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Tag Archives: japan
An open letter to the Japanese National Tourism Organization: hire me.
Dear good people of JNTO, Japan’s tourism development board, You need me. Sorry to be so blunt. It is very un-Japanese of me. I am bowing a hundred times as I type this as an apology for my boldness. Tomorrow … Continue reading
Still thinking of going to help in Japan
What about the most northern part where there was damage? Aomori-ken? Isn’t it away from prevailing radiation winds? What if I brought a tent and a sleeping bag, maybe a little camping stove, a few jugs of water, and box … Continue reading
The earthquake in Japan
Now that I am back in Gonder I’m learning about the earthquake in Japan. It takes forever to open links on slow internet connections here, so I only glimpse at headlines for now. I’ve traveled in that area twice. A … Continue reading
Japanese travelers and the Cliff Hotel in Amman, Jordan
I’m contemplating where to stay when I go to Amman, Jordan next week to start my trip. My last time waaaaaay back in the 90′s I stayed where everyone stayed, the Cliff Hotel. It’s one of those places where you … Continue reading
Can you eat a gigantic gyoza?
In this restaurant if you could eat a gyoza (dumpling) this big within 30 minutes, you get it free. If not, 9600 yen ($115). Japanese ultra nationalists drive around in vans and buses looking like this and blast propaganda. Somehow … Continue reading
The Tokyo holy trifecta of Shibuya, Yoyogi Park and the Harajuku Bridge
I know a pretty famous person of letters in Japan by the name of Mitsuyo Kakuta. She’s written over a dozen books, the last two translated into English, and the present one is being made into a big movie next … Continue reading
Tokyo weekend!
2300 yen ($27) is a good deal for a capsule hotel, which you can get a glimpse of in the bottom of the photo. A dorm bed in a youth hostel typically costs as much or more than this. Capsules … Continue reading
Japan is different, Part 4 of 5,723,992
I wrote before about the excessive safety precautions in Japan. This scene is on the smallest of side streets. I waited for a car or motorbike to go by to get a good picture of the “traffic” guard in action, … Continue reading
The 8th wonder of the world, the Japanese sushi restaurant
I’m normally the farthest thing from a food snob, but sushi I very rarely will try outside of Japan. It just doesn’t seem right. (Same goes for Mexican food outside of North America.) Greg took me to a fancy sushi … Continue reading