When people think of Japan, beaches usually aren't the first thing that comes to mind. Cherry blossoms, ancient temples, and bustling city streets often steal the spotlight. But stretching from the cool shores of Hokkaido to the tropical islands of Okinawa, Japan is home to an incredible variety of beaches that are just as worth exploring.

“Children are our future.” This is a statement that I’m sure everyone has said or has heard said at least once. Children not only represent a hope for the future, they are the very building blocks that that future rests upon. It can be seen in the importance that every government places on education. Education isn’t limited to a classroom; it’s the lessons we’re taught by our families, communities, through after-school activities, and by life itself. Each lesson molds, s

The Sawara Grand Festival is one of Kanto’s big three great float festivals. This breathtaking event is comprised of two festivals: the Sawara Grand Summer Festival, also known as the Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Sawara), and the Sawara Grand Autumn Festival, also known as the Suwa Shrine Autumn Festival. Together, these festivals have been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Japanese government since 2004. With a history spanning mo

Hangesho tends to be important to agriculturists due to its overlap with one of the busiest times for farmers as summer is right around the corner, “Hangesho is a more significant milestone for farmers than the summer solstice.

TechSoup is a charity aimed at closing the digital divide in the non-profit and public sectors by improving eligible organizations’ ability to use digital technology to fulfill their various missions. To accomplish this, TechSoup’s main service is providing these organizations with commonly used business software and services such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace at a highly discounted (50-90% off) or totally free cost in comparison with the ordinary retail price.

Japan has a way of transforming its seasons into something meaningful. A change in weather, a flower blooming, or even a clear night sky can become part of a larger tradition. This is something I have noticed more since being in Japan. Festivals are not just events here. They often feel connected to nature, memory, folklore, and everyday life. Tanabata (七夕祭り) is one of the clearest examples of this.

Picture a theater where actors stride through the audience instead of staying on stage. A single dramatic pose can earn cheers from the crowd, revolving stages transform entire scenes in seconds, and every movement, costume, and brushstroke of makeup tells a story long before a word is spoken. This is the world of Kabuki (歌舞伎), one of Japan's most celebrated performing arts and an experience unlike any modern theater.

Charity Santa is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2008 with the motto "You too can be someone's Santa Claus." Since 2008, Charity Santa has made it its mission to bring joy to children around the holiday season with the hope of creating a treasured memory.