After living in Japan for a year, it was very difficult not to see it constantly when travelling to Seoul. From the food, architecture, and music, strong connections are everywhere….
The Colony
Up until about 1870 Japan lived in a state of relative isolation. After centuries of bloody civil war, the military Tokugawa government ensured the unification of Japan, bringing peace and…
Waiting for Winter
After seven months living in Japan I can confidently state the archipelago’s nature is nothing less than stunning. Coming from the grey drizzle of Belgium at the edge of the…
“Don’t make me regret this”
I’ll have to be honest. Renting a car to explore the Japanese Alps two days after Mom arrived might not have been my best idea ever. She felt exhausted by…
Harvesting Puppets and Liquor
When you think of Japan, agriculture might not be the first word that comes to mind. Considering the digital reach of Sony and Nintendo, or the global presence of Toyota,…
The Japanese like strange things
What do you think this post will be about? Maybe you’re well read on cuisine and are thinking about the crime that is natto; sticky, slimy, and stinky. Or perhaps…
The Lost Province
It promised to rain South of Tokyo, for days on end; no break in the clouds, grey, cold, and miserable. The crowded capital itself too, already hectic with blue skies,…
“Somewhere with Beaches”
When I first started studying Japanese five years ago, my Dad, a slightly sceptical man, started funneling funds into a ‘just-in-case-he-doesn’t-give-up’ piggy bank. As the years passed, and it became…
Fully Booked – My Love for Onsen, and Why Mishima Killed Himself
The question Japanese people like to ask me most frequently is why I study Japanese. I thought I’d address the matter here, clearly, once and for all. It gives me…
Of Yuna and Dennis, people like Fireworks
I spent only four nights on the small and remote island of Rebun, population 3000, seeking quiet solitude. However, the universe had other plans, and threw some of its most…