THIS IS JAPAN

Quick answer: Sama (様) is a highly respectful Japanese honorific. It is more formal than san and is used for customers, guests, formal letters, deities, and very respectful address. You will see sama in business, service situations, anime, and written Japanese, but it can sound too formal if used casually …

Have you ever walked through the vibrant streets of Tokyo or Osaka and noticed something curious about the couples around you? They’re holding hands, sharing shy smiles, or strolling under cherry blossoms, but one thing is conspicuously absent: hugs. For many of us, especially in Western cultures, hugging is a …

If you’ve ever dreamed of wandering through the enchanted forests of My Neighbor Totoro or soaring across the skies in a Studio Ghibli adventure, Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is the ultimate pilgrimage for fans. Opened in November 2022, this one-of-a-kind theme park brings the whimsical, heartfelt worlds of …