We don’t say this often - thank you, Japanese government. For the first time in over a decade an obscure law will transform a regular workday into an additional holiday known as “othello holiday” (オセロ休日)

We’re ringing in 2026 with a look at 6 new art and architecture projects that we’re looking forward to seeing this year. spoon-tamago.com/new-architec...

Japan has a new stationmaster cat. At a ceremony yesterday, Yontama was announced as the successor to Santama and will assume responsibility effective immediately.

A horse escaped from Meiji University’s stables this morning, and took a stroll around the neighborhood causing quite a commotion. After about 30 min it quietly returned home. No one, including the horse, was hurt. news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d3d...

Happy New Year of the Horse 🐴 We’ve assembled a few nengajo from some of our favorite artists that features this year’s zodiac animal. We hope they will inspire everyone to have a dynamic and transformative year! spoon-tamago.com/japanese-des...

Tokyo Metro has already refreshed their manner posters featuring the 2026 zodiac animal

“Amerika” (mid-1850s) by Hiroshige Utagawa Hiroshige created this image of what he thought symbolized America: an elaborately garbed white aristocrat on horseback. The image reflected Japan's curiosity / apprehension about the outside world after isolation. P.S. 2026 is America's 250th birthday!

Manga publisher Shueisha took out a full-page ad in today’s Yomiuri and Sankei, celebrating their 100-year anniversary. Copy reads: ‘100 year? Still just a youngster’

Happy New Year! We hope everyone’s 2026 is as chill as these capybaras taking a yuzu hot bath

Along a narrow residential street in Beppu City is an inconspicuous 2-story home with gaping holes carved into it, revealing a cavernous interior: spoon-tamago.com/art-collecti...

According to the National Archives, this is the very first image of Santa Claus to appear in Japan in 1900. His name name was too foreign sounding so the author called him 三太九郎 (さんたくろう) dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1168287/...

These are incredible: street scenes of Roppongi recreated entirely from cardboard. On view now at Mori Art Museum. spoon-tamago.com/zugakousaku-...

Japan’s PM assembled an expert panel today to discuss Japanese content overseas but it looks more like a group of misfit villains

Friend: hey im going to Japan for the first time next month do you have any recommendations? Us: hmmm maybe a few

From travel destinations and language-learning to reviving craftsmanship and discouraging food loss, these were the stories that mattered most to our readers. spoon-tamago.com/spoon-tamago...

Very happy to see that duct-tape typographer Shuetsu Sato has been recognized by the Japan Sign Design Association this year! Congratulations Sato-san!

The winter solstice is on Monday the 22nd, but the monkeys at Tobu Zoo in Saitama got an advance yuzu bath today: www.sankei.com/article/2025...

If anyone missed the Algae × Hello Kitty exhibition at Osaka Expo, it's now on display at the Kanayama Minami Building Museum Wing in Nagoya through 2/15/2026. cte.jp/hello-kitty/

Sadly, Japan has bid farewell to a beloved cat. Ken-chan, the local feline whose epic battle with a security guard at the Onomichi Museum of Art in Hiroshima became a fixture, passed away in September. spoon-tamago.com/onomichi-mus...

It’s actually a miracle that a M7.5 earthquake resulted in zero casualties. www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/artic...

We need a word for when something becomes so popular that Japan cancels it

From hand-knitted trees and hinoki wooden trees to trees made from 1000 prisms, here are the ones that wowed us the most. spoon-tamago.com/japan-design...

Over a decade ago a high school art teacher in Nara asked himself the question, what are some free activities that would inspire students to take an interest in art? spoon-tamago.com/hamacream-fa...

Asahi suffered a major cyber attack in September and their systems are still offline but sales have practically recovered thanks to *checks notes* the company taking orders via phone and fax ✊🏻 news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/322...

Devastating news spoon-tamago.com/jr-east-suic...

Gifu prefecture has added the ability to overlay bear sightings to their map of reported suspicious persons. Sus people still outnumber them but the bears are closing in. www.gifu-np.co.jp/articles/-/3...

