Impressions of daily life in Japan
When visiting a temple in Japan, you will often see large strings of colored paper shapes, hung up in various places. Closer inspection reveals that these paper shapes are actually cranes. One thousand of them to be exact. The origami cranes are often arranged by color, fitted one close on top of the other and... Continue Reading →
One of the things that I love most about Japanese culture, is the sense of aesthetics. Beauty in its broadest sense is greatly appreciated in Japan. This emphasis on beauty is apparent in many aspects of daily life. While in the West, emphasis often lies on functionality only, in Japan an effort is made to... Continue Reading →
If asked what the most typical Japanese food is, I would probably say miso soup. I already imagine some of you raising your eyebrows at this point, thinking to yourselves "what about sushi?" Contrary to popular belief in the West, sushi is not a part of daily meals in Japan. Sushi is more of a... Continue Reading →
Recently I moved back to Belgium after having spent a year in Japan. People often ask me about my experiences in Japan. One of the questions that I get asked the most, is "Did you get to know any Japanese people?" Quoted out of context like this, the question may seem fairly innocent. Although the... Continue Reading →
I have written about my favourite internet cat, Shiro, once before (click here to read the article). Usually Shiro and his fellow feline housemates are featured sleeping, with an array of odd household items on their head. My favourite videos of Shiro however, are the ones where you can see in what kind of stunning... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, on March 11 2011, a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami destroyed the Tōhoku region in northern Japan. Although two years have passed, the tragedy is still very much alive in Japan. Rebuilding the region, and more importantly, people's lives, will take many more years. In memory of that fateful day, I would... Continue Reading →
The Japans 