Sumikko Gurashi English Conversation Book

My dive into the world of Sumikko Gurashi continues with a book I picked up recently – すみっコぐらしの英会話

Japan Scene 9: Graduating Kindergartners

Japanese is hard (for me). I plateaued not long after arriving but over the past year, I have been kicking the ceiling and sta

Wretched Winter Weather

Its the middle of February; Valentines Day is gone (not that it mattered) and its less than a month until my birthday. I’

Jerk Chicken for School lunch in Japan

Japanese people are usually not fond of spicy food. Japanese food is generally not the type that will make your taste buds jum

Japan Scene 8: My Japanese rap album?

I didn’t know that I’d one day be an international rap superstar releasing a Japanese rap album. My fandom started

Adoring fans watch me use chopsticks

Living in Japan has it’s “charms” but sometimes an interaction or experience that might seem funny or cute t

Unko Kanji Drill books

Japan’s unusual humour strikes again in the form of Unko Kanji Drill books. “Unko” means “poop”

Japan Scene 7: Flip a coin for elderly men

Japan has a lot of elderly people. About a quarter of the population is 65 and over and with a declining birthrate there is a

Sumikko Gurashi – School Life Begins

Japan is famous for its myriad of characters. Characters like Anpanman, Doraemon and Pikachu generate billions of dollars year

Goshuincho – The Japan Temple/Shrine stamp book

Ever since first visiting Japan in 2011 I have always wanted to get a Goshuincho or “honourable stamp/seal book” used by p

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine is the poster child for scenic views of Mount Fuji and a landscape that changes drastically with th

The rise of the Black “Halfs” in Japan

I don’t claim to stay in touch with all the racial and identity battles raging in Japan for a while now. However, I can&

Mishima Skywalk – Japan’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge

Mount Fuji is a huge draw for tourists and so on all kinds of the mountain, there are various attractions competing for their

Mount Fuji Hike – Climbing the Highest Mountain in Japan

I have now travelled to more than half of Japan’s 47 prefectures. I don’t really have a goal to visit them all but

10 Years on YouTube

Ten years ago I uploaded my first video to YouTube. Like any YouTuber that has ever YouTubed, it is of course… an embarr

JLPT N4 Books and Preparation – CRUNCH TIME!!!

I am still very much on my journey to learn Japanese – a journey that will never end. A recent success was passing The f

My Skirt, Where Did It Go? – Japanese drama

My Skirt, Where Did It Go? or Ore no Sukato, Doko Itta? is a Japanese drama about a cross-dressing gay teacher who starts work

Rurikoji – Buddhist temple in Yamaguchi

This year the Golden Week in Japan was a 10 day stretch of holidays due to the New emperor ascending to the throne and the cha

Scrutinized by police in Shibuya

The dreaded day I feared has arrived. I was stopped, searched, probed and embarrassed in a crowded Shibuya 50 metres from the

Utilities and Rent – Cost of Living in Japan

So you want to move to Japan but have no idea about living expenses or cost of living in Japan? Especially utilities and such.

7 tools I used to pass the JLPT N5

So you want to attempt the Japanese Language proficiency test starting at the N5. Don’t let anyone troll you that its th

I passed the JLPT N5

Six months ago I announced that I failed the N5 level of the Japanese Language proficiency test. I tried to be positive about

The Railway Museum in Saitama

Take a short train ride outside Tokyo to Saitama to the Railway Museum and enjoy hours of fun learning about railway technolog

Japanese High School Kids enjoy visit to Jamaica

Tottori Prefecture and Western Jamaica’s relationship has been growing deeper and closer. Culture, sports, tourism, educ