“Just follow the giant pink penis! We’re in the crowd right behind it.” – My friend, while shouting directions over his cell phone. The Japanese word for penis is “chinko”. I know this because I had to ask the woman behind me while I was waiting in the line to buy a penis-shaped lollypop. “One… Read More Kanamara Matsuri
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I just got back from a four day, whirlwind of a mini-vaca in Kyoto and Osaka. Here are some of the highlights: Drinking hot sake at a night-time Cherry Blossom viewing party, counseling the distraught mother of a rebellious teen at four in the morning in a youth hostel, taking a knitting class at a… Read More Pictures from Kyotoland
I’ve been afraid of monkeys ever since I was attacked by a monkey in India last year. So I was more than a little apprehensive to learn that these ‘snow monkeys’ I was going to visit in Nagano wouldn’t be domesticated and caged, but wild and free and numbering in the hundreds. I guess I… Read More Adventure in Monkeyland
My dear Japan, You are one Hell of a crazy country…and I love you for it. You provide a never-ending supply of funny photo opportunities and for that alone, I’m eternally grateful. I hope that you continue to rock your unselfconsciously tacky, cheeseball style, because it’s inspiring. Really. Happy Thanksgiving! Love from your biggest fan,… Read More Today I Give Thanks to Japan…
The last two weeks I’ve been on Halloween overload. I threw no less than seven Halloween parties for my students (dressed like Minnie Mouse) and then this girl I met a few months ago in Yoyogi park invited me to a Halloween Party she threw at a bar in Shibuya. It’s more common in Japan… Read More Maid in Tokyo
My mom came to visit me a couple of weekends ago and it was really nice seeing her again. She brought me an entire suitcase filled with snacks from home as well as English language magazines and books. My fridge is now jam packed with a three month supply of everything needed to make Mexican… Read More Mickey Mouse, A Giant Buddha and My Mom
One awesome thing about Japan is that there’s always an endless supply of funny photo opportunities…I thought I’d share some of the more bizarre ones I’ve taken in the last couple of weeks. I’ve been insanely busy hopscotching all over Japanland with my mom so I haven’t had the time to post any news lately.… Read More A Condom Vending Machine, Funny Signs and Kawaii Kitties
Okay, warning: I’m about to make fun of Japanese fashion for a second. But I’m sorry, it’s just too funny not to. T-shirts with English phrases printed on them are really popular here. Unfortunately for these t-shirts (and the people who where them), somewhere in the manufacturing process, spell check and a translation check were… Read More ‘Engrish’ T-Shirts are Hirarious