We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW NIKO NIKO TAN TAN - Miracle Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/song/mira... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/1sTvSW... Listen on YouTube Music: music.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeQx...

Kadomatsu is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration placed at the entrance of homes and buildings. It is made from bamboo, pine, and plum branches, symbolising longevity, strength, and renewal. It is placed in late December, taken down in early January, and burned at a shrine 🎍

Nagasaki Bio Park streams capybaras enjoying hot spring baths on their YouTube channel. Unbelievably cute. A winter tradition worth watching.

Shimekazari is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration made from shimenawa, a sacred straw rope. It is placed outside the front door, at entrances, or on household shrines. It is usually put up in late December, taken down in mid-January, and burned at a shrine during the Dondoyaki ritual.

The Nozawa Onsen Dōsojin Festival is held on Jan 15 in Nagano. Villagers perform a dramatic fire ritual with a large wooden shrine and flaming torches to ward off misfortune and pray for health and prosperity.

Ebisu Garden Place in Tokyo transforms during winter with its annual Baccarat chandelier display. The centerpiece is a massive crystal chandelier inside a glass tower, surrounded by the complex's European-inspired architecture and arched glass ceiling.

“Weaving 1,100 Years: Hachioji Textiles Exhibition” will be held Jan 9–11 at Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe in Hachioji. The exhibition highlights the history and craftsmanship of Hachioji textiles and includes workshops and an award ceremony for the 2025 Mulberry City Necktie Design Competition.

Masked ‘demons’ carrying flaming torches circle the hall, performing a rare ritual that treats oni as bringers of good fortune—believed to drive away calamity and invite blessings for the new year. This ritual is part of Dadado-no-Onihashiri, held on Jan 14 at Nenbutsu-ji Temple in Gojo, Nara.

Kakegawa-juku, the 26th station on the Tokaido, was the castle town of Kakegawa Castle, rebuilt by Yamauchi Kazutoyo. It also served as a post station on a salt road connecting Makinohara and Hamamatsu through Shinano Province.

Merry Christmas (to those who celebrate!) 🎄

The Dontosai Festival takes place every Jan 14 at Osaki Hachimangu Shrine in Sendai. People burn New Year decorations in a large bonfire — a ritual to pray for health and good fortune. The night also features the dramatic ‘hadaka‑mairi’ (half‑naked pilgrimage) www.hey-japan.com/event/dontos...

Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake made from waffle-like batter and traditionally filled with sweet red bean paste. The name means "baked sea bream." Invented in Tokyo during the Meiji era, it remains a popular street food. Modern fillings include custard, chocolate, and cheese.

A new anime project has been announced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the manga 'Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen Mae Hashutsujo'. Titled 'Shin Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen Mae Hashutsujo', the series is being produced by Gallop, which also animated the 1996 television adaptation.

Hakodate, Hokkaido's third-largest city, was among Japan's first ports opened to international trade in 1859. Known for its sloping streets leading to the harbor, fresh seafood markets, and one of Japan's top three night views from Mt. Hakodate.

Godzilla Science Exhibition: Confronting Threats Through Science — Jan 15–27, 2026 at the Science Museum in Tokyo. The exhibition examines real-world science and disaster preparedness through the lens of Godzilla.

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW STARGLOW - Moonchaser Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/jp/song/moon... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/0qcQhd...

Yōkai are not only beings of ancient folklore — they exist in the present as well. POP YOKAI: Contemporary Hyakki Yagyō introduces modern yōkai through around 100 contemporary works, revealing how these mysterious presences continue to emerge in today’s Japan. www.hey-japan.com/event/pop-yo...

Tokyo Auto Salon is held from Jan 9–11 at Makuhari Messe. The event showcases custom and tuned cars, cutting-edge auto technology, aftermarket parts and accessories, live stage shows, and outdoor demo runs.

Sunshine Aquarium's fluffy baby African penguin now has a name: Maron. Nearly 10,000 visitors voted, with the chestnut-inspired autumn name winning 3,133 votes. The little one is growing fast, at just 54 days old, Maron already outweighs both parents at 3,400g.

A fun fact about the Kinnikuman Museum in Numazu (Shizuoka): the museum’s director is Minowaman D.Z., a well-known Japanese professional wrestler and lifelong fan of the Kinnikuman series. Learn more about the museum: www.hey-japan.com/place/kinnik...

Tokyo Godfathers (2003) is Satoshi Kon's most accessible film and an underrated Christmas classic. Three homeless people in Tokyo find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve and search for its parents. A heartfelt story about found family, redemption, and holiday miracles.

The Odaiba Retro Museum recreates everyday life in Japan from the Showa era, with vintage shops, household items, and pop culture displays. www.hey-japan.com/place/odaiba...

Namba Yasaka Shrine's central stage is a 12-meter-high stone lion head structure. Every third Sunday in January, a ritual reenacts the mythological battle between Susanoo and the dragon Yamata-no-Orochi. In 2001, this ceremony was recognized as intangible cultural heritage of Osaka.

“BIOHAZARD 30th Anniversary Concerts – Symphony of Legacy” celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Resident Evil video game franchise. The concert takes place on March 7–8 at Omiya Sonic City Dai Hall (Saitama), with afternoon and evening performances.

Godzilla AR: Godzilla vs. Tokyo Dome is an outdoor AR attraction at Tokyo Dome City. Using head-mounted displays, participants see a life-sized Godzilla integrated into the real surroundings and work together to defend the area.

