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We made 2023 Calendars for Free!

January 2023

Nakanoshima Museum of Art

May 24, 2022

Following three decades of preparation, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka finally opened in Spring 2022. In addition to the exhibitions, the architecture of the museum itself is extraordinary as large-scale modern art. 

The current exhibitions are fantastic. We are also looking forward to the upcoming exhibition “Okamoto Taro: A Retrospective,” since Mr. Okamoto is the artist behind “Tower of the Sun” (Kanji: 太陽の塔, Hiragana: たいようのとう), the iconic symbol of Osaka’s “Expo ’70” world’s fair. 

What is Setsubun ?

January 17, 2022

You will be able to see some funny scenery in Japanese supermarkets on February 3. Instead of the "Nigirizushi" (the most popular sushi) that is usually sold, there will be many cylindrical sushi rolls for sale at the usual sushi corner. Near the entrance of the supermarket, you will also be able to find a lot of bean-based snacks and demon masks.

February 3 is a traditional, special day called “Setsubun“ (Kanji: 節分; hiragana: せつぶん) in Japan. On that day, many Japanese throw roasted soybeans at a “demon” (actually a person wearing a demon mask) while shouting "Demons out! Fortune in!" in their home in order to get rid of evil spirits. The shout is ”Oni-wa-soto! Fuku-wa-uchi!” (kanji: 鬼は外！福は内！; hiragana: おにはそと！ふくはうち！) in Japanese. People also eat cylindrical sushi rolls named “Ehoumaki” (kanji: 恵方巻; hiragana: えほうまき) while orienting themselves towards the year’s “lucky direction” (the lucky direction is north-north-west in 2022). While eating the Ehoumaki, it is tradition to keep completely silent until you finish. It is a funny, interesting ritual! 

A great time dining in Osaka has come back! 

October 30, 2021

On October 25, 2021, the Osaka Prefectural government lifted its COVID-19-related directive for shorter business hours for restaurants. This directive has been in place since November 2020 - nearly an entire year! Restaurants can now operate as usual, and patrons can enjoy food and alcohol until regular closing times. 
 
However, Osaka Prefecture still requests people to follow the rules below while dining at restaurants in Osaka: 
-        Time spent at a restaurant should be limited to 2 hours
-        4 or fewer members per “table” at a restaurant with a Gold government-issued COVID-19 countermeasure sticker
-        4 or fewer members per “group” at a restaurant with a Blue government-issued COVID-19 countermeasure sticker
-        4 or fewer members per “group” at a restaurant with no sticker
 
Please check your restaurant's hours of operation beforehand. Have a great time dining out in Osaka, while following good etiquette and protecting your health!! 

Autumn - the best harvest season of tasty food!

October 15, 2021

Chestnuts, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, grapes, pears, persimmons, mandarins... A lot of fruits and vegetables are harvested in this season! Sweets shops and cafes offer season-limited sweets with fresh fruits! Why don't you try them during your stay in Japan? 

Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

July 20, 2021

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics are coming very soon! 

Our feelings about the Olympics are complicated. Naturally, we are worried about a possible medical system breakdown, as well as additional state of emergency declarations, due to COVID-19. Further, we believe that the late decision-making and insufficient planning by the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympics and Paralympics should be criticized.  

However, we would also like to send up a big yell of support for every participating athlete! They have undoubtedly had a very hard time keeping up their motivation (as well as their physical skills) under the COVID-19 situation.

The following events are newly added in this year’s Olympics.

New Olympic events: Baseball (returning after an absence), Softball (returning after an absence), Karate, Surfing, Skateboarding, and Sports Climbing.

New Paralympic events: Taekwondo and Badminton.

For a complete schedule of all events, please see the official website.
Olympic:  Olympic Schedule & Results | Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Paralympic:  Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - Competition schedule (olympics.com) 

The broadcasting schedule of the opening and closing ceremonies is as follows:

Olympic Opening Ceremony: Jul. 23(Fri) 19:00-23:30 (JST)

Olympic Closing Ceremony: Aug. 8(Sun) 19:00 - 22:30 (JST)

Paralympic Opening Ceremony: Aug. 24(Tue) 19:00-23:00 (JST)

Paralympic Closing Ceremony: Sep. 5(Sun)19:00-22:30 (JST)

We are looking forward to watching the Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic Games and related ceremonies at our house.

