Hello baseball fans! Have you ever wanted to watch a Hanshin Tigers game in Japan? Here are my tips to get the most out of your experience: Arrive early; Check out the Museum & the Shrine Koshien Stadium is located on the Hanshin Line, between Nishinomiya and Amagasaki. Don’t get confused by…
On the 2nd and 3rd floors of San Center Plaza lies a stretch of shops catering to the geekiest of shoppers in Kobe. I’ve taken to affectionately calling this sweet haven Nerd Lane. Here, you can find many nerdy things to get your fix. If you tend to be weak of will when encountering…
Game   An active interest or pursuit, especially one involving competitive engagement or adherence to rules. Three Card Monte is a confidence trick that originates from the turn of the 15th century and is, ostensibly, an easy chance to make quick money. The dealer, or shill, in the local parlance, usually aided and…
Spring is here! That means a brand new school year with new students and staff, your un-insulated house is finally livable again, and you can day-drink under the cherry blossoms. It also marks the return of something else incredibly important: baseball season! I was first introduced to Kansai’s most famous team during my…
 Much like Buffy before me, I’ve decided to split my Graduation episode in two. Also, to bring a stake to school.  At time of writing (about three weeks before time of publishing, if you’re interested, which I know you’re not), I have just finished watching my third year JHS students graduate. I…
By the time you see this, gentle readers, the third years will have graduated and the school year will be over. Unless you’re exclusively an ES ALT at which point, the sixth years will have graduated and the school year will be over; also have a drink on me, you must be exhausted. …
Since I came to Japan, I’ve had people back home ask me “How are you finding it?†and I reply “Amazing! I’m earning the most money I have in my life.†This is meant to be a slight bit of tongue-in-cheek bathos but there is some truth to it– part of the reason I like…
Dreams Show me an adult all of whose dreams are mutually achievable and I’ll show you a liar and, worse, someone who thinks they’ve got life figured out. Never trust people like that. When I was little, I really wanted to be a wizard. I picked up stick after stick after stick and waved them…
I’ve just signed my reappointment papers. Well, by the time this is published, it won’t be “just,†but you get the idea: I’ve made my mind up: I’m staying for another year. If a woman were to get knocked up right now, she could carry the baby to full term, birth it, realistically travel…