By now most of us are well aware of the results for the 2015 Academy Awards. However, unlike the times we are in our home countries for the Oscars and there is ample time to view the films before the ceremony, here in Japan we are left playing catch up since most of the movies…
 Every year thousands of foreign and local tourists alike flock to Sapporo, Hokkaido in early February for the famed Yuki Matsuri and boy are they in for a treat. Beginning in 1950 the festival has fast become one of Sapporo’s main attractions along with its world class ski slopes, the famed Ramen Alley, brilliant…
While everyone else usually hopes to get away from Japan during its coldest month, a number of local and foreign musicians poured into the Kansai area. Although there are always plenty more performances to see than time and funds permit, I was fortunate enough to see four amazing concerts this past February, visiting many venues…
Malaysia’s first center was Melaka, which served as a key port for several groups of people. As with the rest of the country, it was colonized by Europeans and developed a unique mix of architecture as a result. Singapore was also a port town for much of its history. It was ruled by the…
“Come this way,†Gaia murmured into Drake’s ear. “We need to get out of here.†The pair slipped away as surreptitiously as they could with their chains. Gaia led them down a maze of alleyways before they stopped near a sewer grate. She had been worried about being seen, but the only people they…
My name’s Joseph Baietto. I’m originally from New York City. I’m currently on my second year of JET, eagerly heading into my third. I teach at a junior high school in Shijonawate-shi, on the western edge of Osaka Prefecture, and once a week I teach at one of two elementary schools. Why did…
When you think of Japanese food, you’d be forgiven if “fermented foods†is not what comes to mind. However, staples in the Japanese kitchen such as soy sauce, miso, sake, mirin (sweet cooking wine) and rice vinegar are all fermented foods. This month I want to introduce you to a lesser known, traditional Japanese ingredient called shio-koji (塩麹). Shio-koji is a…
Well, winter is finally coming to a close. We had the HAJET ski trip on the weekend of February 28. Fortunately, Saturday was freshly fallen snow and a sunny day. Not bad conditions for our skiing and snowboarding. Unfortunately, Sunday was rainy and warm. Instead of hitting the slopes, we headed to the local Chorakuji…
If you’re like me, you probably overindulged a bit over the holiday season and are trying to be healthier. With the cold weather though, this is easier said than done, and I inevitably find myself stuck under my kotatsu eating copious amounts of chocolate. The good news is that February is the last month of…