USJ plans to collaborate with "Demon Slayer"

July 5, 2021
 
Universal Studios Japan has announced a new collaboration with the hit manga/anime series “Demon Slayer” (Japanese title: Kimetsu-No-Yaiba; kanji: 鬼滅の刃, hiragana: きめつのやいば). As part of this collaboration, “Demon Slayer”-themed events will take place in the theme park from September 17, 2021 to February 13, 2022. If you like “Demon Slayer” and USJ, please don’t miss it!

Please check the USJ official website beforehand since the customers’ entry might be limited or opening time might be shorter.

Tennoji Zoo has reopened !

June 26, 2021

Following its closure for nearly 2 months due to the COVID 19-related state of emergency declared in Osaka, Tennoji Zoo has reopened for visitors as of June 22, 2021. Tennoji Zoo Official Website: Click here! 

Admission fees 

- Adults: 500yen
- Elementary and junior high school students: 200yen
- Preschool children: Free

Osaka begins COVID-19 vaccination program

May 24, 2021 

On May 24, 2021, Osaka started its large-scale vaccination program against the COVID-19 virus. Residents who wish to receive a vaccine via this large-scale program must first make a reservation over the internet after receiving a notification postcard from the Osaka municipal office. The current order of priority to receive the vaccine in Japan is as follows: 1) healthcare professionals; 2) elderly residents aged 65 or older (i.e., people born on or before April 1,1957); 3) people with underlying health conditions; and 4) employees at elderly care facilities etc. Osaka’s vaccination program is targeted at the second group, and vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are used at present.

For the latest information regarding COVID 19 and vaccinations in Japan, please check the English-language website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

The Nintendo World

April 15, 2021

Universal Studio Japan, USJ, has opened a new attraction area. It is “The Nintendo World". You may have a illusion that you are one of characters in the Super Mario’s game world!!  Please check the USJ official website beforehand since the customers’ entry might be limited or opening time might be shorter. 

Sakura season is coming soon!

March 17, 2021

The expected flowering* date and expected full-bloom* date of Japan’s Sakura (kanji: 桜; hiragana: さくら) trees for 2021 was recently released by Weather News!! 

 
Osaka                      March 19 to 20
Hyogo (Kobe)        March 22 to 30 

Kyoto                      March 16 to 24
Nara                        March 18 to 25
Shiga (Hikone)      March 25 to 31
Wakayama             March 17 to 25 

*The expected flowering date is the date on which a standard Sakura tree has 5 or more flowers in bloom. 

**The expected full-bloom date is the date on which 80% or more of the buds on a standard Sakura tree are flowering. 

The species of the “standard Sakura tree” is “Someiyoshino" (katakana: ソメイヨシノ; hiragana: そめいよしの).” This species of tree is selected as the standard tree every year because it is sensitive to temperature. 

You may be able to enjoy Sakura even after the above-stated high season. Sakura petals that flutter onto bodies of water or the ground are beautiful, too. Further, Hazakura (kanji: 葉桜; hiragana: はざくら), which are Sakura trees in which flowers and fresh green leaves are visible at the same time, are also nice!  Our recommended Sakura spots in Osaka are shown below!

3.11

March 4, 2021

On March 11, 2011, all of Japan was in tears. On that day, a huge earthquake struck Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, and other prefectures in East Japan. While working in my office in Kansai (even far away from East Japan, the quake was still clearly felt), I felt a strange rolling I had never experienced before, and was rendered speechless later that day when I watched the news at home. Ships, cars, houses, buildings, and trees were flowing on gray water from the sea. It was reality, but it all seemed like a very bad dream. 

The date March 11, 2021 marked the 10-year anniversary of what is now known as “3.11.” or “Higashi-Nihon Daishinsai” (kanji: 東日本大震災； hiragana: ひがしにほんだいしんさい). Everyone in Japan who can recall that day does so with a great pain in their hearts.  As of December 10, 2020, a total of 18,426 people lost their lives or went missing as a result of the disaster. However, even if their lives never come back, our memories of them will never disappear.