As we have already established, Valentine’s Day (Februaury 14th) in Japan is observed by females giving chocolates to the males in their lives (be it out of love, obligation or courtesy). However, one month later (March 14th), the reverse occurs: the males who were fortunate to receive either honmei-choco ( chocolate of love) or giri-choco … Continue reading
You are watching your favourite (school life) anime and you come across an episode where it is all about the dreaded yet much-anticipated ‘Valentine’s Day’. So, what makes this day in Japan to stand out so much… especially to Westerners? The main reason being…… O n l y F e m a … Continue reading
Oh yes – ‘Tis the season to be jolly! In Trinidad, most businesses and companies close at midday on Christmas Eve to facilitate final Christmas preparations and gift purchasing. Then, we have both Christmas Day (25th December) and Boxing Day (26th December) as holidays. So, this year, we have a very long weekend starting from … Continue reading
If you are living in Japan, it is absolutely essential to be prepared for an emergency. This is not solely due to the tsunami that occurred a couple of years ago (yes, I was there); but it is something that has always been stressed and ingrained in the very fabric of modern Japanese culture. Schools, … Continue reading
Nooooo . . . the above picture is not here to blow my own trumpet and boast that I was in a Japanese newspaper. . . Rather, the above picture is to serve two main goals: It is to give you a glimpse of the script, style and punctuation that is seen and used everyday … Continue reading
Ah yes – Autumn! And in Hokkaido, the chill starts earlier than the rest of Japan! It is the time to start wearing that extra layer or light jacket to give you that extra warmth that is needed in that slightly oh so chilled air. The sunrise is a little later (Yay- sleep!) but the … Continue reading
Japan Lime 