Category: Lifestyle

  • Recipe: Zesty ‘yuzu’ mince pies

    Recipe: Zesty ‘yuzu’ mince pies

    Whether you’re missing mince pies from back home or want to make some with a Japanese twist, this is my recipe for zesty and fruity mince pies using yuzu, grapes, satuma mandarins, and spices! See the recipe on the Japan Times (behind paywall): https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/12/10/food-drink/recipe-yuzu-mince-pies/

  • Bonenkai: Should we forget the year or forget the party?

    Bonenkai: Should we forget the year or forget the party?

    Sometimes, you might get to the end of a year and be glad it’s over. And it seems that whoever coined the term 忘年会 (bōnenkai) shared that sentiment, as the three kanji individually mean 忘 (bō), forget; 年 (nen, toshi), year; and 会 (kai), party or meet-up. See my latest language piece for the Japan…

  • Restaurant Casita: An Open Space Matches an Open Welcome

    Restaurant Casita: An Open Space Matches an Open Welcome

    Walking towards Casita, you feel a calm wash over you as the sounds of busy Omotesando fade into the distance. And that feeling of finding your own little corner of this stylish Tokyo district is something that continues throughout your entire visit, in a way that is only made possible by Casita’s warm hospitality and…

  • Kit Nagamura Explores Tokyo’s Backstreets

    Kit Nagamura Explores Tokyo’s Backstreets

    Kit Nagamura has explored all kinds of creative ventures, making a name for herself as a writer, poet, and photographer in her years in Tokyo. It was a fun and fascinating experience to interview her and follow her around the backstreets: https://www.tokyoupdates.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/post-1109/

  • Daily Interactions and Life in Tokyo with Thisanka Siripala

    Daily Interactions and Life in Tokyo with Thisanka Siripala

    Australian-Sri Lankan multimedia journalist Thisanka Siripala moved to Tokyo in 2015 out of an interest in the language and culture, and with the clear goal of becoming a journalist. https://www.tokyoupdates.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/post-1084/

  • The Language of Japan’s Moon Festival

    The Language of Japan’s Moon Festival

    You’ve likely already heard of Japan’s 花見 (hanami, cherry blossom viewing) season, but perhaps you haven’t heard of its more reserved, autumnal cousin, 月見 (tsukimi, moon viewing). Explore the language behind the early autumn festival with me in my Japan Times piece here (behind paywall): https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/09/29/language/language-moon-viewing-autumn-harvest/

  • Let’s get clinical: Navigating a trip to a Japanese hospital

    Let’s get clinical: Navigating a trip to a Japanese hospital

    Having lived in Japan for over five years now, I’ve had more than my fair share of visits to different clinics and hospitals. At first it can seem scary, not knowing all the hospital jargon or even a simpler word like “symptom”, but hopefully my article exploring these words and phrases will help you if…

  • When ‘English OK’ just isn’t enough, visit Lion Heart Dental International Clinic

    When ‘English OK’ just isn’t enough, visit Lion Heart Dental International Clinic

    I visited the charming international team at Lion Heart Dental in Tokyo to discuss their special skills and services all offered in English. Although I visited for a promotional article, I was genuinely impressed by the level of dedication and heart the team had: https://japantoday.com/category/special-promotion/when-english-ok-just-isn%E2%80%99t-enough-visit-lion-heart-dental-international-clinic

  • Yuki Miyazawa: ‘Even if it’s something small, I should do what I can’

    Yuki Miyazawa: ‘Even if it’s something small, I should do what I can’

    Yuki Miyazawa runs an earth-friendly farmer’s market in Tsukuba, which she was inspired to create by her time in the US and elsewhere overseas. The story of how she met her two market co-founders and their mission is fascinating, and Yuki was so fun to talk to. See my interview with her on the Japan…

  • Talk about your favorite shows in Japanese — but no spoilers, please!

    Talk about your favorite shows in Japanese — but no spoilers, please!

    Even though I’ve been studying and speaking Japanese for several years now, I feel like there is always something to learn! In this article for the Japan Times bilingual section, I share some fun phrases for discussing your favourite Netflix shows and how to avoid those dreaded spoilers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/04/06/language/talk-favorite-shows-japanese-no-spoilers-please/