Japan Archives

From day trips and road trips to long hauls and campgrounds, Scout likes to get out there and explore.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

We Want to Play Japan’s Dangerous Game of Bo-Taoshi

Played on sports days in Japanese schools, the brutal game of Bo-Taoshi was originated by cadets in the Second World War.

Drinker / Japan

Watch This Japanese Bartender Hand-Carve Ice Into Gems for His Cocktails

The Samurai Bartender does his methodical, mesmerizing thing to great ASMR satisfaction at Tokyo's tiny Bar Go.

Smoke Breaks / Japan

Mesmerizing ‘Pizza Toast & Coffee’ Gives Meditative Glimpse Into Japan’s ‘Kissa’ Culture

Watch as proprietor Yamane-san quietly goes about crafting his signature pizza toast in his old cafe outside Tokyo.

Cool Things We Want / Japan

We Want This Japanese Artist’s Complete Collection of Sushi Made of Stone

We've seen lots of display sushi made of plastic, wax and resin at Japanese restaurants. This is something very different.

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If / Japan

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If It Had Tokyo’s Incredible Lost and Found System

Your options for tracking down your lost items in Vancouver are very limited, but what if we had a different approach?

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

How Japan Recovered After the Devastating 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami

Nine years ago this week the island nation of Japan suffered the devastating T?hoku earthquake and tsunami.

Smoke Breaks / Japan

Understanding the Ancient Japanese Art of Creating Marbled Patterns on Paper

In this short video, Linh My Truong shows how the craft is done using a variety of tools that include a cat's whisker.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

‘Osaka Power’ Lights Up Japan’s Second-Largest City

This wonderful, fast-moving short film from Christoph Gelep brilliantly captures two sides of the bustling Japanese city of Osaka.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

Exploring Nagatani, the Abandoned Japanese Village Found Frozen in Time

A videographer recently explored Nagatani Village in central Japan. The abandoned hamlet was once home to about 70 people.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

The Fascinating Story of How One Invention Changed Everything in Japan

This short explainer provides some background on one of Japan's most iconic mechanical engineering accomplishments.