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Hi, it’s me, Jonelle.

Japanagram is my monthly electronic magazine, filled with features on travel, food, and entertaining things about Japan.

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Here are links to all the posts, by category:

Here are links to past issues:

APR 2024

Beyond Tokyo: Let’s stay in a traditional farmhouse in the Japanese countryside!Why, Japan, Why? Why do so many top Japanese restaurants refuse Michelin stars?Book Review & Giveaway: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

MAR 2024

Seasonal Secret: Hike the Tama Forest cherry blossom preserveJapanese Home Cooking: She’s So Cosmo cocktail/MocktailThe Thing I Learned Today: How to plan the best Japan trip EVER

JAN-FEB 2024

Beyond Tokyo: Zao Onsen in winter: Hot springs, snow monsters, & more! Why, Japan, Why? Flavors I do not want to tryJapanese Home Cooking: Bite-Sized Mont BlancsThe Thing I Learned Today: All about nihonga: A master reveals the secrets behind Japan’s ancient form of paintingJapan Book Review & Giveaway: Make It Japanese: Simple Recipes for Everyone by Sanae Lemoine

NOV-DEC 2023

Beyond Tokyo: Hidden secrets of Miyajima Island Why, Japan, Why? Santa gets a Japanese makeoverThe Thing I Learned Today: The kamikaze didn’t just fly planesJapan Book Review & Giveaway: The Last Yakuza by Jake Adelstein

SEP-OCT 2023

Japanese Home Cooking: Sweet & Savory Miso Beef in Lettuce WrapsSeasonal Secret: Halloween costumes I would regretThe Thing I Learned Today: You’ve heard of Paris Syndrome, but what about Tokyo Syndrome?Beyond Tokyo: The Japanese garden from hell Japan Book Review & Giveaway: Japanese Ghost Stories by Catrien Ross

JUL-AUG 2023

Japanese Home Cooking: Deviled Eggs with a Japanese TwistSeasonal Secret: Tokyo SplashparksThe Thing I Learned Today: How NOT to say “Get Well Soon” in JapanBeyond Tokyo: Kamakura’s weird, wild & wonderful shrines & temples Japan Swag Giveaway: Set of five “Drinking Cats” gachapon

MAY-JUN 2023

Japanese Home Cooking: Japanese Chicken Sliders with Three Tasty ToppingsSeasonal Secret: It’s fluttering fish flg season!The Thing I Learned Today: Seven reasons not to buy that ridiculously cheap Japanese farmhouseBeyond Tokyo: Nikko Japan Swag Giveaway: A set of see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil gachapon cats

MAR-APR 2023

Seasonal Secret: How to beat cherry blossom season peak crowds and pricesThe Thing I Learned Today: Five things Japan does right when it comes to public transportationBeyond Tokyo: Hanamiyama cherry blossom park Book Review & Giveaway: Dead-End Memories by Banana Yoshimoto

JAN-FEB 2023

Seasonal Secret: Beautiful Japanese New Year’s decorationsThe Thing I Learned Today: Why are used cars, beautiful old houses and vintage kimonos so cheap in Japan?Beyond Tokyo: The odd theme park that’s amazing in the most unexpected way Book Review & Giveaway: The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

NOV-DEC 2022

Seasonal Secret: Design FestaJapanese Home Cooking: Miso Butter PotatoesThe Thing I Learned Today: Why are those trees wearing placemats?Beyond Tokyo: The Werewolf Shrine Japan Swag Giveaway: Super realistic sushi fridge magnet

SEP-OCT 2022

Seasonal Secret: Pagoda paradeJapanese Home Cooking: Nutty NoodlesWhy, Japan, Why?: Funny haiku about modern lifeThe Thing I Learned Today: The weirdness of going on a Japanese bus tourJapan Swag Giveaway: Attack Cats gashapon capsule toys

JUL-AUG 2022

Beyond Tokyo: Bonsai VillageJapanese Home Cooking: Easy Japanese Lunchbox SupperWhy, Japan, Why?: Extreme lunchboxing: The what, how & why of Japanese bentōSeasonal Secret: Floating lantern festivalBook Review: Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda

MAY-JUN 2022

Beyond Tokyo: Beautiful Japanese Iris GardensJapanese Home Cooking: Mint-Cilantro Udon with Fresh Ginger and Meyer Lemon and Hamachi Tataki with Tomato-Ginger SauceWhy, Japan, Why?: International Food Fails of JapanThe Thing I Learned Today: Making Sake on Sado IslandBook Review: The Breakaway Japanese Kitchen by Eric Gower

MAR-APR 2022

Beyond Tokyo: Azalea hike at Shiofune Kannon-ji templeJapanese Home Cooking: Sweet Sesame SpinachWhy, Japan, Why?: Japanese musical theatre weirdnessThe Thing I Learned Today: The Wizard of Oz livesBook Review: All I Asking For Is My Body by Milton Murayama

JAN-FEB 2022

Beyond Tokyo: Kairaku-en Plum Garden • Japanese Home Cooking: Spicy Japanese Eggplant • Seasonal SecretIncredible Japanese quilts • Why, Japan, Why?Strange Japanese travel products • Book ReviewThe Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi

NOV-DEC 2021

Beyond Tokyo: Fox Village in the Snow Japanese Home Cooking: Kinako Shortbread Cookies with Salted Brown Sugar Buttercream Seasonal Secret: Stroll through the tunnels of golden gingko trees Why, Japan, Why?: One more reason why I love Japan Book Review: All She Was Worth by Miyuki Miyabe

