“I Like Basketball and Tomatoes. See You!†I was an ALT in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan (Lansing’s sister city) through the JET Program from 2006 – 2009. I taught in public junior high and elementary schools. JET It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite memory. I have many. I’ll begin with a…
 Recently, when I was visiting my godson, he was amazed by my daring, revolutionary and transgressive method of writing in block capitals. He was agog, he was aghast– a saving light had come at last! See, he explained to me that “capitals are much easier to do” and so, much like Uncle Rory, he…
Uh oh… What is this odd sensation I feel? It’s been so long, I had almost forgotten about you. We had a respectful parting last time in midÂ-April, but I see you have crawled back to me after all these months. It was only when I woke up to my feet being tickled…
November is one of my favorite months (and there’s no personal reason for that; absolutely none; nothing; no way). At least back in America, the fall colors still linger and it doesn’t get quite so bitingly cold. In Japan, on the other hand, it can get quite chilly. My first year necessitated my poofy…
Every year, Japan’s abundant Momiji trees change from green to a glorious shade of red. This beautiful sight, naturally, demands admiration. So, here’s a list of some great spots in Hyogo for all your viewing needs. And it’s even in a convenient map format! Note: Leaf viewing in Hyogo usually starts in mid October at…
 So you’ve finally made it through all the self-introductions and slightly awkward Q&A sessions with your new students. Congratulations! Now it’s time for the real fun to begin: you’re going to have to actually teach for real now. What a joy. For those of you feeling more or less paralyzed by fear and…
 Perhaps while wandering near Tits Park, you’ve come across the innocuous skull and crossbones sign announcing the presence of The Lockup. Though only one of many locations across Japan, it is not an experience to be missed. The commitment to a horror-prison themed restaurant from the staff, menu, and ambience leads to a…
A Sweet and Uplifting Bedtime Story I stare at the bones for several seconds before I realize just how angry the birds are. I’m confused. They ruffle their feathers, heads jogging back and forth. A clack of a beak, a small whistle that sounds more like a growl. “Why here, Fireflight?†asks Henwyn….
 For a small country, Japan is surprisingly full of remote and beautiful places. The Ogasawara islands take the cake, on both remoteness and beautifulness. Accessible only by a ferry from Tokyo—a ferry that takes 25 hours in good weather, runs once a week, and costs 25,000円 one way—few people ever make it out….