LEARN JAPAN View More
EVENT
Aomori Nebuta Festival: Majestic Floats Illuminate Aomori City
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of Japan’s most renowned celebrations, attracting approximately 1 million visitors each year.
Morioka Sansa Odori Festival: A Spectacle of Taiko Drumming and Dance
During the festival, dancers dressed in various outfits parade through central Morioka City, accompanied by ensembles of taiko drums, flutes, and chants.
MONTHLY FEATURE View More
Discover Japanese Beer🍻
Eventhough Japan is famous for sake, Japan is a beer drinking country. Dinner always start with beer! With carefully selected ingredients, Japanese beer has been made to a rich, bitter, first-rate taste, with an irresistible aroma, and refreshing after-taste that will blow away your stresses with just one sip!
INTERVIEW View More
I LIVE IN JAPAN / Matt Okuhara / Interpreter for the Matsumoto Castle Gun Corps
I saw it as a good opportunity to start a new chapter in my life. I knew that it would be challenging at times and that a lot of the activities that I took part in, in the UK would come to an end. But I also knew that I would be able to develop new interests and pursuits – which in and of itself is an exciting prospect.
I LIVE IN JAPAN / Sophia Appelbaum / Writer
Which places in Japan do you recommend that foreigners see?
Maybe Nagano! I know it’s a popular prefecture among Japanese vacationers, but it tends to be an afterthought for anyone coming from overseas, and I think it deserves to be better appreciated. Matsumoto Castle has one of the oldest original castle keeps in Japan, and it even has the cool nickname “Crow Castle”! Nagano’s onsen-loving snow monkeys are also adorable, and the wasabi farms in Azumino are fun to visit. Plus, basically everywhere you look is green and gorgeous.
I LIVE IN JAPAN / Nicholas Gardiner / Senior Wine Ambassador
What do you do in Japan? Can you talk about your job in Japan?
I first came to Japan to do Karate! I was lucky to have a Japanese instructor at my university and he recommended that I train in Japan. I trained with 2 of the most famous masters and have a 3rd-degree black belt. I studied Japanese very hard and got a very good job working for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry promoting Japanese crafts and culture overseas as well as helping with press releases and media communications. I studied wine with the Japan Sommelier Association and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and changed my career to working with wine. I now teach WSET courses at a famous wine school in Tokyo and am a Senior Wine Ambassador for Pernod-Ricard. I do training for staff, educate consumers and sommeliers, do wine-tasting events, and promote wine in general. My dream is to become a Master of Wine (Japan only has 1 MW at the moment).
TRAVEL View More
FOOD View More
Discover Japanese Beer🍻
Eventhough Japan is famous for sake, Japan is a beer drinking country. Dinner always start with beer! With carefully selected ingredients, Japanese beer has been made to a rich, bitter, first-rate taste, with an irresistible aroma, and refreshing after-taste that will blow away your stresses with just one sip!