SEP-OCT 2021

Beyond Tokyo: Sado IslandJapanese Home Cooking: How to host a great sake tastingSeasonal Secret: The angry ghost cat paradeThe Thing I Learned Today: What I Never Knew About the 47 RōninBook Review: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

JUL-AUG 2021

Beyond Tokyo: A village of thatch-roofed farmhouses less than an hour from TokyoJapanese Home Cooking: Green Salad with Japanese Pickled Onions and Wafu Onion DressingSeasonal Secret: Edogawa Goldfish FestivalThe Thing I Learned Today: How to read a haiku poemBook Review: The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon

MAY-JUN 2021

Beyond Tokyo: Ashikaga Flower Park giant wisteriaJapanese Home Cooking: Ginger-Soy Steak SauceSeasonal Secret: Seven things you didn’t know about Japanese weddingsThe Thing I Learned Today: How to live forever, Japanese-styleBook Review: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

MAR-APR 2021

Beyond Tokyo: Cherry blossoms to die for, long after the rest are historyJapanese Home Cooking: Japanese Treasure RiceWhy, Japan, Why?: Japanese ceremonies we didn’t know we neededThe Thing I Learned Today: Be careful what you hang on your wall…Book Review: The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda

FEBRUARY 2021

Beyond Tokyo: Katsuura: 40,000 dolls dressed in Imperial court robesJapanese Home Cooking: Japanese Chicken Soup for the SoulSeasonal Secret: Plum Blossom SeasonThe Thing I Learned Today: The strange barbers of YoshiwaraBook Review: Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein

JANUARY 2021

Beyond Tokyo: A magical cliffside of icicles lit up at nightWhy, Japan, Why?: Japan’s Pet ObsessionSeasonal Secret: Setagaya Boroichi: The grand pooh-bah of Japanese flea marketsBook Review: OUT by Natsuo Kirino

DECEMBER 2020

Beyond Tokyo: YomiuriLand IlluminationsJapanese Home Cooking: Marinated Pork Medallions with Melted LeeksSeasonal Secret: The Japanese Art of Gift GivingWhy, Japan, Why?: There’s nothing weirder than Xmas in JapanBook Giveaway: December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith • My picks for gift reads: There’s a book on this list for everyone on YOUR list

NOVEMBER 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Kenroku-en Garden lit up at nightJapanese Home Cooking: Chicken & Ginger Yakitori MeatballsSeasonal Secret: Bonsai ChrysanthemumsWhy, Japan, Why?: Are ya feelin’ lucky? How Japanese tip the hand of fateBook Giveaway: Idoru by William Gibson • Book news you can use: Writing how-tos, killer reviews, podcasts & more

SPECIAL EDITION

Beyond Tokyo: Jakko-in, the convent with a secret Japanese Home Cooking: Sesame-Miso HotpotWhy, Japan, Why?: Why is it so much harder to get a Japanese boyfriend than a Japanese girlfriend?Book Giveaway: The Last Tea Bowl Thief by Jonelle Patrick

OCTOBER 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Suwa City, NaganoJapanese Home Cooking: Apple-Ginger Sours Cocktail/MocktailWhy, Japan, Why?: Tiny pants, the garbage police, and the more friends you have, the lonelier you might beBook Giveaway: The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby

SEPTEMBER 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Shigaraki Tanuki TownJapanese Home Cooking: Japanese Rice Bowl with Miso SalmonWhy, Japan, Why?: Strange Japanese beauty goals • Seasonal Secret: Three modest September flowers that are spectacular in numbers

AUGUST 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Shiraito-no-taki FallsJapanese Home Cooking: Brown Sugar Dessert SauceWhy, Japan, Why?: How Japan has perfected the honorable art of eating aloneBook Reviews: CLIMB and Claws of the Cat by Susan Spann

JULY 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Gyoda Ancient Lotus Park Japanese Home Cooking: Sweet & Salty Miso Grilling Sauce • Seasonal Secret: Souvenirs NOT to buy in July Book Review: Shinjū by Laura Joh Rowland

JUNE 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Bunny IslandJapanese Home Cooking: Japanese Chicken Salad with Tangy Soy-Lemon Dressing Seasonal Secret: Keep cool in the summer, the Japanese way Book Review: The Essential Haiku, edited by Robert Hass

MAY 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Koya-sanJapanese Home Cooking: Yakitori Chicken Mini-Burgers Seasonal Secret: Six things you didn’t expect to discover on a pilgrimage Book Review: Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye by Marie Mutsuki Mockett

APRIL 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Koi Nobori at TatebayashiJapanese Home Cooking: Creamy Sesame NoodlesSeasonal Secret: The Other Season that Blooms in the SpringWhy, Japan, Why?: Why you should be careful what you wish forBook Review & Giveaway: Newcomer by Keigo Higashino

MARCH 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Firewalking at Mt. TakaoJapanese Home Cooking: Savory Japanese Beef & Vegetables + Curry RiceSeasonal Secret: Get the best cherry blossom pix in Tokyo: Where, when & howWhy, Japan, Why?: Why Oreos are more Japanese than sumo wrestlers in JapanBook Review: Ghosts of the Tsunami by Richard Lloyd Parry

FEBRUARY 2020

Beyond Tokyo: Kamakura Matsuri igloo festivalJapanese Home Cooking: Tasty Ginger PorkSeasonal Secret: Weird ChocolateWhy, Japan, Why?: Why the most interesting thing you eat in Japan might be spaghettiBook Review & Giveaway: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

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