Trends in Japan

Hairstyling is a profession that is taken very seriously in Japan. Japanese hairdressers are some of the most highly trained in the world, and they inherit a tradition that carries deep historical significance. Let’s look at the role hair and hairdressers have played throughout Japan’s history, and the role they continue to play today.

Since time immemorial, humans and mosquitos have been at odds. More than just spoiling our picnics and keeping us awake at night with their buzzing, mosquitos are spreaders of deadly diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, and dengue. While these diseases are extremely rare in Japan today, that is not the case in some parts of the world. Let’s find out how Japanese people have dealt with mosquitos over the ages, and how Japan is contributing to the global battle against these flying nuisances.

Japan is famous around the world for its cute characters. You might already be familiar with Japanese game or anime characters like Pikachu or Totoro. But in Japan, the love for adorable characters runs deeper than that. Many towns and prefectures have their own mascot characters called “yuru-chara.” More than just cute, these characters are helping to revitalize the localities they represent.

In Japan, there is a custom of eating iwaizen, or “celebratory foods,” on auspicious occasions to express congratulations. In recent years, various modern versions of celebratory meals have been appearing. Let’s learn about what iwaizen are and look at some typical examples as well as some new modern versions of these traditions.