In the run-up to Christmas 2025, many children across Japan made what sounded like a modest and easily fulfilled request: stickers. To parents, it seemed like the perfect gift — inexpensive, harmless, and nostalgic. But as many families quickly discovered, finding certain stickers had become surprisingly difficult. In recent months, stickers have transformed from simple… Continue reading Why Stickers Have Become Japan’s Most Unlikely Must-Have Item
Tag: New year
Are New Year Postcards Fading From Japanese Life?
As the year draws to a close, a familiar ritual unfolds across Japan. Address books are reopened, pens come out, and households and offices prepare to send 年賀状 (nengajō) — traditional New Year postcards exchanged to offer seasonal greetings and good wishes. For generations, these cards have been a cornerstone of Japanese social etiquette, reinforcing… Continue reading Are New Year Postcards Fading From Japanese Life?