What’s Happening Now in Fukuoka & Japan January 2026
- 02-01-2026
A Fresh Start: Hatsumōde Traditions and New Year Rituals Shape Everyday Life in Japan
As January 2026 began, Japan entered one of its most culturally meaningful and visually distinctive periods of the year. The first days of January are marked by Hatsumōde, the traditional first visit of the ye... READ MORE
Breathing New Life into Old Homes: The Kominka Revival in Modern Japan
- 01-15-2026
Across Japan’s countryside and quiet towns, wooden houses with tiled roofs and deep eaves have stood for generations. These traditional homes, known as kominka (古民家), were once the heart of rural family life. Built with natural materials and designed to harmonize with the surrounding environment, t... READ MORE
What’s Happening Now in Fukuoka & Japan December 2025
- 01-01-2026
Convenience Store Bento Gets a Makeover: How Japan’s Everyday Lunch Became the Talk of December
In December 2025, Japan’s convenience stores became the focus of national attention as major chains such as 7‑Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart announced large‑scale updates to their bento and ready‑to‑e... READ MORE
Tracing Sacred Journeys: The Art and Meaning of Goshuinchō in Japanese Culture
- 12-15-2025
Across Japan’s shrines and temples, visitors often carry a small notebook filled with delicate ink strokes, bright vermilion stamps, and handwritten calligraphy. This notebook, known as a Goshuinchō (御朱印帳), is much more than a souvenir. It is a record of spiritual journeys, a personal art collectio... READ MORE
What’s Happening Now in Fukuoka & Japan November 2025
- 12-01-2025
Culture Day Celebrations and the Tokyo International Film Festival: Autumn’s Artistic Pulse in Japan
In early November 2025, Japan fully embraced its cultural season with two major events: the national holiday of Culture Day (文化の日) on November 3, followed by the closing days of the 38th Tokyo In... READ MORE
Japan Blue: The Art and Legacy of Aizome
- 11-15-2025
When people think of Japanese color, one often imagines cherry blossom pink or vermilion torii gates—but there is another hue that runs deep through Japan’s history: Aizome (藍染), the art of indigo dyeing. Known internationally as “Japan Blue,” this centuries-old craft represents purity, perseveranc... READ MORE
What’s Happening Now in Fukuoka & Japan October 2025
- 11-01-2025
Lights, Camera, Tokyo: The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival Celebrates Global Cinema
In October 2025, Tokyo again became a lively hub for film lovers and global artists as the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) opened on October 27 and ran through November 5, with screenings acr... READ MORE
Symbols of Fortune: Understanding Japan’s Engimono Traditions
- 10-15-2025
When walking through Japanese shrines, shops, or even train stations, it is easy to notice colorful charms, round-faced dolls, or cat figurines beckoning with raised paws. These are engimono (縁起物)—traditional good-luck items believed to bring prosperity, health, or happiness. Rooted in centuries of... READ MORE
What’s Happening Now in Fukuoka & Japan September 2025
- 10-01-2025
Tokyo Hosts 2025 World Athletics Championships: Sports, Culture & Unity
In September 2025, Tokyo welcomed the World Athletics Championships, turning the city into a global hub of excitement, energy, and cultural exchange. From September 13 to 21, the event took place at the National Stadium,... READ MORE
Floating Elegance: The Timeless Charm of Japan’s Yakatabune
- 09-15-2025
Japan is often admired for its temples, gardens, and seasonal traditions, but another window into its cultural soul can be found gliding quietly along its rivers and bays. The yakatabune (屋形船), or “roofed boat,” is a traditional Japanese pleasure boat that has carried revelers, poets, and travelers... READ MORE
