Rainy season has arrived. It is worse than we could have expected. We were warned, but nothing could prepare you for this level of humidity. The sweat, the smell, the hair. Oh the hair. So, for the next month Dan and I will be dressed in smelly clothes we couldn’t dry in the 110% humidity…
Category: Life in Japan
The Leavers Group Outdoor Shower
A wet and windy weekend in June saw the 2017 ALT leavers party commence. The party took us to a small island in Yamaguchi prefecture, where the rain lashed down, but it could not dampen our merriment! It was a chance to say farewell to ALTs heading off into the world and leaving this corner…
Baseball!
Japan loves baseball! It is a beloved national sport. We were lucky enough to get tickets for a game in Fukuoka recently – not an easy feat, as the tickets sell like hot cakes! We were in the cheering seats, the only place with tickets left 20 minutes after they went on sale…the cheering seats…
The Spirit of the UK
Over the past few months, there has been an increase in terrorist threats on home soil in the UK. This has really brought home the distance we now live, as we see our home country suffer this way. It has been a real privilege to watch the strength of the UK during these challenging times,…
Wedding Anniversary Fun in the Sun
This May, we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. It feels both like yesterday and more than two years ago that we got married on a sunny South-West day surrounded by our nearest and dearest. We had already exchanged gifts a few weeks ago as I couldn’t contain my excitement…Dan bought me my Kyudo (Japanese archery)…
American Car-Festivals; Japan Style
In May we visited our favourite town across the water, Mojiko, for an American car swap festival. We love Mojiko, as it is a mere boat ride away but sits on a different island and feels like a completely different place. You take one step (or a short five minute boat ride) out of the…
“There is a light that never goes out”
This week we have watched, from afar, the devastating news of a terrorist attack in the heart of Manchester. The act of terror hit the heart of a city of glorious people, where community spirit and collective care is so strong. The attack was shocking, as any news of terror and murder is, as it…
Wisteria Garden Part 1
We recently had a relaxing weekend of no plans combined with a casual trip to a wisteria garden and onsen. Kawachi Fuji-en is very famous and the pictures show a stunning wisteria display! Following the advice on the website, we decided near the end of April was best. After the hour long trip, we arrived…
Japanese Warriors and Grandmothers
On turning 30, we had not realised that our hobbies would branch out to include activities inspired by Japanese warriors and Japanese grandmothers. Each week we practice Kyudo, or Japanese archery. This is a surprisingly difficult form of archery, which follows a specific etiquette and process. We have also developed a taste for a hobby…
Hanami!
Spring in Japan is a time to celebrate the change of seasons as the weather gets warmer, the bugs are born again, and the flowers bloom. Most people connect Japan with the Cherry Blossom flower, or Sakura. It features in pretty much all of Japan’s advertising and is a of national importance! Sakura trees can…