“So, what will you being doing this year at Christmas?†This question was met with various permeations of bemusement, amusement and indifference. These were the most common responses: “Nothing really†“Working†(this is a Japanese office after all) “Having a party with friends†“Drinking†“At lectures†“Eating Christmas cake†“What? Should I be doing something? 
Simple Chicken Nabe for One. As the “samui†grunts enter the staffroom you know what’s coming: winter. My solution to tackle this season is nabe, lots of nabe. Nabe is a soupy hot pot recipe literally full of meat and veggies ready to cure your winter blues (or flu?). It can be enjoyed party…
 As interviewed by Arjan Tulsi. When were you in Hyogo and where were you placed? I was in Harima-cho from 2009-2012, teaching at Harima-Minami Senior High School. In my first year I also had a visit school one day a week (Kinjo High School – a night school in Akashi). What was your…
Ishiyama-dera, temple number 13 on the route, and Mii-dera, number 14, are both located along the southern edges of Lake Biwa. We’ll take them on in numerical order. Ishiyama-dera is a beautiful temple upon a mountainside overlooking the lake; it is built on and amongst wollastonite rock formations that give it a different look from…
This year, from 5 December to 16 December, Kobe will again glow in the multiple colours of the Luminarie, and you too can enjoy the spectacle whilst being carried along in a tide of people, neck craned skywards. The site, extending from the Old Foreign Settlement to Hiyashi Yuenchi Park, will be visited by…
      Maybe you have recently thought to yourself, “Gee whiz, I’ve been working so hard creating engaging lessons, exploring a new country, and learning a new language, I have had no time to stay up to date on global current events.†Even worse, with the holidays right around the corner,…
The short sleeved shirts and cool-tech innerwear of summer have finally given way to the scarves and gloves and berets and socks and layers layers layers of winter. With the weather switch now firmly jammed on cold, many JETs, especially those from warmer climates (namely, those from the Southern hemisphere who greeted summer smugly) may…
Season’s Greetings! Well, a short but sweet koyo season is rapidly fading as the chill of winter takes hold. Kotatsus and electric blankets across the region are being dusted off and plugged in, and those without shiver with cold and poorly concealed envy. Thanks to the sudden switch from Halloween to Christmas decorations in…
Hyogo Board of Education’s annual Skills Development Conference November 21-22, 2013 Attended by 485 ALTs and JTEs A review by two JHS ALTs: This year’s Skills Development Conference was a pleasant surprise. Sort of. Well, there were pieces that were helpful and interesting. Unfortunately, there were more parts of the Conference that were frustrating and…