Impressions of daily life in Japan
Eel is a popular dish in Japan, especially in summer. It is believed to give you stamina so as to better endure the summer heat. Moreover, grilled eel is a Nagoya speciality. Needless to say I was excited when my friend Mari-san proposed to go to the most famous eel restaurant in Nagoya: Hōraiken. It's... Continue Reading →
Every last Saturday of July, Toyota City has its annual festival called Oiden. It is followed by the Toyota City Fireworks Display on Sunday. They close off one of the main streets of Toyota City and set up a stage and some food stands. Thousands of people flock to the Toyota City Center to see... Continue Reading →
When I was in the 100yen shop the other day, I saw a woman wearing a 'Happy Tree Friends' T-shirt. I wonder if she actually knows what 'Happy Tree Friends' is. For those of you who don't know either: it's a cartoon about cuddly little animals who die gruesome deaths. It started as an internet... Continue Reading →
The summer in Japan is drawing to an end. Yesterday school started again and typhoon number 12 is making for gloomy and rainy weather. Time for a retrospective on summer in Japan. Weather - Before coming here, everyone had warned me about the 'crazy Japanese summer' and the especially the crazy weather. I thought people... Continue Reading →
Near the Toyota City station, there is a covered walkway. It has some greenery and benches and overall it's a nice area. In the evening all the commuters walk along this walkway on their way home. Sometimes amateur singers use this location to showcase their talents. In most cases this is for the enjoyment of... Continue Reading →
During our recent trip to Hokkaido, we enjoyed a host of new culinary experiences. The most spectacular one was without a doubt the sashimi dish that came with the fish's still moving head in the middle. I'm not squeamish about food, but this did make me think twice before digging in. But then again, it's... Continue Reading →
The Japans 