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"