Discovery: 5 Japanese Science Fiction Authors
When people think about Japanese science fiction, thoughts tend to swing towards manga, anime and live action movies. Gundam, Atom Boy and Battle Royale are all high on international SF-awarenes…
The archive
Articles from blog.gaijinpot.com — page 19
Browse articles from blog.gaijinpot.com in the Akihabara archive.
Cold Comforts: From OTC Japanese Drugs to Home Remedies for Flu Season
We are now into February, widely regarded by many as the coldest time of year in Japan. Indeed, I’ve found myself turning the heat up on the air conditioning a bit more in the last couple of weeks. M…
Edible gigts to bring back from Japan
Whether you found yourself drooling over anime food or came across an Instagram post, Japan continuously leaves us wondering what these edibles taste like. It’s not surprising that when I moved to Ja…
10 Places To Experience the Best of Autumn in Japan
Whether you choose to hike or bike on mountain trails, ride a ropeway up a mountain or take a scenic train route, there’s no shortage of spots across Japan to view the colorful displays of fall. Top …
Japan’s Tourism ‘Fails’ Make it a Perfect Travel Destination
It’s a mantra repeated by every traveler — no matter the destination: “I want to avoid the touristy spots.” If that’s the case, then Japan is your dreamland. And yes, even Tokyo has plenty of s…
5 Things in Japan I’ll Never Get Used To
During my first few weeks in Japan, I went to the convenience store looking for some familiar food — to aid the homesickness a little. Finding something familiar, I bit into some bread, only to be as…
Viral Artist Mixes Coffee Cups, Tokyo & Instagram
“Sometimes, I pick coffee based on how big the cup is,” says the 30-year-old with a smile. That’s because it affects his style of creating coffee-cup illustrations that explore ev…
Smartphones in Japan: How To Buy, Unlock and Change Plans
A lot has changed in the mobile phone landscape in Japan the last few years. Cell phones used to be very heavily restricted. You had a choice of three large companies, all offering near-ide…
5 Japanese Bugs To Avoid This Summer
Japan has its own unique assortment of usual suspect insects lurking — and possibly breeding — in your house. Last month’s news of venomous South American fire ants found in Japan is just the latest …
5 Major Pros of Working in Japan
I’ll cheerfully admit that I do my share of writing (aka complaining) about work-related issues in Japan. The expected overtime (and karoshi, or “death from overwork”), intensely rigid bureaucra…