Crawling thing, on the floor of my room, are there many more of you? Vilest evil through and through Tell me: why so many arms? Is it to count the charms That I have sought Made and Bought? To keep you from my house Loathéd more than roach or mouse Or snarling rat with plague…
The Englishman had been instructed to bring two pairs of shoes with him to school; one for indoors, one for out. Like most of the things he was instructed to do for work, he had forgotten. This meant that he was forced to borrow a pair of slippers from the school cupboards every day;…
When our son received the letter of acceptance for JET we were suitably impressed both with his achievement and the quality of the stationery used by the Japanese Embassy. The followed months waiting to hear his specific destination in Japan were agonising for the entire household. A distinct sense of relief followed the news…
By Elise Burgess Halloween is just around the corner, and although it’s not as popular of a holiday in Japan as in the West, there’s no shortage of terrifying ghosts, ghouls and general nightmare fuel. Low on Halloween costume ideas? Don’t want to end up being the 20th Harley Quinn on the block?…
Recently, at a family wedding, I was very distressed to find out that my year and a bit worth of teaching experience has not improved my ability to talk to children. I met a rather cool three year old (he could talk three languages and sing most of Frere Jacques) and, when called upon to…
Invocal More Stephen Sondheim, specifically:  Moments in the Woods from Into the Woods You Could Drive a Person Crazy from Company  More from Dick Tracy Girl you don’t need make-up from Inside Amy Schumer Free cake, even if you’re not singing karaoke Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus Closing Time by Semi-sonic Remix to Ignition by Kelly…
The rains came early that year. Waves would crash against the seawall while thunder rolled down from the hills. Furuyama-san carried an umbrella with her, but it was of little use when the afternoon rains came down. She sat inside her shed, listening to the drops pounding down onto the tiled roof. She kept the…
It’s quite nice to be admired and even nicer to be respected- in Japan, as a gaijin-sensei, I certainly receive a lot of admiration. But I sometimes feel a dearth of respect. Once a week, I teach at one of four elementary schools. If you’re good at math, and Lord knows you don’t have…
Every year on the long weekend of October, Hyogo AJET hosts an annual rafting trip in Kochi with Happy Raft. It’s a wet and wild weekend in the stunning surrounds of rural Japan and certainly a unique way to experience one of this fair country’s hidden gems. The trip is generally open to around…