Masking up in Japan
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has had a significant impact on our daily lives. Some of the most notable changes include social distancing, remote work, mask-wearing, travel restrictions, and …
Life
life in Japan
Japanese seasonal beautiful words ~Spring~
As a lover of spring, I feel my heart leaping with excitement when spring arrives. Plants and trees sprout new shoots, and flowers bloom. It is the season that warm …
Two Sakura Mochi Named After Temples
Sakura-mochi is a popular Japanese sweet that can be considered a symbol of spring. It is sold in various shops including traditional Japanese confectionery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. “Sakura” …
Hi! I’m an owl!
“Hoot, hoot…!” Hi! I’m an owl. I live in Japan. I have a lot of relatives all around the world. Did you know that owls are believed to bring luck …
Ozoni: A mochi soup bowl filled with family history and local Japanese culture.
Ozoni is a mochi soup eaten on New Year’s Day in Japan. Japanese New Year’s events and food originated in Shintoism, and various customs were born from the idea of …
Poke-futa Tour Part.1 (in Nara)
Hello Pokémon fans around the world! How do you like playing with Pokemon? I think everyone knows “Pokémon Go!” which is not only a game inside your house but also …
A Guide to Alcohol for Foreigners in Japan
You might know it already, but you can buy alcohol anywhere in Japan. Most Japanese people don’t know that this is unusual all over the world. When we travel abroad, we …
Circles in Japan
“I’ve got a lot of circles!!” If you hear a Japanese kid saying something like this with a big smile, can you guess what the circles are? Circles play an …
Kansai People Call Candy “Ame-chan”, like a person
“Chan” “San” I’ve called hard candies “Ame-chan”, and I have lived my life without questioning it. As I have more opportunities to talk about cultural differences with people who live …
How to Enjoy Japanese Izakaya!
What is Izakaya (居酒屋)? How does it differ from Western pubs and bars? According to Wikipedia, they are Japanese-style pubs and bars. Compared to Western bars, Izakaya offers a wider …