I’ve been travelling a lot recently, and I had an epiphany at 3.00 am yesterday (or 11.00 am, depending which time zone you want to use), while into the 23rd hour of a 28-hour trip. The world is actually that little animatic map you get on planes. You know, the strange Windows 95-era rendering of…
Among our grand confluence of JET Program participants, there are many who find they have the time and the passion to give back. These people are AJET, volunteers who do all kinds of stuff for the JET community and beyond. Each prefecture has it’s own group of AJET movers and shakers. Besides organizing events and making…
As some of you know, CLAIR is holding a video contest for JET Program participants about the communities in which we all live. The winners haven’t been decided yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy all the great videos of places throughout Japan. Plus, voting continues until March 31. Click through the links in…
Every year, Japan’s abundant Momiji trees change from green to a glorious shade of red. This beautiful sight, naturally, demands admiration. So, here’s a list of some great spots in Hyogo for all your viewing needs. And it’s even in a convenient map format! Note: Leaf viewing in Hyogo usually starts in mid October at…
So you want to see a summer festival this year? Chances are that whatever town you find yourself living in will have a perfectly lovely matsuri or three all prepared. However, if you want to venture elsewhere in our fine prefecture here’s a few you may have heard of. Dekansho Matsuri…
As we start the new JET year and welcome all the new Hyogo-ites, we’d like to introduce ourselves… Editor in Chief : Sean Mulvihill 2nd year High School ALT, Kobe You would never know by reading my past Hyogo Times contributions that it pains me to use idioms, platitudes, and other literary…
A bento requires three things: a box, tasty food, and visual appeal. The goal of bento is not just to take some food somewhere for later consumption. The goal is that when lunch time arrives the eater finds something visually appealing as well as edible inside that little box. Think of the bento…
What is Bento? A traditional bento is a complete Japanese meal, with all the side dishes, packed lovingly into a small portable box. A bento lunch should fill the box completely, so that the carefully arranged food doesn’t shift during transport, and it should look immensely appealing, so that even the pickiest of eaters will…
Last year I traveled to Hokkaido to see a zoo, the Asahiyama Zoo, and maybe take in a couple festivals. I mean who wouldn’t want to see an adorable penguin parade, right? But, it was one of the festivals that really made my frigid trip awesome. The 冬ã¾ã¤ã‚Š, or Winter Festival, occurs in the town…