How to refer to your spouse in Japanese
What you call your spouse in private is your own business, but how you refer to them in public can be a more complicated...
Renewing a Working Visa in Japan
Today is one of those days... The day most expats in Japan dread almost as much as going to the Doctor or Dentist. At...
Job Hunting Season in Japan – Shuukatsu
It's almost that time of year again when you'll see many recent graduates in their best black suits, roaming the streets to attend interviews...
How to describe pain to your Japanese doctor
The word itai meaning "painful" is one of the first words one picks up living in Japan. That versatile little word can be used...
Homeschooling in Japan
Anyone who's visited Japan or seen enough Japanese culture can imagine education in Japan is taken pretty seriously. Kids can be seen in uniform...
Lost in Translation
Upon arriving on these shores, you realise that you're definitely not in Kansas anymore. The cultural aspects aside, the language differences are a big...
What to do in an Earthquake in Japan
First you feel a little, almost imperceptible, movement. Just as you start to dismiss it as a figment of your imagination, it very quickly...
Iaido–The Ancient Art of Swordsmanship Entering a New Age
For those who have never heard the word, Iaido is a Japanese martial art which trains you, in both body and mind, how to...
Getting an International Driver’s License
A few years ago, I was hired to translate for an engineer who was being sent to the US to meet with customers. I...
Undokai and Anarchism
If you are a parent in Japan and you have attended your child's undokai (運動会) or school sports day, then guess what: You're an...
