Tag Archives: Christmas

Life In Japan: Children’s Day

Posted on May 30, 2022 by John Rachel

There is an official holiday in May here in Japan for which there is no equivalent in the West. It is called Children’s Day! Continue reading →

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What Goes Down Must Come Up!

Posted on December 30, 2021 by johnrachel

All we can do is do our best . . . Continue reading →

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Santa May Be a Super Spreader!

Posted on December 23, 2021 by johnrachel

With the recent discovery that an old favorite around this time of year, a man who children have always looked on with delight and expectation — yes, THAT bearded old white man in a red suit — has refused to be vaccinated or take a PCR test, alarm bells have gone off and warnings are being issued across the globe. SANTA CLAUS MAY BE A SUPER SPREADER! Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Western Holidays

Posted on November 12, 2018 by johnrachel

I admit, at first I had mixed feelings when I encountered Western holidays in Asia.  Wasn’t it cultural pollution?  Wasn’t any place safe from Ken and Barbie dolls, the Easter Bunny, Superman, Santa Claus, Ronald McDonald, Taylor Swift? Gradually, however, I’ve adjusted to the fact that in Asia, Japan in particular, the modus operandi tends to be a sponge more than a condom.  The cultural roots here are so deep, a little cross-pollination actually reinforces the uniqueness of the region’s distinctive features. Continue reading →

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A Simple Straight-Forward Message for a Complex Convoluted Time

Posted on December 30, 2017 by johnrachel

This is about “Happy New Year”, my holiday greeting card to the world, a song I wrote three years ago, performed by my lovely and extremely talented wife and myself, here in my home studio in Japan. I believe it offers a simple straightforward message for a complex convoluted time. Continue reading →

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The Lizard Brain Has Imposed a No-Fly Zone Over the Cerebral Cortex

Posted on November 29, 2017 by johnrachel

Stress is bad. Here it is the time of year when we should be enjoying life, celebrating the birth of a future carpenter who would fall victim to a sting operation by the Roman secret police, make a wholly embarrassing and painful exit from the dusty scene in Jerusalem, then become the iconic figurehead of a world-class religion, and what are we doing? Fighting over the last Iron Man Avengers Age of Ultron Toy at Walmart with an open-carry rodeo queen who left her 18-wheeler diesel engine idling in the parking lot. Well, you tense and frazzled folks, I’ve found the perfect Christmas gift for you and your whole stressed-out family! Continue reading →

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P is for popular . . . S is for stupid!

Posted on October 30, 2017 by johnrachel

As you probably know by now, I’m not a humble person. But recently I received a blow to my ego that sent me reeling. I may never recover. It has to do with something covered with fur. Continue reading →

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It’s a very special time of year!

Posted on January 1, 2017 by johnrachel

May the new year finally bring peace to the world. May we discover and embrace the understanding needed to live together in genuine and lasting harmony. Continue reading →

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Putin’s War on America’s Christmas!

Posted on December 22, 2015 by johnrachel

Cleverly disguised as attacks on ISIS, Putin is actually conducting a ruthless war in the Middle East targeting our Christmas holiday celebrations. Continue reading →

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Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2015 by johnrachel

What a crazy idea! Suggesting that people can and should get along, that we should have peace in our lives and in the world at large. But that’s just the crazy kind of guy I am! Continue reading →

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