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Katana
Katana of one of Japan’s most famous swordsmen goes on display to help Kumamoto earthquake victims
- Casey Baseel
Jul 30, 2026 - Tweet
The sword of the vice-captain of the Shinsengumi is being called into action once again in a touching story of repaying kindness.
- Japan
- (culture • disaster • Hijikata Toshizo • history • Katana • Kumamoto • kumamoto earthquake • moving • museums • shinsengumi • swords • touching)
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
- Casey Baseel
Jun 3, 2025
Popular program in birthplace of samurai martial art iado forced to retool.
Lunch fit for a samurai lord: Japanese cafes offers castle bento lunches, sells boxes too【Pics】
- Casey Baseel
Apr 7, 2025
Cafe’s location means it knows its customers will be in a samurai mood.
- Japan
- (bento • bento boxes • castles • culture • food • history • Katana • museum • restaurants • swords • tableware)
Don’t miss the swords-on-fire performances and more at Asakusa Samuraive Show this week
- Krista Rogers
Nov 19, 2024
An entertainment show in Tokyo’s center of traditional culture combines the old with the new in a flaming, nonverbal spectacle.
- Japan
- (Asakusa • Asakusa Kagekijo Theater • entertainment • fire • Hanayashiki • Katana • Samuraive • show • swords • Tokyo • traditional)
Buy a Japanese ambulance, pachinko machine or samurai sword at this government auction site
- Oona McGee
Aug 1, 2024
Weird and wonderful treasures you won’t find anywhere else, and at shockingly low prices.
- Japan
- (auctions • cars • cool • government • government auction • Japanese cars • Japanese property • Katana • KSI Government Auction • online auctions • property • samurai sword • second-hand • shopping • unusual • wakizashi • weird)
Fight like a ninja in a samurai town, with sword-fighting experience at Kyoto Toei movie studio park
- Oona McGee
Apr 8, 2024
Learn Japanese katana techniques from movie actors and film your own sword-fight in an Edo setting.
- Japan
- (awesome • cool • Edo • history • Japanese swords • Katana • Kyoto • museums • Ninja • samurai • sword fights • Toei Kyoto Studio Park • tourist sites • travel)
Dojigiri, the millennium-old katana said to have slain a demon, is now on display in Tokyo【Pics】
- Casey Baseel
Mar 14, 2024
One of the Five Swords Under Heaven is now under the roof of this downtown museum.
Samurai Ninja Museum Tokyo With Experience is true to its name, lets you slice with real katana
- Casey Baseel
Jan 15, 2024
Hands-on history in Tokyo’s most historical neighborhood.
- Japan
- (Asakusa • awesome • cool • history • Katana • museums • Ninja • samurai • Samurai Ninja Museum Tokyo With Experience • travel)
Visiting Kunozan Toshogu, the shrine where the first lord of Japan’s last shogunate was buried
- SoraNews24
Jun 7, 2023
The site of Ieyasu’s grave also has an amazing hidden-gem museum that far too many visitors skip.
- Japan
- (beautiful • cool • history • Katana • samurai • shinto • Shizuoka • shogun • shrines • swords • Tokugawa • Tokugawa Ieyasu • Tokugawa shogunate • travel)
Is spending 248,380 yen (US$1,840) on an anime boy doll a wise choice? Our fangirl finds out!
- Casey Baseel
Mar 3, 2023
A big love for Touken Ranbu leads to a big expenditure, but is it money well spent?
- Japan
- (anime • COK • dolls • figures • Katana • manga • otaku • SNJO • swords • Touken Rambu • Touken Ranbu)
Samurai armor and mini katana tableware is here to keep your bottles safe and your food stabbed
- Shannon
Feb 26, 2023
Your drinks will always be protected from now on.
- Japan
- (armor • COK • cool • drinkware • history • interior • Katana • Makuake • Oda Nobunaga • samurai • swords • tableware • Tokugawa Ieyasu • Toyotomi Hideyoshi)
Real-life Rurouni Kenshin katana forged based on sword of series’ most merciless villain【Photos】
- SoraNews24
Feb 21, 2023
Kenshin vs. Shishio museum exhibit displays Sakabato and Mugenjin.
- Japan
- (anime • COK • Katana • manga • Mugenjin • museums • Rurouni Kenshin • Saito Hajime • sakabato • Seki • Shishio Makoto • SNJO • swords)
A Gintama fan’s emotional 19-year journey to buy a proper Lake Toya bokuto wooden katana【Pics】
- Casey Baseel
Jan 11, 2023
What started out feeling like a dumb gag manga became a source of strength as our otaku reporter searched for a purpose in life.
