As American entomologists, we are often unaware of how insects are integrated into other cultures. In Asia, insects first appeared in traditional Chinese and Japanese ornamental artwork dating before 600 A.D. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), mushiya, or insect shops, sold collecting equipment and singing insects in cages. Although there are no insect shops that specialize in singing insects anymore, insects are still integrated into the bustling metropolises of modern Japan – charismatic insects regularly appear on candy wrappers, children’s toys, and are the central theme to many popular videogames. In fact, the modern market for insects and entomological accessories in Japan has annual sales of tens of millions of dollars. The purpose of this talk is to provide an overview of how insects are integrated into Japanese culture today. This talk is not about institutional research, but the large Japanese population of insect hobbyists, enthusiasts, and the culture that surrounds them.