On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender to the Allies. The Second World War was at an end.

For the millions who heard his voice, this was a profound moment. For some, it was a relief after a long, painful war. For others, it was a betrayal. Some refused to believe it. Some refused to accept it. And some feared what would happen next.

10There Were Mass Suicides In Manchuria

The Japanese were already in a panic when the first atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. The Soviet Army was attacking from the north, storming their way through the part of China the Japanese called Manchuria. More than a million Japanese people lived there, and they feared the future more than anybody.

In Manchuria, the Japanese had committed terrible atrocities. This was the place where they’d set up Unit 731, where Japanese scientists dissected live human beings and tortured them with chemical weapons. They did not expect leniency.

Some fought and some fled, but many others just gave in. Several Japanese settlers ended their own lives, fearing what the Soviets would do them. Some of the women gave their children to Chinese families, begging them to take care of their babies. But others, unable to find anyone who would offer their children refuge, gathered their families together and killed their own children before taking their own lives.

9Rebels Tried To Stop The Broadcast

Emperor Hirohito recorded his announcement that Japan would surrender a day before it aired. His order would be meaningless if it was not followed, and so he made his generals sign their agreement to the surrender. Then he locked the recording in a safe and waited for the morning.

Though the generals had signed the paper, some of the other officers would not accept it. A group of high-ranking military men, led by Maj. Kenji Hatanaka, were determined to keep the war going. They would steal the recording, they decided, and keep it from hitting the airwaves.

Hatanaka believed he only needed to capture the Imperial Palace, and the people, inspired, would rise up behind him. He forged an order that let him send his men into the palace. Once they were in, they disarmed the other guards, blocked all the entrances, and cut all the telephone wires. Then the search for recording began.

Hatanaka and his men searched the palace for hours, but they couldn’t find it. When dawn broke, Lt. Col. Matasaka Ida confronted him. The people, he told him, had not risen up in his support. The army was coming for him, and he would die a traitor—not a hero.

Hatanaka was broken. He gave up. He and his men fled the palace before the army arrived.

8The Rebels Committed Suicide

After leaving the palace, Hatanaka tried one last desperate attempt to keep Japan in the war. He broke into the radio station and held the workers at gunpoint. He couldn’t keep the recording from reaching the waves, but he could speak to the people himself and urge them to fight on. The workers, though, refused to help him, and he couldn’t get on the air on his own. Once more, Hatanaka failed.

He rode away on a motorcycle, tossing leaflets to everyone he could. One of the rebels, Lt. Col Shiizaki, joined him, riding on horseback. Then the two went off to meet their end.

At 11:00 AM, Hatanaka shot himself in the head. In his pocket, he left a note with his final message to the world: “I have nothing to regret now that the dark clouds have disappeared from the reign of the Emperor.”

One hour after he died, the recording was played. The Emperor’s voice came through every radio in the country, announcing Japan’s surrender.

7It Was The First Time The People Heard The Emperor’s Voice

“The enemy had begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb,” Emperor Hirohito said, his voice booming through radios in every household. “Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.”

It was the first time the people of Japan had heard their Emperor’s voice. It was more high-pitched than they’d imagined, and it came through rough and unclear. He spoke in formal Japanese and chose his words carefully, never saying the words “surrender” or “defeat.” The effect was that many didn’t understand what he meant. In many places, the more educated men had to explain to their countrymen that this meant the end.

6Thousands Of Japanese Women Stayed In China

Not every Japanese person in Manchuria was a soldier. Thousands of farming families had been sent there as well, and, following after them, women in “bride groups” meant to become their wives.

By the end of the war, though, some of those Japanese women were married to Chinese men instead. Some fell in love. Other lost their husbands and latched on to a Chinese family as their only way to survive.

Over the next decade, the Japanese government would get most of them home. But thousands of Japanese women had already made up their minds to stay. Some were dedicated to their new families and wouldn’t leave their sides, but others simply feared that, if they went home, they would never see their children again.

The last boat home left in 1958. In the eyes of the Japanese, the 10,000 women who stayed in China had made their choice. From that day on, they would no longer have the right to visit their home country.

5Matome Ugaki Flew One Last Kamikaze Mission

As commander of the fleet in Kyushu, Matome Ugaki had sent hundreds of men to their deaths in kamikaze attacks against American ships. When he heard Emperor Hirohito’s order for surrender, he resolved to join them.

“I’m going to follow in the footsteps of those many loyal officers and men who devoted themselves to the country,” Ugaki wrote in his final diary message. “I want to live in the noble spirit of the special attack.”

Ugaki wasn’t a pilot, but one of his men volunteered to take him. He took one final photograph, grabbed his ceremonial short sword, and climbed into the backseat of a dive bomber. Then Ugaki, flanked by nine other planes flown by men who insisted on joining him, flew toward the American Navy.

They never made it. Ugaki and his men were gunned down by American ships before they could strike. They crashed helplessly into the sea. Days later, a ceremonial short sword was found, drifted up on an island nearby.

4American Prisoners Were Massacred

When the emperor’s surrender came in, a group of 16 American Airmen were awaiting their fate in a Japanese prison. They had parachuted out of damaged bombers over Kyushu, and they knew that a hell-on-earth awaited them. The Japanese soldiers in this camp had tortured the prisoners who came before them. Some were dissected alive, while others had their lungs filled with salt water for the sake of twisted experiments.

For a brief moment, the Americans believed they would live. The war was over. They would go home, and they would be spared the horrible fate their comrades had suffered.

The Japanese soldiers guarding them, though, couldn’t stand to let their enemies go free. They held these men responsible for their nation’s defeat. The 16 men were dragged outside. There, under the beating sun, they were hacked to death with swords.

“I was convinced of what I was doing,” one Japanese soldier said afterward, defending what he’d done. “We did it for the sake of our country. From our filial obligation to our ancestors.”

3Sakae Oba Trained A Guerrilla Army

Captain Sake Oba refused to believe that Japan had surrendered. He had been shown photos of Hiroshima’s destruction, but he rejected them as fakes. The war, he insisted, was still Japan’s to win—and he would fight until the end.

Oba took 46 soldiers and 160 civilians into the wilderness. There, he trained his men in guerrilla warfare. For the next three months, they would launch scattered attacks against the American forces stationed at Saipan. They would steal their supplies, free Japanese prisoners of war, and plant their own men in the base for reconnaissance.

It took until December 1 for the Japanese Major General Umahachi Amo to track Oba down. He met him in the forest and handed him written orders to surrender.

Oba complied. He and his men marched into the American base, singing songs of tribute to their dead. At the end of a long, hard-fought war, Oba surrendered his sword to his enemy.

2Hiroo Onoda Kept Fighting For 29 More Years

Hiroo Onoda was stationed in the Philippines when Japan surrendered. He refused to accept it. No one, he decided, had given him a direct order to stop fighting—and so, until he was ordered to stand down, he would keep the war going.

Onoda stayed. He lived in a Philippine jungle, surviving off of bananas and coconuts he plucked from the trees. From time to time, he would raid the villagers. Farmers, fearing his attacks, learned to stay away from where he was stationed.

Finally, in 1974, his commanding officer, Yoshimi Taniguchi, flew to the Philippines and ordered him to stand down. Onoda, at last, had a direct order. He marched to President Ferdinand Marcos and handed him his sword. The last Japanese soldier had surrendered.

After 29 years at his post, Hiroo Onoda went home.

1Hiroshi Yamasaki Stayed In China To Atone

Hiroshi Yamasaki was conscripted into the Japanese army. He landed in Tianjin in 1937 and, for six months, served as veterinarian treating animals of war.

The men he fought alongside were brutal to the Chinese civilians they attacked. With every day, he became increasingly disgusted by what he saw. He reached his limit, though, when he saw a Japanese soldier strangle a baby to death. Yamasaki intervened and tried to save the child, but he failed. That night, he fled from his own army.

He ran east, hoping to get back to the Japan, but there was a whole sea between him and his homeland. The exhaustion caught up with him, and he collapsed on the way. He only survived because a Chinese family found him, fed him, and nursed him back to health. Touched, Yamasaki stayed on in Shandong, posing as a Chinese doctor under the named “Dr. Shan.”

When his home country surrendered, he had the chance to go home—but he didn’t take it. Yamasaki stayed where he was. For the rest of his life, he would live in Shandong, treating Chinese patients.

“The Japanese army committed heinous crimes in China,” he told a reporter, years later. “I must stay in China my entire life to atone for them.”

When it comes to street foods, you might be accustomed to your local Halal cart, or maybe that hot dog stand on the corner. However, if you are willing to expand your cultural horizons even further, an entirely new world of food will open up for you. Japanese culture boasts some of the most creative and mouthwateringly delicious street foods imaginable. From the sweet to the savory, these are 10 popular Japanese street foods that’ll have you drooling over your keyboard. 

10. Karaage

Vegans and vegetarians aside, it’d be pretty hard to find someone who’ll pass up on a plate of fried chicken. A beloved comfort food in many cultures, fried chicken has been taken in some truly inventive directions, not the least of which being Karaage.

The name itself is attributed to the cooking methods where diced-up bits of meat, in this instance chicken, are marinated and then deep-fried until golden brown. Where Karaage diverges from typical fried chicken is through its marinade which is frequently a blend of soy sauce, sake, ginger, and garlic. This method ensures that, after the frying is complete, the inside of the chicken will not only be juicy and succulent but imbued with extra umami flavor as well. The exterior’s crispiness is usually attributed to the coating which can either be wheat flour or potato starch.

Even though chicken is the most popular option, the preparation can easily be applied to seafood and other types of meat as well. With its excellent combination of crunch and unparalleled taste, Karaage is a favorite of many Japanese citizens, serving as a home-cooked and street vendor staple. 

9. Tako Tamago

Now of course eggs, whether they are fried, scrambled, or poached, are a staple of countless diets worldwide. However, the Tako Tamago takes the concept of a poached egg and takes it to its most visually dazzling and uniquely flavored conclusion. Tako Tamago is a unique little dish, even among other Japanese street foods, boasting a unique combination of elements. 

A Tako Tamago contains a quail egg, an already diminutive egg, that has been put inside a tiny, bite-sized octopus. Its final appearance is quite the feast for the eyes before one even consumes it, with the egg almost serving as the brain of the octopus. However, the dish’s appeal doesn’t stop at its appearance, as the combination of the poached quail egg and the chewy octopus makes for a superb crossbreed of flavors.

Tako Tamago, much like many other Japanese street and vendor foods, is typically served on a skewer, making it a very portable dish despite its odd appearance. The dish is honestly a perfect little microcosm of Japanese street foods, as it boasts not only a dazzling visual gimmick but yummy flavors as well.

8. Korokke

Before properly discussing Korokke, it’s important to understand the Western dish that influenced it, that being the Croquette. Croquettes originated in France and consist of a filling that is tossed in a special sauce, breaded, and then fried till the outside is crispy. This is quite fitting as the name Croquette even derives from the French word croquer which means “to crunch.”

Korokke takes the Croquette and puts a thoroughly Japanese spin on it with fillings like mashed potatoes, ground meat, or a mixture of vegetables. When everything is prepared properly, you’ll be treated to a perfectly balanced dish that boasts both a crispy outside and a creamy interior. This is only enhanced by the wide range of ways the filling can be customized with other ingredients, such as beef, pork, seafood, and even curry. It’s also very common to find Korokke paired with a side of tonkatsu sauce which only serves to heighten its flavor profile. 

