Japanese goods, compared on the actual specs.
Prices, materials and the fine print — lined up side by side from the makers' own pages.
We don't claim to have used everything. Sources are named.
Official specs & published sources
- Prices and specs come from the maker's own pages, with the date checked
- Fine print (fair-use caps, shipping limits) is quoted, not summarised away
- We don't write first-hand reviews for products we haven't used
All articles
Live
Disaster Preparedness in Japan: Evacuation Rules, Alert Levels, and What to StockJapan designates emergency evacuation sites by hazard; shelters are designated separately. Alert levels, the 2025 reform, and Safety tips for disaster prep.
Live
National Health Insurance and the National Pension in Japan: Enrollment, Cost, and the Refund When You LeaveNational Health Insurance and the National Pension aren't opt-in. FY2026 pension amount, NHI premium structure, and the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment explained.
Live
Opening a Bank Account in Japan for Foreign Residents: The 6-Month Rule, ExplainedJapan's 6-month bank rule is a 1980 Finance Ministry residency notice, not bank policy — separate from Japan Post's 3-month rule. Bank by bank, August 2026.
Live
How to Start Learning Japanese: Free Public Options FirstWhere a resident should actually begin: the free courses MEXT and NHK publish, how to find a community class when no national directory exists, and what JLPT levels and the Reference Framework each measure.
Live
Sending Money From Japan: Banks, Transfer Services, and the RulesHow money leaves Japan: why the Zengin System stops at the border, how to check a transfer service against the Financial Services Agency register, why a bank's arrival amount is not fixed in advance, and what the tax office is told.
Live
Getting a Japanese Phone Number as a Resident: Voice SIM and the ID LawA voice SIM triggers Japan's identity-verification law; a data-only SIM does not. What Mobal and Sakura Mobile accept from residents, and what MNP leaves behind when you switch carriers.
Live
Converting a Foreign Driver's License in Japan: The 2025 RulesJapan tightened its foreign license conversion (gaimen kirikae) on 1 October 2025: the resident-record requirement, the 50-question knowledge check, and which licenses skip both tests.
Live
Garbage Rules in Japan: Why Every City Is DifferentJapan has no national garbage rule — the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act makes each municipality set its own separation categories. How three cities differ, how sodai gomi stickers work, and which appliances you cannot put out.
Travel
Buying Japanese Knives in Japan: Shops, Tax-Free, PackingWhere to buy Japanese kitchen knives in Tokyo, how tax-free shopping changes in 2026, and how to pack, declare, and bring a knife home to the US safely.
Travel
Japan eSIM with a Phone Number: When You Actually Need OneMost travelers only need data. Learn when a Japanese number matters, why voice lines require passport ID, and how emergency calling changes the choice.
Travel
Japan Tax-Free Shopping Changes on November 1, 2026Japan's tax-free shopping moves to a refund system on November 1, 2026. What tourists pay, how customs confirmation works, and what can block a refund.
Home
Can You Use a Japanese 100V Rice Cooker in the US?A conservative guide to Japanese 100V rice cookers in the US: voltage differences, maker warnings, transformer limits, warranty, and safer buying options.
Travel
Pocket WiFi vs eSIM in Japan: Where the Break-Even IsCompare pocket WiFi and eSIM costs in Japan by trip length and party size, with a seven-day example and the tradeoffs behind the math.
Kitchen
Santoku vs. Gyuto vs. Nakiri: Which Shape to Buy FirstCompare santoku, gyuto, and nakiri by cutting motion, tip shape, board space, and the foods you prep most—without treating one as universally better.
Kitchen
Whetstone Grit Progression: Which Stones to Buy FirstA manufacturer-sourced guide to choosing a first Japanese whetstone, adding coarse or finishing stones, and avoiding misleading grit conversion charts.
Travel
Best eSIM for Japan: Plans and Prices ComparedAiralo, Ubigi, Holafly and Sakura Mobile compared on price, which Japanese carrier they run on, and what each one actually means by unlimited data.
Kitchen
Bokksu vs Sakuraco vs TokyoTreat: Japanese Snack BoxesPlan prices, shipping fees, US duties, and box contents for the three biggest Japanese snack subscriptions, compared from their own published figures.
Kitchen
Japanese Chef Knives: A Buyer's Guide by BudgetHow to choose a Japanese chef knife by steel (VG-10, Aogami, Shirogami), handle type, and blade shape, plus what actually changes at each price tier.