Uncategorized
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Is sake the national drink of Japan?
At least, that’s what I thought when I moved to Japan. But walk into any izakaya (Japanese pub) and you see beer everywhere. Wine, whiskey and mixed drinks are common too. Sake? Not so much. Still, sake has a… Continue reading
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Don’t you just love Japanese toilets?
Yes, it can be intimidating to encounter one for the first time. So many buttons, so many potentially embarrassing disasters waiting to happen. But they can be conquered. And hand on heart, having lived with one, I’m now in love.… Continue reading
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Do Geisha still exist in modern Japan?
When you picture traditional Japan, geisha are probably among the first images that come to mind. Yet you are unlikely to run into one on the street. In fact, among my Japanese colleagues and friends, only one had ever seen… Continue reading
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Got gacha-gacha?
Walk through any Japanese city, you can’t help but notice little charms dangling from people’s bags. Sometimes it’s just one, sometimes several. Some are little plush toys, others are tiny figures. A friend told me that what you chose to… Continue reading
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Ever gotten lost in the world’s busiest train station?
Raise your hand if you’ve been to Tokyo and gotten lost in Shinjuku Station. Mine is up – multiple times. Shinjuku Station isn’t just large. It operates on a scale most cities never reach. Tourists panic, first-timers slow down, locals… Continue reading
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What do dragons reveal about Japan?
What are dragons to you? Are they fire-spitting monsters, to be feared and avoided? In my children’s books, they were violent, dangerous villains burning villages and castles. From medieval legends to modern fantasy, in much of Western culture the dragon… Continue reading
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Why is so much food individually wrapped in Japan?
Shop in any Japanese supermarket and you’ll quickly notice it: three carrots wrapped in plastic, two bananas packaged together, individual peaches protected with foam netting and plastic. At first glance, it can seem excessive. At train stations you find single… Continue reading
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Biker moms in Tokyo?
It’s nothing short of impressive. One child in a front seat. Another in a rear seat. Shopping bags in the front basket or on a rear rack – often both. Mothers on so-called mom bikes (mamachari) are a common sight… Continue reading
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How come so many people nap in public in Japan?
In Japan people nap everywhere: on trains, in coffee shops, in shopping centers, while waiting for the doctor – even at their desks. Everyone is doing it: children, teenagers, adults and older people. Women and men. It’s a cultural phenomenon… Continue reading
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Why do so many of Japan’s temples and shrines have so many steps?
If you’ve ever visited a temple or shrine in Japan and found yourself out of breath after climbing hundreds of stone steps, you’re not alone. Many sacred sites in Japan are located on hillsides or mountains. Reaching them often involves… Continue reading
