Impressions of daily life in Japan
March 3rd was 'Hina Matsuri' or 'Girl's Day'. On this day, all families with a daughter display a set of traditional Japanese dolls in their house. But apparently the habit isn't limited to people with daughters. Ever since early February, I have encountered these 'hina dolls' ('hina' is the japanese word for doll) everywhere I... Continue Reading →
At first glance I thought this place was a day care center. The balloons, the bright colours, the cute (kawaii) animal drawings... But a closer look revealed that this place is in fact a real estate agency. It is a clear example of the cultural difference between Japan and Europe. Whereas in Japan this styling... Continue Reading →
When walking around in Japan, you never know what you will see next. Like a pimped out turquoise car for example. The car just stood there by the roadside, blasting Japanese hip hop music while the owner was casually making a phone call a little bit further off.
Yesterday it snowed in Toyota City. That's a big deal because in this area of Japan it rarely snows. In addition to that, the amount of snow we had yesterday (about 15 cm) occurs only once every twenty years, according to my Japanese teacher. I was surprised to see that everyone in Japan uses an... Continue Reading →
Winter is in full swing in Japan and it is cold! While the average daily maximum temperature for the Nagoya region in January is 9°C (according to the Japan Meteorological Agency), this year has been particularly cold with many days where the temperature doesn't go above 3 or 4° C. Japanese homes, unlike Belgian ones,... Continue Reading →
Anyone who has lived in the Toyota City center or has visited Toyota City will know the characteristic sound of 'The Mochi Mobile'. It's a little van that drives around the city while blasting it's characteristic song from a megaphone. This is what it sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyjU2aurzHQ&feature=youtu.be I've heard the wildest theories about the significance... Continue Reading →
The Japans 