Alan Wiren Articles

Alan Wiren

Articles on Japan and Japanese culture by Osaka-based journalist Alan Wiren.

Alan Wiren is a journalist living and working in Japan. He began his career as a staff writer at a tri-state newspaper in the United States.

While traveling through and living in the Far East he has published articles in Kansai Time Out and other publications, about travel and English teaching. He was a columnist for a magazine for Japanese learners of English, and co-authored an English conversation text.

He currently lives with his wife, in Osaka, and works as a freelancer, writing mainly about Japanese food, culture, and travel destinations.

Japanese food

Soy Sauce: An Honorable Savor

Japanese Seaweed: Essence and Accents from the Sea

Japanese Green Tea

Takoyaki: Icon of Osaka

Soba Dojo

Raamen Noodles

Instant Noodles Museum

Japan's Traditional Food Styles

Western Food in Japan

Chopsticks in Japan

Japanese Knives

Japanese history, religion, temples & festivals

'To the Stronger Spirit': Nanzenji Temple Complex, Kyoto

'To the Winner Goes the Eye': Katsuoji Temple

Ebisu & Daikoku: Bringing Home the Bounty

Muroji Temple, Nara: A Dragon Runs Through It

Hamamatsu Festival: the Children's Battle

Blood Soaked Temples of Kyoto

Japanese Funerals

The Sakai Incident

Japanese travel

Culture Shock: Getting Past the Zen and the Kimono

Lake Biwa Canal Museum of Kyoto

Wakayama Marina City

Living the Echizen Style

Guide To Naoshima Art Island

Akame Shijuhataki

Sakai City

Japanese crafts

Japanese Lacquerware: the lustrous charm of urushi

Japanese fans - uchiwa and sensu

Furoshiki

Japanese trends

Mobile Phones - keitai

'Cosplay' - the cult of costume play in Japan

Osaka

Namba

Shinsaibashi

Nipponbashi

Umeda

Tempozan

Nakanoshima

Tokyo | Kyoto | Osaka | Atami | Fukuoka | Hakone | Himeji | Hiroshima | Ibaraki | Ise & Toba | Kamakura | Kanazawa | Kirishima | Kobe | Koyasan | Magome & Tsumago | Nagasaki | Nagoya | Nara | Niigata | Nikko | Oita & Beppu | Okayama & Kurashiki | Okinawa | Saitama | Sakurajima | Sapporo | Sendai | Shizuoka & Hamamatsu | Shodoshima | Toyohashi | Tsukuba | Yanagawa | Yokohama