No Zen, No Life: The Tigers, the Colonel, and the Curse
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No Zen, No Life: The Tigers, the Colonel, and the Curse

One Inch Deep in the Skillet   Colonel Harland David ‘Colonel Sanders’ Sanders was an Indiana native who set the world alight, or at least to about 175C (lower temperatures will result in soggy, grease coated chicken) in 1930 when he was entrusted to manage a service station in Corbin, Kentucky by The Shell Oil…

When It Hits:Five albums for April 2015
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When It Hits:Five albums for April 2015

  Ivy Tripp by Waxahatchee (7 Apr 2015) Just one of the many female vocalists who have been taking indie music to unique places in recent years, Katie Crutchfield has been on a roll with the upcoming release of her third album in the last five years. Her soft voice, with an underlining raspiness supported…

Hidden History: An interview with Kevin Lang, author of Forbidden in Jade
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Hidden History: An interview with Kevin Lang, author of Forbidden in Jade

  What years were you on JET? Where did you live and teach? It was a long time ago, from 1996-1999. I lived near Gakuentoshi. Koryodai, Hazetani Oshibedani and Sakuragaoka were the schools I worked at. The shenanigans of the ninensei at Oshibendani still make me shudder.   When did your interest in Japan, its…

The Durants: Part IX
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The Durants: Part IX

  “Stand down, Rakowsky.” Orsin’s large fist caught Rakowsky’s, stopping its path toward Bionca’s face. “Our priority is to escape back to our village. Let them be.” The slender man glared and wrested his limb back. “Whatever you say, boss.” He shouldered his way past Drake, who yet refused to look at his son. Gaia’s…

New Onion and Spring Cabbage Salad
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New Onion and Spring Cabbage Salad

After a teasing taste of warmer weather in March, the seemingly never-ending winter is finally gone and spring is well and truly upon us. April means sakura season, and as the craze sweeps across the nation, it turns everything in its path pink and sakura flavoured or scented. Although welcomed with less fanfare, April also…

Kansai Cat Cafes
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Kansai Cat Cafes

              Though most think of Japan when they hear about cat cafes, the world’s first actually opened in Taipei in 1998. After the first opened in Japan, they’ve exploded in popularity. Now you can find them in most Asian countries and in a growing number of European and North American cities. Most are fairly similar….

April 2015
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April 2015

Message from the Editor, April 2015             After flailing about at PunkSpring 2015 and relaxing in what may have potentially been my last overseas trip while on the JET Programme (shameless plug and thank you for Brittany Teodorski’s Cambodia review), I can’t help but hear Alien’s voice whisper, “Spring break forever,” over and over again…