JUNE 2020
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Seasonal Secret for June: How to stay cool in the summer, the Japanese way
Five ways that the Japanese have traditionally survived the miserably hot & humid summer months. Some actually work, and some rely on powers of imagination that this foreigner can only aspire to…read more
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This month’s book review: The Essential Haiku
What I’ve always loved about haiku in general (besides the fact that they’re short) is their accessibility—pow, instant hit with the clue stick!—but they also quietly deliver deeper messages with a little more thought. And what makes this particular collection so wonderfully readable is that they weren’t tediously rendered word-for-word from the Japanese—they were translated by a poet.…read more
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Beyond Tokyo: Let’s travel to place where a kinder, gentler age lives on—the uninhabited Japanese island where the only residents are bunnies
Remember when you could go to the airport half an hour before your flight and just walk onto the plane, without going through security? Remember when children could play outside until dark, with no supervision? Remember when we could all go to restaurants and bars and shops without wearing masks? If you’re like me, right about now you may be longing for….read more
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Japanese Home Cooking for May: Japanese Chicken Salad with Tangy Soy-Lemon Dressing
Summer is heating up in Japan, and this salad is the perfect way to avoid slaving over a hot stove! It tastes fresh and summer-y, satisfying enough to be a light meal in itself, or as a side with rice and grilled meat…read more
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Why, Japan, Why?: How did Japan escape a severe COVID pandemic without lockdowns or mass testing?
Did Japan beat the virus without lockdowns or mass testing? It’s beginning to look that way. In a country with over 126 million people, there have been only 825 deaths from the virus, even though they had no “shelter in place” edicts and testing was laughably limited. But why?…read more
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If you love a good read, you might enjoy The Last Tea Bowl Thief too
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes mystery novels set in Tokyo, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
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