THE MAGAZINE

Obon (お盆): Japan's Spirit Festival
Blog post

Obon (お盆): Japan's Spirit Festival

How Japan Welcomes Its Ancestors Home Every Summer — Dates, Traditions, and Fun Facts for Obon 2026 Every August, something remarkable happens across Japan. Highways fill with cars, trains sell out...
Daruma Doll: Japan's Good Luck
Blog post

Daruma Doll: Japan's Good Luck

What a 200-year-old wishing doll from Gunma can teach the world about setting goals — and never giving up Few Japanese objects are as instantly recognizable as the Daruma doll (だるま). Round, red, a...