Oftentimes the Korokke can find itself sandwiched between two pieces of bread, turning it into a Korokke Pan, adding even more to the dish’s convenient nature. Its utility and delicious flavors have turned Korokke into a staple of Japanese street foods, as well as school lunches and bento boxes. 

7. Okonomiyaki

Everyone loves pancakes, but rest assured, an Okonomiyaki isn’t your run-of-the-mill pancake you’d get at IHOP or Cracker Barrel. As opposed to typical pancakes which are predicated on their sweetness, an Okonomiyaki is more of a savory affair.

Much like Takoyaki, one of the major appeals of Okonomiyaki is just how customizable it is, with its name even translating to “grilled as you like it.” Much like regular pancakes, the batter begins with flour but from there, this is where it truly becomes its own unique creation. This batter is then mixed with shredded cabbage, eggs, and a variety of other add-ons such as meat, seafood, and even cheese. If you’ve ever had an Okonomiyaki, then you know that the final product is an absolute symphony of different textures and flavors.  

Another aspect leading to Okonomiyaki’s widespread success is the interactive element that goes hand-in-hand with it. It’s not uncommon for restaurants to prepare the Okonomiyaki right in front of the customer or even allow them to cook it themselves, very much like Korean barbeque. With all of this in mind, you can easily see how this customizable pancake broke out of Osaka and went worldwide. 

6. Yakitori

A commonality among Japanese foods is that many of them could easily slot right into being casual street food or served at an actual restaurant. A perfect example of this is Yakitori, a very popular skewered chicken dish that’s usually prepared over hot charcoals. 

The dish itself couldn’t be simpler, it’s diced chicken pieces marinated in a soy-based tare sauce, cooked, and then served on a skewer. This simple cooking method results in mouthwateringly tender and smoky meat complete with a delicious caramel-like glaze. However, Yakitori isn’t solely dependent on chicken as one can easily substitute other ingredients like vegetables, beef, or seafood.

Yakitori is a very recreational food and you’ll often see people enjoying it with a cold beer in their other hand. Often the best foods don’t need flashy theatrics or fanciful plating, as sometimes simplicity and good flavor are more than enough. Just imagine walking home on a cold day in Japan and having the aromas of the still-cooking skewers waft toward your nose. Much like many of the street foods on this list, not only has Yakitori exploded outside of Japan but it has transcended its original format as well. Nowadays it’s not uncommon to go to an indoor eating establishment and find it on the menu right alongside more complicated items. 

5. Taiyaki

Japanese culture is rife with sensational sweets and creative confections, many of them having lineages going back hundreds of years. One such treat is Taiyaki, a Japanese pastry with the unique visual distinction of being molded in the shape of a fish. The pastry’s fish name translates to “baked sea bream,” a fish regarded as a symbol of good fortune in Japanese culture.

Originating in Toyko during the Meiji period – a time of great economic, political, and social change – Taiyaki was created by a man named Seijiro Kanbei. The original, and most standard, version of Taiyaki is filled with sweet red bean paste, which is made from azuki beans and serves a popular filling in many Japanese treats. This, like many other Japanese snacks, can be altered or customized with various locations filling their Taiyaki with sweet potato, custard, chocolate, or even savory options like cheese and sausage. 

This is all held together by the batter which, similarly to pancake or waffle batter, is poured into fish-shaped molds and cooked until it’s a savory golden brown. With its lovely flavors and its charming visual charm, Taiyaki has become a prime example of Japanese comfort food.

4. Yakisoba

There are countless Japanese noodle dishes ranging from cheap street food to the most lavish of five-star cuisine. However, Yakisoba seems to hold a very special place in people’s hearts and it isn’t too hard to understand why. 

Yakisoba is made by stir-frying the ingredients, which include ramen noodles, as well as vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and onions. This cooking method is where the dish derives its name, which is a translation of the term “grilled noodles.” Meat is also an optional ingredient as well, with many opting to add in bits of thinly sliced pork, beef, or seafood. What sets the dish apart is the special sauce the stir-fried ingredients are seasoned with, that being a savory-sweet Yakisoba sauce made from Worcestershire. Once everything is cooked to completion, the final product can be topped with bonito flakes, pickled ginger, and mayonnaise.

All this coalesces into a savory dish that, due to the inclusion of meats and seasonings, boasts a strong umami taste. Unami, when translated into English, means means “essence of deliciousness” and is common among meaty and savory Japanese dishes. Due to its portable nature, as well as its mix of textures and flavors, Yakisoba has attained a global fandom, becoming rapidly more widespread across several cultures.

3. Onigiri

One need only look at how often it pops up in the hands of anime characters to understand Onigiri’s immense popularity. For example, in One Piece when Roronoa Zoro is tied up in Axe Hand Morgan’s base, a little girl from the surrounding town brings him homemade Onigiri. When the deadliest swordsman in the East Blue can’t resist their deliciousness, then you know it’s a treat worth getting excited for.

The name translates to “rice ball,” and the dish has served as a pillar of Japanese cuisine for several decades now. The handheld snack starts with rice which receives a little seasoning via some salt or vinegar, as well as a sheet of nori, a crispy piece of seaweed. Once the base is prepared, the Onigiri receives its filling which is where its customizable nature comes into play. Simply put, the sky is the limit with Onigiri, with the fillings ranging from sweet to savory, and ranging in texture as well. This includes pickled plums, grilled salmon, kimchi, cheese, tuna mayo, and teriyaki chicken, each one offering something different to enjoy when packed into the rice.

Due to its diverse fillings, as well as its portable size, Onigiri is a staple of Japanese lunches, aiding with its constantly expanding worldwide appeal. 

2. Dango

Dango’s name stems from the Japanese verb “dango,” which means to knead or form something into a ball. The sweet Japanese treat is a chewy little bite-sized dumpling made from glutinous rice flour and served on a stick in groups of three to five. Typically, the most popular filling for Dango is Anko, also known as red bean paste, a topping/filling in many Japanese desserts.

Due to the rice flour used in its preparation, Dango is typically white in its appearance but people often use things like fruits, herbs, and eggs, to alter its flavor and color. This is most relevant when it comes to Hanami Dango, a type of multicolored dango, which is typically sold and enjoyed during cherry blossom season in Japan. There is also Kuri Dango, a wonderful variant if you are a fan of nuts, with the Dango being covered in a sweet pureed chestnut paste. Additionally, there is Goma Dango, a version that is filled with Anko but is finished with a layer of sesame seeds before being fried to crispy perfection. It’s this combination of simplicity, variation, and inherent tradition that has kept Dango as a beloved Japanese treat for many decades.

1. Takoyaki

Takoyaki is a favorite of many Japanese food connoisseurs, with its popularity extending beyond Osaka, Japan’s borders, and into the United States. Its name, Takoyaki, is a one-for-one translation of what it is, that being grilled/fried octopus, though other ingredients are often added in as well. 

The cooking process begins with the Takoyaki’s batter, which is made from flour, egg, and dashi, the latter being a type of Japanese soup stock. This is mixed with diced octopus, pickled ginger, green onions, and any additional mix-ins the chef or customer desires. These mix-ins can include bits of sausage, cheese, mochi, corn, kimchi, and even other types of seafood like shrimp.

Once the batter and the mix-ins are prepared, it’s then poured into a very special cooking mold, built to create the Takoyaki’s circular shape. If prepared properly, the final product should be a perfectly circular bite-sized ball with a fluffy inside and a crispy outside. Once complete, the Takoyaki balls are often coated in a healthy layer of a special takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed flakes, and bonito flakes. With its combination of delectable textures and its inherently customizable nature, it’s not surprising Takoyaki has taken the culinary world by storm.

On August 15, 1945, the Japanese people heard the voice of Emperor Hirohito for the first time. Through a recorded message over the radio, Hirohito declared that the war was lost without saying explicitly that Japan had surrendered.

While millions of Japanese knew that day they were defeated in World War II, many in the military fighting in Asia and on far-flung islands in the Pacific did not receive the news for a time—or refused to believe it when they did.

10 Sakae Oba

Stationed on the island of Saipan, Captain Sakae Oba was a veteran of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) who had served since 1934. In summer 1944, Japan’s troops on the island numbered about 32,000 as the US military arrived for a decisive battle.

The Battle of Saipan commenced on June 15. Hopelessly outnumbered, the Japanese fought tenaciously for a few weeks with virtually no thought of surrender. At least 90 percent of the Japanese died or committed suicide. The battle officially ended on July 9.

But Captain Oba, in charge of a medical company, did not give up and led several dozen soldiers into the jungle. He refused to disobey orders to fight the Americans to the death or die honorably. From their jungle strongholds, Oba and his men conducted guerrilla warfare against the US Marines trying to secure the island.

Unaware of Japan’s surrender the next summer, Oba and his dwindling force soldiered on until the end of November. He finally surrendered on December 1, 1945, after a former IJA general brought to Saipan was able to convince him the war was finished.^[1]

9 Ei Yamaguchi

Some of the bloodiest fighting during the Americans’ island-hopping campaign in 1944 took place on the island of Peleliu. The Americans put an overwhelming force into the field to wrest the island away from about 11,000 Japanese defenders. Among the Japanese hell-bent on winning or dying in the process was IJA Lieutenant Ei Yamaguchi.

The Battle of Peleliu began on September 15, 1944. The American aerial and naval bombardment preceding their landings was only marginally successful as the Japanese made skilled use of the mountainous terrain and abundant caves for their defense. The US Marines endured heavy casualties before the battle was declared an American victory more than two months later.

Of the Japanese forces, all but a few dozen were killed or captured. Unswervingly loyal to his duties, Yamaguchi took about 33 men deep into the cave complexes and periodically skirmished with the Marines for a few years. Yamaguchi’s band did not surrender until ordered to do so by a former Japanese admiral on April 27, 1947.^[2]

8 Shoichi Yokoi

On July 21, 1944, the US began a large-scale attack to reclaim its former possession of Guam, which had been under Japanese control since December 1941. The ensuing Battle of Guam lasted until August 10 of that year and claimed the lives of more than 18,000 Japanese soldiers.

However, a small number of Japanese fighters not only survived but kept their freedom. Among them was a junior enlisted man named Shoichi Yokoi.^[3]

Aided by the dense cover of Guam’s jungle vegetation, Yokoi isolated himself and excavated a cave for his living quarters. A tailor in civilian life, Yokoi used his nimble fingers to make not only clothes but also hunting and fishing implements necessary for his survival.

Amazingly, he lived largely undisturbed until January 24, 1972, when he was captured by locals checking river traps. Yokoi returned home to much fanfare, albeit to a Japan vastly different from the one he departed three decades earlier.

7 Yamakage Kufuku

As Japan’s defeat became likely in early 1945, US forces closed in on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Situated just 1,220 kilometers (760 mi) from Tokyo, it would become a strategic base for the Americans to launch major air raids on the Japanese mainland.

The Battle of Iwo Jima^[4] began in earnest on February 19 following massive bombing of the well-entrenched 20,000 Japanese troops. Tens of thousands of US Marines landed and engaged in several weeks of intense, often horrific, combat on the way to the victory declared on March 26.

Nearly all the Japanese died fighting or succumbed to illness or injuries. But two men who worked as machine gunners did not. Their names were Yamakage Kufuku and Linsoki Matsudo.

