The winner of the May Book Giveaway is…

If you recognize this email, congratulations!  You just won a copy of Marie Mutsuki Mockett's Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye! If this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you'd prefer an ebook or a paperback, and where to send it (let me know which email to use for anContinue reading "The winner of the May Book Giveaway is…"

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. It's a great way to use leftover rotisserie chicken, and the TangyContinue reading "Japanese Chicken Salad with Tangy Soy-Lemon Dressing"

How to stay cool in the summer, the Japanese way

Here are 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. 1 Goldfish Yeah, goldfish languidly waving their fins in their cool, watery world supposedly have the power to cool you off,Continue reading "How to stay cool in the summer, the Japanese way"

Let’s go to the Japanese island where the only residents are lots and lots of bunnies

This month's destination: Okunoshima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture 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 shopsContinue reading "Let’s go to the Japanese island where the only residents are lots and lots of bunnies"

The Essential Haiku

Edited by Robert Hass Setting & details: N/AAuthenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: The most enjoyable book of haiku in the whole world I'm going to admit a shameful secret: I'm not a poetry reader. Except for this poetry. For some reason, whenever I sit down for five minutesContinue reading "The Essential Haiku"

Six things you didn’t expect to discover on a pilgrimage

Naturally, the Japanese have figured out a way to make their version of a spiritual Iron Man not only good for the soul, but one of the most memorable journeys you'll ever make. Here are six things that will surprise and delight you on your Japanese pilgrimage: 1 The most awesome souvenir in the entireContinue reading "Six things you didn’t expect to discover on a pilgrimage"

Let’s go to one of the most mystical pilgrimage sites in all Japan

This month's destination: Koya-san in Wakayama Prefecture This is Kōbō Daishi (or Kūkai, as he was also known), who founded Shingon Buddhism and built Koya-san. He taught that anyone could reach enlightenment (even common people, not just the high-born or priestly) and by following certain strict practices in this life, it was possible to attainContinue reading "Let’s go to one of the most mystical pilgrimage sites in all Japan"

Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye

by Marie Mutsuki Mockett Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: Thought provoking and insightful This is the book that made me want to visit Koya-san. The author takes us along on her own search for meaning in the wake of her father's death, and visits allContinue reading "Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye"

Yakitori Chicken Mini-Burgers

This is a little less than half a recipe. I usually freeze half of them, then throw together a batch of sauce on another night for an easy five-minute dinner Serves 8 (if one serving size is 5 mini-burgers) Chicken Mini-Burgers 12 oz (340g) ground chicken 12 oz (340g) silken tofu (the soft, custard-y kind,Continue reading "Yakitori Chicken Mini-Burgers"

APRIL 2020

Click on photo to read the feature This month's Book Review: Newcomer Ghosts of the Tsunami is a page-turningly readable piece of narrative non-fiction, written by the Asia Editor of The Times of London. Using fascinating personal accounts – like why Buddhist priests had to brush up on their exorcism skills – he delivers poignant insightsContinue reading "APRIL 2020"

Creamy Sesame Noodles

You'll never guess how healthy these sesame noodles are, because they're decadently creamy...without the cream. Creamy Sesame Noodles Ingredients: 3.5 oz. (100 g) dried Japanese soba (buckwheat) noodles or regular pasta 2 T. (about two) sliced green onions Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish Diced cooked chicken (optional, but it makes a satisfying lunch if youContinue reading "Creamy Sesame Noodles"

The OTHER famous spring season

Embracing allergy season, one Japanese nose bra at a time Ahhh, spring is here, and in Japan, that means it's time for The Annual Season! Cherry blossoms? No, ALLERGIES. And it's not actually the cherry blossoms that are the big culprits, it's those dang cedar trees that produce all the fragrant wood used in traditionalContinue reading "The OTHER famous spring season"

Why are Oreos more Japanese than sumo wrestlers?

A classic foreign cookie becomes seriously Japanese In last month's Japanagram, we talked about turning foreign things Japanese, but I bet you never thought that the most extreme example of that might be...sumo. Foreigners have dominated this most sacred of Japanese sports since 1990. This photo, for example, is Asashoryu, the Mongolian who introduced revolutionary – and, forContinue reading "Why are Oreos more Japanese than sumo wrestlers?"

MARCH 2020

Click on photo to read the feature March Book Review: Ghosts of the Tsunami Ghosts of the Tsunami is a page-turningly readable piece of narrative non-fiction, written by the Asia Editor of The Times of London. Using fascinating personal accounts – like why Buddhist priests had to brush up on their exorcism skills – he deliversContinue reading "MARCH 2020"

Let’s see thousands of fish flags fluttering over a river

This month's destination: Tatebayashi, in Gunma Prefecture Here's something you won't see anywhere else in the world: over four thousand colorful fish flags swimming over a river, just an easy day trip from Tokyo! The Tatebayashi koi nobori festival goes on for a nice long time – from late March to early May – soContinue reading "Let’s see thousands of fish flags fluttering over a river"

Newcomer

by Keigo Higashino Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: Extremely engaging and satisfying In this Edgar-nominated mystery, Nihonbashi detective Koichiro Kaga pursues the killer of a recently-divorced middle-aged woman, solving all the little mysteries that crop up along the way as he eliminates suspects, one byContinue reading "Newcomer"

In Japan, be careful what you wish for

Because you might not get what you had in mind These characters read "ganbaru," which is usually translated as "good luck." What they literally mean? "Try hard." Which explains Japanese culture better than almost anything I know. You think you're saying one thing, but what someone hears in Japanese can be quite different. For example,Continue reading "In Japan, be careful what you wish for"

FEBRUARY 2020

Click on photo to read the feature Tasty Simmered Ginger Pork This Japanese winter favorite (called shōga-yaki in Japan) is fast, easy, and will make your kitchen smell delicious while you're cooking! It's utterly foolproof, and uses only a few ingredients that are easy to get anywhere...read more • Thousands of candle-lit igloos turn this village intoContinue reading "FEBRUARY 2020"