…because it might turn out to be something you’d rather not explain to dinner guests! Let’s say you’re browsing around a flea market in Japan, and you discover this jolly woodblock print of five samurai-era men having a little chin-wag. Naturally, because it’s a flea market, you snag it at a bargain price! What aContinueContinue reading “Be careful what you hang on your wall”
Author Archives: Jonelle Patrick
The Aosawa Murders
By Riku Onda Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: This book is one of those rare Japanese mysteries that don’t lose something essential in translation. It’s told in such a way that the reader collects each piece of the puzzle from characters who didn’t necessarily revealContinueContinue reading “The Aosawa Murders”
Japanese Treasure Rice
If you have a rice cooker, this is the easiest made-from-scratch meal ever. All you have to do is measure the dry rice into the cooker, then toss in the raw veggies and cooking broth (plus the raw marinated chicken pieces, if you want to make a meal of it). Turn it on, and theContinueContinue reading “Japanese Treasure Rice”
Japanese ceremonies we didn’t know we needed
In Japan, there are ceremonies for some very odd things Everybody knows about Japan’s famous tea ceremony, and of course they also mark weddings, funerals and graduations with ceremonies. But one of the most interesting discussions we’ve been having at book zooms about The Last Tea Bowl Thief is about how the Japanese have ceremoniesContinueContinue reading “Japanese ceremonies we didn’t know we needed”
Did you win the February book giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Jake Adelstein’s Tokyo Vice! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback (and if paperback, let me know a mailing address you’d like it sent to) and I’ll get it to youContinueContinue reading “Did you win the February book giveaway?”
Did you win the MAR-APR Book Zoom giveaway?
Win a book zoom for you and your friends, hosted by author Jonelle Patrick For the next few months, I’ll be giving away a fully hosted The Last Tea Bowl Thief Book Zoom to one lucky Japanagram subscriber every month! If you enjoyed The Last Tea Bowl Thief and have a few friends who mightContinueContinue reading “Did you win the MAR-APR Book Zoom giveaway?”
Did you win the January book giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Natsuo Kirino’s OUT! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback (and if paperback, let me know a mailing address you’d like it sent to) and I’ll get it to you soonest. IfContinueContinue reading “Did you win the January book giveaway?”
The fabulous flower season that happens when nothing else is blooming
February in Japan is not fun. Cold and gray, its only festival involves demons, dry beans and smelly sardines. There would pretty much be nothing to look forward to, if it weren’t for the… Plum blossoms! And although their blooming doesn’t promise no more snow, plum trees bloom while every other flower and leaf isContinueContinue reading “The fabulous flower season that happens when nothing else is blooming”
Tokyo Vice
By Jake Adelstein Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: Investigative reporter Jake Adelstein covered the yakuza beat for a Japanese newspaper like a boss, and his first person account will make your hair stand on end. This first-person account of how an American investigative journalist cultivatedContinueContinue reading “Tokyo Vice“
The strange barbers of Yoshiwara
You’ve heard of Yoshiwara, right? The old Tokyo pleasure quarter? Well, it turns out that it wasn’t just any old red light district—it was its own separate, weird society, with different laws, different social rules, and even its own language. The reigning queens of this alternate universe were the oiran—courtesans who were so exclusive thatContinueContinue reading “The strange barbers of Yoshiwara”
Japanese Chicken Soup for the Soul
When it’s cold and wet and dark outside, people in Japan long for comfort food just as much as we do, and this chicken soup will warm you right down to your toes. It’s comforting, but a little bit different, all at the same time. Serves: 4-6 12 oz. (340g) marinated chicken pieces (recipe below)ContinueContinue reading “Japanese Chicken Soup for the Soul”
40,000 dolls dressed in Imperial court robes? Yes, please!
Katsuura Doll Festival in Katsuura, Chiba Every year, the town of Katsuura puts on a Girls’ Day Doll Festival to end all doll festivals. Nearly 40,000 magnificently attired hina-sama suddenly appear all over town, in displays that are truly jaw-dropping. Just for comparison, here’s a typical Girls’ Day set, displayed on the traditional red steps.ContinueContinue reading “40,000 dolls dressed in Imperial court robes? Yes, please!”
DECEMBER 2020
Click on photo or link to read the feature Seasonal Secret: The Japanese art of gift giving If there were medals for gifting, the Japanese would own the gold and the Guinness record for owning the gold…read more • Beyond Tokyo: Millions of twinkling fairy lights, dancing fountain extravaganzas, and glowing cotton candy, all served up onContinueContinue reading “DECEMBER 2020”
Did you win the December book giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of Martin Cruz Smith’s December 6! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback (and if paperback, let me know a mailing address you’d like it sent to) and I’ll get it to youContinueContinue reading “Did you win the December book giveaway?”
Let’s play Jeopardy!
For your New Year’s entertainment: An original round of Japan-flavored JEOPARDY Hello friends, it’s me, your virtual Japan Jeopardy host! Looking for a little fresh amusement? Throughout this long, long, LONG pandemic, I’ve discovered (quite to my surprise) that online trivia is one of the most satisfying entertainments around (not to mention it’s something toContinueContinue reading “Let’s play Jeopardy!”
