When yukata, you just gotta
The yukata is the cooler summer version of the kimono. It’s an important difference, but it does not make a yukata any simpler to put on. With Japan’s summer festival season kicking off, I figured it’d be a great time to wear a yukata. In public. No, I’m not sure what I was thinking. I […]
Brexit, by an expat
I think, now that I’m far enough away, it’s finally safe to talk about the EU referendum. I’ll put my weekend city break hat in the ring: I don’t think we should leave the EU. Yes, this woman currently living on the other side of the world wants us to Remain. The Japanese for ‘hypocrite’ […]
The magic of USJ
Universal Studios Japan. A place where magic really does happen, especially in the ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ zone: As if I could’ve visited and not done the ‘Potter’ bit, come on. For me, the magical effects of USJ miraculously turned my camera into a potato. You may be familiar with the ‘potato quality’ […]
All change, please
After an 11-hour international flight, I wasn’t expecting catching a train in Japan to be the hardest part of the trip. Anyone who’s ever been to London will know about the Oyster card. All over Japan, there are similar travelcards for each major city and region. Most of them have cute names with puns about […]
2016 Funny Women Awards Mentors Announced
Funny Women are over the moon to announce our all-star celebrity mentors for the Funny Women Stage Award! We’re delighted to have Sara Pascoe, Shazia Mirza, Tiffany Stevenson, Ellie Taylor, Doon Mackichan and Zoe Lyons as mentors and role models for our Stage Award finalists. Here’s what our mentors had to say about their new […]
Upstart Crow: star-studded, silly Shakespeare
Some of our best and most damaging insults come from Shakespeare. “Thou art like a toad; ugly and venomous.” “There’s no more faith in thee than a stewed prune.” “Your brain is as dry as the remainder biscuit after voyage.” Brutal. It’s been hinted that Ben Elton’s new show about the Bard, Upstart Crow, makes […]
