Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-06-20
Eating Rich May Not Be Good for Your Health — The Lesson of Edo Wazurai During the Edo period (1603–1868), many people living in Edo, now known as Tokyo, suffered from a mysterious illness called “Ed...
2026-06-20
“It Is Darkest Under the Lamp” — A Japanese Proverb Japan has a famous proverb: “Tōdai moto kurashi” (灯台下暗し), which literally means “It is dark beneath the lamp.” Many people assume that the word...
2026-06-19
Collecting Goshuin — A Journey Through Japan's Shrines and TemplesDuring my current trip to Japan, I have collected 13 Goshuin. For those who are not familiar with Japanese culture, you may wonder: W...
2026-06-19
A Conversation Over Coffee at Hotel New Otani This morning, I had coffee with a representative from Hotel New Otani. He previously worked in New York, where he was responsible for sales and promoting...
2026-06-18
Kabukimono — The Rebels and Trendsetters of Early Japan When people hear the word kabuki, they usually think of Japan’s famous traditional theater with elaborate makeup and dramatic performances. How...
2026-06-18
Kantō-daki and Oden — A Story of Japan’s Regional Taste Last night, I went to dinner with a potential new business partner in Shinbashi, Tokyo, and we enjoyed Kantō-daki (関東炊き). What I ate last night...
2026-06-17
You Are Not Allowed to Charge Extra for Credit Card Use in Japan When traveling internationally, one of the interesting differences you notice is how countries handle credit card processing fees. ...
2026-06-17
The Origin of Japanese Figures: From Edo-Era Netsuke 根付 to Modern Collectibles Japan is famous around the world for its incredible figure culture. Today, characters from anime, manga, and video gam...
2026-06-17
Never Forget What Made You Successful As companies grow, priorities often change; that’s natural. However, when those priorities shift too far, organizations can lose the very strengths that made them...
2026-06-17
Visited Yasukuni Shrine Today, I visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Located near the Imperial Palace, Yasukuni Shrine was established in 1869 and enshrines those who died in service to Japan from the ...