 The Virgo male is cautious; bound by the astrological sign of earth, his rationality and steadfastness of spirit are undercut by often debilitating neuroses. His analytical nature and ability to determine the underlying motives of those he meets make him an ideal policeman or detective, but his inability to see past minor details and…
             Every year since 2006, Osaka/Kobe and Tokyo have been host to the PunkSpring festival, headlined by punk legends such as Bad Religion, NoFX, The Offspring, and Pennywise and punk-inspired acts such as Weezer and The Hives. This year, the reasonably priced festival returns to Kobe World Hall on March 28. A ticket for standing…
Oygevalt! Feckless TukTuk drivers, much like people who invite you to play Candy Crush, are out of control and must be stopped. Oh, if only these ancient cultures and civilizations could just crumble already and adopt the metered taxi. I mean, 200 baht to take three people across town? Dream on, my dude! Unless…
Hey there!I’m Julia Mace from the Land of Enchantment (that’s New Mexico in the United States). I was a JET for five years in Mitoyo, Kagawa and now I’m independently contracted with my BOE as a full-on instructor. I teach at one Junior High School, two Elementary Schools, several Kindergartens, and one intermediate level…
On January 18, ten ALTs gathered for the first HAJET Book Club meeting of the new year. We met outside the JR Motomachi Station, and after requisite “Akemashite Omedetou-s†and complaints about the cold weather, headed to our destination: Loco’s Kitchen Oluolu. This Hawaiian-themed cafe is small, but with enough space for our large…
Shivering, the sleeping woman pulled a ratty sheet tighter around her shrinking frame. She moaned out in fear, visions of a talking throat fueling her dreams. Red stained her eyes as the throat rasped “Be strong,†and she shrunk back. She couldn’t be strong. Had instead felt weak and helpless ever since she…
Kuala Lumpur and Penang Upon their discovery of Malaysia in 1511, Portugal took control of the region for about a century before relinquishing control to the Dutch. Another century later, Britain began gaining control, starting with George Town, and spread their influence thereafter. As with most countries in Southeast Asia, Japan invaded during…
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice Choosing between 50 Shades of Grey and American Sniper as the book to read before its movie adaptation is released in Japan wasn’t too hard of a decision this month. Although I’m sure…
“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” -  John Boswell As we enter February, the month of my birth, we endure the slowly lengthening and sometimes bitterly cold days. It can feel like the warmth will never come back. However, a…