Origin of Aomori prefectural name
AOMORI – Green Woods 青森県 Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on the Honshu mainland facing the Tsugaru Strait and Hokkaido. ・The name “Aomori” originated from the aomori green woods (likely…
Origin of Hokkaido prefectural name
HOKKAIDO – North Sea Road 北海道 The only prefecture that’s a “do” (道) instead of a ken (県). It’s also the only prefectural name where we always pronounce the “do”…
Illustrated guide to Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo
Went to see the huge Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in Oct. 2023, four months after it opened in June 16, 2023. It was…
Origin of “Sato,” Japan’s No. 1 surname
by Philbert Ono, updated: June 17, 2023 “Sato” (佐藤) is Japan’s No. 1 most common family name with about 1.8 million people named “Sato.” This translates to 1.5 percent of…
Origin of “Suzuki,” Japan’s No. 2 surname
by Philbert Ono, updated June 14, 2023 “Suzuki” (鈴木) is Japan’s No. 2 most common family name, right behind “Sato.” The name’s meaning is very puzzling because the meaning of…
Japanese family names illustrated
by Philbert Ono, updated: Dec. 19, 2023 Most of us don’t usually think about it, but many Japanese family names contain beautiful imagery reflecting Japan’s natural beauty, rural scenery, agrarian…
Hydrangea Festival in Gamagori, Aichi
Updated: June 5, 2023 Katahara Onsen Ajisai no Sato (形原温泉あじさいの里) is a beautiful hillside and hilltop hydrangea garden within a hot spring resort named Katahara Onsen in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture,…
Musical: The Dream of John Manjiro
“The Dream of John Manjiro” or John Manjirō no Yume (ジョン万次郎の夢) is the title of a Japanese musical being staged in Japan nationwide from March 2023 to March 2024 by…
Tokyo Marathon 2023 best costumes
Welcome back Tokyo Marathon! It was finally held at full scale (38,000 runners) on March 5, 2023 for the first time since 2019. Runners from overseas also ran en masse…
Tour Enryakuji Temple’s massive renovations
Next to Kyoto, Enryakuji Temple (延暦寺) on Mt. Hiei (Hiei-zan 比叡山) in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture is now offering a rare look at its massive, 10-year renovation of its main temple…