Things I love about Japan: Rabbit Cafes (A place where you pay by the hour to...
“While we are making your coffee, go pick out your favorite bunny!” The staff at the Akihabara bunny rabbit cafe chirped at Ryosuke and I during our first visit to the rabbit cafe. It is difficult to...
View ArticleComic: Our first visit to a Rabbit Cafe in Tokyo
So Ryosuke found me a rabbit cafe in Tokyo. I didn’t think they actually existed, but they do. And they’re magical. And we had a wonderful time. [For more, check out: Things I Love about Japan - Rabbit...
View Article6 Best Things about living in a College Dormitory
I’ve been a college graduate for almost four months. Actually, as my adviser has reminded me on several occasions, I won’t actually graduate from Ursinus College until May (I have my fingers crossed...
View ArticleComic: Cultural problems with tacos in Japan
Yep. This happened. And yes, we wrapped the tacos in seaweed to make the kids happy (it totally worked). For some reason, everyone was really thrown off by the fact there was no miso soup. I thought...
View ArticleThings I Love About Japan: Men can wear Pink Running Shoes without being...
It’s 2:30 in the afternoon and I’m sprawled across the scrubbed tile of a shoes store in the countryside of Ibaraki, waiting for Ryosuke to finish looking at running shoes so we can go home and eat....
View ArticleComic: Taco-Sushi!!
International marriages are all about compromise. I am not above wrapping taco meat with rice in seaweed to make Ryosuke’s niece Sa-chan happy. And it turned out to be a pretty delicious combination....
View ArticleRape Jokes are Not Okay and Neither are Death Threats: The Problem with Viral...
Last night someone posted something offensive and it went viral. It was a tasteless, rude, offensive, and utterly unfunny “joke” about rape. It was supposed to be ironic, but missed the mark. Prom...
View ArticleComic: The Dangers of Haruichiban (first wind of spring)
I wrote this comic a couple of weeks ago and promptly forgot out about (oops). Haru-ichiban is like the “first wind of spring” / “first day of spring.” It is categorized by unbelievably strong winds....
View ArticleThe Ushiku Daibutsu (otherwise known as that enormously giant Buddha statue...
The Ushiku Daibutsu is the tallest bronze depiction of Buddha and the third tallest statue in the world. Standing at 120 meter (390 feet, for all y’all other Americans), this statue is freakishly...
View ArticleRyosuke and I were on Japanese National Television (YOUは何しに日本へ)
Every year I make these over-reaching New Years goals like “make better friends” or “get more self-confidence” or “find a more productive hobby.” These goals are great, don’t get me wrong, but the...
View ArticleComic: Japan has a word for EVERYTHING (haruichiban)
Joking aside, Japan really DOES have a word for everything. For example, 積ん読 (tsundoku) is the word for buying a lot of books but not necessarily reading them (which I totally do, even with my kindle)....
View ArticleThe Weirdest Search Terms People used to find my Blog this week (through Google)
One of the best things about running a “personal” blog is that I can post about whatever I want. I’ve worked with several niche blogs (like Tokyo Cheapo – posting about cheap ways to live in Tokyo). I...
View ArticleComic: Wow, you REALLY love the Environment…
Surprisingly enough, Ryosuke’s mom is very strict about receipts. We do various shopping for the family and she ALWAYS checks receipts when we get back home (before paying us back, to the yen). Also,...
View ArticleJapanese tax hike increases the prices in vending machines (making me very sad)
Since 1997, Japanese consumption tax has been frozen at 5% (which is really, really low and really, really nice for a foreigner like me). Not anymore. On April 1st, tax was increased from 5% to 8%. And...
View ArticleComic: I want the flawless skin of a Kpop idol (BB Creme)
I’m going to be completely honest here, I don’t actually know what BB creme does. But everyone else seems to know what it does and can’t help but sing its praise. I want the flawless skin of a Kpop...
View ArticleThings I love about Japan: Tsukemen (ramen dipping noodles)
What is tsukemen? In the simplest terms, tsukemen is ramen. Except it is so much more than just regular ramen. It is “dipping ramen.” Rather than being served together in a big bowl like ramen is,...
View ArticleComic: Company theme song
Apparently this is a “thing” in Japan. Companies have “fight songs.” Every once and a while I catch Ryosuke humming his company’s song – he won’t teach it to me, though (something about protecting a...
View ArticleComic: Scared by the Automatic Toilet Covers in Japan
Some places have these automatic toilet covers. When you walk into the stall, the make a sort of “whirr”ing sound and creak open. Those toilets scare the crap out of me (hahaha, no pun). But they are...
View Article4 Things I’ve Learned from 4 Months of Marriage
I’ve been married for nearly 4 months now. And those four months have been pretty crazy – which I guess, to be honest, reflects on Ryosuke and my relationship. I am, in the nicest terms, crazy (“but...
View ArticleComic: Tell me I’m Pretty!!
Once again, a daily occurrence at the Mineta household. It Grace ain’t happy, no one’s happy.
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