Incredibly, the pair was able to hide in caves in close proximity to American forces and did so without detection for nearly four years. They not only survived but appeared well-fed from stolen American food stores when apprehended on January 6, 1949.

6 Noboru Kinoshita

As US forces advanced closer to the Japanese home islands, it became more difficult for the Japanese to give their troops a fighting chance with deliveries of men and materiel. In particular, troop ship losses were staggering as they were sunk frequently by the US Navy.

One Japanese serviceman who lived through a troop ship sinking was Noboru Kinoshita.^[5] Making his way onto the Philippine island of Luzon, he hid in the nearly impenetrable jungle and ate what he could find, like monkeys and reptiles. He avoided capture for 11 years. Once in custody, he committed suicide, believing that a return to Japan would bring him unbearable shame.

5 Bunzo Minagawa

Bunzo Minagawa arrived on Guam in 1944 as one of thousands of Japanese soldiers sent there to repel a massive American invasion. The Japanese failed, and most of their troops were killed in action, particularly after a futile “banzai charge.”

Minagawa was among the scarce survivors and found refuge under Guam’s jungle canopy, beginning an odyssey to avoid capture which lasted 16 years.^[6]

Minagawa was joined by another enlisted man in Masashi Ito. The two men survived mainly by stealing food from the natives, including their cattle for slaughter, as well as scavenging useful items from American military dumps. They maintained this lifestyle until they were captured by locals in 1960 and returned to Japan.

4 Hiroo Onoda

The US military returned to liberate the Philippines in 1944 after nearly three years of occupation by Japan. The fighting continued unabated weeks past the war’s official end a year later.

As the Philippines comprises several thousand islands and the IJA communications infrastructure was now unreliable, some Japanese military personnel did not know of Japan’s surrender or simply dismissed it as unimaginable.

Among the holdouts in the Philippines, the most famous became Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda. He had been assigned to the island of Lubang late in 1944 to destroy American equipment and facilities. Onoda was given orders not to surrender or commit suicide.

Displaying an unrelenting devotion to duty, Onoda fought on in the mountains with three comrades for many years, sometimes killing the natives. He held out until 1974, when his former commander was flown to Lubang and issued direct orders for him to surrender.^[7]

3 Yuichi Akatsu

Not all Japanese soldiers who refused to surrender continued to fight or hide indefinitely. One such IJA member was Yuichi Akatsu, who spent a few years terrorizing Filipinos on Lubang with the aforementioned Onoda.^[8]

Although just a private and subject to the orders of Onoda, Akatsu struck out on his own in 1949 and turned himself into the police some months later. Before returning to Japan, he helped the authorities search for Onoda and two other men, but they all evaded arrest.

2 Nitaro Ishii

Nitaro Ishii was one of a group of four soldiers who survived in the mountains on the Philippine island of Mindoro for several years with virtually no contact with others.

In 1954, they befriended some isolated villagers in their vicinity.^[9] The group’s relationship with the villagers was mutually beneficial, especially with the Japanese exchanging a homemade alcoholic brew for salt.

In fact, the relationship progressed to the point that Ishii was supposed to marry the chief’s daughter. Before the nuptials could be carried out, though, the four holdouts were located by the authorities and sent home.

1 Teruo Nakamura

Not all IJA soldiers were Japanese. Some, for instance, came from Taiwan, then a part of the Empire of Japan. One of them was Private Teruo Nakamura.

Nakamura was stationed on the Indonesian island of Morotai in 1944 when Allied forces attacked and eventually overcame the Japanese resistance.^[10]

Along with an unknown number of holdouts, Nakamura disappeared into the island’s rugged interior, eventually living alone and fending for himself. He was discovered in 1974, the last confirmed IJA holdout. He returned home to a Taiwan independent of Japan and died a few years later.

Patrick lived in Japan for 13 years and enjoys reading and writing about all things Japanese.

You can always find scarier and more sinister Japanese versions of popular American urban legends, and Hachishakusama is another example. Dubbed the “Japanese Slender Man” by many who see her, Hachishakusama arrives with a story frightening enough to keep you awake at night.

The Slender Man has transcended its origin and made its way to real-life stories with its cultlike following. So how could Hachishakusama possibly come close in terror? Well, here are 10 reasons why she is just as terrifying as Slender Man.

10 Creepy Urban Legends Of Madness And Suicide

10 She’s 244 Centimeters (8’0”) Tall

Imagine being a little kid looking outside your home when you see a 244-centimeter-tall (8’0”) woman staring back at you through your bedroom window on the second floor. There’s something terrifying about human features that are disproportionate to those with which we are familiar, and Hachishakusama plays right into that concept with her freakish height.

No doubt about it, if you saw a 244-centimeter-tall (8’0”) woman at night, your legs would buckle at the sheer sight of her size.

Slender Man shares similar features. Their unbelievable heights and overly skinny limbs make them look morbidly terrifying in the presence of children.^[1]

9 She Makes A Terrifying Noise When Close

When Hachishakusama nears her victims, her deep, manly voice makes a terrifying noise that comes in threes: “Po . . . Po . . . Po.” This noise indicates to her victims that she’s coming for them and there’s not much that they can do about it.

Hachishakusama takes her time with her victims. So you could potentially hear this noise outside your window, at the playground, at your parents’ home, or anywhere else that Hachishakusama wants to make her presence known.

This is similar to Slender Man and the “slender effect,” which occurs when he is near. Even though the slender effect is much more violent (as it causes victims to become disoriented and nauseated), the two malevolent creatures give a warning when they are near.^[2]

8 She Preys Upon Children

Slender Man has been said to prey upon children and young adults, while Hachishakusama only takes young children as her victims. The reason for this is unknown. But it is believed that she only kidnaps young children because she feeds off their young essence, which may be why she looks like a young woman at times.

In addition, she may only victimize young children because they are more suggestible when it comes to convincing them to do things. In fact, this may be Hachishakusama’s biggest weapon against her victims.^[3]

7 She Can Mimic Loved Ones

According to one story, a young boy came in contact with Hachishakusama. When he told his grandparents about her, they panicked and took the proper steps to rid their grandson of her malevolent presence.

During this process, Hachishakusama attempted to communicate with the young boy during a ritual that he and his family performed to get rid of her. Hachishakusama tried to get the boy to let her in by mimicking the voice of his grandparents. If the boy had done so, he would have been kidnapped by her and never seen again.

The next day, he told his grandparents about hearing their voices outside his door. They swore they hadn’t talked to him.^[4]

6 You Are Destined To Die After Seeing Her

Slender Man makes his presence known to you once you begin to look into his existence. A quick search on the Internet and you could find yourself falling down a rabbit hole of images and videos that sear his presence into your mind. This is how he chooses his victims and claims you for his own.

However, Hachishakusama picks her victims at random, as long as they’re children. If you’re a child in Japan, you’re fair game for Hachishakusama. If she sets her sights on you, kiss your parents goodbye because she’s going to come for you.^[5]

It may take some time for her to lure you in. But once you’re alone, she’ll be watching you. Be sure to listen for her signature sound: “Po . . . Po . . . Po.” There’s a way to stop her, though, as you’ll soon find out.

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5 She Wears A Long White Dress

The long white dress has solidified itself as the main choice of clothing by many ghostly characters. Usually, this is what the character was wearing during her untimely demise. It symbolizes a tragic death during a moment that was supposed to be sacred, like a wedding.

Both the Slender Man and Hachishakusama wear formal clothing. What is it about a dapper ghost that fascinates us so much?

Maybe it’s a reflection of how we view ourselves, but our perception is broken when we see the grotesque and disturbing being that is wearing the clothes. It adds a level of shock to an already horrifying character as we try to process what we’re seeing.^[6]

4 You Must Perform A Ritual To Get Away From Her

Once you come into contact with Hachishakusama, there is almost no way to get away from her. Hachishakusama will find her victims and stalk them for months as she seeks out the perfect time to strike. There is a slight hope, though.

A ritual can be performed by the family of the victim that would put an end to Hachishakusama’s stalking. The victim is placed in a secluded room where newspapers with ritualistic symbols block the outside view from all windows.

Then four bowls of salt are placed in each corner while a Buddha statue sits in the middle of the room. The victim must stay in the room for an entire night and pray often.

By the next morning, the four bowls of salt will have turned black, a clear indication that Hachishakusama had been on the other side of the window. Finally, the victim must leave Japan and never return unless he or she is willing to fall victim to Hachishakusama’s persistent evil.^[7]

3 She Has Long Black Hair And A Straw Hat

There’s just something about long black hair that makes some haunted characters seem even more menacing. We’ve had plenty of examples of this from horror movies, such as The Grudge and The Ring. The depiction of long, black, wavy hair puts us on edge, especially when the hair blocks us from seeing the monster’s face.

Eventually, this leads to a huge reveal when the hair is finally whisked away and we see the demonic features. By coupling the long wavy hair and the white dress, you get a horrifying image that appears both evil and elegant as it floats by.^[8]

2 She Can Be Attractive

One of the most terrifying things about Hachishakusama is that she can look attractive. When it comes to kidnapping children, this may give her a more welcoming appearance and make it easier to fool the eager child into coming with her.

Some have said that she can take on the appearance of an older woman as well. But the fact that she preys upon younger children may be the key to her attractive appearance as the essence of children keeps her looking young.

The origin and intentions of Hachishakusama are a bit murky as it’s unclear where her story began. But this explanation seems to fit the idea of why she kidnaps children.^[9]

1 She’s An Onryo

Onryo have become popular in horror movies. An onryo is a vengeful spirit that comes back to haunt the world because of its mistreatment from loved ones. When the onryo returns, it is truly more powerful and sinister than it was while alive. An onryo uses this power to harm and kill others.

There are many onryo stories, but they almost always depict a woman rather than a man. Though her true origin is unknown, Hachishakusama still has the abilities and appearance of an onryo with long black hair, a white dress, and the cunning ability to manipulate.^[10]

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About The Author: I’m just a writer who enjoys writing about a wide range of topics for others’ enjoyment!

Renowned for its beautiful architecture, scarily advanced technology, and strong tradition, Japan remains one of the most fascinating countries to culturally dissect. However, it is the nation’s eccentric game shows, colorful anime, and unusual gadgets that seem to generate considerable attention. The same fervent interest lies in Japanese food.

Japan’s gastronomical delights have evolved through centuries of social, political, and economic shifts. The region’s chefs are notorious for their fusion cuisine, combing dishes from around the world with their own culinary flair. Such emphasis on innovation and originality has led to a mishmash of novel, interesting, and downright strange creations. As you will see from this list, the Japanese certainly adhere to the “try everything once” school of thought in terms of food.

10 Fish Sperm (Shirako)

The Japanese love a bit of piscine semen. For that matter, the dish has spread throughout the civilized world. Americans call it “milt.” The Japanese call it shirako. The Russians relish a little moloka (herring milt).

Reminiscent of the human brain’s slimy labyrinth of gyri and fissures, shirako is actually the fluid-filled sperm sac of a fish. Although the sac is most often extracted from cod, it is sometimes taken from salmon, puffer fish, and anglerfish.

