All articles
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Summer Life Above the Treeline ── Hutsul Mountain Herding and Brynza
In Ukraine's western Carpathian Mountains, sheep and cattle have been driven up each summer to the high pastures above the treeline known as polonyna, where herders live in huts and pens and make the salty cheese brynza from the milk. This article covers the form of these seasonal settlements, the scale of the herding in the 1930s, its listing on the national register of intangible cultural heritage, and the geographical-indication registrations of 2019 and 2020.
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Where to Start With Ukrainian Literature — Books Available in Japanese, by Genre and Era
Trying to read Ukrainian literature runs, before you even choose a book, into the question of where to draw the line around "Ukrainian literature" at all. This article sets out that line first, then lists books confirmed to exist in Japanese translation, organized by genre and era. It also notes that the katakana spelling of a name can differ from book to book. This is not a ranked recommendation.
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The Movable-Frame Hive of 1814 ── The Beekeeper Petro Prokopovych
Ukrainian encyclopedias name Petro Prokopovych as the man who built a movable-frame hive in 1814 that let beekeepers take honey without killing the bees. This article covers the shift from hollow-log hives to frame hives, the beekeeping school he opened in 1828, how to read the claim that he was “the first in the world,” the conflicting hive counts given in different encyclopedias, and today's honey production as recorded by FAOSTAT.
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Ukraine’s Cities and Their World Heritage
Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro. Eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, three of which are on the List of World Heritage in Danger; seven intangible cultural heritage elements; and 545 cultural sites confirmed as damaged as of 29 July 2026. This article traces Ukraine's cities and cultural heritage through UNESCO's published materials.
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2,820 km from the Arctic Ocean, Ending at a Village on the Danube Delta ── The Struve Geodetic Arc
The Struve Geodetic Arc measured a meridian of over 2,820 kilometres, from a northern cape in Norway to a village near the Danube delta close to the Black Sea, using a chain of triangles. This article covers the purpose of the survey carried out between 1816 and 1855, and the markers at the four points in Ukraine among the 34 points inscribed as a World Heritage site of ten countries in 2005.
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“The World Tried to Catch Me, But Could Not”: The Philosopher Skovoroda
Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722–1794), the figure portrayed on the 500-hryvnia banknote, was a philosopher who, after being dismissed from his teaching post, spent 25 years walking from place to place and writing poems and dialogues while staying with friends. Drawing on encyclopedias, this article traces his life and works and his idea of "congenial work," and records how the museum dedicated to him was destroyed by a Russian missile in 2022, the year of his 300th birth anniversary.
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Ukraine’s Rivers Flow to Three Seas — Water Systems, Climate, and Chernozem
Ukraine's river water heads not only to the Black Sea but also to the Sea of Azov and the Baltic Sea. This article sets out the basins of Ukraine's major rivers as recorded in the National Water Cadastre, its natural zones and climate, and the extent and degradation of its chernozem, attaching the issuing body and date to every figure. Even Japan's own public bodies do not agree on the country's area.
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7 Well-Known Ukrainian Companies | Their Features and Main Services Explained
Did you know that Ukrainian companies have become world-famous in recent years? Ukraine is home not only to rapidly growing IT companies, but also to many well-known companies in the long-established food and mining industries. This time, we’ll cover seven well-known Ukrainian companies and explain their features and main services. Japanese companies looking to form partnerships should take Ukraine’s technical capabilities as a reference point. Well-Known Ukrainian Company #1: Grammarly Grammarly is a company that provides tools for checking grammar and style in writing. It was founded in the capital,…
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Driving on Japan’s Roads Requires Converting a Ukrainian License
The international driving permit Japan recognizes is the one under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and Ukraine is not a party to that convention. To drive in Japan, you need to convert a Ukrainian license into a Japanese one. This article covers the conditions tightened in October 2025, where to get a translation, and how documents are handled for people who evacuated.
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Ukraine’s Currency, the Hryvnia: Its Yen Exchange Rate and Features | Tips for Paying, Too
Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, is essential to any account of the country’s history, culture, and economic development. This article explains the hryvnia’s exchange rate against the yen, its features, its economic impact, and practical information for Japanese tourists. If you’re interested in Ukraine’s economy or tourism, please use this article as a reference. The History of Ukraine’s Currency, the Hryvnia (UAH) Ukraine’s currency, the hryvnia, was officially introduced on September 2, 1996. This was not simply the birth of a new currency; it was an important milestone in Ukraine beginning…
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