Newspaper clipping from April 28, 1993. In Hirase Village (Gifu Prefecture) a tanuki and fox were found passed out together after drinking 2 cups of sake left out as an offering to the gods. A local snapped this photo several hours before the pair woke up and staggered back into the forest.

November 1 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Yamanote Line forming a complete circle around Tokyo. While trains first began running in 1885, it wasn't until 1925 that the loop was completed. prtimes.jp/main/html/rd...

Earlier this year, Family Mart rolled out these teary-eyed stickers to combat food loss. They worked so well now they’re giving them out for free.

150 Hirokazu Tanakas gathered in Shibuya today in an attempt to break the world record for largest gathering of people with the same first & last name. But fell short of the record set by 256 Milica Jovanovics in Belgrade in 2023. www.sankei.com/article/2025...

This Housing Project for Noto Earthquake Refugees, Constructed Without Any Nails or Adhesives, Just Won Japan’s Most-Prestigious Design Award spoon-tamago.com/shigeru-ban-...

The Sankei sent a reporter to investigate why Yamata no Orochi playground equipment had been built in a Tokyo suburban park in 1990. Spoiler: no one knew (seriously) www.sankei.com/article/2025...

We spoke with the artist about their background, art style and, importantly, their cat. spoon-tamago.com/poshichi-nih...

One of the most-talked about exhibitions at Osaka Expo was the “Future Human WashingMachine” that promises to wash and dry a person in 15 minutes using ultra-fine bubbles, sensors and AI to adjust temperature, pressure and even the interior visuals spoon-tamago.com/osaka-expo-h...

At a press conference, Shibuya mayor unveils their new spooky slogan: STOP TROUBLESOME HALLOWEENS (禁止だよ！迷惑ハロウィン) news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/052...

If you’re like us and want to travel Japan but not sure where to go, let art guide you. Here are 5 art exhibitions (and destinations) worth travelling for. spoon-tamago.com/five-art-exh...

Japan once again wins the IG Nobel Prize, this year for research showing that painting a cow to look like a zebra decreases bug bites by close to 50% www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/artic...

“golden hour” at the Osaka Expo really lives up to its name www.sankei.com/article/2025...

Japan’s hottest summer on record finally losing steam. Expect temperatures in Tokyo to drop starting Thursday weathernews.jp/news/202509/...

Perfect fall activity: a ride on the Suigun Line, which traverses the rice paddies of Fukushima www.sankei.com/article/2025...

Now open: the Toilet Culture Museum is a fitting tribute to humanity’s essential ritual spoon-tamago.com/toilet-cultu...

We love how some train stations in Japan have their own character. Hachioji 八王子 in the western suburbs of Tokyo gives its 八 a pair of seasonal, rotating boots that align with certain community events going on. Does your station do anything like this?

A fan jumps into the Dotonbori River in Osaka to celebrate the Hanshin Tigers’ Central League Championship win (Photo by Hikono Kotaro / Sankei)

Japanese business email can be annoying with all the お世話になりますs and よろしくお願いいたしますs but one jargon that is oddly poetic: 五月雨式に恐れ入ります Lit. “sorry for the May rains” and used to apologize for sending numerous emails, one after the other.

The “Imakumano House” is named after its dwelling: the Imakumano district of Kyoto. It’s a residential area where civilization meets wild mountain slopes. spoon-tamago.com/imakumano-ho...

amid a surge in bear-related attacks, Japan's revised hunting law goes into effect today. It allows those with hunting licenses to shoot wild animals in populated areas. Insurance companies have been quick to spot the opportunity

Shut up, Japan study. Just STFU

"are you carrying the-" "the chikazawa lace tamago kake gohan handkerchief? why yes, yes I am" spoon-tamago.com/tkg-tamago-k...

Japanese start-up Scent Fest has managed to replicate and bottle the scent of newborn babies. scentfest.base.shop/items/107051...

If you’re looking for a unique way to beat the summer heat in Tokyo, Tenkoji, a Buddhist temple in Okutama, offers half-day (6000 yen) and full-day (8500) waterfall training. Cold off and cleanse your soul! www.sankei.com/article/2025...