnichiwa こんにちは Heya - ya-ho やっほう Good morning (polite) - ohayo go-zigh-mas おはようございます Good morning (casual) - ohayo おはよう Good evening - … Continue reading Basic Japanese for Travellers

How to Halloween in Japan

Halloween Beginnings While the western world has been celebrating Halloween for many years now, Halloween in Japan is only a recent thing. In fact, Halloween only entered Japan in 1997 when it was brought over by Tokyo Disneyland. The Disney theme parks globally celebrate Halloween, so they decided to introduce it in Japan too. Universal … Continue reading How to Halloween in Japan

Does The Japanese Tooth Fairy Exist? What The Japanese Do When They Lose Their Baby Teeth

All hail the Japanese Tooth Fairy! It is fairly common knowledge in the UK that when you lose your teeth as a child, the Tooth Fairy comes along and replaces it with money. I was very happy with my 50p coins in the morning! I even remember once getting a shiny £2 coin, which made … Continue reading Does The Japanese Tooth Fairy Exist? What The Japanese Do When They Lose Their Baby Teeth

Why Do the Japanese Wear Masks?

I know that a lot of people see people in masks and think contamination (or perhaps construction workers). In Japan, however, it is quite normal to roam the streets wearing a mask. But why? There are a few reasons, but the original reason is to prevent infecting other people with your cold. In Japan, it … Continue reading Why Do the Japanese Wear Masks?

Why Japanese Deodorant Doesn’t Work on Smelly Europeans

Jade's Guide To Being A Smelly White Girl Why doesn't Japanese deodorant work? Basically Asians have different genes compared to those of Caucasians. This goes for the majority of people, but I have known whiffy Asians and non-whiffy Caucasians too. Warning: This Post Involves A Bit Of Science We have two main types of sweat … Continue reading Why Japanese Deodorant Doesn’t Work on Smelly Europeans

Top 14 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Japan

Jade's Guide To Visiting JapanSo you're thinking of going to Japan - congratulations! It's truly an incredible country to tour around. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time taking some beautiful pictures, buying a lot of anime merchandise... Or whatever it is you want to come to Japan for. However, before you go, there are … Continue reading Top 14 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Japan

Japanese Jukus (Cram Schools) – The Truth About Japanese Education

Jade's Guide to Japanese Education Having worked as an English teacher in Tokyo for three years now, I have taught all ages. From babies to children to adults. I have also witnessed the transformation from Japanese children, struggling to keep their heads above water in the education system, to relieved university students bathing in freedom, … Continue reading Japanese Jukus (Cram Schools) – The Truth About Japanese Education

Getting Sexual in Japanese Manga Cafes

Jade’s Guide to Manga Cafes What is a manga cafe? Manga cafes (more commonly known as Internet cafes abroad) are places where many young (and not-so-young) Japanese people go to read manga (Japanese comics) and watch TV series or DVDs in small padded booths, while helping themselves to drinks and snacks (such as ice-cream, soups … Continue reading Getting Sexual in Japanese Manga Cafes

Love Hotels in Japan

Japan certainly has some unique establishments. From host and hostess clubs to company dormitories, there is never a dull day for me. I am always discovering something else weird and wonderful about this country. Jade’s Guide to Love Hotels What the smeg are love hotels? In a nutshell, they are hotels where Japanese couples elope … Continue reading Love Hotels in Japan

Japanese Host Clubs – For the Women of Japan

Image taken from a website offering novelty host experiences to foreign tourists (click image to visit) I previously wrote an article on Japanese hostess clubs (see here), so I thought I would shed light on how Japanese host clubs work too. Two friends and I visited a host club to see exactly what goes on … Continue reading Japanese Host Clubs – For the Women of Japan

Japanese Hostess Clubs – The Shady World of Girl Bars

What is a hostess club? Girl bars, or hostess clubs - known as キャバクラ “kyabakura” in Japanese - are small, dimly lit rooms with comfy booths for you to sit in, drink and talk to the females that work there. There are also host clubs for women to go to and gay host clubs for … Continue reading Japanese Hostess Clubs – The Shady World of Girl Bars

Why Japanese Married Couples Don’t Have Sex

Over my four years in Japan, I have noticed that the romantic relationships that the Japanese indulge in are very different to those that I see in Europe and America. Let me explain why Japanese married couples don't have sex. Young Japanese couples, those that are simply dating and not yet wed, are not affectionate … Continue reading Why Japanese Married Couples Don’t Have Sex