Hall of Fame: The Best Of Savvy Tokyo For 2017

These were the 10 most-read stories on Savvy Tokyo in 2017.

Ah, what a fantastic year it was! Before we embrace 2018, all fresh and new, let’s take a look back at what was popular on Savvy over the past 12 months.

In 2017, we posted a lot of seasonal and cultural topics and introduced several new series, including our Tokyo Neighborhood Strolls, in which we introduce famous (and not so) areas across Tokyo; Confessions & Confusions, a monthly column by Melodie Cook in which she discusses adoptive and fostering families’ day-to-day struggles; Been There, Learnt That, another monthly column by Louise George Kittaka on raising bilingual and bicultural children in Japan; and Moving On, personal stories about closing old doors and opening new ones in our lives in Japan. We also revamped our school section to provide an updated database of international schools in Japan, including regular events they hold that are open to the public.

This year saw us climb Tokyo Tower in support of TELL’s mental health lifeline and we had two Savvy parties this year, one in February and one in December, where we met with readers, contributors, supporters and clients to show our gratitude to everyone involved with the Savvy Tokyo community. If you made it to the party — thank you so much! If you couldn’t — we’ll see you next year!

As we digested the analytics this year, we noticed that our readers were most captivated by several topics that we all can relate to: relationships, balanced lifestyle, things we love about Japan and our continued interest in how Japanese families raise disciplined children.

In order of popularity, here are the 10 most-read Savvy stories for 2017. Enjoy!

1. 3 Health Tips I Learned In Japan That Helped Me Lose 40 Pounds

Katheryn Gronauer shares how she lost 40 pounds (18 kg) since arriving in Japan by looking into three main practices Japanese women do in their daily lives, which, as she finds, can have a major impact on our health and figure. Read the full article to learn what these tips are.

2. The Japanese Way Of Disciplining Children

Kate Lewis (who also wrote the best performing article in 2016) looks into what Japanese families do differently to discipline their children and how they elicit good behavior from their kids in the first place.  

3. Dating In Japan: Foreign Women Share Their Stories

What’s it like to be a foreign woman dating in Japan? This is a topic that isn’t often spoken of and can cover a wide range of experiences both positive and negative, argues Hilary Keyes. To answer her own question, she reached out to 40 foreign women with dating stories in Japan who were willing to share their experiences — and their stories will make you laugh and cry.

4. A Foreign Girl’s Guide On How To Discuss Sex With Your Japanese Guy

Another story by Hilary Keyes, this one discusses a topic that we all secretly talk about but don’t necessarily discuss openly. Hilary, however, fears not and gets down to business by providing a list of useful terms that every woman should know so she can express her needs and preferences to her Japanese partner in bed.

5. 10 Japanese High Schools That Accept Foreign Students

Veteran Savvy writer Kirsty Kawano introduces 10 schools in Tokyo that welcome foreign students and provide them with adequate language and cultural support until graduation. If you are a parent thinking of sending your child through the Japanese high school system, this is an article you shouldn’t miss.

6. Jiyugaoka: A Guide To Tokyo’s Little Europe

Travel and food writer Nano Betts takes us on a day trip to stylish Jiyugaoka, an area often forgotten by most guidebooks, which — to quote Pretty Woman — is a big, b.i.g. mistake. Huge. The area is the perfect destination for relaxed shopping, casual dining and afternoon tea and coffee breaks.

7. 6 Weird And Wonderful Don Quijote Beauty Products

Lucy Dayman guides us through some of Don Quijote’s most odd items that turn out to be quite useful. From speed teeth brushing and scalpel-free face-slimming jobs to getting younger in the knees and enjoying the safest nose job on the market, Lucy writes that Japan’s Don Quijote has a solution to every beauty problem you may (or may not) have.

8. Shimokitazawa: A Guide To Tokyo’s Bohemian Hub

Another post in our new Tokyo Neighborhood Strolls, Nano Betts guides us through the wonders of Shimokitazawa, no doubt one of Tokyo’s coolest spots for used clothing shopping, dining and live music houses.

9. Japanese Beauty Secrets You Can Start Using Right Now

Have you ever wondered what makes Japanese women’s skin stay impeccable despite age and pollution and how they manage to stay so fit despite eating quite a lot? Beauty and fashion writer Emi Schemmer answers this question by giving us seven Japanese beauty secrets that are, in fact, quite easy to incorporate into our lives.

10. How Japan Raises Resilient Children

Kate Lewis’s second round in the discussion of how Japanese parents discipline their children talks about what it takes parents to raise resilient children and what the difference between “ganbatte” and “good luck” is.

What were your favorite Savvy Tokyo stories for the year? What stories would you like to see more on the site in 2018? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!