New Bird Species Confirmed in Japan for 1st Time in 45 Years, Found on Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Pref. <p>A new bird species has been confirmed in Japan for the first time in 45 years.</p> <p>A team from the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology and the Forest Research and Management Organization announc...

For avid birdwatchers, a new species has been confirmed in Japan. Now you can add the Tokara Leaf Warbler to your checklists!

This warbler is endemic to the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima. Time for a southern vacation?

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/gene...

#Warbler #NewSpecies #Japan #JETAA #Japan

Inside the Newly Reopened Edo-Tokyo Museum The Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku reopens on March 31, 2026, after nearly four years of renovations.

After 4 years of renovations, the Edo-Tokyo Museum has just reopened this week! Now you can once again visit the museum to experience and explore Tokyo as it was during the Edo and Meiji periods.

www.tokyoweekender.com/things-to-do...

#EdoTokyoMuseum #History #Museum #JETAA #Japan

Living or traveling in Japan as a vegan can be challenging since so many dishes include fish or fish stock.

Savvy Tokyo's guide to being vegan in Japan is a rich resource for finding truly vegan options throughout the country.

savvytokyo.com/being-vegan-...

#Vegan #Japan #Resources #JETAA #Japan

School uniforms in Japan embracing diversity amid shift to blazers in Reiwa era - The Mainichi TOKYO -- As a new academic year begins in April in Japan, the uniforms of junior high and high school students often catch the eye. Though blazers hav

The new school year is here, and with it, updates in school uniforms. Uniforms reflect how schools are balancing tradition with changes in society and climate.

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#School #Uniforms #Trends #JETAA #Japan

6 best rooftop gardens in Osaka to relax and enjoy free city views Escape the crowds on the streets and head up to the free rooftop gardens above some of Osaka’s most popular landmarks

Cities offer so much, but sometimes we need some greenery, too. Whatever can we do? Explore rooftop gardens and green areas!

Here's a guide to some of Osaka's hidden rooftop retreats. Enjoy them freely.

www.timeout.com/osaka/things...

#RooftopGarden #Parks #Greenery #Osaka #JETAA #Japan

Japan research uncovers how coffee constituent limits growth of colorectal cancer cells - The Mainichi KYOTO -- A team of researchers in Japan has uncovered the mechanism by which caffeic acid, a polyphenol found in coffee, suppresses the growth of colo

It sounds almost too good to be true…but Japanese researchers have found that caffeic acid, present in coffee, suppresses the growth of some cancer cells.

So enjoy your daily dose of coffee!

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#Coffee #StopCancer #Prevention #ColorectalCancer #Science #JETAA #Japan

Yuko Yamaguchi, Hello Kitty’s Primary Artist, To Step Down After 46 Years Sanrio has announced that Yuko Yamaguchi, the artist behind Hello Kitty, will be stepping down to make way for a new designer.

A big otsukaresama to Yuko Yamaguchi, the artist behind Hello Kitty for the past 46 years!

Now Ms. Yamaguchi is retiring. Learn more about Ms. Yamaguchi and Hello Kitty's history and future here.😍

www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_cult...

#HelloKitty #YamaguchiYuko #Artist #Sanrio #JETAA #Japan

We hope you enjoy what we share about Japan here, but just a reminder: JETwit also has a website. And on that website we post a lot of job openings for those who have connections with Japan.

So if you're looking for work, come take a look!

jetwit.com/wordpress/

#JobHunting #JETwit #JETAA #Japan

From paper to plate: 80-year-old Osaka man crafts stunning 'fake food' with washi - The Mainichi OSAKA -- An 80-year-old man living in Osaka creates incredibly realistic

Seeing art in the everyday.

Kazuhiko Nishitaki ("Glasses Grandpa") started by making a paper cookie to slip into his wife's lunch. Now he crafts elaborate meals of washi paper that are considered art.

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#PaperArt #FakeFood #Washi #GlassesGrandpa #メガネのおじいちゃん #JETAA #Japan

Weird Things To Do in Tokyo From butler cafes and drinking with monks to all-you-can-eat natto, here are some recommendations of weird things to do in Tokyo.

Just be different! This list of "weird experiences" in Tokyo will help you achieve that.

If you're a natto fanatic—it's got you covered. Always wanted to go out drinking with monks? That's covered too...and more!

www.tokyoweekender.com/things-to-do...

#Tokyo #Weird #Fun #BeDifferent #JETAA #Japan

Laura Escher - Okinawa (2023-2024) Where were you in Japan as a JET and when? I was placed in Okinawa as an ALT from 2023-2024. I lived in the south of Okinawa, inan area called Yaese. I taught at Koyo High School.What sparked your int...

