Every year in autumn, the Nishikawa Ryu, one of the most influential traditional dance schools in Japan, puts on a colorful show called the Nagoya Odori (Nagoya Dance). At the Nagoya Odori, you can enjoy the impressive visual art and impeccable choreography of classic Japanese dances, as well as traditional Japanese tales in the form...Read More

The season of summer festivals has come to an end, and it is finally getting cooler in Nagoya. Autumn is finally here. Autumn is considered one of the most beautiful seasons to visit Japan, and depending on whom you ask, it may even rival spring! September, the official start of autumn can still be quite...Read More

Eel is a Japanese delicacy. Eel is served in many different ways, such as in sushi, Una-don (eel and rice bowl with sweet savory sauce), Unaju (generous portion of eel served over rice in a bento box). These are just a few of the many different ways you can eat eel in Japan. In addition,...Read More

Bathing is a part of every culture across the world.  Nowadays, because of our busy lives, many people prefer a quick shower to start or end their day and don’t think about it twice. Despite that some people might think baths are a waste of water, many people love the ritual of bathing. Many countries...Read More

The Nippon Domannaka Festival, commonly known as Domatsuri, is one of the most energetic and vibrant festivals in Japan. It’s a multi-day festival held in Nagoya at the end of August, when the summer heat reaches its peak, and it fills the city and its surroundings with hundreds of Yosakoi dancers coming from all over...Read More

For over 1300 years, local fishermen in Japan have used an unusual technique to catch river fish during the summer. Japanese cormorants, called «u» in Japanese, are trained for up to three years by their owners to help catch fish. Known as «ukai» in Japanese, cormorant fishing is a unique traditional method that is rare...Read More

Sumo wrestling is an integral part of Japan’s culture and has been practiced in one form or another for around 2000 years. In part 1 of this series, we shared everything you need to know if you are new to Sumo, and want to attend the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. If you haven’t read it...Read More

When people think about Japan, one of the first things they think of is sumo wrestling. So when people plan their trips to Japan, they often want to see a sumo tournament. But what most people don’t realize is that getting to see a sumo tournament or even a morning sumo practice is normally quite...Read More

Summer is finally here, and with the arrival of the hot weather, we are ready to have some fun! Japanese summers are synonymous with incredible festivals. In particular, Summer inspires some of the most stunning Natsu Matsuri (summer festivals), featuring Obon dances and spectacular fireworks displays. Everyone dresses up in their most beautiful Yukata and...Read More

A fairy tale might not have been what you were expecting when you opened this blog post, but we will tell you one anyway. It is a story of gods and love. Orihime, the sewing princess, and daughter of the Sky King, was sewing beautiful clothes by the Heavenly River, known in our modern understanding...Read More