Word of the Week: ねこ words & phrases

August 3, 2014, 9:01 am

≫ Next: Moshi Moshi Nippon @ HYPER JAPAN 2014!

≪ Previous: Book Review: Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff (+ Win a Copy!)

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘ni’ (に), and focussed on the phrase ニコニコする (nikoniko suru), which means ‘to smile’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘ne’ (ね). A big thank you to everyone who joined in with their suggestions: … Continue reading →

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Moshi Moshi Nippon @ HYPER JAPAN 2014!

August 3, 2014, 2:26 pm

≫ Next: HYPER JAPAN 2014 Highlights

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: ねこ words & phrases

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At HYPER JAPAN last weekend there was a lot of publicity for the new Moshi Moshi Nippon campaign, which aims to share Japanese pop-culture with other countries. Here’s an introduction: The Moshi Moshi Nippon Facebook page says: What is the project “moshimoshi nippon”? This project will send out Japanese pop culture to overseas. It will be … Continue reading →

HYPER JAPAN 2014 Highlights

August 3, 2014, 4:02 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Hamarikyu Gardens to Sensoji, via the Sumida River

≪ Previous: Moshi Moshi Nippon @ HYPER JAPAN 2014!

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I’m still ploughing through photos and potential blog posts from my recent trip to Japan, but thought I should post about last weekend’s HYPER JAPAN event in London whilst it’s still current news. I’ve already posted about the Moshi Moshi Nippon campaign which was being promoted at the event; below are the rest of my … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Hamarikyu Gardens to Sensoji, via the Sumida River

August 4, 2014, 1:51 pm

≫ Next: Winner of Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff announced!

≪ Previous: HYPER JAPAN 2014 Highlights

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Casting my mind back to May 13th, it was a drizzly old day in Tokyo, following a couple of rather nice days. It seemed a shame that my first full day of sightseeing with the tour group I was joining for work was a wet one, but we didn’t let that stop us! I was … Continue reading →

Winner of Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff announced!

August 9, 2014, 12:05 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2014: A Night in Nagano

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Hamarikyu Gardens to Sensoji, via the Sumida River

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Thank you to everyone who entered my competition for a chance to win a copy of Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff (see the review and competition post here). The winner has been selected by a random draw, and will be contacted shortly. I’m delighted to announce that the winner is… ☆★☆ FujikoToyohashi ☆★☆ Fujiko, who is from Germany, … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: A Night in Nagano

August 9, 2014, 3:34 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 飲みニケーション

≪ Previous: Winner of Things Japanese by Nicholas Bornoff announced!

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On 14th May I spent one night in Nagano with the tour group I was travelling with for work. I’d been to Nagano before and visited its famous temple Zenkoji (善光) in March 2011, but I was still excited to go back. We stayed right by Zenkoji in a shukubo (temple lodging) called Zenkoji Tokugyobou. … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: 飲みニケーション

August 10, 2014, 8:39 am

≫ Next: Product Review: Yunomi.us

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: A Night in Nagano

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘ne’ (ね), and focussed on words and phrases using the word ねこ (cat). This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘no’ (の). A big thank you to the one person who joined in with … Continue reading →

Product Review: Yunomi.us

August 10, 2014, 12:35 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Jigokudani and the Japanese Macaques

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 飲みニケーション

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  Yunomi.us is “a new online marketplace offering tea and knowledge from artisan Japanese tea farmers, tea masters, and tea ware artists”, and recently they got in touch with me to see if I would like to have a taste. Their website is beautiful and inviting, and I must say I quite enjoyed myself whilst … Continue reading →

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Japan 2014: Jigokudani and the Japanese Macaques

August 10, 2014, 3:32 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 裸の付き合い

≪ Previous: Product Review: Yunomi.us

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On May 15th, I paid my second visit to the Japanese macaques at Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑) in Yamanouchi (山ノ内) near Yudanaka Onsen (湯田中温泉) in Nagano Prefecture (長野県) (read about my first visit in 2011 here). Famously known as ‘snow monkeys’, I wondered if the monkeys would be as appealing without the snow. They were! To … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: 裸の付き合い