Shirako is served in a variety of formats. Chefs have been known to deep-fry the reproductive apparatus in batter, saute it, or put it in a hot pot. For hard-core diners, shirako is frequently served raw with spring onions, leeks, and a citrus dressing. In terms of taste, the semen-packed snack is creamy, mildly sweet, and has a hint of tofu about it.^[1]

It may have all the aesthetic appeal of a Tim Burton film prop, but at least it offers some nutritional value. The fishy dish is packed with vitamin B, calcium, potassium, and protein.

Caviar might not seem like such an unpalatable dish after all.

9 Kare Donatsu

The Japanese have taken a traditional Indian dish and put a unique spin on it. Simply put, kare donatsu is a deep-fried doughnut filled with curry. The inexpensive snack, costing a mere couple of bucks, is sold at bakeries and stores across Japan. Tokyo’s Toyofuku bakery proudly claims that it has produced kare donatsu using Japanese beef for more than a century.

Inspired by the kare donatsu recipe, Japanese confectionary company Tirol decided to release another bizarre curry creation—curry chocolates. These bite-size snacks, called Kare Pan Tirol, have a chocolate, curry, and crunchy bread interior. The emergence of curry doughnuts even spawned “Kare Pan Man” (Curry Bread Man), an anime superhero made of curry bread.

Curry was first used in Japan during the mid-1800s. It is believed that English merchants of the Japanese port city Kobe first introduced the country to curry powders. Curry dishes quickly spread through cookbooks and became a staple diet of the Japanese navy.

In the 1930s, a Japanese merchant sampled curry rice aboard a steamship bound for Europe. Upon his return, he began selling an affordable version of the dish in his Osaka department store. It was an instant hit and led to curry houses appearing all over Japan.^[2]

8 Dancing Squid

The dancing squid (katsu ika odori-don) is both a Japanese delicacy and viral sensation. As the name suggests, the squid serves as an acrobatic jester to restaurant goers. Dousing the cephalopod in soy sauce leads to an electrical response in the creature’s limbs. More specifically, it is the salt in the soy sauce that causes the tentacles to thrash, making it seem as if the squid were still alive.

As the squid is freshly killed, much of the tissue is still functional. The sodium chloride within the sauce triggers action potentials in the sensory neurons of the tentacles. A series of electrical signals are then sent to the muscles, causing them to contract and relax. Since the squid’s muscle cells still possess energy reserves in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), movement is still possible.

The dancing squid has courted controversy online, with some viewers complaining about animal cruelty. However, the squid’s brain is removed during cooking. As a result, the squid is dead and cannot feel pain.^[3]

The same phenomenon is at play when salt is sprinkled over severed frog legs. For those of a morbid disposition, it is worth mentioning that a similar experiment was performed on a dead convict during the early 1800s.

The dancing squid is sold at Ikkatei Tabiji, a restaurant in Hakodate. It is typically served alongside rice, salmon roe, and shiso leaves.

7 Shiro-uo (Ice Gobies)

Here is another piece of “dancing” cuisine. Unlike the dancing squid, however, these sea creatures are sometimes alive when consumed. Shiro-uo are tiny, translucent fish. When placed in the mouth, they are said to do the odorigui dance.

More generally, the Japanese word odorigui refers to eating seafood that is still moving. This can occur when the creature is alive (e.g., shiro-uo) or dead (e.g., katsu ika odori-don). More commonly, though, shiro-uo are consumed when they are motionless and dead. For example, they are frequently used as a rice topping.

Caught throughout the Kyushu and Honshu islands of Japan, living gobies are sold at premium prices. Different regions use different types of small fish in their dishes. Fukuoka (Kyushu) chefs use ice gobies, whereas those from Iwakuni (western Honshu) use whitebait.

Many intrepid adventurers flock to Fukuoka’s Koharu restaurant to eat shiro-uo. This temporary structure overlooks the Muromi River, where local fishermen spend their days capturing unsuspecting shiro-uo.

Once inside the famed establishment, patrons mix the cold-blooded dancers with a vinegar and egg mix. With chopsticks at the ready, consumers are left to embrace the splendors of the odorigui dance. At the discretion of the customer, the fish are then either chewed or swallowed whole.^[4]

6 Wasps, Hornets, Bees, And Their Larvae

To most, these insects are picnic-plundering pests. To the Japanese, they represent a delicious snack. In fact, Emperor Hirohito was known to engage in a spot of entomophagy, munching away on a diet of wasps and rice.

Somewhere in Japan is a man chasing down a flag-waving wasp. These “wasp hunters” place small lumps of meat around the forested slopes of central Japan, waiting for the carnivorous critters to take a piece back to their nest. Affixed to the meat is a little white flag that allows the hunters to trace the wasp through the air.

Once the nest is located, the group incapacitates the wasps using smoke. Parts of the larvae-rich nest are then taken away and used in Japanese cuisine. It is even possible to purchase cans of wasp larvae from stores and packets of bee larvae from vending machines.

Hunters search for nests of the Asian giant hornet (aka the yak killer) using a similar technique. The powerful adult hornets are lured into a large container of shochu alcohol and left to ferment. The end result is an intoxicating hornet juice packed with vitamin C and protein. Meanwhile, the larvae is harvested from the nest and used in a variety of dishes, including appetizers, broths, and tempura.^[5]

Japan’s insect-eating ways have put the country on the map. Thrill-seeking tourists travel from all over the world to try the island nation’s rice grasshoppers, silk pupae, and giant water bugs. Mouthwatering.

5 Square Watermelons

Who knew that molding fruit into a variety of unconventional shapes could become such a prolific market? But that is the legacy of one Japanese farmer who created the square watermelon.

The square fruit was originally devised as an elegant solution to stacking and refrigeration issues. Apparently, the Japanese thought that traditional watermelons were difficult to stack and took up too much space in refrigerators.

Farmers grew the watermelons in square, glass cages, thereby molding them into a more practical shape. The dimensions of the glass containers corresponded closely to those of the refrigeration units.

Alas, square watermelons never enjoyed mass appeal. The square fruit was far more expensive than traditional watermelons and, once picked, took longer to ripen. Overall, the molding process diminished the product’s quality. As a result, square watermelons are now sold as decorative items, fetching hundreds of dollars each.

This obsession with fruit molding has spread to other countries, including Brazil, the United States, Canada, China, and Panama. Chinese company Fruit Mould is renowned for selling skull pumpkins, watermelon hearts, Buddha pears, and other so-called “fashion fruits.”

In Japan, high-end fruit is often given to loved ones during the gift-giving seasons, Chugen and Seibo. In 2016, a pair of melons went for over $27,000 at a market auction in Hokkaido. Bunches of behemoth-sized strawberries and grapes can go for hundreds of dollars. Top fruit stores sell oversized, blemish-free apples, mangoes, and pears at similarly exorbitant prices.^[6]

4 Novelty Ice Cream

Japan is famed for its novelty ice creams. Many of the unorthodox ingredients locked within these pungent scoops will make your taste buds do somersaults. From raw horse flesh to tulips, it would seem there is a flavor to suit any palate.

One of the most popular attractions in Tokyo is Namco’s Namja Town, home of the now-defunct Ice Cream City. Smaller ice cream and dessert stalls were set up following the museum’s closure. However, in its heyday, Ice Cream City was known for its squid ink, soy sauce, oyster, shark fin, beer, and whiskey-flavored ice cream offerings.

Every year, Japan celebrates “Ice Cream Day.” On May 9, in the Saitama prefecture, ice cream aficionados celebrate the day by sampling 100 different flavors. Some of the more unusual recipes have included crab, eel, and octopus.

Octopus and jellyfish ice creams are also available from the Kumamoto (Kyushu) and Yamagata (Honshu) prefectures, respectively. From the town of Bizen, it is possible to buy ice cream that has chunks of deep-fried oysters jutting from the sides.

And if you ever fancied a bit of pit viper ice cream, Japan is your ticket. The ice cream’s distinctive flavor leaves much to be desired. Some say it tastes like vomit. More charitably, others claim it has an air of garlic and almond. Many Japanese citizens believe the venomous reptile, called mamushi, has powerful aphrodisiac qualities and improves the nervous and circulatory systems.^[7]

3 Green Caviar (aka Sea Grapes)

The deceptively named “green caviar” (umi budou) is actually a type of seaweed. Grown in the shallow waters around Okinawa Island, situated in the south of Japan, the algae form bunches of green spheres. As the seaweed is transported in darkness, it temporarily loses its distinctive green coloring. The color returns when the “sea grapes” are exposed to low-intensity light.

The food is typically consumed raw in salads along with the citrus-based dipping sauce ponzu. The spheres have a slimy texture, and they burst in the mouth to release a slightly salty flavor. Japanese chefs also use the seaweed as a garnish for various types of seafood, including smoked salmon blini and tuna sashimi.^[8]

Sea grapes have high nutritional value, boasting carbohydrates, protein, fiber, omega-3, antioxidants, and minerals. However, some studies have suggested that the seaweed (Caulerpa lentillifera) may contain “appreciable amounts of cadmium,” leading to fears over potential toxicity.

The seaweed is popular in other Asian countries, too, regularly appearing on menus throughout the Philippines and Malaysia.

2 Horumon

The Japanese take a “waste not, want not” approach to the island’s resources. They even have a special word, mottainai, that expresses their disdain for wasteful behavior.

The concept behind this ancient Buddhist philosophy explains why many Japanese residents save wrapping paper, reuse discarded sink water in toilets, and turn old kimonos into purses, fans, and chopstick holders.

Japanese cuisine is no different, with the dish horumon perfectly encapsulating the country’s mottainai spirit. Horumon (“things to discard”) is a post–World War II viand that involves cooking offal and tripe. It is considered an inexpensive, working-class meal and is found throughout eateries in the Kansai region of Honshu.

The dish uses beef or pork and can include the diaphragm, esophagus, intestine, kidney, liver, rectum, and stomach. While these parts are often skewered and grilled (horumonyaki), many prefer to deep-fry the meat in batter (horumon tempura), stir-fry it with noodles, or cook it in a hot pot (horumon nabe).^[9]

This curious assortment of organs is also added to stews (motsunabe). The pork or beef offal is boiled in a soup along with cabbage, garlic, soy, and noodles.

1 Turtle

Suppon (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an expensive Asian cuisine. The dish’s popularity perhaps stems from unsubstantiated claims that the soft-shelled turtle affords increased energy, strength, and virility. Suppon oil extract is even sold as an unproven treatment for erectile dysfunction.

The creature inhabits the lakes, rivers, canals, ponds, and rice fields of Honshu and Kyushu, feasting on a diet of fish, mollusks, insects, and local flora. It is also specially bred on turtle farms for human consumption.

While suppon is seen as an alluring treat in urban hubs like Kyoto and Tokyo, it is also sold in rural restaurants at a fraction of the price. Suppon meals typically go for a minimum of 10,000 yen (over $88) in many city restaurants.

During preparation, the turtle’s neck is cut while the animal is still alive. This allows the chef to collect the blood. The blood is then consumed with or without sake according to the patron’s preference. The body of the reptile is chopped into pieces and cooked in a nabe pot to produce a vegetable-and-suppon broth. Alternative dishes incorporate the collagen-rich meat into seafood broths, stir-fries, and ramens.^[10]

For centuries Japan has proved fascinating to Europeans. From the moment that European explorers reached Japan there was a desire to trade with them. “Exotic” goods from Japan could fetch enormous prices on the European market. Of course there was trade in the other direction too but the Japanese were not as keen on European interference in their affairs. For a period of 214 years the Japanese held to a policy of isolation, known as Sakoku, that severely limited contacts between Japan and the rest of the world.