OUT
By Natsuo Kirino Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A fabulous thriller that skillfully conveys just how cold and ingenious ordinary Japanese people can be, when pushed over the edge. A brutal murder is just the beginning of this dark novel, where we watch an ordinaryContinueContinue reading “OUT”
Icicles of wonder
The Misotsuchi Icicles in Saitama prefecture To get an idea how huge these are, check out the size of the people next to the river! This secret Japanese pleasure isn’t a famous tourist destination—it’s really more of a pit stop along the way to Suwa City or the Werewolf Shrine—but it’s so spectacular in anContinueContinue reading “Icicles of wonder”
Japan’s pet obsession
Dogs in schoolgirl uniforms are just the tip of the iceberg In the land with the most rapidly shrinking birthrate in the world, it’s easy to see where all that energy is going… Now it’s the dogs that are wearing schoolgirl uniforms And aspiring to work at maid cafes They’ve settled the issue of howContinueContinue reading “Japan’s pet obsession”
Setagaya Boroichi: The mother of all flea markets
At first glance, this could be a typical flea-markety collection from anywhere such convos thrive. Until you look closer and see that it includes a vintage tailor’s iron, a set of gorgeous antique lacquer bowls for ozoni new year’s soup, a disgruntled workman doll, a pre-dial-era telephone, and a couple of courtesan’s tobacco pipes. AllContinueContinue reading “Setagaya Boroichi: The mother of all flea markets”
NOVEMBER 2020
Click on photo or link to read the feature Why, Japan, Why?: In Japan, here’s how they tip the hand of fate! If someone told you they wanted to move a meeting you’d scheduled because the astrology forecast for that day is too unlucky, you’d probably be moving them right off the payroll, wouldn’t you?ContinueContinue reading “NOVEMBER 2020”
My Book Gift List
This list of excellent books that I read (or re-read) this year have these three things in common: They’re compelling but not harrowing.The characters are enjoyable to spend time with.They’re well-written, thoroughly immersive and escapist. • If you know someone who would like to read moreentertaining books by Black authors: Blanche on the Lam byContinueContinue reading “My Book Gift List”
Did you win the November book giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of William Gibson’s’s Idoru! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback (and if paperback, let me know a mailing address you’d like it sent to) and I’ll get it to you soonest. IfContinueContinue reading “Did you win the November book giveaway?”
December 6
By Martin Cruz Smith Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: This is a fascinating snapshot of life in Japan on the brink of war, told through the eyes of one of the rare foreign residents Martin Cruz Smith isn’t a Japan expert, but he’s cracking goodContinueContinue reading “December 6”
Nothing is weirder than Xmas in Japan
Santa blasphemy, blue poinsettias and Xmas hats from hell The first Christmas I spent in Japan, my head whipped around in a doubletake at the Santa with reindeer right next to a Godzilla made of white fairy lights. I stopped in my tracks when I heard churchy religious carols being played right alongside Jingle BellsContinueContinue reading “Nothing is weirder than Xmas in Japan”
Let’s go see millions of twinkling lights
This month’s destination: YomiuriLand An overview of the delights in store Even if you’re past the age when roller coasters and carousels thrill you, get thee to Yomiuriland at night to see this annual twinklefest! Every year they deck the aging amusement park with millions upon millions of dazzling lights—designed by Motoko Ishii, the lightingContinueContinue reading “Let’s go see millions of twinkling lights”
The Japanese art of gift-giving
Since we’re careening into that present-exchanging time of year, I thought you might enjoy a peek into the Japanese art of gift giving. Not to put too fine a point on it, they are MASTERS. If there was a medal for gifting, the Japanese would own the gold and the Guinness record for owning theContinueContinue reading “The Japanese art of gift-giving”
Marinated Pork Medallions with Melted Leeks
Special occasions call for special ingredients—this recipe is super simple if you start with ordinary bottled Japanese soba sauce (the kind used for dipping buckwheat noodles) and a relish called yuzu koshō that can be bought off the shelf.* These are both easily available online, if you don’t have an Asian market near you. HaveContinueContinue reading “Marinated Pork Medallions with Melted Leeks”
One stop shopping DECEMBER 2020
Here are books to delight everyone on your list There’s no better escape than reading, and bookstores are the departure gates of 2020 Books are the perfect gift, because they can instantly transport us to other places and times, even when we can’t travel there in person. I’m donning my author hat for a moment,ContinueContinue reading “One stop shopping DECEMBER 2020”
SPECIAL EDITION
A special edition of Japanagram to celebrate the publication of The Last Tea Bowl Thief! Click on photo or link to read the feature Why, Japan, Why?: Why is it so much harder to get a Japanese boyfriend than a Japanese girlfriend? The American character in The Last Tea Bowl Thief has had a longer relationship withContinueContinue reading “SPECIAL EDITION”
OCTOBER 2020
Click on photo or link to read the feature Why, Japan, Why?: Tiny pants, the garbage police, and the more friends you have, the lonelier you might be There are some things that nobody who moves to Japan wants to learn. But sometimes it’s these unwelcome lessons that unlock all kinds of other mysteries…read more •ContinueContinue reading “OCTOBER 2020”
Japanagram 