Japan Mobility Blog - Culture

While stumbling upon leftover items in your new apartment might seem like a bonus, there are nuances to consider. Let's have a look at what Zanchibutsu are and how it impacts both tenants and property owners.

Aichi is particularly famous for its ceramics and tucked away in the quiet residential neighbourhood of Kitanagoya, is a lady passionate about ceramics who is waiting to educate, inspire and create truly unique and fantastic ceramics for the foreign population of Nagoya and the rest of Japan.

There are many words (hanko, inkan, name stamp) to describe this seemingly simple, but essential, item. But, what is it all about? Here is a basic look into name-stamp culture, and where it may be relevant in an expat's life.

Japan is a land of unique culture that has evolved over thousands of years. With unique culture like this, throughout the centuries Japanese people have come up with many reasons to celebrate. These celebrations often manifest themselves as “Matsuri” （祭り） which translates as “festival” in English.

In Japan, people can be particularly reactive and offended by rude or unmannerly behavior. And you may feel some stares and hear whispers behind your back if you're not careful. So here is a list of 5 things that you should avoid doing in Japan.

There is a Japanese idiom that goes “Zukan-Sokunetsu” （頭寒足熱）, consisting of 4 Kanji characters; 頭 (head), 寒 (cold), 足 (feet), and 熱 (hot). It literally translates as "Keep your head cold and feet warm", and originates in oriental medicine.

Although Japan can be one of the most welcoming countries, there are some unspoken rules that you should know about before living in a Japanese neighborhood.

December was once called, "Shiwasu" (師走) in the old Japanese language. Each month had its own name, but Shiwasu is still used in the modern society the most as the expression of how busy people are around this time of year.