When this ended there was another wave of trade and knowledge of Japan’s culture spread widely. Among the exports were artistic forms seen nowhere else. Here are ten of the most amazing products of Japanese imagination.

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10 Kintsugi

The Japanese sense of aesthetic is sometimes radically different from traditional European forms. While the Ancient Romans and Greeks favoured idealised and flawless artworks the Japanese found beauty in impermanence and imperfection. Known as Wabi-Sabi it prizes the weathering and subtle asymmetries created by time and the acts of the craftsmen. Even breakages can become art in the right hands.

One day a Japanese lord hosted a dinner for a philosopher, and he hoped to impress his guest with the gorgeous tea jar set before him. The philosopher said nothing. After he had left the lord smashed the jar into pieces in frustration. The Lord’s friends gathered the fragments of the jar together and glued them together with golden lacquer. This left the breaks clearly visible but created a startling pattern. When the philosopher returned and saw the results he said “Now this is magnificent.”

Thus the art of Kintsugi, “golden joinery,” was born. It shows that things which have been broken can be even more beautiful than those that have not suffered at all – perhaps like people.^[1]

9 Kabuki

One of the most distinctive Japanese theatre forms is Noh. Actors move slowly across the stage in heavy, rich clothes and act out scenes from history and legend. Most obviously they wear masks that let the audience know what character they are portraying. While Noh was popular with the ruling classes there was another form of theatre that won popular support.

In a hot, dry summer in Kyoto around 1603 a young lady called Izumo no Okuni started performing for passers by from the dried up river bed in the city. Kabuki, the “art of singing and dancing” that she developed, has been popular ever since. Dealing with more contemporary issues Okuni could lampoon the people around her in a way Noh could not – and not wearing a mask allowed for exaggerated mimicry.

Seeing the actors’ faces however caused some problems. Originally Kabuki was acted by Okuni and purely female troupes. But when the Shogunate found that some were being solicited by the audience for sex they banned women from the stage in 1629. From then on young men would act the female roles. But they too began selling their bodies to the crowd. So eventually only men of a certain age were allowed to act in Kabuki.^[2]

8 Origami

Origami probably developed in Japan soon after paper was introduced from China in the 6th century. Given the expense of paper the first bits of paper folded into shapes would likely have had ritual significance. At weddings paper was folded into butterflies to represent the husband and wife and placed around a bottle of sake. The first written reference to origami comes from a poem about this.

The butterflies,
In Rosei’s dream,
Would be origami.

Books on how to fold various animals and shapes out of paper have been popular for centuries but the 20th century saw a huge wave of innovation. Complex geometric shapes, lifelike masks, and moving forms were all folded out of paper. But it’s the story of the 1000 folded cranes that most will recognise. A girl who was caught in the atomic bomb explosion as a child was dying of leukaemia and was told that folding 1000 cranes would grant her a wish. Nearing death she realised that she could not save herself and so she wished for world peace. A statue of Sadako is surrounded by 10,000,000 origami cranes each year at the Hiroshima Peace Park.^[3]

7 Dogu Figures

Some art forms flourish for a while before disappearing. When we look back on them however they can seem startlingly modern. The Dogu figurines date from as early as 10,000 BC all the way up to 2,300 BC. To some they look not only modern, they look unearthly. Some have seen the goggle-eyes and bulky shapes as resembling people in space suits – are the Dogu models of ancient aliens?

No. By studying how the figurines developed over time archaeologists show how their unique appearance evolved. Originally the Dogu figures mostly resembled women with small waists, large hips and breasts, and with stylised faces. They may have represented a sort of mother goddess worshipped in ancient Japan. Later Dogu added complex decoration and extreme deformations of the body. It is these ones that have beguiled those who dream of ancient visitors from beyond the stars.^[4]

6 Bonseki

Origami may seem like a delicate art form but they are practically permanent compared to Bonseki. Literally meaning “tray rocks,” Bonseki are miniature pictures of the natural world made from nothing more than white sand and small rocks on a black tray.

The art of Bonseki is said to have developed in the 7th century with the Emperor Tenmu who would use a tray and sand to create images of the world around him. It may be that Bonseki was invented as a way of creating images or temporary blueprints of gardens that were being planned. Very temporary – the sand and rocks are not fixed to the tray can can be easily erased.

This is not a flaw in the art but part of its charm. Sitting over the tray and moving grains of sand with a feather is a contemplative act. As one school of Bonseki says “The importance of Bonseki is the peaceful feeling and satisfaction you derive from creating a Bonseki scene and not the result of the work.”^[5]

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5 Irezumi

Tattoos are found worldwide and have been found on preserved human skin from at least 5,000 years ago. Yet in Japan tattoos have a special cultural significance. For years having a tattoo meant that the wearer was a member of the Yakuza – the Japanese mafia. Even today there are those who will find the sight of a tattoo alarming. Many Japanese public baths forbid those using them to have a tattoo.

Yet Irezumi, “inserting ink,” has survived as a unique Japanese art. The first pictorial tattoos were designed by the master woodblock artists that created so many Japanese masterpieces. It was the legal ban on tattoos in 1872 that left tattoos as the preserve of criminals. Today though anyone with a sufficiently high tolerance for pain can have complex scenes from Japanese history and myth tattooed all over their body. Irezumi tends not to be done in individual tattoos but rather as full sleeves on the arm or leg, or the entire body.

Traditionally the tattoos were applied with a needle on the end of a wooden stick. While some Irezumi masters still use this tool others have moved to the modern electric tattoo gun.^[6]

4 Kimono

There is a reason that few people in Japan wear kimonos any more – they cost a fortune. But when you realise the effort that goes into making them their price seems surprisingly reasonable. First to make the silk to be used thousands of silkworm cocoons must be boiled and spun into strands. These must then be soaked, stretched, and dried. To stretch the silk it must be wound in over sticks many metres apart. The person doing this can walk miles every day just going up and down with the silk.

The silk is then bound with other materials in a complicated pattern. This is so that when it is dyed the colour only attaches to certain parts. How the silk is dyed will decided how the final weaving appears. The silk would traditionally have been dyed with natural products, including iron-rich mud. Once dyed the fabric then had to be woven, and a lot of it. It takes around 12m of silk to make one kimono.

If the dyed fabric is not rich enough however more patterns can be added by embroidery. No wonder kimonos would be treasured and passed down by their owners.^[7]

3 Netsuke

How do you carry things when you are wearing a kimono? The Japanese answer was not pockets but cloth bags that could be attached to the sash which held your kimono closed. The string that attached these bags could have been held finished with a simple toggle but some Japanese who could afford it had decorative ends called Netsuke made.

These were often carved from ivory, wood, or cast in metal and could take many shapes. Some showed animals, human figures, or mythological beings. They could be playful, philosophical, or frankly pornographic depending on the desires of the owner. Given that netsuke were small and could be easily hidden in the belt they gave their owners wide scope to show off their own senses of humour – whether that was a cheeky mouse or two people copulating on top of a tortoise.^[8]

2 Ikebana

Flower arranging is a type of art that appeals to the Japanese appreciation of impermanence. No matter how beautiful the result of your efforts the flowers will wither and die. Ikebana, “making flowers alive,” is the Japanese way of making plants appear their best while they are still alive.

Ikebana developed out of floral offerings made originally at shrines but eventually they were made within the home and placed in special alcoves. The breakthrough in Ikebana came when the tatebana style was introduced – a single branch or stick placed in the centre of the vase that the flower arrangement was built around.

Today the Japanese art of flower arranging is taught worldwide. Those who are pleased with their impermanent flower displays can have them paradoxically immortalised in paintings on hanging scrolls.^[9]

1 Gyotaku

How can you show people your mighty fishing haul long after the event? If you wait too long the fish will have gone off and no one will be impressed. The Japanese invented the art of Gyotaku – fish printing – to preserve their catches for posterity.

The art is deceptively simple. First you catch your fish, then you take your ink and paint the fish, then you push some paper on the fish. If the fish is still alive you can release it back into the water, or eat it, and you will still have a print of your catch.

An alternative form of Gyotaku has the paper pressed into the damp surface of the fish and then ink gently tapped onto it to make an impression a bit like a when children do brass rubbing with crayons. The print that is created by either method can then be enhanced with other paints to ensure that the fish’s beauty can last longer than any lingering fishy smell on the paper.

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Many people believe that World War II was fought in the cities of Europe and the islands of the South Pacific. It was, but what those people forget is that for about a year from 1942 to 1943, the Imperial Japanese Army occupied the Alaskan islands of Attu and Kiska.

This occupation shocked and terrified North America, and the subsequent events in the aftermath of the occupation set the stage for many military and ceremonial actions over the course of the war. These are ten interesting facts about the Japanese invasion of Alaska.

10 It Was The Only North American Land Lost By The US In World War II

On June 6, 1942, the Japanese Northern Army took control of the island of Kiska, which is a remote volcanic island in the Aleutian chain off the coast of Alaska. The next day on June 7, exactly six months after the Pearl Harbor attacks, the Japanese seized control of the island of Attu, also in the Aleutians.^[1]

This attack was the first and only land invasion of North American territory during the entire war, and it was considered extremely significant at that time, despite the fact that today, the occupation has been largely forgotten by history.

9 Canadian Troops Were Sent In, Too

The Canadian government dispatched conscripted soldiers to liberate Attu and Kiska. Although there were several cases of desertion prior to the journey to Alaska, many Canadians proudly went to the Aleutian Islands to fight alongside their American allies.^[2] Fortunately, however, many of the Canadians dispatched to the Aleutians did not see combat, as the Japanese forces had retreated prior to their arrival.

8 One Of The Largest Banzai Charges Of The War Took Place During The Battle Of Attu

The banzai counterattack was used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II in the event of an impending defeat in order to save face. The Japanese, as opposed to surrendering, would rush their enemies using their bayonets as weapons in an attempt to cause as much damage as they possibly could. This strategy, while ineffective against large numbers of Allied soldiers, struck fear into the hearts of many, as it showed how dedicated the Japanese were to their cause and that they would sacrifice themselves in order to hurt their enemies rather than be captured.

On May 29, 1943, facing certain defeat in the Battle of Attu, Japanese commander Yasuyo Yamasaki ordered one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific War, sending nearly all of his remaining men on a full-scale charge against the invading Americans. The Americans, having not seen this kind of charge before, were overwhelmed, and the Japanese quickly broke through the American lines. This victory was short-lived, however, as the Americans quickly rallied and were able to repel the Japanese forces.^[3] Of the roughly 2,300 Japanese soldiers who occupied Attu, fewer than 30 survived to be taken prisoner.

7 The Harsh Climate Claimed The Lives Of Many Soldiers

Kiska and Attu’s location in the far north of the Pacific Ocean results in brutal weather conditions. These conditions were felt by both the occupying Japanese and the liberating Americans. The Battle of Attu was originally expected to last a few days, so the Americans only brought gear with them to last that long.

As a result, the gear wore out quickly. Because of this, many soldiers developed frostbite, gangrene, and trench foot.^[4] In addition, there were food shortages, which added to the difficulties of the liberating soldiers.