August 17, 2014, 9:57 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Matsumoto – A Crow Castle & Lots of Frogs

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Jigokudani and the Japanese Macaques

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘no’ (の), and focussed on the word 飲みニケーション (nominication), meaning ‘communication through drinking’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘ha’ (は). A big thank you to the one person who joined in with their … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Matsumoto – A Crow Castle & Lots of Frogs

August 17, 2014, 1:59 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 久しぶりです

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 裸の付き合い

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On 15th May I spent a night in Matsumoto. Matsumoto (松本), in Nagano Prefecture (長野県), is somewhere that I had heard lots about but never been to, so I was keen to check it out and see what kind of city it was. Unfortunately it was grey and starting to rain when I arrived, but … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: 久しぶりです

August 24, 2014, 8:42 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Takayama

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Matsumoto – A Crow Castle & Lots of Frogs

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘ha’ (は), and focussed on the phrase 裸の付き合い (hadaka no tsukiai), meaning ‘naked friendship’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘hi’ (ひ). A big thank you to the one person who joined in … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Takayama

August 24, 2014, 11:18 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Kamikochi

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 久しぶりです

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I’ve been spending the bank holiday weekend here in the UK trying to catch up with life. I still have hundreds of photos to edit and upload, but I’m making progress. Today I’ve reached 16th May, which was the day I left my tour group behind and made my way to Takayama (高山) by myself. It … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Kamikochi

August 25, 2014, 2:12 pm

≫ Next: JLPT Success!

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Takayama

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I’ve never been much of one for hiking and the outdoors, but that all changed on May 17th when I visited Kamikochi (上高地). Taking a much-needed weekend off from my work duties in Japan, I met my friend and we travelled together to Kamikochi for a spot of hiking and fresh air. I think it … Continue reading →

JLPT Success!

August 28, 2014, 2:50 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: ふるさと

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Kamikochi

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As you’ll know if you’re a regular reader of this blog, back in July I took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level N4. It was difficult, and I didn’t feel very confident after taking the test, but today the scores were released and… ☆★☆I passed!!!☆★☆ It was such a relief to know that all … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: ふるさと

August 31, 2014, 8:20 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Nagoya Homecoming

≪ Previous: JLPT Success!

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘hi’ (ひ), and focussed on the phrase 久しぶりです (hisashiburi desu), meaning ‘long time no see’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘fu’ (ふ). A big thank you those of you who joined in with their … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Nagoya Homecoming

August 31, 2014, 9:02 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Kyoto

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: ふるさと

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It’s the last day of August and I’m still writing about my travels in May… (>_<) I hope I can get caught up before Christmas! On 18th May, after a fantastic time exploring Kamikochi with my friend, we headed back to Nagoya. Nagoya is my home in Japan, and it was wonderful to return after … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Kyoto

August 31, 2014, 10:47 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Hakone

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Nagoya Homecoming

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After two nights in Nagoya, it was time to continue my journey and do some more work. I went to Kyoto for two nights, stayed in two different hotels, and visited a whole bunch more hotels for work. My time in Kyoto was about 90% work, but I still found time for a little bit … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Hakone

August 31, 2014, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Hakone – Amazake-chaya

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Kyoto

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Continuing my Japan adventure, after spending a couple of nights of Kyoto I headed to Hakone for a night. Hakone is somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit for a while now, and I can’t believe it was never on my list whilst living in Japan. One night there would probably have been enough if I … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Hakone – Amazake-chaya

September 1, 2014, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 平気

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Hakone

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Did you like the little teaser I left you with in my last post? Well, now all is revealed! The place I simply couldn’t leave Hakone without visiting was the Amazake-chaya (甘酒茶屋). The Amazake-chaya in Hakone is an old teahouse along what used to be the Tokaido (東海道), a road that linked Tokyo with Kyoto … Continue reading →