Japan

The Japanese are an exciting bunch. They have a traditional fascination with the West, and most people in Japan I’ve met seem to be rather curious about Americans. But cultural

The Japanese samurai were famed for their skill with the sword, but what they did when they weren’t fighting has been little studied.  Most of our knowledge about the lives

A Japanese futon bed is a type of furniture that includes a mattress, pillow, and cover. It can be used as the primary sleeping surface or occasionally when an additional

The debate over the origins of Samurai and Ninja is a never-ending one, but it’s definitely not something you’ll find in any academic text.  It’s more likely to be found

The most apparent reason for sitting on the ground is that it’s more comfortable than sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day. The ground provides padding and support for your

Westerners who visit Japan often find themselves confused about why Japanese people sit on the floor when they eat. This is because tables are much lower in Japan than in

In this blog post, I will talk about the history of the Japanese Ninja.  There are multiple myths and theories about who the Ninja was. One of them is that

Japan has no state religion. There are a variety of religions practiced in Japan, the most popular being Buddhism and Christianity.  Religious freedom is enshrined by Article 20 of the

You’ve probably heard the term Yakuza thrown around in movies, television shows, or video games.  The Japanese syndicate known as the Yakuza is a criminal organization with a rich history