6 It Saw The First Official Case Of Gyokusai

Gyokusai was a form of ritual mass suicide done by Japanese soldiers in the name of Emperor Hirohito. This was done to prevent capture by the enemy, which was seen as the ultimate loss of honor in Japanese society at that time. During the Battle of Attu, when it became clear the Allied forces would overtake the island, approximately 500 Japanese soldiers placed hand grenades near their stomachs and detonated them.

This was a shocking turn of events, touted by some sources as the first official case of gyokusai.^[5] This type of mass suicide, and others like it, would become common in the later years of the war as Japan lost more territory and defeat became more and more common.

5 No One Is Sure Why Kiska And Attu Were Invaded

You’d think that the only North American land battle of World War II would have a well-documented chain of events from background to battle to aftermath. While the latter two have been extensively documented, the former has little information. The most popular theory as to why the Japanese invaded Kiska and Attu was to divert American naval attention away from Japanese interests in other parts of the Pacific. But with the US Pacific Fleet in shambles and American generals focusing more on war in Europe, drawing US attention was likely something the Japanese hoped to avoid.

Another common theory is that the occupation was to prevent American forces from invading Japan by way of the Aleutian Islands.^[6] However, with the exception of a few bombing raids from Attu later in the war, the islands did not serve any strategic purpose in the American war strategy. Yet others, specifically at the time of the invasion, believed it was done to gain land to serve as a base of operations for a full-scale invasion of Alaska or even the Pacific Northwest. Nonetheless, the exact reason as to why the Japanese invaded Kiska and Attu remains a mystery to this day.

4 Only Attu Needed To Be Liberated

During World War II, there are countless instances of Japanese soldiers fighting to the end and then committing suicide when they realized that defeat and capture were imminent. It was considered to be the ultimate shame to one’s family to surrender in combat. As a result of this, the Japanese would do everything possible to win and seldom surrendered, with some soldiers continuing to fight on decades after the war was over.

In the case of Kiska, however, the Japanese surrendered without a fight. After seeing the carnage and loss of life on Attu, the Japanese commanders on Kiska saw no probability of maintaining control of the island, so when weather permitted, the Japanese fled the island under the cover of fog, allowing Allied forces to swiftly recapture Kiska.^[7] This is one of the few examples of Japanese surrender during World War II.

3 Attu Lost Its Entire Population

Prior to the Japanese invasion, Attu had a population of 44, nearly all of them Alaskan natives. During the Japanese occupation, the entire population was taken prisoner and sent to Japanese prison camps. In these camps, about half of the original 44 died due to the harsh conditions. The remainder were returned to the United States after the war.

However, they were not returned to Attu due to the expensive costs of rebuilding. Most of the survivors settled in other Alaskan native communities, with the descendants of the original Attu residents returning to the island 75 years later in 2017 as part of a reconciliation effort.^[8]

2 The Battle Was Fought At Sea, Too

Few history books and records mention the Attu and Kiska campaigns, and those that do rarely mention the naval operations that preceded the American liberation.

In March 1943, after months of neglect from the US, a naval force led by Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kincaid blockaded Attu and Kiska in an attempt to stop the flow of supplies to Japanese forces. On March 26, 1943, the American fleet engaged the Japanese Navy, who were attempting to bring supplies to occupying Japanese soldiers.^[9]

In what became known as Battle of the Komandorski Islands, Japanese forces were able to inflict serious damage to the American fleet, but they ultimately retreated due to fear of American bombers and diminishing resources. The Japanese did not attempt to send supplies by ship again, only resorting to the occasional submarine run. This weakened Japanese control of Attu and Kiska and allowed the Allies to take control more effectively.

1 It Is The Last Battle Fought On American Soil

Many Americans believe that the US Civil War in the mid-19th century marked the end of conflict in the United States. However, this list and the facts presented show that that is not the case. As of this writing, there has been no further occupation of American soil by an invading force. Furthermore, there has been no conflict or attack warranting the description of “battle.”^[10]

The Aleutian Islands Campaign remains the last battle fought in US territory. Although it is not as well-remembered as other American battles such as Gettysburg or Valley Forge, the Aleutian Islands Campaign claimed thousands of lives and brought World War II to the shores of the United States.

According to legend, the first emperor of Japan took the Chrysanthemum Throne in 660 BC. Since Emperor Jimmu’s ascension, some 126 emperors are counted to have ruled Japan, although some early emperors might have only been legendary figures.

Historically, the role of the emperor has alternated between being a public symbol and a powerful monarch. Some emperors had little influence over the country, while others proved to be tremendously important to Japanese history. For better or worse, the following emperors are remembered for the extraordinary personalities, intrigues, and acts of violence that marked their reigns.

10 Sudo

Emperor Sudo never served as emperor during his lifetime. In fact, he was only declared an emperor after he died. When he was alive, Sudo was known as Prince Sawara and his elder brother was Emperor Kanmu.

With his eyes on the throne, Sawara plotted the murder of one of his brother’s favorite officials, Fujiwara no Tanetsugu. In punishment, Kanmu executed and exiled Sawara’s coconspirators and sent his disgraced brother to live on distant Awaji Island.^[1]

Prince Sawara died of starvation before he reached Awaji, but the trouble plaguing the emperor didn’t stop there. After Sawara’s death, the empress fell sick and died and Kanmu’s heir, Prince Ate, became ill as well. When offerings and prayers failed to help Prince Ate, Prince Sawara’s ghost was accused of haunting the imperial family. Anxiously, Kanmu set out to appease his brother’s spirit and built a temple in his honor.

In 800, afraid that Prince Sawara’s ghost was still hungry for revenge, Kanmu posthumously named him Emperor Sudo. The new, dead emperor was reburied in a spot that held the graves of many other emperors, and a shrine was built for him. Later, in 806, Kanmu formally forgave everybody involved in the death of Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, allowing the surviving conspirators to come back from exile.

9 Sushun

Ironically, Emperor Sushun had the fate of being assassinated by the very man who brought him to power. In 587, Sushun’s half-brother Emperor Yomei died and two powerful clans called the Mononobe and the Soga clashed over who would succeed him. Sushun’s other brother Prince Anahobe fought with the Mononobe but was eventually killed by the Soga and their leader, Soga no Umako.

Once the fight was settled, Umako decided to place Sushun on the throne as a compromise. However, Sushun was furious over the death of his brother and made no secret of his hatred for Umako. On one occasion, Sushun ordered a boar to be killed and then said, “I want the person I hate killed just as this boar has been killed.”^[2]

Umako wasn’t thrilled over the emperor’s threats. He had a supporter assassinate Sushun and, after falling out with the assassin, hanged the man from a tree. At the time, Umako was so powerful that he didn’t suffer a single consequence for killing Sushun. Sushun’s nephew Prince Shotoku even claimed that his uncle deserved it, and Sushun was hastily buried without any of the usual imperial rituals.

8 Go-Daigo

During Japan’s Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333, the country was controlled by military dictators called shoguns. Though the Japanese emperor continued to reign, the shogun was the real ruler of the country. In 1318, Emperor Go-Daigo took the throne, dreaming of restoring the kind of power his ancestors once held.

After a few mishaps, one of which forced the emperor off the throne and into exile, Go-Daigo and his allies launched a revolution and overthrew the government in 1333. For the next three years, as part of the Kenmu Restoration, Go-Daigo ruled again as emperor. His policies alienated his supporters though, especially the samurai.

By 1336, the Restoration was over and Go-Daigo was booted off the throne again. One of his old allies, Ashikaga Takauji, was appointed shogun in 1338, and the figure of the emperor was once more reduced to a figurehead.^[3]

Still, even after being deposed twice, Go-Daigo refused to call it quits. Instead of accepting the new emperor’s legitimacy, Go-Daigo fled the capital of Kyoto and set up a new court in the town of Yoshino.

For the next six decades, Japan had two competing emperors—one side descended from Go-Daigo and the other side supported by the shogunate. Go-Daigo’s line was known as the Southern Court and lasted until 1392 when their last emperor abdicated and made peace with the shogunate.

7 Go-Komatsu

While Emperor Go-Daigo and his rebellious descendants made up the Southern Court, the Ashikaga shogunate gave their approval to a group of six emperors known as the Northern Court. Later scholars had their doubts about this line’s legitimacy, and since 1911, the Southern Court has been recognized as the legitimate line.

Technically, not all the Northern Court emperors are considered pretenders. Emperor Go-Komatsu, the last and sixth of the line, is countered as a genuine emperor.

Initially, after the last Southern Court emperor surrendered in 1392, a deal was struck so that somebody from that line would succeed Go-Komatsu. To satisfy both parties and to prevent one line from dominating the throne, the succession would alternate between the two different sides.^[4]

While that was the deal, it was never actually honored. Emperor Go-Komatsu abdicated in 1412, and his son Shoko took his place instead. The Southern Court line ended up never taking power, and while they might be considered the legitimate line, subsequent Japanese emperors have been descended from the Northern Court.

6 Anko

In the imperial Japanese system, the emperor’s oldest son was normally his heir. In the case of the Emperor Ingyo, who is believed to have died in 453, a romantic scandal cost his first son the throne.

The heir apparent, Prince Kinashi no Karu, fell in love with his half-sister and seduced her. The scandal soured the prince’s relations with the royal court, and after his father’s death, his younger brother Anaho challenged him for control. Unfortunately for Kinashi no Karu, he lost the fight, was banished, and later committed suicide.^[5]

After taking the throne, Prince Anaho became known as Emperor Anko. With his succession built on violence, it might not be surprising that Anko’s life ended in bloodshed as well.

One day, Anko sent a messenger to his uncle Okusaka to propose a marriage for his younger brother. Okusaka agreed to the idea, but the messenger lied and told Anko that Okusaka had rejected it. Anko didn’t bother to double-check and angrily sent soldiers to murder Okusaka and kidnap his wife.

Anko made his aunt an empress and took in Okusaka’s seven-year-old son, Mayuwa. Anko was afraid that the boy might want revenge, and his suspicions ultimately proved right. While Anko was asleep in the empress’s lap, Mayuwa ambushed his stepfather and stabbed him to death with a sword.

5 Kobun

When he died in 672, Emperor Tenji was so highly regarded that the Japanese were still commemorating his reign with ceremonies a century later. Before his death, Tenji’s brother Prince Oama refused to succeed him, so his son Prince Otomo was appointed his successor and became Emperor Kobun.

It seemed like it would be a smooth transfer of power, but the rivalry between Oama and Kobun would engulf Japan in a succession crisis remembered as the Jinshin Disturbance.^[6]

Prince Oama’s rejection of the throne turned out to be a ruse. As part of his plan, Oama moved from the imperial capital to a shrine in the town of Yoshino.

He claimed that he was going to live as a monk, but Oama was actually plotting a rebellion against his nephew. Allying himself with provincial leaders who resented Tenji’s centralization of the country, Oama gathered an army and launched an attack against Emperor Kobun.

The fighting proved to be short-lived, lasting only a month or so. Oama and his soldiers crushed the imperial army and burned down the capital. After ruling for only eight months, Kobun decided to strangle himself rather than face defeat.

His uncle succeeded him as Emperor Tenmu. Despite what his provincial allies signed up for, Tenmu ended up centralizing the government’s control even further.

4 Yozei

For the refined, sensitive court of the Heian period (794–1185), the wild Emperor Yozei must have been a nightmare. Yozei became emperor when he was only nine years old. By the time he was a teenager, he had developed some morbid ways to entertain himself. The young emperor delighted in animal cruelty, pitting dogs against monkeys and making snakes devour frogs.

