Category Archives: Japan

Life In Japan: Teaching Peace

Posted on May 29, 2023 by johnrachel

I had to write about my wife’s trip to Hiroshima with the entire 6th grade of her school, over eighty students. They’re on a field trip to visit the Peace Park and the Peace Museum. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Kasai Flower Garden

Posted on May 26, 2023 by johnrachel

While the world seems it’s becoming more chaotic by the day, economies fall apart, and many folks are worried about the future, life here in Japan, at least for us, is pretty decent. Let’s hope our good fortune holds and the rest of the planet rediscovers what’s important in life and how much value there is in every human being. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: The Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki

Posted on April 30, 2023 by johnrachel

My visits to the Nagasaki and Hiroshima peace museums produced a few shocking discoveries: indisputable evidence that the dropping of the atomic bombs were war crimes. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Excellence Begins Young

Posted on April 27, 2023 by johnrachel

My wife Masumi loves to show me success stories she comes across, examples of how the educational system in Japan serves the real needs of students and doesn’t abandon its core mission by pandering to the latest technological fads. We have here two such examples. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Time Machine

Posted on April 14, 2023 by johnrachel

Over the course of our courtship and marriage, we’ve been all over Japan, from Hokkaido in the north — a stone’s throw from Russia — all the way down to Hateruma, the southernmost island in Okinawa — a stone’s throw from Taiwan. Even so, there was one place 13 hours west of us by car, we yet had to visit. NAGASAKI! We finally made it. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Nagasaki Streetcars

Posted on April 10, 2023 by johnrachel

You can leave your heart in San Francisco. No problem. Just come to Nagasaki! They have streetcars, no homeless, and nobody is packing a gun. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Food … Fixation Obsession Celebration

Posted on March 17, 2023 by johnrachel

Why are Japanese, as obsessed as they are with food and eating, so svelte? Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Let it snow! Let it snow!

Posted on January 29, 2023 by johnrachel

I believe that new records were set for Tambasasayama earlier this week. The temperature plunged to -13º C (8º F) and it snowed four days in a row. One day we got almost a foot of snow. It was spectacularly beautiful! Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai

Posted on November 30, 2022 by johnrachel

The longest shopping arcade in Japan is a truly unique, I have to say fun, experience. All individual shops, some very interesting, and unlike most of what’s sold in the name brand stores, very affordable. Apparently unconsciously sustaining a sweet tooth that day, I bought mountain flower honey and short bread cookies. Also some fresh vegetables. Does it get better than that? Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Cotton Balls

Posted on November 28, 2022 by johnrachel

Literally right near my house is the world headquarters for a new enterprise . . . Samurai Cotton Jeans! Continue reading →

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