culture/ Feb 1, 2026
Beans and Demons
Every February, adults throw roasted soybeans at invisible demons and eat sushi rolls in silence facing southeast

Every February, adults throw roasted soybeans at invisible demons and eat sushi rolls in silence facing southeast

Japan's most divisive breakfast — the smell, the strings, and why three packs cost less than a coffee

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.

From bear invasions to a new prime minister - test your knowledge of what made headlines in Japan this year

Osechi-ryori and the edible symbolism of Japanese New Year - why we eat black beans for diligence and herring roe for fertility
