Our Deep Japan storytellers, your Senpai.
Our Deep Japan storytellers,
your Senpai.
Our mission.
Deep Japan is a community-driven tourism platform offering authentic insights into Japanese culture, travel, and everyday life. Our diverse “Senpai” writers—many with over 20 years of living in Japan—share heartfelt stories, practical travel tips, and fascinating observations about the Japan they know and love.
Our mission is to shine a light on the thoughtful traditions and endearing quirks that define Japanese life, fostering a deeper appreciation for what makes this country so beautifully different.
Write for us. Tell your story.
Professional writing experience is not required—if you have lived in Japan for at least three years at any point, we welcome you to apply to join our Senpai writer community. Whether you first came to Japan to teach, study abroad, follow a partner, launch a new career, or simply chase a curiosity—we want to hear from you.
There are stories only you can tell, and at Deep Japan, we would be honored to give your voice a home.
Enryo no katamari
Have you ever found yourself sharing food with a bunch of people, and after everybody takes their piece, there is that final bite left…the last pizza slice, the last cookie, the last French fry…just waiting. Everyone’s having fun chatting, but you all kind of see this last yummy bite lounging on the plate. Yet, nobody makes a move out of politeness.
In Japanese, we call that last piece of food enryo no katamari, which literally means “a lump of restraint,” or something along those lines. It always makes me smile when I see this enryo no katamari phenomenon happen in real time – there’s just something wholesome and endearing about it, haha!
Does this happen where you’re from too, and do you have your own word for it?
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