Discovering Other Worlds Within Japan

Japan is home to people from many different countries and cultural backgrounds. Their communities can be found not only in the heart of Tokyo, but also in suburban neighborhoods, regional cities, and sometimes in places where you would least expect them.

Mosques hidden among ordinary houses, Hindu temples in former supermarkets, halal shops serving local communities, restaurants offering the everyday food of distant countries, and festivals where languages, music, and traditions from around the world fill the streets — these places reveal another side of Japan.

Rather than simply searching for “foreign” experiences, I visit the places where people actually live, eat, pray, shop, meet, and celebrate. Through these encounters, I hope to discover the many different cultures and communities that have become part of life in Japan.

This is a journey through the small worlds that exist within Japan — and a chance to encounter cultures from around the globe without crossing the country’s borders.