Marimo Magic – Little Green Fabulousness

If you take good care of your Marimo, it will make your wishes come true! We all know that Japan has a love for strange and wonderful things we would usually never get to see in the West. But did you ever hear about Marimos? A Marimo, Aegagropila linnaei or 毬藻, is an algae (moss) that has the shape of a ball. They are native to lakes in Iceland, Scotland, Estonia, Australia and, of course, Japan. There, they are to be found in the lake Akan-ko in Hokkaido. The people who live around the lake call the Marimos ‘Torasanpe’ which means ‘lake monster/goblin’ and they hold an annual Marimo festival from

And The Winners Are…

Competition winners revealed!

Thanks to everyone who took part in Diverse Japan’s very first ever competition to win a copy of Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex-Solid State Society OVA  on Blu0ray (Double Pack) – the response has been great! Sadly, there can only be two winners. They are:

Daruma Doll: Keep An Eye On Your Dreams In 2012

“Nana Korobi Yaoki “ – “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

Do you have a special goal that you want to achieve in 2012? To pass a tough exam? To find a new love? Maybe achieve a certain sales or profit target?  Or simply to stay fit and healthy?

A popular New Year’s tradition in Japan is to harness the goal-achieving power of their centuries-old iconic Daruma doll. Simply choose “the colour” of your

Daruma Doll: The World’s Cutest Motivational Object!

We Love Daruma!

The Daruma doll is one of the most popular and revered symbols of luck in Japan. Rounded, hollow, and designed with a low center of gravity, this “tumbler doll” (okiagari koboshi) bounces right back up when tilted to the side, representing determination and persistence.

Closely associated with the Daruma is the venerated Japanese proverb, “Nana Korobi Yaoki “. When translated means