A field guide to Japan

There is more to the Japan you think you know.

知っているつもりの日本の、その先へ

Short, curious reads on how Japan works: the habits, crafts and quiet rules that nobody stops to explain. Each one starts with something you have probably seen.

Start from the familiar Every story begins with something you have seen.
Follow one question One small why, followed all the way.
Hear the original Japanese in its own words, with our translation.
No expiry date Stories that stay true long after the news moves on.

New here? Start with these

Where to start

Mind

The meeting where nobody said no

In many offices, silence means you have nothing to add. In Japan it often means the decision was made last week. A short guide to "reading the air".

Eight ways into Japan

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Mind Why apologies come first, and other habits of the inner life. See all
Spirit Gods, nature, and the rituals that outlive belief. See all
Way Tea, craft and martial arts: getting better by repeating. See all
Society The bow, the pause, and the art of reading the room. See all
Education Swept classrooms, school clubs and the entrance exam. See all
History The parts of the past that still shape today. See all
Story Myths, manga, and why the villain often has a point. See all
Machine Bullet trains, fax machines and the design of daily life. See all

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