Author Archive Jason Gatewood

Jason Gatewood

Our Tokyo based collaborator is a tech nerd, Japanophile, train nut, and a veritable fountain of information on Japan. His current goal is to watch Evangelion and actually "get it", sing every permutation of "Hotel California" at any karaoke gathering, ride every bullet train line, and sample all varieties of ramen throughout Japan. Catch more of his musings at · http://jlgatewood.com

What is the ShichiGoSan Ceremony?

Nov 24, 2019 By Jason Gatewood

Traditionally held on November 15, the Shichigosan (七五三, literally 7-5-3) ceremony is a rite that originated around 750 AD in...[ Click to read more ]

Sell Your Used Stuff on Mercari

By Jason Gatewood

Japanese accommodations are notoriously small for my American hoarding habits, and I occasionally draw the ire of my wife and...[ Click to read more ]

No Comments

English Stand-up Comedy Around Tokyo

Oct 29, 2019 By Jason Gatewood

Turn on the TV at any given moment during “Golden Hour” (what we Yanks call Primetime) and you’ll no doubt...[ Click to read more ]

No Comments

Making sense of the Consumption Tax rate hike

Sep 27, 2019 By Jason Gatewood

It’s officially happening after many delays and false starts, Japan’s consumption tax (消費税 shohizei) will go from 8% to 10%...[ Click to read more ]

No Comments

How to ease the impact of Japan’s impending consumption tax hike

By Jason Gatewood

In order to ease the overnight transition into a higher tax bracket, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has...[ Click to read more ]

No Comments

Tokyo Motor Show 2019

By Jason Gatewood

Japan's motorcar industry is one of, if not the most important exporter and revenue generator in the economy here. Brands...[ Click to read more ]

Festival Tokyo – Theatre, Dance, Music, Visual art, and Film

By Jason Gatewood

One of the benefits of living in the world’s largest urban area is the simple fact that there’s always something...[ Click to read more ]

Kawagoe Hikawa Festival

Sep 25, 2019 By Jason Gatewood

Taking place annually on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October, the Kawagoe Festival is the pride of the City...[ Click to read more ]

Tokyo Game Show 2019

Aug 27, 2019 By Jason Gatewood

The Tokyo Game Show is an annual trade show for video game developers held at Makuhari Messe Convention Center just outside...[ Click to read more ]

No Comments

Eating Your Way Through Tokyo in September 2019

By Jason Gatewood

September is a hard month, it isn't summer, and it isn't fall.  It is still hot, but cooling down.  It...[ Click to read more ]