If you’re looking for a crunchy Japanese snack, you ought to give senbei a try. Senbei is one of Japan’s classic, traditional snack foods; much older than Pocky sticks (by a couple of centuries). But, you may be wondering, what is senbei? What’s in senbei? Is senbei healthy? Read on to find out: Senbei basics … Continue reading What is Japanese Senbei?
What is a Jinbei?
What is a jinbei? If you want to learn more about this unique piece of Japanese clothing, you’ve come to the right place. (You won’t find information about Jinbe, the fish-man member of the Straw Hat pirates from One Piece here. Sorry about that.) While kimono, yukata, and happi coats are well-known outside of Japan, … Continue reading What is a Jinbei?
What is a Japanese Yukata?
What is a yukata? How does yukata differ from kimono? If you’re a fan of anime or manga, you’ve probably seen characters wearing yukata or kimono. You may have wondered about these unmistakably Japanese clothes. (Traditional Chinese and Korean styles are different from Japanese ones.) For example, many slice-of-life anime series will have an episode … Continue reading What is a Japanese Yukata?
ZenPlus Review: The Easiest Way to Buy from Japan
Before I lived in Japan, I had always marveled at the endless amount of video games, anime merch, and other goods that just didn’t make it out of the country. As a longtime gamer and anime fanatic, I couldn’t help but be jealous of all the cool stuff I wasn’t able to get in Canada. … Continue reading ZenPlus Review: The Easiest Way to Buy from Japan
Why is Crunchyroll Not Working? – Probably Your Geolocation
If you're a newcomer to the Crunchyroll anime streaming platform and immediately find that the Crunchyroll app or website isn't working at all, it could be your geolocation that is the issue. In this article, I'll explain how to determine if that is the case and how to get around that issue with a cheap … Continue reading Why is Crunchyroll Not Working? – Probably Your Geolocation
TokyoTreat Review – The Taste of Japan Delivered Every Month
Loot boxes and loot crates have soared in popularity. Be it monthly boxes of video game merch for hardcore gamers, or a monthly care package of treats for your dog, there seems to be a loot box out there for everyone. And for Japanophiles, there are many options as well. From anime merch to gaming … Continue reading TokyoTreat Review – The Taste of Japan Delivered Every Month
What are Weddings and Anniversaries Like in Japan? – A Brief Overview
Japanese culture is unique in many ways. However, it is true that Western influences have impacted traditional celebrations to merge with some old traditions. If you are invited to a Japanese wedding in a wedding chapel, there will be elements that will be familiar to the west. Gift-giving is seen as an act of appreciation, … Continue reading What are Weddings and Anniversaries Like in Japan? – A Brief Overview
Radwimps Releases Album Honoring Victims of 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
While listening to my work playlist today, I noticed a new Radwimps song in my recommendations. It was released on March 10th, 10 years after The Great Tohoku Earthquake that took countless lives. The song is called あいたい (aitai) which means I want to see you or I miss you in Japanese. It's simple but beautiful. I recommend you listen … Continue reading Radwimps Releases Album Honoring Victims of 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
5 Games to Help You Learn Japanese
Learning Japanese from the ground up is a very difficult task. While the grammar structures are not terribly different from English, learning the Japanese alphabet, as well as kanji, is incredibly difficult to master. While in English we have 26 letters, the Japanese hiragana and katakana systems have 46 characters each, for a total of … Continue reading 5 Games to Help You Learn Japanese
Why Japan Needs to Take Coronavirus More Seriously: Words from the COVID-19 Frontline
I spoke with a few medical professionals to get their take on why everyone, especially people in Japan (government and individuals) need to take stronger measures to flatten the curve.