This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022). On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like in Japan? (About Japanese Christmas) Topics Discussed All about Christmas in Japan Japanese Christmas customs in Japan All about fried chicken and Christmas in Japan Why KFC is the thing to …

Naked sumo is the new law of the land. Change is not something that occurs quickly or unexpectedly in the ancient and highly conservative sport of sumo. However, that seems to be exactly what happened earlier today (Apr. 1) when the organization that presides over professional sumo in Japan announced that the sport’s top athletes will no longer be allowed …

It’s that time of the year again. Although it may seem a bit strange given that people in Japan don’t celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving, Black Friday is indeed a thing in Japan. Never one to ignore an opportunity to get people to spend money, over the past several years an increasing number of Japanese retailers have started participating …

There’s nothing like watching a guy without a pinky make cotton candy for you. Up until relatively recently Halloween wasn’t all that big a deal in Japan. However, over the course of the past decade or so this seems to have dramatically changed. And perhaps there is no better evidence of this than a Halloween-themed event held this week by …