JET Alumni Profile: Laura Escher

The Japan Society of Boston speaks with Laura Escher about her experience as a JET in Okinawa Prefecture, 2023–2024.

www.japansocietyboston.org/post/laura-e...

#AlumniProfile #LifeAfterJET #Okinawa #Culture #LifelongConnection #JETAA #Japan

Fukuoka Clam Digging Guide 2026 | Fukuoka Now Fukuoka Clam Digging Guide 2026. Discover popular spots around Fukuoka City such as Muromi River and Wajiro Tidal Flats, plus nearby areas including Buzen and Yukuhashi. Includes key information on th...

Clam digging season has arrived! Are you ready to head for the beach for some shiohigari?

This handy guide provides everything you need to know if you want to go clam digging around Fukuoka.

Happy Digging!

www.fukuoka-now.com/en/guides/cl...

#ClamDigging #Shiohigari #潮干狩り #Fukuoka #JETAA #Japan

Earliest Oe novels, penned as Todai student, unearthed | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis Two unpublished novels by Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe (1935–2023), penned before his official debut, have been discovered and are now his oldest known works.

Two early works by author Kenzaburo Oe were recently rediscovered, stashed in a clear file in the building where he once lived as a university student. For fans, this is like having two new stories to read.

www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

#KenzaburoOe #Discovery #NewStories #Literature #JETAA #Japan

Japan's Human Washing Machine Is Here and You Can Try It for Free The human washing machine that stunned Expo 2025 crowds is now available to buy in Japan for ¥60 million, and you can try it free in Ikebukuro this March.

Did you happen to see the "human washing machine" at the Osaka Expo? They say 98% of those who tried it out liked it.

Well, now this bath-of-the-future is for sale to the general public via Yamada Denki!

www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainmen...

#HumanWashingMachine #ミライ人間洗濯機 #JETAA #Japan

Japan lands two spots on The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list for 2026 Get to know the cafés representing Japan on this year’s list

Coffee drinkers in Japan have something to be excited about: 2 cafes in Japan made the "100 World's Best Coffee Shops" list for 2026! One is in Tokyo, the other is in Osaka.☕

www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/j...

#Coffee #World'sBest #Tokyo #Osaka #JETAA #Japan

Top 10 Sakura Afternoon Tea in Tokyo 2026 - Savvy Tokyo If you like the idea of small sweet and savory delights infused with sakura, check out these sakura afternoon tea in Tokyo.

Along with the sakura blossoms on the trees come sakura-flavored treats in cafes, bakeries, and elsewhere.

Why not indulge in a sakura-themed high tea this spring? Here are 10 Tokyo options. Which would you choose?

savvytokyo.com/top-10-sakur...

#Sakura #桜 #Spring #HighTea #Tokyo #JETAA #Japan

Japan's 1st spoons, knives made of waste rice to debut in effort to reduce use of plastic - The Mainichi FUKUOKA -- A venture company here has developed spoons and knives made of waste rice, which cannot be sold as edible rice because it does not meet sta

A Fukuoka company developed an innovative and ecological use for waste rice: non-plastic tableware.

These sturdy rice-based spoons and knives completely compost within 30 days of disposal.

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#PlasticReplacement #Rice #Spoons #Knives #Sustainable #Ecological #JETAA #Japan

Ibaraki Pref.’s 1st Foreign Bus Driver Hired in Tsukuba <p>MITO — Amid labor shortages in the transportation industry, Ibaraki Prefecture’s first foreign bus driver began working in Tsukuba this month under the specified skilled workers visa status. He now...

Japan's transport sector has been hit hard by the labor shortage. Fewer drivers has impacted everything from deliveries to konbinis to bus and taxi availability. Here is a positive step forward!

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/gene...

#Transport #ForeignersCanDriveToo #LaborShortage #JETAA #Japan

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Motomachi 2026 The 20th St. Patrick’s Day Parade is taking place again along the 600-meter-long Motomachi shopping street in Yokohama.

Yokohama's St Patrick's Day celebration is coming up this Saturday!

Visit Motomachi for a parade followed by an open-air cèilidh—it's sure to be lots of fun. And don't forget to wear your green!

www.tokyoweekender.com/event/st-pat...

#StPatrick'sDay #Festival #Motomachi #Yokohama #JETAA #Japan

Home | A World of Edo Art Explore the magical world of 200+ Edo art works about nature

Discover the world of Edo Japan via this online art exhibit!

More than 200 works from collections around the world are presented along with video commentary, readings, and related activities.

edoart.japanpastandpresent.org/en

#EdoJapan #Art #OnlineExhibit #JETAA #Japan

Tearless onion production in Hokkaido set to rise fivefold by 2029 - The Mainichi KURIYAMA, Hokkaido -- Onions that don't cause tears when cut, lack pungency even when eaten raw, and can be used in salads without soaking in water ar

Smile Balls are the newest innovation in onions.

