Note: The video above was loosely based on the script below.   I’ve had a lot of pretty unique experiences in Japan but recently I had one of the most unique ones yet. That’s because I put on a giant shiba inu costume and went to a park in Chiba Prefecture to go see hundreds of dogs get their teeth …

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about how dogs in Japan used to go on religious pilgrimages (maybe?). 👉Topics Discussed About religious pilgrimages in Japan About the 88 temple pilgrimage in Shikoku About Konpira/Kotohira About Konpira inu About the supposed history of dogs going on pilgrimages to Konpira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture About the story of Shiro the …

On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about the new statue of the famous Kabosu the shibainu (a.k.a. Doge) that was erected in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Are you ready to go on “the Doge Pilgrimage?” Topics Discussed About the history of Kabosu the Shibainu and the Doge meme About the process of creating the Doge statue that is in …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are Japan’s most famous dogs? Topics Discussed Who Japan’s most famous dogs are About Yukimaru, Prince Shotoku Taishi’s beloved dog About Prince Shotoku Taishi Yukimaru’s supposed ability to talk to Shotoku Taishi and chant Buddhist sutras The drone Nara made based on Yukimaru Sakhalin huskies/Karafuto-ken The story of Taro and Jiro …

Leave it to Japan to turn something absolutely impersonal into something kawaii. Around much of the world, the steady beep of people scanning barcodes at checkout stations has become one of those inescapable sounds of modern life. It doesn’t matter which supermarket you go to, that beep beep beep is always there to put a high-pitched period on your shopping …