Animals apparently weren’t the only source of his entertainment. Although details are vague, Yozei is reported to have once killed a courtier for no reason either with a sword or his own fists. The government kept the murder under wraps, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if this was the last straw for many of Yozei’s elders.

When the regent Fujiwara no Mototsune had had enough of Yozei’s bizarre behavior, he invited the emperor to a race. This was a trick. Fujiwara got him out of the palace and then promptly dismissed him from his duties.

The former emperor was considered insane, but he was never arrested or murdered after his disposal. In later life, Yozei took up poetry. His sole surviving poem is included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, a famous anthology of Japanese poetry.^[7]

3 Sutoku

After reigning between 1123 and 1141 (some sources say 1142), Emperor Sutoku was unexpectedly booted off the throne by his own father and predecessor, Emperor Toba. Toba and his consort Fujiwara no Nariko had recently had a son, and the little boy was ordered to take Sutoku’s place. The new Emperor Konoe was a sickly child, and when he died in 1155, Sutoku thought he or his own son would be the successor.

In reality, Toba had no intention of giving the reins back to Sutoku and appointed another of Sutoku’s half-brothers as Emperor Go-Shirakawa. It was a controversial choice, and when Toba passed away the next year, there was nothing to stop Sutoku and his defenders from mounting a claim.

The resulting conflict, the Hogen Rebellion, ended in Go-Shirakawa’s favor. As punishment, Sutoku was forced into exile in the distant Sanuki Province.^[8]

According to history, Sutoku died in 1164. Legend says that the former emperor took his bitterness to the grave, becoming a vengeful ghost or demon. Sutoku’s spirit was blamed for all sorts of disasters, and he remains a well-known figure in folklore today. In 1867, Emperor Meiji even wrote a letter to Sutoku, requesting that his spirit come to the capital as a form of forgiveness.

2 Kogyoku/Saimei

Like the later Empress Koken/Shotoku, Empress Kogyoku/Saimei had the rare distinction of ruling Japan during two separate periods. She was born Princess Takara, beginning her first reign as Empress Kogyoku after the death of her husband in 642. During this time, the Soga clan was becoming increasingly influential in the royal court, a development that Kogyoku’s son Prince Naka no Oe disliked.^[9]

In July 645, Naka no Oe and a group of coconspirators ambushed a member of the Soga clan, Soga no Iruka no Omi. The attack was committed in front of Kogyoku, and when she left the room, Naka no Oe’s lackeys killed Iruka. After Iruka’s corpse was sent to his father, Emishi, the aggrieved man burned his house down and killed himself.

The assassination shocked Kogyoku so badly that she resigned. Her brother replaced her, ruling as Emperor Kotoku until his death in 654. Kogyoku then took power again, although the name Saimei refers to her second reign. After Saimei’s death, Prince Naka no Oe finally took the throne and became Emperor Tenji.

1 Antoku

The story of Emperor Antoku is one of Japan’s greatest tragedies, immortalized in the classic epic poem The Tale of the Heike. Antoku became emperor at age two, with his grandfather Taira no Kiyomori acting as regent.

The Taira clan’s rival, the Minamotos, supported another boy for the throne. Their disagreement led to the Genpei War, a civil war between the Minamotos and Tairas that resulted in Antoku and the Tairas fleeing the capital of Kyoto.

Eventually, the Minamotos chased the Tairas to Dannoura, a port city located on the southern tip of Honshu. On April 24, 1185, the Minamotos and Tairas clashed for the last time, engaging in a sea battle. During the fight, the Taira general Taguchi Shigeyoshi cast aside his loyalties and joined the Minamotos. The battle became a hopeless ordeal; the general knew everything that the Taira forces planned to do.

Antoku was just one of the passengers on the Taira ships. When it became clear that the Minamotos had won, Antoku’s grandmother grabbed the boy and jumped overboard with him.^[10]

Many of the other Tairas drowned themselves, choosing to die over surrendering. Since the Tairas’ defeat, folklore says that they haunt the sea as Heike crabs, a unique kind of Japanese crab that has a human face–like pattern on its shell.

Tristan Shaw is an American writer who enjoys folklore, literature, and history. You can follow him on Twitter.

Japan can be an odd place.  No other country in the world has experienced such a confluence of tradition, technology, and circumstance.  Feudal samurai ideals clash with cutting edge computers; aged survivors of the only country which endured the full wrath of the atomic bomb mix with teenagers in Pokemon outfits.  Although it hosts one of the most massive economies on the planet, Japan is extremely insular, and its culture is often misunderstood by outsiders.  Below are ten of the strangest aspects of Japanese culture—from sex, to snacks, to death.

Although Earth’s population is rising at an exponential rate, the Japanese are slowly dying off behind an aging infrastructure.  Compounding the problem is a growing problem: the shut-in “hikikomori.”  To be sure, every society is home to a small number of people who could be described as “reclusive”—though most of these recluses tend to be older individuals, marked with mental illnesses such as depression and agoraphobia.

Japan’s hikikomore hermits, on the other hand, are decidedly young. They’re mostly disaffected teenagers and twenty-somethings, withdrawn almost completely from society.  There is no precise explanation to account for the rise in hikikomori, though there are several known contributing factors, including the rise of the internet, intense academic pressures, and parents willing to shelter their children well into adulthood.  Psychiatrists (many of whom are forced to make house calls to visit their patients), have only recently set upon the task of helping the group dubbed by some as “the missing million.”

Although legends of the Yakuza are prevalent, crime rates are particularly low in Japan.  It is illegal to own a handgun, and even ceremonial swords must be registered with the police.  The country enjoys the second lowest homicide rate in the world, behind only Monaco (a country about half the size of New York’s Central Park).  If you ever have the misfortune of standing trial in Japan, however, you can be almost certain that you’re going to jail; indeed, the conviction rate is said to exceed ninety-nine percent (the career of a judge can suffer greatly for handing out acquittals).

Capital punishment is exercised in Japan, and around two or three inmates are executed every year.  Unlike most other countries, death row inmates are only informed hours beforehand when their time is up.  The family is not informed until the condemned father, sibling, or child is already dead.  Although Japan has a history of rather gruesome and unconventional methods of execution, prisoners are generally executed by hanging today.

As I described in a previous list, the Japanese have a predilection for novelty foods and beverages; indeed, the range of flavors they utilize often seem repellent to Western palates.

Due to a coincidence of language, the Kit Kat chocolate bar is enormously popular in Japan.  “Kit Kat” is remarkably similar to the phrase “kitto katsu” (literally: you shall surely win), which is used as a sentiment of good luck.  Students are often given the candy before an exam as a good luck charm.  Unlike the rest of the world, which features only a milk chocolate version, Japan maintains dozens of exotic flavors, such as grilled corn, miso, camembert cheese, baked potato, and soy sauce.

Although the Japanese are known for their industrious work ethic, the stereotype of the boozy businessman warbling “Margaritaville” in a karaoke bar is not that far from the truth.  Marathon drinking sessions are often seen as a cornerstone of the Japanese business model; corporate relationships are forged over gallons of sake, younger salarymen struggling in vain to keep up with their seasoned bosses.

That said, it’s also relatively easy to nurse a hangover. The Japanese business culture values an employee who naps on the job.  “Inemuri,” as it is known, is a quick cat-nap meant to recharge the batteries.  It is seen as a sign of hard work and commitment.

Nothing appears to be more tragic than dying alone—but it happens in Japan all the time.  One of the unfortunate side effects of maintaining such an elderly population (one in five Japanese are over the age of sixty five, many of them well into their eighties and nineties) is that people tend to die at home.  These people often go undiscovered, sometimes for months or even years—a phenomenon known as “kodokushi”, the lonely deaths.  Thousands of cases occur in Japan each year, especially among men who have few social ties.  Sometimes the bodies are left for so long that they self-mummify.

There are even companies which specialize in cleaning out the apartments of people who have succumbed to such a fate—even dealing with the grisly “kodokushi stains” left behind by a rotting body.  It is estimated that in another twenty years, one in three Japanese will be senior citizens—an estimation which does not bode well for a halt in lonely deaths.

Japan has always been something of a restrictive society, and that prudishness extends all the way to its pornography.  Although hardcore sex acts are allowed to be filmed, the genitalia of the performers is required to be blurred out, in order to uphold moral laws.  This has steered Japanese porn-makers towards a trend called “bukkake”—the prominent display “resultant fluids”—as proof that the actors are really engaging in sex.

Curiously enough, a huge number of Japanese youths have reported that they have very little interest in sex. This is especially true for many males, who are often referred to as soshoku danshi, or “herbivore men.”

Pachinko is a kind of cross between pinball and slot machines; it involves an upright machine, in which players shoot balls which descend through a series of pins.  If the balls land in the right spot, more balls will be produced.  Although gambling is technically illegal in Japan, winners are provided with a token based on their score which can be redeemed elsewhere for cash (a little bit like turning in your tickets at Chuck E. Cheese for a prize).

There is currently a push to legalize pachinko in Japan, with industry insiders estimating a potential gambling revenue that would approach $10 billion a year—nearly double that of Las Vegas.

Anyone who has suffered through the stigma of wearing braces (or any parent who has shelled out thousands for orthodonture) understands the importance of straight, even teeth.  In Japan, however, there is a growing trend among young women for yaeba (literally “double tooth”) caps on the canines, which lends their smile a kind of crowded appearance.  As bizarre beauty trends go, this one is somewhat costly to implement—but at least it’s reversible.

Although homicides in Japan are almost nonexistent, the country has one of the highest suicide rates in the world—in some cases more than twice that of other developed countries.  Although attitudes are changing, suicide was for a long time accepted by the culture as a noble act—a way of protecting honor, and defending the reputation of the family.

One of the most startling suicide trends involves leaping in front of commuter trains.  This has become such an issue that rail companies usually fine surviving family members for the inconvenience.  Japan is also home to the chilling Aokigahara Forest.  Located near Mount Fuji, Aokigahara is often mentioned by  writers, and is well known as a hotspot for suicides.

The typical Japanese diet is quite healthy; daily staples like rice, tofu, and fresh vegetables make them some of the longest-lived people on earth.  But many Japanese people also have a weakness for familiar American comfort food—most notably, fried chicken.  In major cities, there is often a KFC to be found every few blocks, with each restaurant hosting a life-sized statue of Colonel Sanders standing out front.

Although only a small handful of Japanese are Christian, they have adopted KFC as a Christmas Eve tradition.  On December 24, every KFC in Japan features lines out the door.  Many make reservations months in advance.

The KFC legend is not confined only to the holiday season.  In 1985, when the Hanshin Tigers baseball team won the Japan Series, revelers spilled into the streets.  Amid the chaos, a statue of Colonel Sanders was thrown into a canal in Osaka.  In the subsequent years, the Tigers have continually failed to win another championship—felled, supposedly, by the “Curse of the Colonel”.  In 2009, most of the statue was recovered from the river. The glasses and the left hand are still missing, however, and some locals believe that the curse will not lift until the Colonel is whole.

Mike Devlin is an aspiring novelist.  He loves sushi and ninjas.

The land of the rising sun is fascinating to many of us in the West. The land that gave the world samurai and sushi holds a lot of mystique, but some of it is just straight up myth, even in the modern world.

