Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-08-23
The Two Things Most Likely to Be Stolen in JapanJapan is known as one of the safest countries in the world. You often hear stories about people losing a wallet, purse, or smartphone and getting it ...
2026-08-23
Part 1 of “The Real Last Samurai Was French” became one of my most viewed and commented posts. So I felt I should complete the story and explain what happened after the final battle. In Part 1, I w...
2026-08-23
Even the Smallest Creature Has a SpiritThere is an old Japanese proverb: 一寸の虫にも五分の魂Issun no mushi ni mo gobu no tamashii It literally means, “Even a one-inch insect has half an inch of spirit.” ...
2026-08-22
Who Created the Famous Portrait of Emperor Meiji? Even most Japanese people have seen the famous portrait of Emperor Meiji. But many probably do not know that the man who created it was Italian. His n...
2026-08-22
諌める (Isameru) — Instead of Punishing, Teach There is a Japanese word, isameru (諌める), which means to advise someone when they are doing something wrong or heading in the wrong direction. I think thi...
2026-08-21
Why Does Japan Have So Many Characters? Japan has characters everywhere. Cities and prefectures have mascots. Government departments have characters. Police and fire departments have them. Compan...
2026-08-21
From Silk to a Global Character EmpireIn 1960, Shintaro Tsuji founded a small company called Yamanashi Silk Center. As the name suggests, the company initially dealt with silk products from Yamanas...
2026-08-21
Hiruko — The Abandoned God Who Became a God of Fortune In Japanese mythology, 蛭子 (Hiruko) was the first child born to Izanagi and Izanami, the divine couple who created the islands of Japan. Accord...
2026-08-21
Even an Oni Can Cry鬼の目にも涙 (Oni no Me ni mo Namida) In Japanese folklore, an Oni (鬼) is a powerful and frightening creature, often portrayed as cruel, violent, and without mercy. Yet the Japanese expr...
2026-08-21
The Real Last Samurai Was French Many people know The Last Samurai, the 2003 movie starring Tom Cruise. While the story is fictional, one of the historical figures often associated with its inspirati...