May 2013
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May 2013

Message from the Editor They closed my Mister Donut! With no warning at all, the 1st of April found a sign on the door thanking everyone for 2 years of custom and saying that my coffee providing study zone was no more. I was informed of the closure by a friend who came over for dinner on the 2nd…

Travel Japan: Experiencing Okinawa’s Double Life
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Travel Japan: Experiencing Okinawa’s Double Life

  At the start of February I dragged my hands from under the kotatsu just long enough to click ‘buy’ on flights to Okinawa as a congratulations to myself for surviving my first Japanese January. I have just returned from said weekend bringing the sun with me (you’re welcome) and thought it only fair to…

Mochi Diaries: Kibidango 吉備団子

Mochi Diaries: Kibidango 吉備団子

Now I’m well aware that dango and mochi aren’t exactly the same thing, but they are both made from mochiko (糯粉; rice flour) and I’d like this segment to cover a wide array of omiyage and traditional Japanese sweets! Residents claim that Okayama was the original setting of the Japanese fairytale of Momotaro and subsequently…

Miso Green: The Hyogo Local Grocers Project
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Miso Green: The Hyogo Local Grocers Project

Once, a few years ago, another friend of the eco-friendly prerogative asked me which I would rather pay for, organic food or local food. My instant reaction was to say local. When comparing the carbon footprints of organic food that was transported from a far-off place to local food grown using non-natural fertilizers and insecticides,…

Special Feature: Biking Biwa
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Special Feature: Biking Biwa

琵琶湖 (びわこ; Lake Biwa) is Japan’s largest freshwater lake and covers a large part of Shiga Prefecture. It’s a haven for birdwatchers, watersports, camping, and generally having a good time outdoors. It’s also a very popular destination for cyclists with a well-kept cycle path pretty much all the way around. At around 220km in circumference,…