Stories
Japanese Cat Gifts: 4 Gift Ideas for Cat Lovers (and a Little Cat Lore)
Nov 9, 2026
Japan loves cats so much it gave them a national day, a few islands and a lucky figurine in every shop window. Here are four Japanese cat gifts for the cat lovers on your list — matched to the kind of cat they live with.
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Christmas in Japan: 7 Japanese Christmas Traditions, from KFC to Yuzu Baths
Nov 8, 2026
Christmas in Japan is not a day off. It is strawberry cake, a bucket of fried chicken, a bath full of citrus and a cat asleep under the kotatsu. Here are seven Japanese Christmas traditions — and the winter designs they inspired.
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The Hawaiian Shirt Was a Japanese Invention. Here's the Story Nobody Tells You.
Jun 3, 2026
Everyone calls it the most American shirt ever made. They're wrong — it was Japanese first. The forgotten story of how immigrant kimono fabric became the Aloha shirt, and what most "Japanese-style" shirts still get wrong today.
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Why Koi Fish Always Swim Upstream: The Legend Behind the Art
Mar 16, 2026
A fish that becomes a dragon. Discover the powerful legend behind Japan's most beloved symbol of perseverance.
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Dragon and Tiger: The Eternal Rivals of Japanese Art
Mar 16, 2026
Why do dragons and tigers always appear together? Discover the ancient rivalry that shaped Japanese art for centuries.
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History of Hawaiian Shirts: The Japanese Origin Story | Chrisraw
Mar 10, 2026
The aloha shirt didn't come from Hawaii. It came from a suitcase full of kimonos. Discover the untold Japanese origins of an American icon.
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