Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!I might ruffle some feathers with this. A few years ago, they tried to cancel the Christmas song 'Baby, It's Cold Outside.' But honestly... baby, it is c o l d outside right now.Still, Tokyo doesn’t slow down for...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!In Western dating, you’re usually talking, dating, or stuck in a messy situationship, right? But in Japan, there’s a whole intentional middle phase called aimai na kankei, which means “ambiguous relationship.” It...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Once upon a time, Halloween in Shibuya was legendary.We're talking tens of thousands of people in wild costumes, getting lit, that rivaled the Mardi Gras in ferocity. But it got real messy real quick. Trash every...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Japanese fashion has a certain reputation, doesn't it? The media loves to parade around cosplayers, hosts, and idols as shining examples of how fearless and "wild" the fashion is... But those are kind of outliers...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!When you're planning your trip to Japan, you think about all the wonderful things you're going to eat, right? Well, if you live here, it's pretty much the same story! There's always new specials, new restaurants,...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Did you know there are 2 different words for part-time jobs in Japan? They're either referred to as arubaito or paato, and each hints at the kind of worker. Arubaito, sometimes shortened to baito, often refers to...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Everybody does Disneyland. Everybody hits Hachiko Crossing.Everybody strolls around Ginza. But there's so much more to Tokyo if you look beyond the typical guidebook recommendations, so let's dive into some of o...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Summer is in full effect again, and it's time to slow down for Obon. This is the time of year when people get excited for summer holidays, but it's also about paying respect to our deceased relatives across the a...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Dating can be a mystery in our own cultures, so it should come as no surprise that dating in Japan, too, can be a little confusing at times. Take goukon - the blind group date (3-5 men and equal number of women,...

Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!Learning Japanese has a reputation for not being a cake walk. Never mind kanji. Just figuring out the right level of politeness can be a headache! Fortunately, Japanese people are typically very understanding whe...