Hi, I’m Judith Mikami originally from Auckland, New Zealand. I came to Japan over 30 years ago to experience...
Hi, I’m Judith Mikami originally from Auckland, New Zealand. I came to Japan over 30...
Hi,I’m Judith originally from Auckland, New Zealand. I came to Japan over 30 years ago to experience a culture and country very different from my homeland.
Hi,I’m Judith originally from Auckland, New Zealand. I came to Japan over 30 years ago to experience a culture and country very different from my homeland.
Hi,I’m Judith originally from Auckland, New Zealand. I came to Japan over 30 years ago to experience a culture and country very different from my homeland.
Hi, I’m Judith Mikami originally from Auckland,...
Hello! My name is Gen Shiraishi and I was born and raised in . I'm very passionate about helping internationals...
Hello! My name is Gen Shiraishi and I was born and raised in . I'm very passionate about...
Hello! My name is Gen Shiraishi and I was born and raised in Yokohama. I'm very passionate about helping internationals discover Japan's true beauties and hidden gems.
Hello! My name is Gen Shiraishi and I was born and raised in Yokohama. I'm very passionate about helping internationals discover Japan's true beauties and hidden gems.
Hello! My name is Gen Shiraishi and I was born and raised in Yokohama. I'm very passionate about helping internationals discover Japan's true beauties and hidden gems.
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.
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.
In Japan, we are huge fans of onomatopoeia. It is often used to describe food textures, for example, describing melty cheese as toro toro, crunchy wafers as saku saku, or chewy dumplings as mochi mochi.
There are so many good ones, but I think my favorite might be…kocho kocho! It actually has nothing to do with food…can you guess what it means?
Kocho kocho means to tickle (or be tickled). Yes, very random, but does it not sound so cute!?