Researchers bred out the compounds that make you cry. Currently available only in Hokkaido and Tokyo, Smile Ball popularity is spreading. Keep your (tear-free) eyes out for them!

mainichi.jp/english/arti...

#SmileBall #Onions #NoTears #JETAA #Japan

7 best takoyaki in Osaka From Dotonbori to an Umeda spot near Osaka Station, our street food guide takes you to the city's most authentic and creative octopus balls

In case you're in Osaka and also happen to be a takoyaki fan, here's a list of what purports to be the best takoyaki in the city. If you check out any of these spots, let us know what you think!

www.timeout.com/osaka/restau...

#Takoyaki #たこ焼き #Osaka ＃大阪 #BestEats #JETAA #Japan

Kawasaki: A Guide To Japan's Art-Filled Industrial City - Savvy Tokyo Want to see what lies outside of Tokyo, but don’t have much time to travel? Head to Kawasaki, a town full of history and great eats.

Curious about Kawasaki? Or not really, because it's just a commuter city for Tokyo...isn't it?

Well, it's time to take a closer look. Discover all Kawasaki offers and make it your next weekend destination!

savvytokyo.com/kawasaki-a-g...

#Kawasaki #川崎市 #See&Do #WeekendFun #JETAA #Japan

1,000 Hina Dolls Line Stone Stairs at Kanagawa’s Zama Shrine; Event Marks 10th Year <p>A thousand hina dolls lined the 77 stone steps leading to the main shrine hall at Zama Shrine in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Saturday.</p>

For Hina Matsuri (March 3), hundreds of donated dolls line the 77 steps leading up to Zama Shrine in Kanagawa Pref. In two shrine halls, dolls from the Edo period to modern times are also on display.

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/gene...

#HinaMatsuri #ひな祭り #DollFestival #ZamaShrine #JETAA #Japan

Bear in winter persimmon tree eating fruit.

Bears sightings and encounters are increasing. And now it seems many bears are skipping winter hibernation as they've learned food is available year-round from humans.

Can humans and bears learn to coexist?

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/gene...

#Bears #NoHibernation #Coexistence #JETAA #Japan

Japan to ban in-flight use of power banks starting in April | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis Japan’s transport ministry will limit the number of power banks allowed on flights and effectively ban their onboard use starting in mid-April, a move prompted by a recent series of alarming incidents...

Heads up: starting this spring, the use of power banks on planes will be restricted within Japan. So you might want to rethink how you will keep your phone charged while traveling!

www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

#Travel #Recharge #SpareBattery #PowerBank #Ban #Flights #Airplanes #JETAA #Japan

New Evangelion Series Announced: NieR Creator Yoko Taro To Write Next Chapter Evangelion is back. Announced at the 30th-anniversary festival in Yokohama, a brand-new series is in production.

Evangelion is back! A new series is set to debut this year, 30 years after it all began. Read more about it here:

www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainmen...

#Evangelian #Anime #30thAnniversary #NewSeries #JETAA #Japan

Meet ‘Buddharoid,’ an AI-Powered Robot Monk Trained on ancient scriptures, the robot monk is designed to provide spiritual guidance at a temple in Kyoto.

An AI monk?

Researchers have created the "Buddharoid"—an AI-integrated monk-robot that provides spiritual support at Shorenji Temple in Kyoto. What do you think? Would you be comfortable taking advice from a robot?

www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainmen...

#Buddharoid #ブッダロイド #AI #Monk #JETAA #Japan

Lillian Wies - Saga (2012-2013) Where were you in Japan as a JET and when?I was a JET from 2012-2013 in Karatsu-shi, Saga Prefecture. I worked at three schools, the Karatsu Higashi Junior High School, Karatsu Minami High School, and...

JET Alumni Profile: Lillian Wies

The Japan Society of Boston speaks with Lillian Wies about her experience as a JET in Saga Prefecture, 2012–2013.

www.japansocietyboston.org/post/lillian...

#AlumniProfile #LifeAfterJET #Saga #ArtHistory #JETAA #Japan

How To Become a Manga Editor in Japan as a Foreigner We sat down with an editor from Kodansha to discuss what it's like to work on Japanese manga and how foreigners can enter the industry.

Want to live & work in Japan?
Love manga?
Consider becoming a manga editor!

The door is opening to editors from abroad as more and more manga are translated into foreign languages. Do you have what it takes?

www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainmen...

#Manga #Editor #WorkInJapan #Career #JETAA #Japan