Tag Archives: Japanese culture

Life In Japan: New Kid on the Block

Posted on August 27, 2022 by johnrachel

There’s always a surge of excitement when a new face appears on the scene. My village in Hyogo, Japan is no exception to this universal rule. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: ‘Japan Pom Pom’

Posted on August 24, 2022 by johnrachel

Japanese people, even OLD ones, like to have fun. Don’t believe it? Check out Japan Pom Pom! Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: A Not-So-Random Act of Kindness

Posted on June 30, 2022 by John Rachel

Something happened the other day which really got me thinking. Good thinking. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Lunch Anyone?

Posted on June 28, 2022 by John Rachel

A few days ago, my wife Masumi decided we should go to one of her favorite cafés for a special Saturday lunch. It’s truly astonishing what a person can learn from just eating lunch. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Our New Garden

Posted on June 10, 2022 by John Rachel

Time to plant a new garden! Actually it was time well over a month ago. But we were on the job. If you can handle the excitement, here’s my report. Continue reading →

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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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Life In Japan: Rice Cakes

Posted on January 22, 2022 by John Rachel

Rice cakes are edible hockey pucks which very popular here in Japan. Not surprisingly they are made out of rice. Continue reading →

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COMING SPRING 2022!

Posted on November 29, 2021 by John Rachel

“Love Connection: Romance in the Land of the Rising Sun” is unlike any love story you’ve ever read. Set in Japan and East Africa, it is based on real events. It’ll be here Spring 2022. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Respect for the Aged Day

Posted on September 21, 2021 by John Rachel

This past Monday was a national holiday here in Japan: 敬老の日, Keirō no Hi, Respect for the Aged Day. My neighbor brought me a very special gift from the people of Tambasasayama. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Japanese School Kids

Posted on July 15, 2021 by John Rachel

There are a hundred ways I could write about the kids here. But I’m going to focus on only elementary school students and one very particular aspect of their education, because it so perfectly illustrates the overall relationship between students and their schools, their teachers, adults and other authority figures, their communities, and most important of all, to one another. It is also extremely revealing why Japanese are so obsessively considerate of others and so community minded, later in life. It also is illustrative of the extremely high dietary standards and nutritional awareness of Japanese society. Continue reading →

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