Author: japanup_akane

Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN

Why Are There No Sunsets in Japanese Bathhouses? (The 3 Sento Taboos)

japanup_akane 05/06/2026

The Mt. Fuji Masterpiece If you visit a traditional “Sento” (public bathhouse) in Japan, you will almost certainly see a massive, beautiful mural painted across the wall above the baths. These paintings are designed to help guests relax, and they usually feature a magnificent, towering Mount Fuji surrounded by peaceful nature, pine trees, and calm oceans. However, if you look closely at these gorgeous landscapes, you will realize that there are a few very specific, highly common elements of nature that are completely missing. In the traditional Sento painting world, there are three strict taboos that artists are forbidden from…

View More Why Are There No Sunsets in Japanese Bathhouses? (The 3 Sento Taboos)
Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Why Are 6-Year-Olds Walking Alone in Japan? (The Independence Culture)

japanup_akane 05/06/2026

The American Culture Shock If you live in Los Angeles, you would never let your first-grade child walk a mile to school by themselves, cross busy intersections, or ride the subway alone. American parenting is heavily reliant on carpools, school buses, and constant adult supervision. So, when Westerners visit Japan or watch the massive Netflix hit show Old Enough! (Hajimete no Otsukai), they are absolutely terrified and amazed to see tiny 6-year-olds confidently walking through city streets completely unchaperoned. To the outside world, it looks incredibly dangerous. But in Japan, it is a deeply celebrated milestone of independence. How is…

View More Why Are 6-Year-Olds Walking Alone in Japan? (The Independence Culture)
Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

No Limos, No Tuxedos: Why Doesn’t Japan Have a High School Prom?

japanup_akane 05/05/2026

The Hollywood High School Dream If you watch any American coming-of-age movie, the absolute climax of the high school experience is always the Prom. Teenagers spend months planning elaborate “promposals,” renting expensive tuxedos and stretch limousines, buying gorgeous dresses, and dancing the night away in a decorated gymnasium. It is the ultimate American celebration of youth and romance. But when Japanese teenagers watch these Hollywood movies, they are completely fascinated and slightly jealous. Why? Because the concept of a high school “Prom” absolutely does not exist anywhere in Japan! The Culture of the Collective Why doesn’t Japan have a massive…

View More No Limos, No Tuxedos: Why Doesn’t Japan Have a High School Prom?
Fun Facts JAPANICTIONARY LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Why Are There No “Juniors” in Japan? (The Magic of Naming a Child)

japanup_akane 05/05/2026

The American “Junior” Tradition In the United States, naming a child is often about honoring the past. It is incredibly common to name a baby after a beloved grandfather, a famous historical figure, or directly after the father, creating a “John Smith Jr.” or “John Smith III.” In America, a name is primarily a phonetic label with historical significance. But if you look at Japanese families, this tradition simply does not exist. You will never meet a “Ken Watanabe Jr.” in Tokyo. In Japan, simply copying a parent’s exact name is culturally unheard of. Instead, naming a Japanese baby is…

View More Why Are There No “Juniors” in Japan? (The Magic of Naming a Child)
FOOD Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN

Why Is It Polite to Eat Loudly in Japan? (The Secret Science of Slurping)

japanup_akane 05/05/2026

The Ultimate Table Manner Taboo If you are eating at a nice restaurant in Los Angeles, there is one universal rule of table manners: do not make noises with your mouth. Slurping your soup or loudly sucking up spaghetti is considered incredibly rude, childish, and unappetizing to everyone around you. But if you step into a traditional Soba (buckwheat noodle) or Ramen shop in Tokyo, you will be hit with a massive culture shock. The restaurant will be filled with a loud, aggressive symphony of people slurping their noodles as loudly as humanly possible. In Japan, slurping isn’t just acceptable;…

View More Why Is It Polite to Eat Loudly in Japan? (The Secret Science of Slurping)
EVENT EVENT IN LOS ANGELES POPULAR

[GIVEAWAY] Share your “Higedan love” stories! Win a pair of live viewing tickets for OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM LIVE at Stadium on May 17 (Sun)!

japanup_akane 05/04/2026

OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM LIVE Special Screening in Hollywood on May 17th (Sun) OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM Special Screening A filmed version of OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM’s very first stadium tour,“OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM LIVE at STADIUM 2025,”will be screened on Sunday, May 17 at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood! To celebrate and support OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM—who have gained massive popularity in LA through their hit anime theme songs—we’re hosting a special giveaway exclusively for LALALA readers! 『OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM LIVEat STADIUM 2025』Special Screening in Hollywood At TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood,“Why not come cheer on Higedan together?” Date & Time: Sunday,…

View More [GIVEAWAY] Share your “Higedan love” stories! Win a pair of live viewing tickets for OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM LIVE at Stadium on May 17 (Sun)!
FOOD Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN

Why Do Japanese People Put Noodles Inside Their Bread? (The “Sozai Pan” Phenomenon)

japanup_akane 04/30/2026

The American Bakery vs. Japanor If you walk into a traditional American bakery, you generally expect to find sweet treats: frosted donuts, chocolate croissants, muffins, and cookies. Bread is mostly treated as a side dish, a plain vessel for a sandwich, or toast for breakfast. But if you step into a neighborhood bakery in Japan, you will discover a completely different culinary universe. While they do have sweet pastries, the absolute stars of the shelves are “Sozai Pan” (Savory Bread). These are hearty, baked buns stuffed to the absolute limit with full-sized, savory hot meals. They are essentially portable lunchboxes…

View More Why Do Japanese People Put Noodles Inside Their Bread? (The “Sozai Pan” Phenomenon)
FOOD Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

The Greatest Sushi Misunderstanding: Are You Really Eating Crab Brains?

japanup_akane 04/30/2026

The Delicacy of “Kani Miso” If you sit down at a high-end sushi restaurant or an Izakaya in Japan, the chef might serve you a small, dark-green, paste-like dish called “Kani Miso.” It is incredibly rich, heavily umami-flavored, and pairs perfectly with a glass of cold sake. If you ask a translation app what you are eating, it will literally translate to “Crab Brains.” Because of this horrifying translation, many Western tourists completely freak out and refuse to eat it. However, this is a massive biological and linguistic misunderstanding. You are absolutely not eating the brain of a crab! The…

View More The Greatest Sushi Misunderstanding: Are You Really Eating Crab Brains?