June 2011

In Ibaraki, my home for the last 9 months, it’s both common and fun to say the prefecture’s name with a long, rolling “r” while switching the “k” for the “g”: “Ibarrrragi!” Despite the energetic name, many people may not know much about Ibaraki-ken. However, they might know our prefecture’s mascot, Mito Komon. Other than…