“Jiminy Jilickers, Radioactive Man!” PunkSpring2015
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“Jiminy Jilickers, Radioactive Man!” PunkSpring2015

              Every year since 2006, Osaka/Kobe and Tokyo have been host to the PunkSpring festival, headlined by punk legends such as Bad Religion, NoFX, The Offspring, and Pennywise and punk-inspired acts such as Weezer and The Hives. This year, the reasonably priced festival returns to Kobe World Hall on March 28. A ticket for standing…

Go away you TukTuk drivers, I hate you all!
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Go away you TukTuk drivers, I hate you all!

  Oygevalt! Feckless TukTuk drivers, much like people who invite you to play Candy Crush, are out of control and must be stopped. Oh, if only these ancient cultures and civilizations could just crumble already and adopt the metered taxi. I mean, 200 baht to take three people across town? Dream on, my dude! Unless…

Kagawa Prefecture: A New and Very Different Land of Enchantment
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Kagawa Prefecture: A New and Very Different Land of Enchantment

  Hey there!I’m Julia Mace from the Land of Enchantment (that’s New Mexico in the United States). I was a JET for five years in Mitoyo, Kagawa and now I’m independently contracted with my BOE as a full-on instructor. I teach at one Junior High School, two Elementary Schools, several Kindergartens, and one intermediate level…

HAJET Book Club 8 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian
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HAJET Book Club 8 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

  On January 18, ten ALTs gathered for the first HAJET Book Club meeting of the new year. We met outside the JR Motomachi Station, and after requisite “Akemashite Omedetou-s” and complaints about the cold weather, headed to our destination: Loco’s Kitchen Oluolu. This Hawaiian-themed cafe is small, but with enough space for our large…

“Welcome to George Town!”
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“Welcome to George Town!”

  Kuala Lumpur and Penang   Upon their discovery of Malaysia in 1511, Portugal took control of the region for about a century before relinquishing control to the Dutch. Another century later, Britain began gaining control, starting with George Town, and spread their influence thereafter. As with most countries in Southeast Asia, Japan invaded during…

Fistful of Fun: Five books to read this month
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Fistful of Fun: Five books to read this month

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice   Choosing between 50 Shades of Grey and American Sniper as the book to read before its movie adaptation is released in Japan wasn’t too hard of a decision this month. Although I’m sure…

News from AJET: February 2015
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News from AJET: February 2015

  “Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” -  John Boswell   As we enter February, the month of my birth, we endure the slowly lengthening and sometimes bitterly cold days. It can feel like the warmth will never come back. However, a…