Had it been dawn on any other day, the streets of Chigasaki would have been quiet. However, this particular morning was different. As I cycled closer to the coast, the morning silence slowly transformed. A whisper emerged, distant at first, but grew more distinctive with each pedal stroke. Upon my arrival at Southern Beach, I was greeted by the festive energy of locals. I could hear the familiar chants that have filled the streets of Nango-dori every July for over 180 years.

When I moved to Japan about 8 years ago to start graduate school in Tokyo, I was acutely aware of the general attitude towards tattoos in Japan. As someone who sees tattoos as an expression of oneself and a form of art, I was initially worried about having to cover my own tattoos while living and traveling in Japan. Just to make sure I understand the basics of tattoo “etiquette” prior to moving, I learned that in general, I may not be able to enter the highly coveted Japanese

Sake, or nihonshu (日本酒, “Japanese liquor”), is much more than just an alcoholic drink in Japan. It holds deep cultural and spiritual...