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- Making Up Names
- February 26th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Teaching in Japan, Travel
- Recently, I visited Sapporo for its famous Yuki Matsuri (snow festival). This extravaganza of snow involves block after block of the city’s main drag sculpted with icy precision into giant tableaus that included a scene of a beautiful woman and a farm, a Thai palace, ha ... » Continue Reading
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- Setsubun 2013
- February 19th, 2013Category: Culture, Events, Food & Dining
- February 3rd is Setsubun no hi (節分の日) in Japan, which is a day that marks the change of the season. The word Setsubun literally means a division of the seasons. Setsubun no hi is not an official national holiday, but it is celebrated in ways meant to drive away evil spi ... » Continue Reading
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- Sumo Japan’s National Sport
- February 18th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture
- Sumo is Japan’s national sport and is one of the most popular spectator sports in Japan. Its origins date back 1500 years from ancient Shinto religious rites to ensure good harvests. Sumo wrestlers are known as rikishi and compete in a 4.55 diameter ring called a do ... » Continue Reading
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- Valentine’s Day in Japan
- February 14th, 2013Category: Culture, Shopping
- When walking around the streets of Tokyo at the moment, one could be forgiven for thinking that they have somehow entered onto the set of a rom-com movie. Endless displays of heart shaped chocolates, flowers and cards pop out in the most mysterious of places and red and ... » Continue Reading
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- The Story of the Hidden Ginkgo from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
- February 12th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Play, Travel
- In order to reach the main building of the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you have to climb 61 steps. On the left side, it was impossible not to notice an impressive 1000-year old ginkgo tree, 30 meters tall, which remained in history because of an event that took p ... » Continue Reading
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- Cave in to Okinawa’s Underground Wonders
- February 11th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Travel
- Okinawa's subtropical climate makes it perfect for sun-loving, adventurous people. Sports like windsurfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing and boating are more popular. But if you're one of those people who want to see more than the usual festivals th ... » Continue Reading
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- Romantic Places in Kyoto, Moon Crossing Bridge
- February 8th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Photography, Travel
- If you visit Arashiyama, the area in western Kyoto famous for its bamboo groves, go to the nearby Togetsukyo Bridge, to admire the scenery of the green Mount Arashiyama. The first bridge here was about 200 meters upstream from the current location and it was a lo ... » Continue Reading
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- Bean There, Done That (Setsubun Festival)
- February 7th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Events, Travel
- February 3rd was Setusbun, the day you throw beans at demons to get rid of your bad luck, and start a year of new better luck. Sestubun in celebrated yearly on February 3rd, and is reminicent of the historic lunar new years/start of spring. The rituals of the day are ... » Continue Reading
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- A Sweet Trip to Kobe
- February 6th, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Food & Dining, Travel
- Kobe is the fifth largest city in Japan and foodies in particular, will know this because the place is famous for its Kobe beef and Arima Onsen or hot springs. A few years back, we visited Kobe and had to try almost everything, even if it isn't Japanese. We ate a ... » Continue Reading
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- An Icy Cool Festival
- February 1st, 2013Category: Arts & Entertainment, Culture, Events, Outdoor/Sports, Play, Travel
- Have you chosen a gift to give your special someone this February? Valentine's Day is just around the corner and if you don't want to share the date with millions this year, why not try celebrating it early? Though Valentine's Day it isn't really a big event for most ... » Continue Reading
- Why do Japanese people change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
- February 8, 2012
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- 10 things that you should know before coming to Japan
- February 6, 2012BY
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- Unique Japanese fashion styles
- March 10, 2012BY
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- Cats, Numbers and Other Japanese Superstitions
- June 12, 2012BY
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- Hakone: A Day Trip to Remember
- January 30, 2013BY
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