Among our grand confluence of JET Program participants, there are many who find they have the time and the passion to give back. These people are AJET, volunteers who do all kinds of stuff for the JET community and beyond. Each prefecture has it’s own group of AJET movers and shakers. Besides organizing events and making…
lords of the past that rue the day flowers that blossom for today enjoying the seasons as they rise and set times and feelings of those you’ve met ride on the petals carried in wind recorded, kept, enfolded. begin spin & spin as the cycle turns soul, darkness & light adjourn swords…
Japan has great trains. Coming from Canada, where we have basically none, I have really enjoyed the convenience of the trains in Japan. That being said, there is always a point when the trains are no longer fun or convenient. Mostly, any route that’s over 45 minutes long, constantly busy, and that you…
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…
She picked the worst time to tell him, when they’d just finished. They were lying, side by side but not touching, sweaty and sore but almost happy. He reached over her and grabbed his cigarettes from the mantel, pulling a lighter from under his pillow. He only smoked when he was afterglowing. Or drinking….
While the most famous of the UNESCO status gashou-zukuri villages is Shirakawa-go, nearby is Gokayama, which houses several intriguing locations. Of these, I recently traveled to Ainokura and Suganuma with two companions. As befits their World Heritage status, the houses have been remarkably preserved and there are seasonal celebrations at various points throughout…
Where and When I spent 3 years (2012-2015) in Minamiawaji-shi, Awajishima, Hyogo-ken. It was actually the sister city of my (since disowned) hometown of Celina, OH, so it was nice to get to live in the same town I visited 12 years earlier as a middle schooler. Favorite JET memory Runners up are exploring…
Friendship is Magic I turn back, but the shepherd is trekking back across his field, toward his rock. Did he mean my mother is proud of me? Did I mishear him? I must have. Or maybe he does know of the Margravine. Perhaps the birds have been speaking to others. I never thought of…
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…