“It all started with coming here to chase my dream of forming a band with Americans, touring the world, and becoming a rock star.” Atsushi Nakagawa founded AMAZAKE CO. in Los Angeles in April 2019. He is the creator of the “Amazake Latte,” which has gained popularity at Farmers Markets in Torrance and Hollywood. How did his dream evolve? We took a closer look at his life.
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What Is a Rental Girlfriend in Japan? If you are single in Los Angeles and looking for romance, you probably spend hours swiping on dating apps like Tinder or Hinge, dealing with ghosting, awkward small talk, and terrible first dates. But in Japan, there is a fascinating, highly successful alternative: the “Rental Lover” industry. Instead of hoping to find a good match, you can simply go to a website, browse a catalog of attractive, charming professionals, and literally rent a boyfriend or a girlfriend by the hour. It sounds like a bizarre concept, but it has become an incredibly popular…
View More Tired of Dating Apps? In Japan, You Can Just Rent a Girlfriend!
“It all started with coming here to chase my dream of forming a band with Americans, touring the world, and becoming a rock star.” Atsushi Nakagawa founded AMAZAKE CO. in Los Angeles in April 2019. He is the creator of the “Amazake Latte,” which has gained popularity at Farmers Markets in Torrance and Hollywood. How did his dream evolve? We took a closer look at his life.
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The Pressure of Perfection In the United States, weddings are usually relaxed celebrations where you invite whoever is closest to you, regardless of the numbers. But in Japan, societal appearances (called “Seken-tei”) are incredibly important. A Japanese wedding is often highly structured, and there is an unspoken rule that the number of guests on the bride’s side should perfectly match the groom’s side. But what happens if the groom has 50 friends and the bride only has 10? Or what if you need a charismatic boss to give a speech, but you recently quit your job? In Japan, you don’t…
View More Need a Best Man? Just Rent One! (Japan’s Fake Friend Industry)
Beyond “Cartoons for Kids” If you look around Los Angeles today, Japanese anime is absolutely everywhere. From giant billboards on Sunset Boulevard to teenagers wearing Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen shirts at the mall, it has completely conquered global pop culture. But why is Japanese animation so uniquely captivating compared to Western shows? The biggest difference is the target audience. Historically, American cartoons were strictly designed for young children, focusing on simple comedy or moral lessons. In Japan, however, anime has always been respected as a serious medium for all ages. Creators are not afraid to tackle deep, complex, and…
View More Why Is Japanese Anime So Incredibly Addictive? (The Secret Behind the Screen)
Opening a 2nd DTLA location this summer! We are seeking Store Manager candidates. If you are interested in restaurant management and want to spread our new onigiri concept in the US, join us! Part-time staff also welcome. Onigiri Sun Contact: Murata Email: satoru.murata@kintetsu.com Phone: 310-349-7792 Please apply via email. Website: https://onigirisun.com/
View More 【NOW HIRING】 Onigiri Sun – Store Manager
The Busy Life of a Japanese Child In the United States, after-school activities are usually dominated by seasonal sports like AYSO soccer, Little League baseball, or casual gymnastics. But in Japan, kids are remarkably busy all year round with “Naraigoto” (extracurricular lessons). It is incredibly common for elementary school students to attend different specialized classes three to five days a week! While popular global sports like swimming, soccer, and baseball are always at the top of the list, the Japanese after-school industry includes fascinating traditional and modern subjects that you rarely see in a standard American neighborhood. Training the Brain:…
View More What Do Japanese Kids Do After School? (The “Naraigoto” Culture)
The Missing Name: Why Japanese Middle Names Don’t Exist In the United States, having a middle name is entirely standard. Whether it is John Fitzgerald Kennedy or just a family name passed down to honor a grandfather, the middle name is a crucial part of personal identity. But if you look at a Japanese passport or a driver’s license, you will notice that the space between the family name and the given name is always empty. In Japan, Japanese middle names simply do not exist. Even if a Japanese person living in LA wanted to officially give their child a…
View More Why Don’t Japanese People Have Middle Names? (The Koseki Law)
. Lightweight Comfort That Keeps Winning Fans ngs The JINS Airframe series has sold over 26 million pairs in Japan. Since its debut in 2009, it has continued to evolve with a focus on lightweight design and everyday comfort, earning strong support across the country. New “Zero-Gravity Balance” Design In the latest model, a newly designed “Zero-Gravity Balance” system has been introduced. By distributing the weight of the lenses more evenly, it delivers a natural, comfortable fit the moment you put them on. The design also reduces pressure on the nose, making it comfortable to wear even for long periods. In addition, medical-grade materials are used…
View More Discover the JINS Airframe Series
Receiving the Gift of Life Before taking the first bite of a meal, Japanese people seamlessly clasp their hands together and say “Itadakimasu.” It is often loosely translated as the French “Bon Appétit” or “Let’s eat,” but the true meaning is far more profound. The word literally translates to “I humbly receive.” Rooted deeply in Buddhist and Shinto animism, it is a direct expression of gratitude toward the plants and animals that sacrificed their lives to become your food. You are acknowledging that to sustain your own life, you are humbly receiving the life energy of the ingredients in front…
View More What Do “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisosama” Actually Mean? (The Words of Gratitude)
The American Tax Nightmare Shopping in the United States requires advanced math skills. If you buy a shirt in Los Angeles, the sales tax is 9.5%. But if you drive 10 minutes to a neighboring city like Santa Monica, it jumps to 10.25%. Because local cities and counties set their own tax rates, you never truly know how much something will cost until the cashier rings it up. In Japan, however, the “Shohizei” (Consumption Tax) is unified across the entire country. Whether you are buying a souvenir in snowy Hokkaido or a t-shirt in tropical Okinawa, the standard consumption tax…
View More Why Is Shopping in Japan So Much Easier? (The Beautifully Simple Tax System)
“It all started with coming here to chase my dream of forming a band with Americans, touring the world, and becoming a rock star.” Atsushi Nakagawa founded AMAZAKE CO. in Los Angeles in April 2019. He is the creator of the “Amazake Latte,” which has gained popularity at Farmers Markets in Torrance and Hollywood. How did his dream evolve? We took a closer look at his life.
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