HYPER JAPAN 2012 Christmas

It's the time of year when Japan starts to blossom, a great wave of pink spreading over the country from south to north. This is cherry blossom, or sakura, season, which means it's time for hanami, cherry blossom viewing. Blossoming for just a few days before they scatter, these flowers are rich in symbolism. Their fleeting presence each spring is a reminder of the fragility and transient nature of life and its natural cycles; this year's cherry blossoms will be particularly poignant in the wake of the Tohoku earthquake of March 11. We take a look at what cherry blossoms mean in Japanese culture, how they are celebrated, and introduce a few cherry blossom haiku, too.

The massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan’s north-eastern Tohoku region on Friday 11 March has caused unprecedented damage to one of the country’s most beautiful yet least appreciated areas. But the unfailing dignity of the people thrown suddenly from their normal lives into an unthinkable nightmare points to the spirit, stoicism and resilience of Tohoku communities, used to harsh conditions and unforgiving climates--although nothing of this scale.  It will be a long time before Tohoku is back on its feet, but when it does, the region and its people will again take their places as the beating heart of Japan. 

The UK release of Norwegian Wood by Soda Pictures has focused the media spotlight on Haruki Murakami, Japan's top selling contemporary author overseas. But what it is that makes Murakami so successful?

The third in Helen McCarthy's fascinating series on the joys of affordable travel in Japan. This time, pop culture expert Helen takes us on a tour around her favourite part of Tokyo - shitamachi, the "low city". There's less glitz than Ginza, but the low city is packed with history, bargain shopping and accessibly priced restaurants. It's a great place to start for a taste of the real Japan. Over to Helen.

Click here to read the first installment in the series, Planning Your Trip, and here for part two, Cheap Accommodation.

Akihabara, Tokyo, is the city to go to find out everything about anime, manga and games. If you’re a fan of any of them, it's got to be top of your list when you visit Japan, and if you're not a fan, it's still a truly memorable experience. But it wasn't always the City of Otaku. Wataru Takaya tells us how Akihabara has changed over the years, and gives us his personal recommendations of what to see.