Nissaka-shuku was the 25th station of the Tōkaidō. The "Night weeping stone" depicted in this Hiroshige print was a legendary landmark at Nissaka. Legend holds that bandits murdered a pregnant woman there; after her death, a stone called out to a priest who rescued her surviving infant. #東海道五十三次

Official Japanese trailer for the anime "The Darwin Incident", scheduled to begin broadcasting on January 6 on the TV Tokyo Network, based on the manga of the same name by Shun Umezawa, serialised in "Afternoon" (Kodansha).

"MAI – The Immersive Nihon Buyo”, a blend of classical Japanese dance (Nihon Buyo) and immersive digital art with projection mapping, will be held from February 6 to 15 across two venues in Osaka: Knowledge Theatre and ABC Hall. More: www.immersivenihonbuyo.com/en

Procession Spin, a large-scale ceramic relief created from original artwork and under the supervision of renowned manga artist Katsuhiro Otomo, is installed near Exit B1 of Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. Otomo is known for many influential works, most notably AKIRA.

The Kobe Illuminage Countdown Festival runs Dec 31 –Jan 1  at the Kobe Fruit & Flower Park Ozo. The festival features dazzling light installations, a drone‑light show, live music, DJ sets, food trucks and more — a dreamy way to welcome the New Year.

Umeda Cypher, a hip-hop rap collective, in an official Weekly Shōnen Jump music video featuring its main series.

Kazumasa Uchio celebrates 45 years of fantasy art with his exhibition ‘The World of Kazumasa Uchio IV: Kitan Shirube,’ held at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse from Jan 16–19. Known for 'Final Fantasy' matte art and concept work on 'Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elain'.

The Tomica & Plarail Festival runs from Dec 27 to Jan 12 at the Sapporo Factory Atrium. The event features a giant Tomica & Plarail diorama, interactive zones, and a Plarail lottery, offering fun for young fans and families.

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW Kocchi no Kento - Hai Yorokonde Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/song/hai-yor... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/6woV8u... Listen on YouTube Music: music.youtube.com/watch?v=KAaU...

The Enmei‑ji Temple Daruma Market takes place on Dec 28 at Enmei-ji Temple in Matsuda, Kanagawa. The temple grounds host stalls selling papier-mâché daruma dolls of all sizes — a traditional year-end event offering charm and hope as the year closes.

It has been announced that a recreated Attack on Titan world will open as a new limited-time attraction at the Nijigen no Mori anime park on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, starting in spring 2026. The event will include both daytime and nighttime experiences. Further details will be released later.

The Dandadan Gengaten art exhibition runs from Dec 29 to Jan 25. It showcases original drawings and visuals from Dandadan, with themed zones spanning occult mystery, supernatural battles, romance, and more — plus limited-edition merchandise and immersive photo spots.

Shibuya Scramble Square will host the “NEW YEAR SCRAMBLE PARTY 2026” from Jan 2–12, themed “HEAT! HEART! BEAT! Ignite Your Passion.” On Jan 10 and 11, the NEW YEAR SCRAMBLE MUSIC SHOW will feature Latin-inspired sets by guest DJs and a special dance performance by top ballroom dancer Sota Fujii.

The Zao Juhyo Festival celebrates the ‘snow monsters’ formed by frost on the trees of Mount Zao from late December to February. From glowing night illuminations to ropeway vistas and skiing, visitors can enjoy a full range of winter delights.

Jump Festa returns to Makuhari Messe (Chiba) on Dec  20–21. The two‑day convention celebrates manga and anime from the “Jump” family — with exhibition booths, exclusive merchandise, original art displays, and stage shows featuring hit titles.

Kanaya was the 24th station, built on the Ōi River's right bank opposite Shimada. With over 1,000 buildings including 3 honjin and 51 inns, it was a major post town. Like Shimada, no bridges were permitted, forcing even daimyō processions to wade across during sankin-kōtai journeys. #東海道五十三次

Tomica Expo in Nagoya, celebrating Tomica’s 55th anniversary, will be held at Fukiage Hall from Dec 12–21. A fun-filled event for fans of all ages!

And more beautiful illuminations! This was ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS 2025, held from Dec 3–7. The event featured Sensō-ji’s first-ever projection mapping on the Hōzōmon Gate, the Five-Storied Pagoda, and the Important Cultural Property Nitenmon Gate.

The TV anime ‘Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling’ premieres January 2026. Shun’ichi Toki voices Ilusia, Miku Itō voices Myria, Ami Koshimizu as the Divine Voice. Directed by Yuta Takamura, animated by GA-CREW × Felix Film.

Shinto shrine bells, called suzu, are rung by visitors before prayer. The traditional practice involves ringing the bell twice, bowing twice, clapping twice, making your wish or prayer, then bowing once more. This sequence is called the 2-2-1 ritual.

The "Classic Manga Prints & Anime Cel Exhibition" will be held from Dec 10–15 at Saga Tamaya’s South Building Event Hall in Saga City. Approximately 65 works will be featured, including prints by manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka, Noboru Kawasaki, and Tetsuya Chiba. Admission is free.

"Oni no Hanayome" ("The Org’s Bride") is officially getting a live-action film adaptation! The movie will be released nationwide in Japan on March 27, 2026. Ren Nagase and Ai Yoshikawa star in the dual leading roles, with Chihiro Ikeda directing.

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW Momoko Kikuchi - Boy No Theme Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/song/boy-no-... Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/3DYjlJ...

The 1,200-year-old, 27m ginkgo at Hida Kokubunji Temple in Takayama is a National Natural Monument and a popular photo spot. Known as the ‘Chichi-Ginkgo’ (Breast Ginkgo) for its breast-shaped roots, it has long been revered as a symbol of safe childbirth and child-rearing.