Q&A
Questions about life in Japan answered by those who live it
Hot Topic
13 Answers
What products do you avoid buying in Japan?
I've just written about how I only use sunscreen from home and never buy sunscreen in Japan - further to trying it here and finding it was not even half as good as at home and four times as expensive! Another example I can think of is over the counter pain killers. I don't find otc pain killers effective here. Do you have any products like that? Products that you find are much better at home than in Japan? Or maybe much cheaper in your home country than in Japan?
on Mar 20
On Going
8 Answers
Which prefecture do you think is the most attractive?
I posted this morning about the recently released Prefectural Attractiveness Rankings. Obviously there's an element of subjectivity to this, because what one person deems attractive can be very different to someone else's opinion of it. Hokkaido was ranked the most attractive prefecture in Japan, but the full list can be found below (image source is the article here: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/39c11474715641625a5720b86bc9b72dfe59e4cd). Of the prefectures you've visited, which would you say is the most attractive, and why would you rate it that way?
on Oct 17
All Questions
3 Answers
What's the most unusual item you've ever seen in a crane game?
I saw these rubber cicadas in a crane game (UFO catcher) today. I've seen some unusual and / or surprising items over the years and rubber cicadas is up there in the top 10! How about you - what is the most unusual prize you've seen on offer in a crane game?
5 hours ago
8 Answers
What cooling items have you tried, tested and approve?
Cooling towels and / or gel sheets, ice-gel technology, portable mist fans, wearable air conditioners... the list goes on and on. But which of Japan's cooling items actually work? What have you tried and tested and give a seal of approval?
23 hours ago
8 Answers
Who are you supporting in the World Cup?
Are you watching the World Cup? I am very sad to see Japan knocked out today, but so proud of Samurai Blue for doing so well. I was supporting them, naturally. I am also supporting Cape Verde for several different reasons, one of which is that there is an Irish player on the team! But with their next match against Argentina...one can dream! Who are you supporting in this World Cup? And / or who would you like to see win it?
on Jun 30
6 Answers
Summer only foods
Are there any foods you only eat in the summer in Japan? Or, if you prefer, foods that you associate with summer? One that comes to mind for my family is somen - we usually only eat somen in summer, with the very odd exception. One of my kids sometimes craves somen when she's feeling poorly! 'Goya' is another. Do you eat somen and goya only in summer or would you eat it at other times of the year too?
on Jun 24
4 Answers
Public figures, artists, authors with foreign roots you admire?
One that comes to mind is the late C.W. Nichol. Born in Wales, formerly a Canadian, he became a Japanese citizen. Nichol was a journalist and writer who championed the preservation of Japan's natural environment and wrote fiction and non-fiction books. He was a regular columnist in the Japan Times. I regret that I never met him, though some of my martial arts colleagues did. Which foreign resident (or Japanese citizens with foreign roots) do you respect? What are they noted for?
on Jun 21
10 Answers
Celebrities, artists, authors with Japanese roots in your home country?
There are people with Japanese roots in the Americas, Eurasia, parts of Africa, and Australasia... Tell us about authors, scientists, artists, and celebrities with Japanese roots we should know about from your countries of origin.
on Jun 16
4 Answers
Baby Showers in Japan
Yesterday I wrote about "Baby Shower Day". But now I am curious - have you ever been to a Baby Shower in Japan? And if so, was it for and / or organized by a Japanese person or a foreigner? And FYI, in case you haven't noticed it yet, we can now see how many views our posts are getting again! Baby shower post: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/weBpJ-living_saitama_tokyo
on Jun 7
6 Answers
Which pronoun do you use in Japanese to refer to yourself?
Are you 私 either watashi or atashi? Or are you 僕 or 内? Do you vary depending on who you're interacting with?
on May 22
10 Answers
Pubs yay or nay?
Have you had great experiences at approximation of "your local"? Found a gem of a British or Irish pub that bridges cultures?
on May 20
2 Answers
Taking the bitterness out of Goya?
Today is "Goya Day" and as I wrote in my post about it, my MIL is growing some this year so no doubt we'll be given some to cook. I am not a big fan, because I find it unpleasantly bitter. So, following in the same vein as tonetoedo's mentaiko / karako question - what way do you serve goya? Have you any tips for taking the bitterness out of it?
on May 8
4 Answers
Mentaiko and tarako fans?
Do you and your tribe like mentaiko and/or tarako? How do you like to serve them?
on May 7
8 Answers
Unconventional places where you've learned more about life in Japan
BigFamJapan blogged today about learning more about Japan's interesting anniversaries via her car navigation system, and it got me thinking! Do you have any interesting examples of learning more about life in Japan from an unconventional source? Would love to hear about them if you have!
on Apr 30