- Japan
- (anime • bokuto • COK • gintama • Hokkaido • Katana • Lake Toya • manga • moving • Seiji Nakazawa • SNJO • touching • travel • wooden katana • wooden sword)
Want to become a swordsmith? Apprenticeship opens in Japan, but the fine print might shock you
- SoraNews24
Aug 2, 2022
Katana-making apprenticeship sparks debate on controversial conditions.
- Japan
- (apprentice • apprenticeships • art • culture • history • Japanese swords • Katana • samurai • swords • swordsmiths • traditional crafts)
An A.I. program designed a katana, then a 15th-generation Japanese swordsmith made it【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Jun 12, 2022
Modern technology intertwines with 400 years of swordsmithing skills.
- Japan
- (A.I. • awesome • COK • cool • Katana • swords • swordsmiths • technology)
You can get a custom-made katana and a tax discount by donating to this Kyoto city【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
May 29, 2022
Newly forged young swordsmiths open up their own forge in Kyotango.
- Japan
- (awesome • cool • furusato nozei • Japanese swords • Katana • Kyoto • swords)
Famous Japanese sword becomes tiny sweets knife in order to slice into matcha pound cake
- Dale Roll
Feb 24, 2022
Celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Ashikaga City in Tochigi with these fun commemorative goods.
- Japan
- (Ashikaga City • cool • green tea • Horikawa Kunihiro • Katana • matcha • sweets • swords • Tochigi • Yamanbagiri Kunihiro)
Authentic Japanese sword letter openers available through crowdfunding
- Master Blaster
Jan 31, 2022
Live by the sword, open mail by the sword.
- Japan
- (Bizen Osafune • cool • crowdfunding • Hitofuri • Japanese swords • Katana • letter opener • stationery • swords • swordsmith)
Japanese bag maker creates demon-slaying bag based on five-year-old’s sketch
- Shannon
Nov 19, 2021
No more demons are getting past this kid.
- Japan
- (bag • clever • cool • demon • fashion • kabuto • Katana • moving • samurai • touching • Tsuchiya Bag Co.)
Cosplay-friendly interior design — Japanese cosplayer shows off crazy apartment entryway
- Casey Baseel
Nov 6, 2021
Most Japanese apartment entryways are filled with shoes, but this one is filled with something else.
- Japan
- (awesome • cool • cosplay • cosplayers • crazy • funny • Katana • swords • Touken Ranbu)
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Recent Posts
- Starbucks and clothing brand Beams team up for launch of second collaborative core collection
- Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
- Japan’s new delicious dark horse sweet potato dessert drink is waiting at a beef bowl chain
- Making the latest social media snack sensation in Japan, Dot Butter
- 7-Eleven Japan releases a Kebab Sandwich… but does it really taste like a street-stall kebab?
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Making the latest social media snack sensation in Japan, Dot Butter
Can hanging a handy fan on your crotch keep you cool in the Tokyo summer? SN24 investigates
7-Eleven Japan’s Ramen Machine is a viral hit, but there’s one glaring problem
The confusing enjoyment of our day-trip bus tour from downtown Tokyo to Yamanashi [Photos]
Burger King goes viral in Japan for opening new store in a Japanese-style building
7-Eleven Japan releases a Kebab Sandwich… but does it really taste like a street-stall kebab?
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Hot pot in cans coming to Japanese vending machines this fall
Does washing rice in this Japanese pouch really make it more delicious?
Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
Weekly
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween- Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan- Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
New Shinkansen platform vending machine sells local-flavor treats from 127-year-old snack maker
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
Megadeth guitarist becomes voice of reason regarding tourists dancing at shrine in Japan
Starbucks Japan unveils first-ever vending machine, with an exclusive coffee drink
Monthly
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
7-Eleven Japan releases a Kebab Sandwich… but does it really taste like a street-stall kebab?
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Hot pot in cans coming to Japanese vending machines this fall
Does washing rice in this Japanese pouch really make it more delicious?
Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
Japan’s new delicious dark horse sweet potato dessert drink is waiting at a beef bowl chain
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Starbucks Japan unveils first-ever vending machine, with an exclusive coffee drink
Japanese pudding gets a massive big-eats upgrade at this Tokyo cafe
Ghibli store Donguri Kyowakoku now has special frames to protect your anime art Paper Theater kits
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan
TeamLab is building a new Tokyo museum, and it’s the digital art group’s biggest ever
Japan’s middle-aged fairy man character stole our reporter’s heart in a hot spring town
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