HSBC Sevens World Series Tokyo Sevens
Mar 13, 2015 By
Rugby sevens is a variation of the standard rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, competing in shorter matches generally during summer months. Sevens is popular with professional and amateur players throughout the world. Besides the many multi-sport events where games are...[ Click to read more ]
Japanese Festival (matsuri) Food Explained
Mar 05, 2015 By Bert Wishart
The arrival of spring means only one thing in Japan: hanami. Hanami is a great time when people get together in parks all over the country to see the beautiful cherry blossoms. They gather with family, friends and coworkers to eat, drink and be merry. As with most Japanese matsuri (festivals),...[ Click to read more ]
Spring Pickings – Strawberry Picking around Tokyo
Feb 13, 2015 By Bert Wishart
Japan has a wonderful association with fruit. While it tends to be a little expensive (at least to the eyes of foreigners used to supermarkets crammed with the stuff for next to nothing), it is revered in status: apples are grown to extraordinary sizes and famed for the ‘honey’ within, mangoes are...[ Click to read more ]
Finding Ibuprofen or Pain Relievers in Japan
Feb 07, 2015 By Ray Proper
Like me, you might have brought medicines with you from home when you came to Japan, but eventually those run out and you will need to get more somehow. Importing medicines and drugs into Japan should not be taken lightly. Some items are perfectly acceptable. But while items containing codeine are...[ Click to read more ]
Lost Items in Japan and Shareikin Rewards
Dec 16, 2014 By First Admin
In Japan there is a very old system of "lost and found", based on a 1300-year-old system preceding Japan's urbanization or unification as a nation. Ｓmall lost-and-found centers all over Japan have been used for centuries, even to facilitate the return of food and produce to their original owners. In...[ Click to read more ]
Japan: To Drive or Not to Drive?
Dec 10, 2014 By Ray Proper
When discussing the pros and cons of driving in Japan, one of the most common questions that comes up is whether a car is really necessary at all. Those relocating to the one of Japan's major cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, or Osaka soon find upon arriving that most large...[ Click to read more ]
Dive on in – Public Swimming Pools in Tokyo
Nov 11, 2014 By Bert Wishart
Swimming is, it is often stated, perhaps the best form of exercise, and as a nation that takes its health particularly seriously, it is perhaps no surprise to find that there are swimming pools for public use all over Japan. So, whether it is to improve stamina, help with muscle...[ Click to read more ]
Toy Shopping in Nagoya
Oct 28, 2014 By Bert Wishart
So November is here and, for the more prepared of you, that means its time to get the Christmas presents sorted, particularly finding this year’s must-have toys for your kids. While you can still order G.I. Joes and Barbies from online stores back home you may find that your child’s...[ Click to read more ]
Using Kerosene Heaters in Japan
Oct 20, 2014 By
Outside of Tokyo and other urban areas, central heating is not really a thing in Japan. High end properties will off such amenities, but generally heating your entire home uniformly is avoided, as heating spaces not being actively used is seen as wasteful here. Instead, rooms in the home are heated...[ Click to read more ]
Japanese Fairy Tales You Can Read with Your Children
Oct 14, 2014 By Bert Wishart
If you have children there is perhaps nothing more rewarding than reading them bedtime stories. But let’s face it, there is only so many times that you can read The Gruffalo or Little Red Riding Hood. As such, why not add an extra layer of interest to your quality time, for...[ Click to read more ]
