Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-06-17
The Origin of Japanese Figures: From Edo-Era Netsuke 根付 to Modern Collectibles Japan is famous around the world for its incredible figure culture. Today, characters from anime, manga, and video gam...
2026-06-17
Never Forget What Made You Successful As companies grow, priorities often change; that’s natural. However, when those priorities shift too far, organizations can lose the very strengths that made them...
2026-06-17
Visited Yasukuni Shrine Today, I visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Located near the Imperial Palace, Yasukuni Shrine was established in 1869 and enshrines those who died in service to Japan from the ...
2026-06-17
Why Is 大和 Read as “Yamato”? I was recently asked why the Japanese characters 大和 are read as Yamato. At first glance, it seems strange. The character 大 is usually read as dai or ō, meaning “great,” an...
2026-06-16
The Man Behind Japan’s 10,000 Yen Bill — Who Is He? If you visit Japan today, you may notice a new face on the 10,000 yen banknote. The man featured on the bill is Eiichi Shibusawa (渋沢栄一), often call...
2026-06-16
Lost in Translation: A Permanent ChoiceMany years ago, I saw a woman with the Japanese characters 「無料」 tattooed across her lower back. PS: This is an AI generated image. https://en.bloguru.com/ken...
2026-06-16
The Names of Yamato, Musashi, and Shinano — What Do They Mean? The three great warships of the Yamato-class carried names that came from ancient provinces of Japan. In the Imperial Japanese Navy, b...
2026-06-16
A Peaceful View of Tokyo: Sumida River and the Sky Tree Yesterday, on my way to a business appointment in Tokyo, I came across this beautiful view and could not resist taking a picture. It is a sce...
2026-06-16
A Reminder That We Live in Earthquake Country Around 7:50 this evening, an earthquake measuring around magnitude 5.9 was reported near Tokyo. I was staying in Tokyo and experienced the shaking firs...
2026-06-16
PM Takaichi’s Strengths and the Challenges Ahead Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has shown strong leadership in building relationships with other world leaders and maintaining a firm posture against ...