Facts about Japan

Seppuku (切腹, meaning ‘cutting [the] belly’), also sometimes called harakiri (腹切り), kappuku (割腹), tofuku (吐腹), bappuku (場腹), or zanpuku (残腹), is a form of symbolic & ritualistic suicide by disembowelment in Japan. Initially reserved for samurai as part of their code of honor (Bushidō), it was also practiced by other Japanese individuals during the Shōwa […]

Gashapon (ガシャポン), also known as gachapon (ガチャポン) or simply gacha (ガチャ), refers to a distinctive Japanese vending machine phenomenon that dispenses small toys enclosed in plastic capsules. The name is onomatopoeic—“gasha” (or “gacha”) captures the sound of the crank being turned, while “pon” imitates the noise of the capsule dropping into the tray. Over the […]

Fujoshi (腐女子, lit. “rotten girl”) is a slang term used to specifically describe women who enjoy consuming Boys’ Love (BL) manga, commonly called Yaoi (やおい), or other forms of fictional M/M relationship-based media. It’s an alternative writing of Fujoshi (婦女子) where the character fu (婦) meaning married woman is replaced by the character fu (腐) meaning […]

Fudanshi (腐男子, lit. ‘rotten boy(s)’) is a slang term used, sometimes pejoratively, to specifically describe men who enjoy consuming Boys’ Love (BL) manga, commonly called Yaoi (やおい), or other forms of fictional M/M relationship-based media primarily marketed to women. Conversely, men who prefer BL works marketed directly to men are more often referred to as […]

J-pop (ジェイポップ, jeipoppu), short for Japanese Pop Music and called simply pops (ポップス, poppusu) in Japan, is a term created in the early 1990s by Komuro Tetsuya, regarded as the “father of J-pop”, to refer to all types of Popular Japanese Music genres in Japan, in opposition to Traditional Japanese Music called Enka. Modern Jpop derives […]

In Japan, last names hold significant cultural and historical value, often reflecting ancestral origins, geographical features, or notable traits. Here is a list of all the most popular Japanese Last Names and Surnames in 2025: (Important) The ranking and number of people for each name are calculated independently by the Roots Production Committee based on […]

White Day, celebrated on March 14th, is a distinctive holiday observed in Japan and several other East Asian countries, serving as a reciprocal response to Valentine’s Day on February 14th. Originating in Japan in 1978, this day is marketed to men to return the gestures of affection they received from women a month earlier, typically […]

Celebrated on February 14th, Valentine’s Day in Japan features a unique and intriguing tradition that distinctly stands out from those in many other countries. Indeed, while in the West both partners often make mutual and romantic gestures on the same day, Valentine’s Day in Japan is primarily centered around women giving chocolates to men while […]

Manga and anime are two of Japan’s most renowned cultural exports, captivating audiences worldwide with their unique artistic styles and narrative techniques. The term “manga” specifically denotes Japanese-style graphic novels or book-length comic books, whereas “anime” encompasses Japanese-style 2D animated television shows and films. Essentially, manga is the print medium, and anime is the animated […]

Manga, Japan’s iconic form of graphic novels, offers a wide range of types and genres, each tailored to different interests and age groups.  These Japanese comic books and graphic novels are characterized by a unique art style and storytelling techniques. Originating in Japan, manga encompasses a wide range of genres and targets diverse audiences of […]