Inside the crowd was unique and varied. Larger men who wistfully looked up at the stage hoping to one day compete or perhaps remembering their own glory days, friends and middle-aged wives smartly dressed shouting words of encouragement to their partners on stage, and then the few photographers and writers scribbling notes on…
This month we’re branching out from the usual coverage of Japanese current events and taking a look at our neighbors in China (expect to see more updates about regional news in future issues). As many of you are well aware, Hong Kong’s commercial district has been flooded with protestors, the majority being students,…
The dark, pungent, and crowded area immediately outside Tsuruhashi Train Station serves as forced introduction to Osaka’s Koreatown. As you exit Tsuruhashi Station, the narrow alleys are filled with people and smells greet visitors. The alleys can fit two people comfortably or three people uncomfortably, and as I made my way past little shops…
The Philippines has had a tumultuous history, rarely having its own sovereignty. It has been ruled by Spain, Japan, and America. Spanish and American influences are prevalent. Many Spanish phrases are used alongside Tagalog, the indigenous language, and English education begins in the first grade. The predominant religion is Catholicism, first brought over by the…
  Glastonbury, The U.K.’s biggest music festival, held in the Vale of Avalon since 1970 will this year attract 175,000 visitors to over 100 stages on 1,200 acres of land. It is, however, bracing itself for the arrival of so called ‘super rats’ – rats immune to conventional poisons such as diphacinone and chlorophacinone…
 Ten essential experiences to have in the prefecture we call home. Affectionately known as the bellybutton of Japan, Hyogo is a treasure trove of fun and adventure. Thanks to an expansive train network, several ferry ports, innumerable bus routes and its own airport, Hyogo is a very accessible prefecture – which is ideal because there…
Harry Potter World at USJ A magical village of wizarding wonders has opened at Universal Studios Japan this summer! If you’ve been harboring childhood fantasies of Butterbeer, magic wands, or singing toads, read on to learn more about making the most of your magical journey! The Harry Potter World at USJ is significantly smaller…
Is it humid? It feels a little humid to me. As a second-year ALT, I knew it was coming. I knew that summer would make a grand entrance, bringing high temperatures, blazing sunlight, and moisture levels that seem to turn the air into a solid mass. No matter where you’re from originally, nearly…
1. When in doubt the phrase “because Japan†comes in handy. Why did a giant cream puff with Himeji Castle on its head just rollerblade past me in the middle of the city singing Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl?â€â€¦ because Japan. 2. Try everything…think Yes Man. That means food, sports and whatever…