Greetings! As we move into September the August heat gradually dissipates, soon to be just a sticky memory, and new excitement arrives in the form of the start of school. First time ALTs will have the joy of their first sweltering opening ceremonies; at least one student will faint, either from heat or excitement at…
Introducing the brand new Hyogo AJET Book Club! For all you new comers finding your feet in your freshly-woven tatami homes, this club will be a great way to casually slip into the JET community. Not to mention, it will give you something to do at school in the long summer before the students arrive….
Temple 6: Tsubosakadera 壷阪寺   Temple 7: Okadera岡寺 This month we explore temples six and seven on our thirty-three route, journeying a bit off the beaten path and into the wilds of Nara prefecture. Both of these temples are less accessible than the ones previously featured, but they are both worth a visit if you have…
It goes without saying that the best things about Japan will always be the people that you meet and relationships that you forge; The friendly lady who sells bread at one of your schools, the volunteers running Japanese language classes, the other ALTs in town and random people you ‘inherit’ from predecessors. And that’s before…
A new regular feature, Where are they now? interviews Hyogo JET alumni to find out what they are up to post JET. Our first interviewee is the charming Simon Shone of New Zealand origin who spent two years based in Itami from August 2010 to 2012 and is now living in London. HT: What did…
Showcasing the most stimulating independent short films from across the world, Future Shorts is the biggest international short film festival of its kind. Founded in London in 2003 the festival is now celebrated around the globe with over 1700 screenings, across 6 continents in more than 350 cities in 90 different countries – that’s one…
I was inspired to write this piece because a friend of mine is moving to Japan and the thought of living alone freaks her out. I assured her that distractions and forming routines once she’s here are the best way to alleviate these kinds of anxiety. Even if it’s not the case for you, whether…
 for Android phone users (with some iPhone suggestions) Okay, you’ve finally got your residence card, so at last you can get your phone. Now to put that baby to use! Here are the top ten applications I think you need for your stay in Japan. They are in no particular order, but grouped into…
Around this time last year I tumbled into my new Japanese home, took my shoes off, and walked past the toilet, shower, and kitchen into my bedroom/living area in a matter of footsteps. I’m 5’2†and I am not exaggerating when I tell you that in the unit of strides my flat is 10 by…