Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-02-03
How Safe Is Japan? This afternoon, I walked into the lobby of a large business building. Right there—open to anyone passing through—was a FamilyMart apparel corner. No cashier.No staff.Just shelv...
2026-02-02
February 3: Setsubun, Ehomaki, and Mamemaki Setsubun is observed on February 3, marking the seasonal turning point between winter and spring. On this day, people across Japan throw roasted soybeans...
2026-02-02
This morning I had a meeting about two miles away. In the U.S., there’s no question what I would do. I’d get in my car, drive to the location, have the meeting, then get back in my car and return t...
2026-02-01
When you look at this photo of a Shinto shrine gate, you may notice a small fence placed in the middle of the pathway. How many of you know why that fence is there? There are two reasons. First, ...
2026-02-01
Japanese Tissue Paper Marketing: Small, Polite, and Brilliant If you’ve ever walked near a train station in Japan, you’ve probably been handed a small packet of tissue paper. It feels insignificant...
2026-01-31
Up and Down — How Japan’s Railways Still Point to Edo One thing that often surprises visitors to Japan is how railway directions are described. Trains don’t just go “east” or “west.” Instead, they ...
2026-01-31
This is a video of me riding a train from Tokyo to Shinjuku. The train is full—every seat is taken, and quite a few people are standing. Please excuse the video. In Japan, I avoid filming people wh...
2026-01-31
Why Japan’s Streets Are Clean — And It’s Not Because of the Government I walked this morning starting around 8:00 a.m. from my hotel near Tokyo Station to Akihabara Station, two stations away. It w...
2026-01-30
Why Do Hotels Have a $300 Hair Dryer (ReFa)? If you’ve stayed at a decent hotel in Japan—or visited an onsen, super sento, or public bath—you may have noticed something unusual: a hair dryer that c...
2026-01-30
Japan Should Be Japan — Not a Product of Globalization Tokyo is in the middle of an election season.Yet, when you walk through the streets of the city, you hardly feel it. There are no loud political...