A couple of weeks ago I watched a program on NHK called ‘Cool Japan’ which focused on the benefits for students studying at universities in Japan, in particular at Kanagawa University located in Yokohama. For the past few years, Japan has been actively promoting internationalisation and the facilities on offer for students from abroad who […]
Many people ask me this question when they are thinking about teaching English in Japan and I usually answer that it’s not necessary but it does help a lot. Most people who visit Japan to teach English wish to do so because there is something about the Japanese culture that they find interesting – this […]
The kotatsu is a low wooden table with a heat source attached underneath. It is covered by a futon or heavy blanket with a table that sits on top. In winter, Japanese families gather around the kotatsu, sitting with their legs and feet underneath the blanket, to keep warm. It is often the heart of […]
When I was seventeen years old I stayed with a Japanese family for a few weeks in their home just outside of Tokyo, near Kamakura. My Okaasan (Japanese host mother) made me chawanmushi and I immediately fell in love with this dish. In 2004, I revisited Tokyo for a few days on my way to […]