Koh’s Tokyo Dialogue

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Showing posts from October, 2025

Shibuya Halloween: Between Festivity and Safety

At this time of year, Halloween usually brings to mind the charming sight of children dressed in costumes, going door to door and collecting candy from neighbors—a scene familiar across the U.S. and Europe. In Japan, however, things are a bit different. Halloween here has occasionally turned into a social issue, and today, October 31st, Tokyo’s Shibuya district is on high alert. Halloween in Japan: A Relatively New Tradition Halloween only started gaining widespread recognition in Japan in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was first introduced through events at Tokyo Disneyland and shopping centers, mainly as a costume party for children. From my own experience, it wasn’t very well known around 20 years ago. These days, as the season approaches, streets are decorated with familiar pumpkins, ghost plushies, and Halloween-themed colors. The imagery is firmly established in popular knowledge. But in the 2010s, Halloween in Japan began to take on a new character. Young people and ...

Kodokan – A Journey into the Heart and Spirit of Judo in Tokyo

Right next to Tokyo Dome City in Bunkyo Ward — surrounded by a stadium, an amusement park, shops, and hotels — stands a building that every judoka dreams of visiting at least once in their lifetime. This is the Kodokan(講道館) , world headquarters of judo — often called “the Mecca of Judo.” Beginnings – Jigoro Kano and the Birth of Kodokan The Kodokan was founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano (1860–1938) , the man who transformed Japan’s traditional jujutsu into the modern international sport of judo . The first dojo was a modest 12-tatami room, but from that small start, judo has spread to more than 200 countries and regions. Kano was not only a martial artist but also a pioneering educator. As principal of the Tokyo Higher Normal School (today’s Tsukuba University ), he built the foundations of physical education in Japan and came to be known as “the father of Japanese physical education.” He also became Asia’s first member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and hel...

Sumida Street Jazz Festival 2025: Will “Downtown Jazz” Become a New Tokyo Classic?

As the summer heat finally fades, Tokyo ’s Sumida Ward transforms into a city of music for one lively autumn weekend. For two days — October 18 and 19, 2025 — the Sumida Street Jazz Festival (locally known as Sumida Jazz) fills the streets with rhythm and soul. Sumida, stretching along the Sumida River , represents the heart of Tokyo’s shitamachi , the city’s old downtown. While high-rise towers now stand beside it, the area still retains traces of its past: old bathhouses, small factories, and wooden row houses. When jazz resonates through this everyday neighborhood, a warm and distinctly Tokyo atmosphere emerges. The City Becomes the Stage As the name “Street Jazz” suggests, the festival isn’t about flashy performances or big-name headliners. Here, the city itself becomes the stage. When jazz rhythms blend with the sights and sounds of the old town, an atmosphere of joy and connection fills the streets. Across about 30 venues in Kinshicho , Oshiage , and Ryogoku , ...

Japan’s “Beer Crisis”: How a Cyberattack on Asahi Shook the Nation’s Favorite Drink

Currently, Japan is abuzz with news about a company hit by an unexpected crisis. It is a cyberattack targeting Asahi Breweries , one of Japan’s leading beer companies — an incident whose impact extends far beyond a single business. Asahi is the brewer behind Asahi Super Dry , Japan’s most famous beer. Its sleek silver cans have long been a familiar sight on convenience store shelves across the country. But after the company suffered a major system failure, distribution was disrupted, and some regions began to report temporary shortages of Super Dry. It was almost unthinkable: a cyberattack threatening the supply of what many see as Japan’s national drink . Asahi Group — Japan’s Largest Beer Empire Asahi Group Holdings (Asahi GHD) is one of Japan’s largest beverage manufacturers. Its flagship product, Asahi Super Dry , launched in 1987, revolutionized Japan’s beer culture with its karakuchi (dry, crisp flavor) and quickly propelled the company to the top of the market. Here, ...

Why Hanazono Shrine’s Antique Market Attracts So Many Foreign Visitors

Every Sunday morning, the quiet grounds of Hanazono Shrine in Shinjuku transform into a lively open-air antique market. Dozens of stalls line the pathways, selling everything from old Japanese pottery and kimonos to vintage cameras and wooden crafts. It’s one of Tokyo’s most accessible and atmospheric antique markets. One Sunday morning, while walking through Shinjuku, I decided to stop by on a whim. Passing through the bright red torii gate, I was met with an unexpected sight: the place was filled almost entirely with visitors from overseas. I’m not exaggerating—at least ninety percent seemed to be foreign travelers. Why has this small antique market at Hanazono Shrine become such a magnet for international visitors? Here are some reasons behind its remarkable appeal. Reason ① Convenient and Reliable Schedule Tokyo has countless flea markets and antique fairs, but many are difficult for travelers to plan around. Some are held irregularly, others have no clear onl...

Tokyo Character Street — Turn Your Shinkansen Wait into a Special Experience

You’ve arrived early at Tokyo Station, ready to catch your Shinkansen. Departure is still an hour away. Should you just sit with a coffee and scroll on your phone?　That would be a missed opportunity. Instead, you can transform this waiting time into a uniquely themed experience at Tokyo Character Street , located on the first basement floor of Tokyo Station’s First Avenue(東京駅一番街). This is not just another shopping arcade—it’s a compact, immersive showcase of Japanese pop culture that attracts fans from both Japan and abroad. Around 30 character-themed shops line the street, offering something for anime enthusiasts, families with kids, and anyone curious about Japanese entertainment culture. As of October 2025, here are some highlights: Pokémon Center :A global icon of Japanese character culture, featuring countless plushies—including the stationmaster Pikachu unique to Tokyo Station. Unlike most Pokémon Centers located underground, this one is conveniently on the first floor. Sanrio ...

Odaiba: Tokyo’s Self-Conscious Playground, Worth a Second Look

For many people living in Tokyo, the word “ Odaiba ” carries a slightly awkward feeling. Built on reclaimed land and suddenly filled with tourist attractions, this area transformed from a warehouse district into a futuristic cityscape that still feels a little artificial. The fact that someone decided to plop a Statue of Liberty replica here makes it seem kitschy and shallow in the eyes of many locals. Tourist spots are crowded, yet inside the massive shopping malls the atmosphere can be strangely empty, giving the whole district an oddly artificial vibe. Among Tokyoites, there’s often a sense of “Odaiba? Isn’t that kind of passé?” Some even say, “I’ve lived here for years but never actually gone there.”(though in truth many of them have). Perhaps every city has a place like this—a little flashy, a little contrived, and often avoided by locals. And yet, once you actually walk around, Odaiba reveals unexpected discoveries, fun attractions, and even a sense of history. Its ai...