Tea(rs) for Two by leeannafar 5.0 Stars
Ever since I was a kid I had a hard time learning how to practice new tasks, skills, whatever, in front of others. Not so much a fear of performing, if I was prepared in advance, no problem. But if I had to actually make mistakes or learn through repeated processes, well, I wasn’t really into that. So learning how to participate in and actually perform a tea ceremony in a traditional tea scho... Read More
The Zen of Tokyo Rush Hour by gaijinalisa 5.0 Stars
The Zen of Tokyo rush hour is all about your state of mind. When you think of Tokyo rush hour you may picture hoards of sweaty commuters being shoved into already full train cars. This image is unexaggeratedly accurate. However, you may also imagine that is a chaotic, nearly unbearable experience, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The morning commute is actually a well-organized, syst... Read More
Gaijin Engineers and IT Professionals in Nippon Land by Dione 5.0 Stars
Japan is one of the 1st world countries engaging in high-technology. However, the population with formal education capable of working as technology operators (e.g. IT and engineers) is not enough to cover up the high demands. That is why Japan hires thousands of gaijin (foreigner) engineers and IT professionals to be stationed and work in Japan. Most of these employees are from Philippines, Europe... Read More
Surfing in Japan by Angie Davis 5.0 Stars
When I first came to Japan as a JET, regardless of the fact that I was going to live in the mountainous, landlocked prefecture known as Gunma-ken, the surfer in me packed my trusty surfboard and wetsuit quiver, knowing that I would eventually make it down to the beach.
That first trip to the coast was indeed back in October of 2005, a three day weekend away to stay at a friend of a friend’s shac... Read More
Maid Cafés in Akihabara (Tokyo) by Jamie 4.7 Stars
Have you ever heard of a “maid café”? I bet not. Only in Japan!
While maid cafés are everywhere in Japan, Akihabara in Tokyo is famous for them. Akihabara is the electronics capital of Tokyo and is a focal point for electronics and anime maniacs (also known as otaku). When you exit Akihabara station, you will meet many maids handing out flyers for their respective cafés. I highly ... Read More
Do's and Don'ts for the 2007 Mt Fuji Climbing Season. by Hanuman Welch 4.5 Stars
The not quite noon day sun had already begun baking my skin into a terra cotta shell. Thanks to the terrifying amount of Western European genes afforded to my DNA, this baking would begin a painful week long molting process. Climaxing, when my normally skim milk hued skin, would begin flaking off in sheets. Leaving behind a shiny pink surface that radiates an almost constant sheen of agony. Thanks... Read More
Squat Toilets by Jamie 4.5 Stars
I must agree with a fellow contributor that Japan has some of the most technologically advanced toilets in the world. Nevertheless, Japan has a two-tiered system. The more common type is the luxurious toilet-bidets with music (to mask unpleasant sounds), heated seats, temperature settings for the water, automatic flushing, etc... These toilets are common in most hotels, department stores, and... Read More
Smoodle With Caution by Ulara Nakagawa 4.5 Stars
This is a tale I will never forget:
Years ago, there was a Canadian named Jeff living in Japan. He was so intimidated by the idea of shopping and cooking in a foreign land that he decided to stick to the easy and familiar. While all the other brightly packaged goods were covered in letters he could not decipher, there was one item he knew he could manage. Cup Noodles, or instant ramen. Jeff... Read More
First Thing, Take off the Left Front Hubcap 4.3 Stars
Driving Driving in Japan, First Thing, Take off the Left Front Hubcap:
In 2001 the city of Richmond, California was invited by her sister city of Shimada, Japan to send a delegation to participate in a very special festival. It was the first time in over three hundred years foreigners were invited to help pull a float and as a member of the commission, I was very grateful for th... Read More
Chopstick Handling a Cream Puff by Ulara Nakagawa 4.3 Stars
Tofu, grilled fish and burdock root. I had it all planned out. Japan would be my fountain of youth, my supplier of all things healthy so that I could become part of the statistic: Japanese are to this day known to live longest in the world. (As of 2005 life expectancy is an average of 81.15, according the CIA World Fact Book). It’s not as if I was trying to magically turn a KFC diet into a da... Read More
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