Plus One
Of course it was never just 100 days – always there was the +1. To fulfil this final duty in Miyagi, we decided to dodge the needless flying, skip the indirect trains, and drive a bus all the way from Kanazawa, straight to Ishinomaki. It wasn’t the quickest way to do things, but for Katy and ...
100 Things We’ve Learned in 100 Days
1. While it’s probably true all around the world, breasts are literally worshipped in Japan – the Jison-in temple in Wakayama is covered in boobs. 2. If you tell a Japanese person something unexpected, an involuntary noise will escape from them: “Eiiiiiiigghh!” If you tell them something truly extraordinary, it will become deeper and longer: ...
A Gaijin’s Guide to the Ryokan
Staying at a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn – can be an intimidating experience for the first-timer. With that in mind, we present our handy cut-out-and keep to surviving enjoying your stay. Step One: Take off your shoes. It’s preferable if you can do this by reversing neatly, thereby allowing a quick getaway when ...
Senses and Sensibility
The Taste Say “beans” at home and people will think of baked potatoes, or toast, or pies and chips, and inevitable flatulence. It’s very different in Japan. Here, beans are immediately associated with sweets. You find the stuff everywhere: in the middle of pancakes, in buns, served in restaurants, in shops, with green tea… It’s ...
Sight Beyond Sight
Often towns specialise in a certain product because nature makes it easy for them. Take Arita back in sleepy Saga prefecture. It exploded because of an enormous mine which made pottery craft a cinch. Once something becomes easy, it’s only a matter of time and dedication before it transforms into expertise. On the surface, there’s no ...
A Happy Monday
They say prefecture 46, Fukui, is the happiest in Japan. If that’s the case, then it’s true in spite of the weather. Winter here consists of snow, sleet, hail and rain, usually within a few minutes of each other. Still, the people are happy – it’s a very different place in summer, apparently. Historically, though, ...
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Food Glorious Food
A long time ago, in a prefecture far, far away, we first began talking about Japanese food. One of the things I decided to monitor was my weight because, as anyone will tell you, Japanese food is inherently healthy. Ninety-three days later, I can exclusively reveal that this is a total myth. Yes it’s true ...
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On Top of a Mountain, All Covered in Trees
Art collectors aren’t unique to Japan, nor are world class exhibitions of art. But one thing I’ve never encountered before is the desire to take these rare, extremely valuable items away from major cities and move them out to obscure, rural locations. That, I think, is quite peculiar to Japan. We first found this sort ...
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In Fair Kyoto Where We Lay Our Scene
Zen Meditation It’s fair to say I’ve got a lot on my mind at the moment. Our great Japanese adventure is drawing to a close. The unmanageably massive question of “what next?” needs to be answered. I have an impending job interview. I don’t yet know what I’m going to get my mother for Christmas. ...
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Tea Time
“Fancy a cuppa?” “Ooh yeah, I’d love one.” “How do you take it?” “Milk and two, ta.” Then Person A slinks off to the kitchen, tosses a generic tea bag in a cup, drowns it in boiling water, stirs it around briefly, hauls it out, plops in the two sugars and milk, then takes it ...
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