We don’t want to scare you, but most Japanese people don’t speak much English. Why? Because we don’t need English at all in daily life unless we have foreign friends or work for/with foreign companies. While the foreign population keeps growing, there’s still not a very large community of English speakers in Japan. You may often feel like when you speak … Read More
A Mackerel In Fukuoka Changed My Life
It happened by chance. Megumi and I were strolling down one of Fukuoka’s main streets at lunchtime when we saw a mob of office workers briskly making their way down a tiny alleyway nestled between a convenience store and a beautiful shrine. So, we followed along… Inside, we found a handful of restaurants catering to this lunch crowd. One restaurant … Read More
Hakata Dontaku Festival: It Might Rain On The Parade But You Won’t Care
The Dontaku Festival in Fukuoka (or Hakata, depending on who you ask) is one of the biggest in Japan and goes back over 830 years. It was rained out this year… again. This happens every few years, so it wasn’t a surprise for most local people who think “It’s always raining during the Dontaku festival.” The main event is a … Read More
Are You Scared Of Natto?
If you’ve heard of Natto, then you’ve probably heard warnings about it, too. This strange concoction is extremely popular in Japan, but not many people know about it outside the country… And those who do are often freaked out by it. We’ve heard the smell compared to dirty socks and cheese. We’ve also heard it just smells terrible and you … Read More
Tokyo Yakitori: More Than Meat On A Stick
If you’re a meat eater and ready to dive right into Tokyo’s food culture, then Yakitori should be near the top of your list. This simple food, when prepared right, will transform how you see meat on a stick. Japanese restaurants specialize down to the smallest detail, rather than offer a variety of foods to choose from. A good Yakitori … Read More