Category Archives: Travel

“May Disease” strikes Japan yearly

Recently I was listening to a JapanesePod101.com episode1 and they talked about something called gogatsu-byō (五月病) which can be translated as “May Disease”. According to Wikipedia JP, April is an important time for both school and work because. New students … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Japan | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Korea’s Lotus Lantern Festival

Previously while blogging about the Buddha’s Birthday in Japan, I stated that the celebration in Korea had already passed. Turns out I was way off (oops). The Buddha’s birthday or seokga tansinil (석가탄신일) is May 28 this year in accordance … Continue reading

Posted in Buddhism, Korea, Religion, Travel | 4 Comments

Off to Japan once again!

Hi everyone, Just a quick announcement that my wife, daughter and I will be taking another trip to Japan in the second-half of August. Normally we go at the end of the year so we can enjoy New Year’s and … Continue reading

Posted in Buddhism, Japan, KPop, Music, Travel | 9 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day 2012

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone! My daughter made this for my wife earlier this week. Mother’s Day is observed in Japan on the same day as haha no hi (母の日, “Mother’s Day”). Since we live in the US, my wife and … Continue reading

Posted in Family, Japan | 3 Comments

Happy Children’s Day 2012!

Hi folks! May 5th in Japan is a well-known holiday called kodomo no hi (こどもの日) or Children’s Day. Originally, it was Boy’s Day (to match Girl’s Day in March) but has expanded to include all children. However, a lot of … Continue reading

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Family Restaurants in Japan

Most people when they think of “Japanese food”, they think of sushi, seaweed and such, but another side of Japanese cuisine is often ignored, unless you live there (or visit often like me): Family Restaurants. Family Restaurants, or famiresu (ファミレス), … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Japan, Travel | 7 Comments

Being a Foreigner is a Pain, anywhere

Think of it as plastic memory, this force within you which trends you and your fellows toward tribal forms. This plastic memory seeks to return to its ancient shape, the tribal society. It is all around you—the feudatory, the diocese, … Continue reading

Posted in Buddhism, Hosso, Japan, Korea, Travel, Vietnam | 4 Comments

“Space Brothers” coming to the big screen!

I was very excited to hear from my wife a while back that one of my favorite Japanese manga, 宇宙兄弟 (uchū kyōdai) or “Space Brothers” is coming to the big screen in Japan. When I was first looking for Japanese … Continue reading

Posted in Astronomy, Japan, Japanese, JLPT, Language, Literature, Science | 5 Comments

Vegetarianism in Korea: Past and Present

Recently I read this interesting article from the Yonhap News Agency about the growing popularity of vegetarianism in Korea, but based on traditional dietary habits, not modern ones. In the past, I’ve talked about traditional diets in Japan, which also … Continue reading

Posted in Buddhism, Cooking, Health, Korea | Tagged | 6 Comments

Seaweed: Japanese and Korean style!

Unlike 20 years ago, it’s much easier to find seaweed food products in the West. I know, because when I was a teenager, sushi was new and hip and strange (remember the lunch scene from The Breakfast Club?), but now … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Health, Japan, Korea | 5 Comments