Meaning “hot water cure,” toji is a form of balneotherapy that dates back centuries in Japan. Historically, guests would stay at an onsen facility for at least a week, often longer, bathing several times a day as a way of treating various kinds of ailments. Though restorative onsen trips are still popular today, most people […] The post The Healing Power of Toji: Japan’s Ancient Bath Therapy appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

We’ve already seen some fantastic anime and manga collaborations so far this year, but we think this might be Uniqlo’s greatest hit in 2024. Rep your oshi through this upcoming Oshi no Ko UT collection. An Idol Anime Collection According to the website, five T-shirts will be available, two in black, two in white and […] The post Oshi no Ko is Getting Its Own Uniqlo Collection appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

When Gen-chan arrived at Osaka Tennoji Zoo from the Africam Safari animal park in Mexico in 2017, the then 5-year-old hippopotamus was declared as a male. That’s what the document said and, as Gen-chan was a calf at the time, nobody questioned it. After a few years, though, suspicions started to grow. Zookeepers couldn’t visually identify […] The post ‘Male’ Hippo at Japanese Zoo Misgendered for 7 Years appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

Minamoto Yoritomo (1147–1199) was the first military ruler of Japan, who elevated the samurai class, created the Kamakura shogunate and raised mighty armies to battle his enemies. His successors weren’t nearly as impressive, though. His son Yoriie barely served as shogun for two years, while Yoriie’s replacement and brother, Sanetomo, was little more than a […] The post Hojo Masako: Exploring the Incredible and Violent Life of the ‘Nun Shogun’ appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

Swindling people out of money and then speaking about it publicly is not the smartest of moves, as Mai Watanabe recently found out to her considerable cost. The 25-year-old former sex worker, who goes by the name of “itadakijoshi-Riri-chan” (Sugar Baby Riri) was handed a nine-year prison sentence on Monday for defrauding three people out […] The post Papakatsu Scammer ‘Sugar Baby Riri’ Handed 9-Year Sentence appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

Despite their modest numbers, mosques in Tokyo are vital for Muslims seeking worship, gatherings and cultural exchange. Japan’s biggest mosque, Tokyo Camii in Shibuya, stuns those who come across it with its gorgeous Ottoman-style architecture as a striking testament to cultural diversity amid the city’s modern skyline. However, unlike some cities where these mosques dot […] The post Exploring Tokyo’s Hidden Mosques appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

Tara, in Saga Prefecture, is known for its floating torii gates and delicious local crab, but it also has a third, rather unique claim to fame: It has the largest tidal range in Japan, meaning that visitors can become intimately familiar with the ebb and flow of the ocean over the course of the day. […] The post Tara: A Mystical Oceanside Town Where You Can Feel the Moon’s Power appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

Masayoshi Son was obsessed. As a teenager, he read a book by the man who brought McDonald’s to Japan and felt he had to somehow meet him. The founder of SoftBank and the third-richest person in Japan was an aspiring entrepreneur at the time and called the man’s office to arrange a meeting. Following more […] The post Den Fujita — Japan’s McDonald’s Man | Spotlight appeared first on Tokyo Weekender ..read more

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