Best Cinemas in Kobe
Oct 18, 2019 By Justin Hanus
If you're an expat living in Japan, you'll find that going to the cinema isn't all that different from what it's like in countries such as the US or UK. There is the same array of snacking options such as popcorn and fizzy drinks. You'll usually need to choose a...[ Click to read more ]
Miso – Japan’s Condiment of Choice for 1000 Years
Oct 14, 2019 By Justin Hanus
There was a time when miso was only eaten by nobility and monks. It was strictly forbidden for commoners to even eat the fermented condiment. What a difference a thousand years or so makes - today it is the cornerstone of traditional Japanese meals. Miso was invented in China and...[ Click to read more ]
Staying Safe from Torrential Rain
Sep 30, 2019 By Admin
What is torrential rain? Torrential rain refers to a large amount of rain that falls in a narrow area over several hours due to the stagnation of the rainy season front or the approach of a typhoon. Such localized heavy rains in Japan, where there are many steep mountains and...[ Click to read more ]
How to ease the impact of Japan’s impending consumption tax hike
Sep 27, 2019 By Jason Gatewood
In order to ease the overnight transition into a higher tax bracket, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has begun a program that will effectively refund the difference back to consumers. But there are a few catches of course; its only in effect for 9 months beginning 1 October...[ Click to read more ]
Sushi: a Short History and Where to Get It in Hiroshima
By Hugh Cann
The earliest form of sushi, known today as narezushi, most likely originates in the paddy fields along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. The prototype narezushi is made by lacto-fermenting fish with salt and rice to control putrefaction. It then spread southward. In Japan, the dish's introduction overlaps with the...[ Click to read more ]
The Red Capped Statues – The Patron Saint of Children.
By Hugh Cann
If you’ve visited Mitaki Temple on the city outskirts or perhaps Daishoin Temple on Miyajima (or many other places throughout Japan) you will surely have come across small stone statues of monks wearing red knitted caps and bibs across the chest. These are statues honoring the Jizo Bosatsu. Jizo is...[ Click to read more ]
Japanese Sake: Sake Festival in Hiroshima
By Hugh Cann
To begin with, we all know the word sake (pronounced sa-keh not sa-ki). But in fact, that is the generic term in Japanese for alcohol. If you want to order it and not sound like a complete “blow-in” you would be better ordering it as Nihon-shu. Most Nihon-shu (from my...[ Click to read more ]
Nine Japanese Artists You Should Know About
Sep 24, 2019 By Bert Wishart
When we think of Japanese art our minds probably go straight to the two dimensional, Chinese-influenced pictures of cranes and floating castles or the lurid and grotesque kabuki characters of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. But there is so much more to the broad scope of Japanese artwork than that. From sculpture...[ Click to read more ]
Night Clubbing in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Kobe is not quite on the New York levels of “city that never sleeps” but there is plenty going on after pubs and restaurants close up for the night with something for everyone from ravers to jazz aficionados. The good news is that many decent late-night joints are within walking...[ Click to read more ]
Where to Play Pool in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Playing pool is one of the most popular pub games and you can find bars and halls the world over with tables where you can shoot a couple of casual frames over a drink or play more competitively. More popular in America and Europe, it's starting to be played more...[ Click to read more ]
