Impressions of daily life in Japan
All foreigners in Japan have 'a gaijin card'. I don't mean the official 'alien registration card', which is issued by the government and is confusingly also sometimes referred to as 'gaijin card'. I mean the imaginary gaijin card that allows us foreigners to do things that we're actually not supposed to do. Of course we're... Continue Reading →
Autumn has arrived in Toyota City. It has for quite some time actually. Every since the beginning of October, there has been a drastic drop in temperature and humidity. The scorching heat has subsided to make way for a very pleasant climate with a humidity level that leaves my hair allmost frizz-free. We are now... Continue Reading →
When wandering around the Osu Kannon neighbourhood in Nagoya one summer afternoon, we were lucky enough to stumble unto a 'mochi making ceremony' at a temple (mochitsuki in Japanese). Mochi are sweet rice cakes. The rice is first steamed and then placed into a mortar. One or two people with mallets pound the rice until... Continue Reading →
When I was on the train from Nagoya to Toyota City the other day, I suddenly heard a meowing sound. It turns out I was standing next to two people carrying a bag full of kitties. There were at least 4 cute fluffy kittens in that bag, if not more. As I followed them outside,... Continue Reading →
One of the strangest things I've seen in Japan so far, is people lying down on the street to take a nap. That's right, not in a nice meadow, a park or even under a tree somewhere. Just on the concrete. When I saw this, I wondered if these people were homeless. But they seemed... Continue Reading →
We were fortunate enough to run into a Japanese wedding party yesterday. The lady in white and the man in the gray hakama in the middle of the picture are of course the bride and groom. They are posing in front of the temple entrance. I was surprised to see so many people dressed in... Continue Reading →
The Japans 