Shun Ogawa– Author –
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An Insider’s Drinking Guide to Temma: Navigating Osaka’s Labyrinthine Alleys for the Best Izakayas and Bars
If you live in Osaka for more than a few weeks, someone will eventually ask you a deceptively simple question: “Where do you drink?” A new arrival may answer Umeda, Dotonbori, or Namba. Those places are easy to name because they are easy... -
Decoding the Art of ‘Tsukkomi’: How Osaka’s Friendly Jabs Build Connections
Osaka is loud. Osaka is bright. Osaka is a city that vibrates with a relentless, percussive energy that hits you the moment you step off the Shinkansen onto the concrete platforms of Shin-Osaka Station. If you have spent any time in Toky... -
The Akindo Spirit: Understanding Osaka’s Merchant Soul and Daily Life
Step off the Shinkansen bullet train at Shin-Osaka Station, navigate your way through the dizzying maze of commuters, and descend into the city. The moment you step out onto the street, you will feel it. The rhythm of the city is fundame... -
How Osakans Spend a Relaxing Weekend: A Guide to Nakanoshima’s Parks, Cafes, and Art Scene
Osaka is loud. Osaka is neon. Osaka is a chaotic symphony of bicycle bells, vendor shouts, and the sizzling sounds of street food frying under the glow of the Dotonbori signs. Or so the tourist brochures will eagerly tell you. When forei... -
The Sentō Experience: A Guide for Community Seekers vs. Spa Lovers in Osaka’s Neighborhood Sentō
The streets of Osaka are loud, a chaotic symphony of bicycle bells, vendor shouts, and the endless rumble of the elevated trains. But beneath this frantic urban rhythm lies a different kind of heartbeat, a quieter, more intimate pulse th... -
Decoding the Merchant City: Why Business Communication in Osaka Favors Negotiation Over Formal Etiquette
You step off the Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka Station, adjusting your tie and reviewing your presentation notes. You have spent months preparing for this trip. You have read the standard business guides on Japan. You know exactly how many de... -
The Unspoken Rules of the Road: Understanding Osaka’s Unique Bicycle Habits concerning Bicycle Etiquette
Osaka moves differently than any other city in Japan. While Tokyo marches to the metronomic, bureaucratic beat of a capital city obsessed with order, Osaka swings to the syncopated, pragmatic rhythm of a merchant town. Here, efficiency t... -
The Original Coworking: How Osaka’s Traditional Kissaten Serve as Hubs for Work and Community
You hear the term “third place” thrown around a lot. It’s that spot that isn’t home, isn’t work, but a third anchor in your life where community and comfort reside. The modern world chased this idea with minimalist cafes and subscription... -
The Soul of Shimatsu: Unpacking the Osakan Art of Getting It Done Right
Walk through Osaka, really walk, and you’ll feel a certain rhythm in the air. It’s not the polished, almost silent hum of a Tokyo business district. It’s a percussive beat, a clatter of commerce, a chorus of shouted greetings from shopke... -
Navigating Osaka’s ‘Osekkai’ Culture: Turning Meddling into Meaningful Friendships
You’re standing in the aisle of a supermarket in Tennoji, staring intently at two bottles of soy sauce. One is the familiar Kikkoman logo you recognize from home. The other is a local brand with a label covered in kanji you can’t quite d... -
How to Curate the Perfect Meal from Osaka’s Depachika (Department Store Food Halls)
Step off the train in Umeda, a human river pulling you toward the grand entrances of Hanshin, Hankyu, or Daimaru. You descend an escalator, and the air changes. The sterile quiet of the upper floors dissolves into a symphonic chaos of si... -
Beyond Souvenirs: How to Become a ‘Regular’ and Build Friendships in Osaka’s Shotengai
So you've landed in Osaka. You’ve got your apartment, you’ve mastered the Midosuji Line, and you’ve eaten enough takoyaki to know your favorite stand. But a nagging feeling persists. You feel like you're still on the outside looking in, ...
