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Omagari Fireworks Competition 2013 26 Aug 2013 | 07:40 am
There are three big fireworks shows in Japan: Omagari, Ibaraki, and Nagaoka. No summer in Japan would be complete unless you attend all three of these events. Akita is far away from most major ...
From the Desk of SofJ: My first Gokon-Omiai! 26 Aug 2013 | 05:09 am
The word gokon comes from the Japanese words 'konpa' - or get together for group members. Some references state that compa (as opposed to kompa) comes from the English word, "companion". Another ex...
2013 Aomori Nebuta Matsuri 9 Aug 2013 | 06:23 am
26 hours later I finally arrived at Aomori Station by local line from Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama. That's a little over 475 km. I was spent and I had no energy left to do anything. If you've got...
2013 Nagaoka Fireworks 7 Aug 2013 | 10:19 am
As the Joestsu Line made its way through the backbone of southern Uonuma Valley I could sense the festival mood growing on the train. People, mainly backpackers, were drinking beer and getting carrie...
2013 Epic Journey Across Tohoku: Old Tunnel Stations 5 Aug 2013 | 07:16 pm
On my epic journey that started from Yokohama had ended in Aomori Prefecture. It took me 26 hours via local lines only. I met so many people along the way. We all came from all over Japan. We ...
Why Many Japanese Women Feel Uncomfortable in Bathing Suits 27 Jul 2013 | 04:30 am
Why do many Japanese women feel ashamed when wearing a bathing suit while some feel comfortable baring it all for the camera? What is it about exposing yourself in front of men who pay you to show ski...
Letters from the Right: Hopeless Romantics & The Lovelorn. 18 Jul 2013 | 08:36 am
Don't you just love the wine and cheese parties. I like how they swirl wine around in fancy wine glasses. Or, when they pick up a newspaper and try to read the contents through a wine glass. If the wi...
Iwao Shuzo of Gunma Prefecture 15 Jul 2013 | 11:31 am
This is not an article on the history of Iwao Shuzo, but on good times and good sake. I do believe that all sake is made with good intentions. In other words, all sake is good and has its own uniqu...
Furumachi Mall Beer Times in Niigata 5 Jul 2013 | 02:21 pm
So it's summer, and if I could think of a better place to be, then it would be Niigata. With all the great water and grain used to make delicious food and sake, they should have no problem brewing s...
Best Summer Fish in Japan 27 Jun 2013 | 02:26 pm
Summers in Japan last from June until September. Expect new and fresh summer menus offering everything from sushi to American style BBQ with craft beer on tap. Japanese sake bars restock their coo...
