Tag Archives: Life in Japan

Kouki and the Strong No

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Dr. J.H. Watson

  Gather round, everyone, it’s story time.  You might remember I used to teach English in Japan. Well, that brought me into contact with a wide variety of students, among them several dozen pre-schoolers. And it is here that our … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Top 3 in Japan

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

My time in Japan will soon be at an end, so I thought it would be appropriate to look back on some of the places I’ve been and talk about the things Japan has to offer. It’s been a difficult … Continue reading →

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Misadventures in Shopping

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Going food shopping in Japan can be an adventure, especially if you don’t speak the language. You’re reduced to looking at the pictures on the packaging and using that, along with the context provided by other nearby goods, to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan | Tagged | 9 Comments

Tastes of Japan Pt 2

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Having talked previously about convenience-store foods in Japan, now it’s time to turn to the drinks that accompany them. No, I’m not talking about alcohol (although you can get that at the konbini easily enough). These are the drinks you … Continue reading →

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The Watermelon Watchers

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Summer is now well underway here in Japan, and I’ve had a chance to see what it’s like. Before we get too much further through it, I thought I’d talk about some of the more idiosyncratic experiences you get in … Continue reading →

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Tastes of Japan

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Japanese food is famous worldwide. In fact, it is listed as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Treasures: teishoku meals are probably what most people think of when Japanese cuisine is mentioned, but other types of food such as sushi … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Art vs. Reality pt2: Not Matching Up

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Some time ago, Artemis and I collaborated on an article about accurate portrayals of Japan as seen in anime. From school buildings and their bells and the sound of cicadas, to the general look of streets and overhead cables, we … Continue reading →

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Hydraulic Power

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Here in Japan the rainy season has started, and if you live in a rural area – like yours truly – its effects are fairly obvious. What might be less obvious are the ways in which those effects have shaped … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Japan, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Art vs. Reality: When Anime Gets It Right

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Anime is a medium that loves to exaggerate. From the overlarge eyes and sometimes hilarious facial expressions to the often outright fantastical stories that occur in ‘real life’ situations, there’s clearly a lot about anime that is in no way … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Japan | Tagged | 16 Comments

A Very Japanese Christmas

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Dr. J.H. Watson

Christmas is now well behind us, and we’re getting through 2015 at a steady pace (60 seconds per minute, more or less). Before it gets too much further away, I thought I’d talk a little about some of the more … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan | Tagged , , | 9 Comments