Unlike English, Japanese isn’t a language that puts emphasis on using pronouns. For example, an English-speaker would find it imperative to denote whose sweater they were using or that they themselves like cheese but a Japanese speaker would simply say: “using sweater” or “like cheese” because the “who” in both cases is, somehow, implied. Nonetheless, […]
Japan
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Things I Will Miss About Japan
Cooking with two burners in a kitchen that doesn’t have a counter. …. PSYCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah, Japan, I love you but your culinary standards for mere apartment renters leave me no choice but to head back West.
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Marco … Momo ….
Overheard while walking through my neighborhood on this bright, clear winter day; a blissful, singsong conversation between a small, pig-tailed girl in a bike basket and her young, giddy mother as they rode down the street. Mama-san: Momo! Momo: Naniiiiiiiii? Mama-san: Momo-chan! Momo: Naniiiiiii? Mama-san: Momo! Momo: Naniiiiiiii? And the happy pair continued to chant, […]
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You Might Be a Foreigner in Japan If …
… the train conductor asks you, but not the many other cell phone users in the train car, to stop texting. Okay, that was harsh. Is it just me and my friends, folks?
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March On
It’s March now. Prepare ye the way for the lacy white sakura blooms, the windy yet sunny park barbecues, the ume wine-making ingredient displays in the supermarkets, and the elimination of stinky oden stew from the convenience stores. It’s a-comin’: my third and final spring in Japan. This is the spring that I will see […]
Taught by the Tune of the Hick’ry Stick
There are things you learn so well that they become ingrained – even in a culture that isn’t your own. In the two years I’ve lived in Japan, I now know without a doubt that “ちょっと待ってね,” means “wait a little bit, okay?” “大丈夫?” means “You okay?” and “できた!” means “I was able to do it!” […]
Energetic
The school year is drawing to a close and we are given certificates to fill out for the students. Our school has made it as safe for business easy on us as possible – all we must do is sign our names and circle one from a choice of encouraging remarks. Takuya receives special recognition […]
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Things I Will Miss About Japan
Being able to plan an entire commute according to train AND SUBWAY times. For a veteran of the New York City MTA, this is huge. Huge. Ah, Japan. Living in Japan and not already hip? www.jorudan.co.jp/english. You’re welcome.