10. Anime is Not The Biggest Form of Entertainment

Anime is a $20 billion industry and there’s no denying its popularity. The West is only now coming to embrace anime culture and fans of the medium are now comfortable expressing their interest in it. For many years it suffered the same fate as comic books or sci-fi, considered to be the realm of nerds and social outcasts. 

As Western audiences open up more to anime, the idea that it must be just as popular if not more popular in Japan seems to make sense. If anime originates in Japan, surely it’s beloved there. But that’s not entirely true.

Anime is definitely popular in Japan, but manga is more popular. Manga is generally considered the more adult or refined version, the books on which a good deal of anime is based. 

For many in Japan, an adult fan of anime is considered an otaku. The word has made its way to the West and many anime fans will openly call themselves an otaku, but it’s used the way someone would also call themselves a nerd. They originally used the word as an insult and to many it still is. 

The word otaku means “your house” and denotes that you are a shut in. It’s the equivalent of when someone on social media accused a person of living in their mom’s basement. So even though the anime industry is big business, there’s still a social stigma attached to it and open fandom is frowned on, at least in some circles. 

9. Japan has Very Little Crime

One of the big things you’ll often hear about Japan is just how safe it is. Crime rates in Japan are very low. In fact, crime in 2020 had dropped for the 17th year in a row in Japan, which sounds amazing. But there are some unfortunate facts that are often overlooked when it comes to understanding crime in Japan.

Violent crime, like murder, is definitely low in Japan. But there are some stats that are alarming. In particular, are the stats about sexual assault. It’s par for the course that women on subways are going to be groped by strangers. By the government’s own estimation, nearly 95% of incidents involving sexual violence are not reported to police. That number is shockingly high and cuts straight to the heart of a serious and ignored problem that pervades the culture. 

Sexual assault, and rape in particular, are considered embarrassing topics in Japan. Worse, officials make victims feel like they are responsible. In some cases, they force victims who report crimes to re-enact the crimes with life-sized dummies in front of investigators. 

Even the definition of rape has been problematic in Japan. Until 2017, the legal definition of rape in Japan only included a man penetrating a woman’s vagina. Anything else didn’t meet the definition. Even after the definition changed, it needed to be accompanied by violence or intimidation. So anyone who was drugged or didn’t fight back wasn’t legally raped either. And because of that, crime statistics in Japan are not always as cut and dry as they seem. 

In addition, Japanese justice relies heavily on confession. They can hold suspects for nearly a month, and questioning borders on torture. False confessions are par for the course, and real statistics are hard to determine. 

8. Whale Meat is Not Popular

In North America the idea of anyone hunting whales offends most people. That’s where the whole Save the Whales campaign came from in the 1970s. Countries like Russia, Norway and Japan had traditionally hunted whales and an effort was made to end the hunt and prevent any more whale deaths.

Despite the public outcry, whaling in Japan continues to this day. Ironically, the US was partially responsible for the commercial hunting of whales. After World War II, half of all protein consumed in Japan was whale as American official urged the country to hunt them as it rebuilt. But that was int he 1940s and ‘50s. 

In modern day Japan, the average citizen will eat about 40 grams of whale meat per year. That’s slightly less than the amount of beef in a Big Mac. So while the whaling industry does exist, it’s not one that’s meeting the culinary demands of the people. In fact, it seems mostly to exist out of spite. Because Japanese culture has historically been linked to whaling, they continue to do it because they resent outside influence trying to make rules against it. 

7. Sushi Isn’t Eaten All the Time

Is any food more synonymous with Japan than sushi? It’s the one thing everyone knows they eat in Japan and it’s absolutely massive in the Western world. Sushi is worth over $22 billion in the US alone.That’s a lot of rice. So the industry must be even bigger in Japan, right?

Sushi is definitely a favorite food in Japan, but it’s not ubiquitous like it is in North America. For many in Japan, sushi has long been a special occasion food. It’s not lunch on a Tuesday, it’s something for a dinner party with friends, or a birthday. 

In the West we know sushi because it became popular here, the same as ramen. But to reduce Japanese cuisine to sushi is like reducing American cuisine to hot dogs. It may be emblematic in the eyes of the world, but it’s not what people eat every day, or even every week. Japanese cuisine is remarkably diverse. 

A survey conducted in Japan of Japanese people found that most people had sushi once every three months or so. Only one quarter of people surveyed ate sushi more than once a month. 

6. WiFi is Hard to Find

If you were asked to picture Tokyo in your head, you’d probably imagine Shibuya Crossing. Like Times Square in New York, it’s that one location that makes it into every big movie filmed in the city. Featuring big, neon signs and billboards, and a crisscrossing of streets where literally hundreds of people will cross into traffic, it’s quite a sight. It really brings to mind the kind of technological mecca that we picture when we think of Tokyo.

With locations like that being hallmarks of the city, it’s surprising to learn that the city is not as open technologically as you might think. If you’re looking for a place to connect to some free WiFi you may be looking for a while.

Unlike in the US where most hotels, cafes and even restaurants have free WiFi for customers, Japan is not a hotspot for hotspots. Free WiFi can be found at some hotels but in the lobby only, if at all.

Most of the reason for the lack of WiFi is that nearly every cell phone plan in Japan comes with data. If everyone has access to the internet already, they don’t need to set up WiFi hot spots. Even those who use their laptops for work bring their mobile network with them with cards to access their own network. 

Technically, Japan is very much connected to the internet, you just have to get yourself there and not expect that access will be made available. 

5. You’re Not Likely to Find Underwear Vending Machines

Yes, this is an offputting topic, but it’s one that has been tied to Japan, at least on the internet, for years now. The idea that you can go to Japan and find a vending machine that sells underwear has been one of those lowbrow jokes since photos of the machines first started circulating online. 

Japanese culture features a lot of quirks, like any culture does. In addition to the prevalence of anime and manga, Japan also produces hentai, which is the adult version of anime. Which is to say it’s pornographic. Seemingly spun out of this hentai, which often features creepy tentacles and female characters in those schoolgirl sailor suits came the used panty vending machine. It was just what it sounded like, a machine that sold used undergarments. 

There are red light districts in Japan that sell a number of adult-oriented items and people have gone to Japan to try to find these machines. There are actually some in adult-themed shops but the wording on them is confusing to those who aren’t native Japanese speakers. These machines will sell underwear, but it’s not used. They’re just made to look like they are, likely to prey on the sorts of people who would buy such things in the first place.

Word is these kinds of things were for sale some years ago, but the government has cracked down on them considerably. So were there one or two machines in Tokyo once upon a time? Probably. But don’t expect to find them these days. 

4. Japan is Remarkably Wasteful

If you’ve seen any video of the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo, the first thing you probably noticed was the sheer number of people. The city really is packed, almost 14 million people live there. That leads to something you may not have thought of. With that many people, Tokyo is incredibly clean. Surprisingly, this stems back to the sarin gas attacks back in 1995. They removed trash cans for fear they might hold the deadly gas in future attacks. The people adapted by carrying their garbage with them and bringing it to work or home to dispose of. The result is one clean city with no garbage cans. So that gives the illusion that Japan is not particularly wasteful. But it’s definitely an illusion. 

When it comes to food in particular, Japan wastes massive amounts. The country dumps 620,000 tons of food every year thanks in part to curious beliefs about food safety and sanitation. 

In post-war Japan there was a clear lack of regulation and sanitation regarding food, which led to sickness. Strict standards were instituted but never relaxed, even after the country was rebuilt. This led to a very strict and regimented attitude towards how food should look and be consumed. They will discard some food after sitting on display for just one day. Packaged foods that can stay on a shelf for a year in America will be gone within six months in Japan.

In addition, regulations are put in place to prevent short orders. That means if a store orders 100 apples but only 80 can be shipped, the shipper owes the store the money they would have made selling those missing 20 apples. In order to compensate, producers will grow more than they need to ensure no order is short. That leads to excess that ends up thrown in the garbage. It’s a systemic problem and one people are trying to change, but the process is slow. 

3. Japanese College is a Joke

There’s a very common belief in the West that they work Japanese students like dogs. School is a grind but the end result is a lot of really smart and highly educated people ready to take on the world. And it’s true that school in Japan is pretty intense for children. They have a lot of expectations put on them and the path to college is not for the faint of heart. But then when you get to college, there’s a very noticeable shift.

College in Japan is treated something like a joke. Not just by students, but by everyone. It’s understood that once you’ve made it to college, you really don’t have much left to do. Even in a four-year college, the expectation that you’re going to slack off and barely study is pervasive. College was the destination, you don’t have to do anything once you’re there. In fact, it seems remarkably difficult to actually mess up and fail in college once you’ve been accepted. The experience is literally described as a vacation in many places. 

Japanese employers tend to only look at a student’s school, not their grades. They don’t really care how you did. Also, most colleges don’t make you take a lot of tests or write papers anyway, so the hardest part of many courses is simply showing up. 

2. Japan is Not as Tech Savvy as You Might Think

Japanese businesses have long been at the forefront of many technological innovations. Companies like Sony, Toyota, Fuji and countless others hail from Japan and have been at the forefront of tech innovations for decades now. So it’s kind of surprising to learn just how non-tech savvy the country is at the ground level. 

While North Americans are busy streaming new shows on Netflix, HBOMax, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, the residents of Japan are only now just slowly adopting streaming as a viable platform for entertainment. Video rental stores are still hugely popular. DVD rentals and sales, as well as CD sales, are still remarkably big there. Music stores are big business. In 2016 they accounted for almost $2.5 billion in physical music sales. In 2018, streaming services have only just managed to catch up to physical media in terms of overall sales. 

Even in terms of how things are paid for in Japan, the country is slow to embrace technology. Cash is still king with electronic payments like debit and credit lagging behind many other nations. E-commerce in general is not nearly as advanced in Japan as it is elsewhere. For the size of the country, and its economy, it’s remarkably far afield of the US and China. 

Part of this may stem from the fact that tradition seems to be important in Japan and for all the innovation on the business level, on a social level people stick to what they know. In fact, many people in Japan still use wooden stamps and ink official documents including legal papers, timesheets for work, and banking papers. 

1. Japan is Not That Expensive

Most Westerners have heard for years that Japan is expensive. Hotels, travel, meals. It all costs a fortune. The truth of the matter is far more complex, of course, and why shouldn’t it be? Saying it’s expensive to visit Japan is like saying it’s expensive to visit America. It could be if you stay at swanky Manhattan hotels and eat at Michelin-star restaurants. But what if you don’t?

At least one traveller from abroad who had feared Japan due to its prices finally took the plunge in 2021. Based on her travels, which ranged from Tokyo to Osaka with stops in Kyoto, Hakone and several others, she was able to travel, eat and sleep in Japan for $95 per day. That’s a very reasonable budget for travel. 

Travel in Japan is often made more expensive than it needs to be. Obviously fancier restaurants will have higher prices. Cities like Tokyo will often have more expensive tourist districts than smaller cities. But it gets worse. Sites like Booking.com have been found to charge up to 37% more for hotel rooms than Japanese booking sites charging for the exact same rooms. So some of the expense of the country is artificially inflated to prey on tourists. 

These costs extend beyond tourism. Living in Tokyo is cheaper than it is in many major Western cities. You’ll spend 40% less on a 2-bedroom apartment in Tokyo than you will in San Francisco. It’s 23% less than in London. 

Of course Japan can be expensive, but so can any place. The pervasive myth that Japan as a whole is always more expensive just doesn’t add up.