The down jackets are out, fingers are frozen, and stores have been decorated for the holidays for too long already. Yes, that’s right: it’s December! Wherever you find yourself and whatever you may or may not celebrate, I hope this month leaves you with fond memories. For my third year, I’m finally visiting home…
Perhaps Miyagi’s most well-known denizen is the daimyo that founded Sendai, Date Masamune. His likeness can be observed in many areas near the prefecture’s capital. Several years following his death in 1636, the pine tree-clad islands of the aptly named Matsushima were recorded as one of the Three Views of Japan. It’s easy to…
With the (recent?) closure of Osaka’s Sailor Moon themed cafe, Cafe Talisman, I’ve needed to look elsewhere to get my nerdy food fix. Sadly, there is a relative dearth of these in Kansai (the ones I have found are not geared toward my interests). Tokyo houses many, a large portion of which are only temporary,…
November is one of my favorite months (and there’s no personal reason for that; absolutely none; nothing; no way). At least back in America, the fall colors still linger and it doesn’t get quite so bitingly cold. In Japan, on the other hand, it can get quite chilly. My first year necessitated my poofy…
 Perhaps while wandering near Tits Park, you’ve come across the innocuous skull and crossbones sign announcing the presence of The Lockup. Though only one of many locations across Japan, it is not an experience to be missed. The commitment to a horror-prison themed restaurant from the staff, menu, and ambience leads to a…
 Many children participated in cosplay growing up, knowingly or not. Donning “Jedi†robes and fighting siblings with lightsabers was a staple in my household, and you can bet that Halloween would treat the parental units to the endearingly awful acting of young’uns. But why stop dressing up and acting after Trick-or-Treating has become inappropriate…
Ah October. The one month of fall in Japan. Leaves are changing, autumn festivals are happening, and Halloween is heading our way! I hope to see your pretty faces at the Block 6 Halloween Party in Osaka! In my first year of college, I was incredibly excited for Halloween (okay, okay; I’m incredibly excited…
Perhaps you’ve become over-stimulated by the massive spread of Tokyo and need a slightly smaller cityscape. Perhaps ramen and Chinatown fare would really hit the spot. Perhaps you just want to see what Japan’s second largest city has to offer you. No matter your reasoning, at only half an hour from Shinjuku Station, Yokohama makes…
 Karaoke in Japan Before arriving in Japan, I passionately hated singing. Even the mere mention of karaoke in front of a large number of people (especially strangers) filled me with dread. Fortunately (or so I thought), the first time I came to Japan as part of a study abroad class, my fellow students were…