food/ Jan 2, 2026
The Glowing Grid
Four million vending machines line Japanese streets - selling hot coffee at mountain summits and cold beer at 3am. Why they work here when they fail everywhere else.
- culture/ Dec 31, 2025
The 2025 Quiz
From bear invasions to a new prime minister - test your knowledge of what made headlines in Japan this year
- culture/ Dec 31, 2025
Stacked Wishes
Osechi-ryori and the edible symbolism of Japanese New Year - why we eat black beans for diligence and herring roe for fertility
- culture/ Dec 18, 2025
Kentucky for Christmas
How a 1974 marketing campaign became a national ritual - and what the queues say about how Japan makes meaning
- daily-life/ Nov 15, 2025
The 3am Lifeline
More than a corner shop: how Japanese convenience stores became essential infrastructure for paying bills, printing tickets, and surviving late nights
