Category Archives: 2020

The Ninth Attachment Cocktail/Mocktail

I hope you’ll laugh when you start reading The Last Tea Bowl Thief and understand what the name means! These cocktails/mocktails are built around a surprise ingredient. It’s a traditional Japanese taste that’s becoming all the rage at modern Tokyo bars: fruit-infused vinegar. These apple-ginger sours are sophisticated and satisfying, with or without the alcohol.ContinueContinue reading “The Ninth Attachment Cocktail/Mocktail”

The Tale of Murasaki

By Liza Dalby Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: If you love historical novels, this beautifully imagined tale really brings 11th century Japanese court intrigues to life You probably recognize Liza Dalby as the author of Geisha and Kimono, the highly acclaimed books that came outContinueContinue reading “The Tale of Murasaki”

Unexpected drawbacks of being a foreigner in Japan

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… Is it me, or are these pants just laughably small? The first time IContinueContinue reading “Unexpected drawbacks of being a foreigner in Japan”

Holy log-riding, the accidental castle, and a fire-breathing stone dragon

This month’s destination: Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture The reason I’m taking us on a virtual visit to Suwa City this time of year is because autumn really begins to blaze in Nagano Prefecture during the month of October, much earlier than it does in Tokyo Suwa City? Who ever heard of Suwa City? That doesn’tContinueContinue reading “Holy log-riding, the accidental castle, and a fire-breathing stone dragon“

A special gift for Japanagram subscribers

If you pre-order a copy of The Last Tea Bowl Thief, I’ll send you a signed bookplate for the front! These cream-colored bookplates are printed on archival paper, and feature one of the illustrations from the front of The Last Tea Bowl Thief. You can only get them from me, but it’s easy, if you’reContinueContinue reading “A special gift for Japanagram subscribers”

The ten winners of August’s “It Was You” Giveaway are…

If you recognize your email, congratulations! If one of these is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it (and what name you’d like me to inscribe it to, if you’d like more than just a signature), and I’ll get it to you soonest. And by the way, a few of lastContinueContinue reading “The ten winners of August’s “It Was You” Giveaway are…”

The twelve winners of the August Book Giveaways are…

If you recognize your email, congratulations!  You just won a copy of CLIMB, by Susan Spann!  • You just won a copy of Claws of the Cat, by Susan Spann! If one of these is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it (plus an email address if you’re prefer ebook, or a mailingContinueContinue reading “The twelve winners of the August Book Giveaways are…”

Here’s your free copy of It Was You!

Thanks for being a Japanagram subscriber. Here’s your free copy of the brand new, not-for-sale, Only In Tokyo Short! You can read this digital format It Was You right now on your ebook device, but ten lucky subscribers will get a signed paperback copy too! To find out if you’re a winner, check the linkContinueContinue reading “Here’s your free copy of It Was You!”

It Was You

By Jonelle Patrick Click on the photo for a link to your free digital copy of It Was You All Japanagram subscribers can download a free digital copy of this all-new, not-for-sale Only In Tokyo Short, but if you still love reading books the old fashioned way and didn’t win a signed paperback copy thisContinueContinue reading “It Was You”

AUGUST 2020

Click on photo or link to read the feature Beyond Tokyo: Let’s visit the most refreshing waterfall in the world Just looking at pictures of this astonishing waterfall is enough to beat the summer heat, but being surrounded by its 180° music is one of life’s truly sublime moments. Come with me now, and experienceContinueContinue reading “AUGUST 2020”

Japanese Summer Rice Bowl

This rice bowl features Poached Salmon with Spicy Miso, Chilled Snow Peas with Soy-Lemon Dressing, and Peppery Marinated Mushrooms This delicious topping is rich in umami goodness, and can be used on fish, chicken, cold veggies and salads with equally tasty success! Spicy Miso Topping 2 T. (30ml) soy sauce 3 T. (45ml) rice vinegarContinueContinue reading “Japanese Summer Rice Bowl“

Tall noses, small faces & big feet

Japan beauty goals “Your nose is so tall!” No foreigner lives in Japan for long without encountering this strangest of comments, delivered with an inexplicable tone of admiration. But having a big nose is not the only Japanese compliment that sounds like anything but. Here are five Japanese beauty standards that will have you checkingContinueContinue reading “Tall noses, small faces & big feet”

Surprising flower extravaganzas of fall

Flowers that look small and humble by themselves, but are spectacular and mighty in great numbers When I started thinking about what’s so special about September in Japan, the first things that came to mind were three obscure flowers that are nobody’s favorite. By themselves, they’re utterly small and forgettable. You might even be aContinueContinue reading “Surprising flower extravaganzas of fall”

Tanuki Town: A quaint mountain village filled with all manner of tricksters

This month’s destination: Shigaraki, in Shiga Prefecture Tanuki figures always feature outsized ballsacks, and the reason for that actually has nothing to do with their studly prowess. Makers of gold leaf used to wrap the nugget of gold in tanuki skin while working it. The skin is so tough, it’s said that a tiny pieceContinueContinue reading “Tanuki Town: A quaint mountain village filled with all manner of tricksters”

JULY 2020

Click on photo to read the feature Beyond Tokyo: We journey to a vast and serene lotus garden grown from 3,000-year-old seeds Since time immemorial, these ancient symbols of “pure beauty that flowers from the muckiest mud” have uplifted the human spirit, so it’s fitting that even in these grim times, we can still wanderContinueContinue reading “JULY 2020”

Exclusive for Japanagram subscribers only!

