Gift giving is an important social custom in Japan. There are seasonal presents in the summer and winter, gifts given to celebrate special occasions, and souvenirs which are essential after a trip.
Collectively all these forms of gift-giving are called zōtō (贈答), and they represent an important social obligation.
Below is a short guide to common types of gift giving in Japan.

Japan is a country with a very long, rich history; in particular, it's one with a history you can see just about all around you. It's very hard to go anywhere without running into the ruins of old castles, or perfectly functioning castles, ancient temples and shrines, 500-year-old streets, and so on.

There can’t be many people who haven’t heard of TOFU, but I suspect that many of us from outside of Asia haven’t looked into what tofu is made of, and all the myriad ways in which it can be served.

Natto is a unique Japanese food which is made from fermented soybeans. At some point, if you visit Japan, you will encounter natto, and it is best to be prepared in advance so as not to be overwhelmed by its special qualities.

Welcome back to The Origins of Japanese Icons. Last time, we looked at several classic Japanese foods, and where they first came from. Today, we'll be taking a look at the language itself.

Like much of the temperate climates of the world, Autumn in Japan is marked by cooler weather, changing leaves, and the harvest of summer’s planting.

Like most countries, Japan has quite a few things (including, in this case, its fairly unusual language) that a lot of people immediately associate with it, both in Japan and abroad.

For 450 years, the island of Okinawa and all the islands in that archipelago were under the rule of the Ryukyu Kingdom until they were occupied and incorporated into the Empire of Japan in 1879.