So you want to see a summer festival this year? Chances are that whatever town you find yourself living in will have a perfectly lovely matsuri or three all prepared. However, if you want to venture elsewhere in our fine prefecture here’s a few you may have heard of. Dekansho Matsuri…
My name is Penny Fox and I’m originally from Sydney, Australia, although I’m not sure now which to call my ‘hometown,’ since I spent the full 5 years on JET (2009 – 2014). I actually had 2 placements – one for the first 3 years, where I taught at a total of 10 schools (3…
Summer in Japan makes me think of fireflies, green rice paddies as far as the eye can see, yukata, fireworks, wind-chimes, beer gardens and of course somen. Somen noodles are extremely thin wheat noodles that are sold dried and often eaten in summer in Japan. They are also eaten in the cooler months in a…
Whether for a last minute summer getaway or the upcoming “Silver Week†in September, Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, is a spectacular destination for those looking to travel outside of Japan. With a rich history including European, Chinese, and Japanese settlement, visitors can experience a unique blend of culture and some fantastic cultural sites….
 Laugh, cry, use acronyms like SMH, WTF, LOL, and FML all while reading these JET experiences. Welcome to the Monkey House  So it’s official, if you change the rules of kings cup/box head and add candy and tokens to the mix …it becomes a pretty badass English game! And here I was…
8:15 AM. At this time on August 6th, 1945, the city of Hiroshima became the first to be devastated by a nuclear weapon. The ones who were instantly vaporized were lucky in that they did not have to suffer the effects of radiation poisoning. After Japan surrendered, reconstruction began. Now, the only visible remnant…
In German, it’s called “Fernwehâ€Â (lit: far away pain). It’s the sense of wanting to be anywhere but where you actually are. Think of it as inverted homesickness. Though the ragged poverty of the English language prevents us from expressing this emotion, we have all certainly experienced it. That slight sinking feeling; knots in the stomach…
XII As she glided over the countryside, all Bionca could see was the carcasses of trees strewn about. Some of these had been caused by herself and her compatriots. However, many beyond their wooden tunnel were dying into the ground upon which they once stood strong. Behind her, she could already feel the lava…
It’s that time again (as you have surely figured out by now from all the other articles in this month’s issue) to say goodbye to those who have called Japan home for the past few years. Find out what’s in store for some JETs leaving and make sure to make a list of the memories…