Leaving Japan? Better Get Some Souvenirs!
Mar 26, 2024 By Bert Wishart
It is said that nothing is certain in this life but death in taxes, but I would like to add one more to that: change. Since coming to Japan, your life has probably undergone quite a lot of changes, with new experiences coming thick and fast. But now it is...[ Click to read more ]
Tenmusu – Nagoya’s Other Shrimp Soul Food
By Bert Wishart
When outsiders think about Nagoya's meibutsu [local specialties], a few things will spring to mind. Miso katsu will be one, and tebasaki will be another, but ebi furai will quite possibly be highest on the list. These immense deep-fried shrimp are as Nagoyan as Nana-chan, and you can get them...[ Click to read more ]
Getting Arty – What’s on in Nagoya’s Galleries
Mar 25, 2024 By Bert Wishart
Art lovers in Nagoya have been a little disappointed in recent years. Firstly, the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts closed down in 2018, and now the Nagoya City museum is undergoing a renovation that will not see it reopen until 2026. However, there are still some great exhibitions be be...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips – Kanazawa
Feb 29, 2024 By Bert Wishart
Nestled along the western coast of Japan, Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture is a great example of modern Japan settling side-by-side with its history. It is a city that retains much of its classic samurai-era charm through its labyrinthine and meticulously preserved historical districts. It is also a city of surprisingly...[ Click to read more ]
Do You Know Nags? – Uncovering Nagoya’s Hidden Gems – Part 6
Feb 28, 2024 By Bert Wishart
Whether you’re new in the city or are a Showa Gaijin, Nagoya is a city that always surprises. New restaurants, shops, and drinking establishments spring up all the time, and you can be wandering down an oft-trodden street and come across an ancient temple that you’ve never seen before. We...[ Click to read more ]
From Fool to Demon to Death – A potted history of Oda Nobunaga, Nagoya’s Warrior Ruler
By Bert Wishart
While many of us have worked for managers or employers whom we felt were a couple of chopsticks short of a bento box, it is doubtful that your mortality was in their hands. However, for the samurai of Owari Province (latter-day Aichi) in the late 16th century, it must have...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips – History, Heritage, and Natural Beauty in Toyokawa
Jan 31, 2024 By Bert Wishart
About 75 minutes east of Nagoya, in the Mikawa Bay region, lies Toyokawa, a small city with a lot of spirituality and individuality. Though it is generally overlooked by the tourism industry as little more than a once-industrial town, it is in fact an area known locally for its rich...[ Click to read more ]
Get Your Game Face on – Spocha, Japan’s Family-Friendly Sports and Gaming Entertainmant
Jan 29, 2024 By Bert Wishart
Do you love sports but rarely have a chance to play? Perhaps you've never swung a bat or tossed a ball in anger and always wanted to try. It could be that you love video games and singing, and you can't choose which to do. Or just maybe you want...[ Click to read more ]
Himakajima – Aichi’s Octopus Island
By Bert Wishart
Have you ever wondered what the planet would look like if it was taken over by octopuses? No? Ah, well that kind of messes up my introduction to this article. But let's imagine you had said yes, because I would now say 'Well, imagine no more, just head over to...[ Click to read more ]
Alternative Fitness Options in Nagoya
Dec 27, 2023 By Bert Wishart
So, over the holidays, you indulged until you were fit to burst. We've all been there. But now you've noticed that you've put on a few pounds and can shake your belly like a bowl full of jelly, and you are well aware that it is no longer the season...[ Click to read more ]
