Monster Mash for Great Big Story
What’s a monster in Japan to do after Ultraman has handed you your head of the millionth time? Drown your sorrows at monster themed, no heroes allowed bar…
The Island of Immortals for BBC Reel
Okinawa, long known as the island of the immortals, is home to the highest concentration of centenarians in Japan. The village of Kitanakagusuku ranks first in Japanese women's…..
The Butterfly for Yahoo!
Kota Ishijima spent most of her life hiding from who she is. Finding the strength to live that truth drove a wedge between her and her family….
A Jazz Oasis for Asia Featured
After World War II, jazz kissatens, which translates directly to English as “jazz tearoom”, began to pop up in Tokyo at a time when foreign jazz records….
A Mandatory Cookbook for BBC Reel
Hideko Suzuki, 67, has had the same handwritten cookbook for 49 years. It’s the one she created as a senior in a high school cooking class, a mandatory requirement ….
A Balancing Act for Instagram
Watara Toru , an ikebana designer near Tokyo, created a “performance-based” arrangement for @design. His starting point: the woods near his house.
Japan’s Late Night Snack for Great Big Story
Japan’s favorite late-night snack? Takoyaki—aka grilled octopus balls. Originally from China, Yu Hua Mao first tried takoyaki when he was an exchange student