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Double Eyeylids…A Japanese Female Obesession?

May 21, 2011
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Double Eyeylids…A Japanese Female Obesession?

I’m a Glee fan. So I try to make sure I find ways to keep up with the show. In one of the episodes I watched recently. One of the main characters, Rachel, gets her nose broken while dancing. Her doctor suggests possibly getting a nose job, and the whole episode deals with people and the the many insecurities they have with their own appearances. I found it to be pretty intriguing, because it’s not just Americans who want to change how they look, I realize that it’s a pretty big deal here in Japan, too. I am always find it interesting to see how appearance is viewed from country to country, culture to...

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A Live Japan Guy Fan! AWESOME!

May 14, 2011
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A Live Japan Guy Fan! AWESOME!

On Friday I was coming home from work, and for some reason I was pretty tired. The week felt pretty long already. To things off, Interac scheduled a training for tomorrow (yes, a Saturday) from 10:00 to 4:00pm (ouch!). Earlier that day I had already had a couple of close calls and I just wanted to go home and sleep before having to wake up and do it again tomorrow. I exited the ticket gate at Tsukuba Station and as I was walking, a Japanese woman, I’d say in her early to mid-thirties looks over at me, wide-eyed, and say “OH! I know you!” I couldn’t place her face. I was trying to quickly...

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How to Get a Japan Re-Entry Permit

March 24, 2011
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How to Get a Japan Re-Entry Permit

So, you’re leaving Japan, huh? You’re not alone. With the aftermath of the earthquake threatening the very safety of the food we eat, the tap water we use everyday. Coupling this with unsettling aftershocks and towns that have been completely wiped out, a number of people are deciding to leave Japan. Do you blame them for wanting to leave? I know I don’t. Japan is a wonderful place, but safety is important. Under better circumstances, the mass exodus would usually happen during Golden Week, when people have a national holiday to take that hardcore, power vacation of their dreams…the one they’ve been putting off for so long. But, sadly, that’s not the case right...

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Am I Stupid for Having Stayed In Japan After the 2011 Japan Earthquake?

March 23, 2011
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Am I Stupid for Having Stayed In Japan After the 2011 Japan Earthquake?

“Donald get out now!” “If I were you I’d be getting the hell outta dodge!” “Have you left yet?” “Be smart.” “Leave Japan now!” So many people have told me to get out of Japan while I still have a chance, but I haven’t left yet, why? There have been over 50 aftershocks recorded (a big one happened here in Tsukuba this morning), parts of Japan have been wiped out, the air has higher than normal radiation levels, vegetables and tap water have been contaminated. Why are you still in Japan? Well, I’ll tell you why. If I just up and leave based on uninformed frenzy then I’m going to be broke (having to...

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A Pretty Reliable Information Source: NHK World Japan (In English)

March 18, 2011
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A Pretty Reliable Information Source: NHK World Japan (In English)

It 3:41am, I can’t sleep and this time it’s not because of aftershocks or jet lag. Truth be told I’ve been uneasy all evening. I just don’t think they’re going to be able to cool the reactors in-time to prevent a radioactive crisis. This is just my opinion of course, I’m not trying to add any more fuel to an already out-of-control media frenzy. I’m trying to reason it out, though. Even if it gets to that meltdown status, and it get to be as bad as a Hiroshima or Chernobyl, these nuclear disasters had a fallout range, right? I think if we’re able to get to places that are far enough away from...

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My AEON Japanese Farewell Speech, Tsukuba, Japan 2011

February 26, 2011
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My AEON Japanese Farewell Speech, Tsukuba, Japan 2011

Saturday February 26th, 2011 Portofino Italian Restaurant So today, it finally became real to me, in front of about 80 adult students who showed up to Marisa Sensei’s and my farewell party…I’m really leaving. We had a nice dinner at the Portofino Italian restaurant and I had a chance to walk around to each and every table to say hello to all the people who came. I made sure to shake hands with every student in the room. I really wanted them to know just how much I appreciated them coming tonight, and how much I enjoyed having them as students. Students who’ve been there for a while, students I have only taught a...

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The Square Enix Showcase: Shinjuku Japan

February 8, 2011
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The Square Enix Showcase: Shinjuku Japan

Per my friend, Karl’s, recommendation, I thought I’d take a little trip to Shinjuku and visit the Square Enix store. Since I had to pick up my HIV test results at the Minami Shinjuku Building (don’t worry, it was negative), and it just so happened that the Square Enix Showcase was about a 10-15 minute walk from Shinjuku station’s south exit…I figured “Why not?.” It would be a good way to see something more light-hearted after visiting the testing center. (Please see the official Square Enix Showcase map below.) After a nice, brisk walk I arrived at the Square Enix Showcase and Character Goods Shop. I was kind of expecting a bigger sign, but...

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Natto Revisited

October 27, 2010
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Natto Revisited

I wrote an article about natto late last month, because I feel that natto is a big enough part of the culture here in Ibaraki, to warrant some attention. Mito, the capital of Ibaraki is actually famous for this stuff. There some pretty interesting natto concotions as well: natto senbei (rice crackers), natto curry, and yes…even natto ice cream (makes me cringe just thinking about it…BLECK!!). Natto is a breakfast food, a snack…a way of life (okay maybe that’s pushing it a bit). Anyway, the other day, after eating my morning natto, I decided to create a video to give you a better idea of what natto really is. Let’s tell it like it...

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Tsukuba University’s Fall Festival 2010

October 12, 2010
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Tsukuba University’s Fall Festival 2010

Over the weekend I made a visit to Tsukuba University in Ibaraki, Japan. I attended the 2010 Fall Festival. It was truly a lot fun. There were so many wonderful things to see and do. It was just good, clean fun (yes, even with the death metal, rock music). As I walked towards the student center and art building I could hear the sounds of guitars tuning, drums beating, and the clamor of people talking and laughing. The weather was perfect, a little bit warmer than it’s been for the past few days, but relatively comfortable. I stopped to watch one of the student rock bands, and they were really good. I loved hearing...

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TSUKUBA SUMMER FESTIVAL 2010-Matsuri Tsukuba

August 30, 2010
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TSUKUBA SUMMER FESTIVAL 2010-Matsuri Tsukuba

TSUKUBA SUMMER FESTIVAL 2010-まつりつくば Last weekend I had the chance to check out Matsuri Tsukuba.  First off, what does Mastsuri (まつり) mean, anyway?  Although I’m still learning as I go, Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival.  Every year, in late August, Tsukuba holds it’s Summer Festival.  From what I understand, most of the Japanese festivals are tied to changes in seasons (as farming is deeply rooted Japanese culture).  In nearly every area in Japan, there is a major festival that happens during the summer, and no two places will celebrate the same way or at the same time: ————————————————————————————————————— It’s about 6:45pm, August 29th, 2010…Sunday night.  There is a gentle breeze teasing to...

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