Category Archives: Japan Life

The Crowds Come Out To Have A Sham-rockin’ Good Time At The Inaugural Green Ireland Festival 2024

Back in the late noughties I was a regular attendee at the various festivals taking place in Yoyogi Park and can remember going to ones relating to the likes of Vietnam, India, Jamaica, Thailand, Brazil and Gay Pride. However, it’s … Continue reading

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Alphabet Dating In Japan With My Wife Who Really Was Still Completely Unaware Of The Task At Hand! (S03E06: Review)

  The third and final season of this dating challenge wrapped late last year in December after about 12 months of working our way through the alphabet. This series is one that probably looks quite fun and exciting from the … Continue reading

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My Eldest Sister’s Family Came To Japan & Spent Christmas At Our Place

When my eldest sister mailed me back in the summer saying she was thinking of coming to Japan in December I didn’t quite believe it as I had just never considered the idea of any family member actually coming to … Continue reading

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Christmas 2023 In Tokyo

  As much as I have got (back) into celebrating Christmas in recent years, the number of  festive films, songs, jumpers and so on really cannot make up for being surrounded by family and friends. I can’t say I ever … Continue reading

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TF Top 10……Non-Buddhist & Shinto Religious Buildings In Tokyo

  Recent adventures in Chiba Prefecture seeking out the rather isolated Thai temple got me thinking about other such interesting-looking religious buildings in Tokyo. Of course the vast majority of religious places in Japan are Buddhist or Shinto but there … Continue reading

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Alphabet Dating In Japan With My Wife Who Really Was Still Completely Unaware Of The Task At Hand! (S03E02: F-J)

  Seasons one and two (as well as the prequel season zero) of alphabet dating certainly pushed the boundaries of what a “date” is, and that continues in season three with even more tenuous examples for each letter of the … Continue reading

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This Japanese Star Festival Wasn’t Quite What I Wished For On Our Wedding Anniversary!

  July 7th is known as tanabata in Japan and it celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they can only meet once a year on the seventh … Continue reading

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A Week of Golden Funtime With The Family In The Izu Sunshine

  The problem with holidays in Japan is that almost everyone (outside of the service industry) takes them at the same time whether it be Golden Week (late April/early May), O-bon (August) or New Year. Places get extremely busy and … Continue reading

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Christmas 2022 In Tokyo

  The build-up to Christmas this year was fairly unique as the FIFA World Cup was right in the midst of it, and so that certainly interfered with festive activities, particularly the new Christmas movies (mostly from Hallmark) which I … Continue reading

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Retrospective Alphabet Dating In Greater Tokyo S00E01: A-E

  Whilst season two of alphabet dating is taking place I thought I could fill that void with a restrospecive series which is certainly an easier operation as they were not done in alphabetical order which can be a little … Continue reading

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