Officially, World War II came to an end on September 2, 1945 with the surrender of Japan. For Teruo Nakamura, the war would continue for another 29 years, 3 months, and 17 […]
The Last Soldier
Lucille Ball: Mistress of Comedy and Counter-Espionage
Lucille Ball (1911-1989) was not only one of the undisputed geniuses of comedy, starring in I Love Lucy, Life With Lucy, and more than 80 motion pictures, but she also played an […]
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream
Got a craving for ice cream? Try one of these distinctive flavors from around the world: Honey Jalapeño Pickle from Sweet Action Ice Cream in Denver, Colorado Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel from […]
Turn Baby Mice Whines into Baby Mice Wine
If you like mice — particularly the baby kind — you might enjoy the traditional drink in China and Korea: baby mice wine. Manufacturers take baby mice from their mothers before they […]
Divine Wind
A Japanese scroll art created 200 years ago during the Edo period (1603-1868) is dedicated to gas warfare, but not the kind of gas traditionally used in combat.
Slow and Steady Completes the Race
Shizo Kanakuri, a Japanese marathoner at the 1912 Olympics in Sweden, quit the race part way through and went home without telling race officials. In 1966 he was invited to compete the […]
One Little Letter Makes All the Difference
Japanese speakers frequently have difficulty differentiating between the English letters “L” and “R”. This was particularly evident in 1950 when supporters of General Douglas MacArthur (then serving as military governor of Japan […]
Bring Your Appetite — and Your Wallet
One of the priciest dining experiences in Japan is at Kitcho, a beautifully designed restaurant in Kyoto run by award-winning chef Kunio Tokuoka. The chef believes every dish that is served to […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 