What’s Japan’s Nommunication? Understanding Japanese drinking culture at work.

Strongly critized in the last few years, the culture of nommunication still rules Japanese salarymen’s daily life, especially in traditional-style corporations. This made-up word is built with the verb ‘to drink’ (飲む, nomu) and communication. Groups of noisy salarymen heavily drinking at popular izakayas are a common sight on weekday evenings. Although those parties called nomikai (飲み会, meeting to drink) may happen outside of their working hours, they …

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kamikaze

A little more about the story behind Japan’s Kamikaze

History has certainly not forgotten the kamikaze (神 風, god and wind, « divine wind »), these Japanese soldiers that did suicide missions during the World War II. They voluntarily crashed their planes and submarines against their enemies. Yes, suicide attacks weren’t only coming from the sky. The horrifying glorification of kamikaze Nowadays, kamikaze are somehow glorified, romanticized and idealized. This is forgetting that, …

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omotenashi

Omotenashi: Discover the Wonders of the Japanese Hospitality

When it comes to tourists, the civility and friendliness of Japanese people is one great part of the unforgettable experience that is Japan. It all goes back to the root of Japanese hospitality, a concept called omotenashi. Japanese people are praised for their politeness and thoughtfulness by tourists from all over the world. Bad experiences are rare and most often come from …

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fat in japan

A few thoughts on what it feels like to be fat in Japan.

Women’s magazines are always ready to sell us a newly found miracle diet. In the past years, they’ve set their eyes on Japan and how the traditional Japanese diet would be the perfect weight loss method in the West. Countless articles mentioned how konjac (konnyaku) and tofu were magical to drop a few pounds. But let’s not rush on the miso …

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