You can’t buy this book anywhere …but you can get it for FREE Between now and October 20, 2020, when The Last Tea Bowl Thief comes out, I’m giving away copies of this all-new not-for-sale Yumi & Kenji short (76 pp) to Japanagram subscribers! IT WAS YOU An Only In Tokyo Short by Jonelle PatrickContinueContinue reading “Exclusive for Japanagram subscribers only!”

The winner of the July Book Giveaway is…

If you recognize this email, congratulations!  You just won a copy of Shinjū, by Laura Joh Rowland. If this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it, and I’ll have one sent from Amazon pronto! (Much to my chagrin, I discovered there’s no ebook edition, so I regret that I can’t offerContinueContinue reading “The winner of the July Book Giveaway is…”

Book Review & Giveaway AUGUST 2020

CLIMB By Susan Spann This month’s book giveaway is Susan Spann’s wry and moving new memoir, CLIMB. Two and a half years ago, her life appeared to be rocketing along quite nicely—not only was she a successful lawyer, she was jaunting off for extended annual stays in Japan to write a popular mystery series. NoContinueContinue reading “Book Review & Giveaway AUGUST 2020”

Two reviews: Claws of the Cat / Climb

By Susan Spann Book #1: CLAWS OF THE CAT Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A beyond-the-history-books journey into the fascinating and uneasy lives of the first foreigners allowed to stay in Japan Claws of the Cat is a tale set in the fascinating 16th-century period inContinueContinue reading “Two reviews: Claws of the Cat / Climb”

Okinawan Brown Sugar Dessert Sauce

Vanilla ice cream topped with Okinawan brown sugar syrup and roasted soybean flour is a favorite summer treat in Japan Dessert is the hardest thing to decide on for a Japanese meal, because most Japanese “desserts” are pretty disappointing, especially when compared to (duh) chocolate. Which is why I’m delighted to show you how toContinueContinue reading “Okinawan Brown Sugar Dessert Sauce”

In Japan you can be “Honorably Alone”

How Japan has perfected the experience of eating, drinking and traveling by yourself We’ve all had that awkward experience of having to dine alone in a restaurant—the meek acceptance of the mingey table nearest the swinging kitchen door and the studious attention to an open book so people don’t think we were stood up. InContinueContinue reading “In Japan you can be “Honorably Alone””

The Most Refreshing Waterfall in the World

This month’s destination: Sharaito-no-taki, near Lake Kawaguchi Just looking at pictures of this astonishing waterfall is enough to beat the summer heat, and being surrounded by its 180° music is one of life’s truly sublime moments. This natural wonder is beautiful in every season—in the summertime, when the June monsoon sends cascades of rainwater coursingContinueContinue reading “The Most Refreshing Waterfall in the World“

JUNE 2020

Click on photo to read the feature 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 •ContinueContinue reading “JUNE 2020”

The winner of the June Book Giveaway is…

If you recognize this email, congratulations!  You just won a copy of The Essential Haiku, edited by the amazing Robert Hass If this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it, and I’ll have one sent from Amazon pronto! (Much to my chagrin, I discovered there’s no ebook edition, so I regretContinueContinue reading “The winner of the June Book Giveaway is…”

Shinjū

By Laura Joh Rowland Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A well-researched and deeply entertaining crime read, set in samurai-era Japan Who hasn’t wondered what it would have been like to live in a more chivalrous era, when warriors kept order with the world’s sharpest swords,ContinueContinue reading “Shinjū“

A serene lotus garden grown from 3,000-year-old seeds

This month’s destination: Gyoda Ancient Lotus Park, Saitama An excavation for a new city building unearthed 3,000-year-old lotus seeds of a variety that was thought to be long extinct. When they sprouted and bloomed, scientists were so delighted that the city dedicated a large tract of land to their cultivation, and the Gyōda Ancient LotusContinueContinue reading “A serene lotus garden grown from 3,000-year-old seeds”

Sweet & Salty Miso Sauce

Dengaku Sauce is one of those tasty toppings that makes even people who “don’t like Japanese food” beg for seconds. Everything from eggplant to slices of pork tenderloin to skewers of grilled chicken will disappear in record time if slathered in Dengaku. Sweet & Salty Miso Sauce 6 Japanese eggplants (or one big European one)ContinueContinue reading “Sweet & Salty Miso Sauce”

Souvenirs NOT to buy in July

Beautiful, right? So summery! The ultimate souvenir not only reminds you of the place where you bought it, it also reminds you of the joys of being in Japan during that season. Which is why you might be tempted to bring home one of these lovely handpainted flower lamps that are only sold during JulyContinueContinue reading “Souvenirs NOT to buy in July“