YAS KWEEN
When we need a lift, a stonking good female (or ‘girl power’) anthem is just what we need. There have been plenty of definitive musical statements by queens of pop over the years. Single Ladies. Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves. No Scrubs. I Will Survive. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Today, we can add […]
Sun, sea, sand and sacrifice
There are many sure-fire signs of summer here in Japan. None of them involve actual sunshine. We’re talking flash sales at department stores, people wearing sunglasses indoors, endless frozen drinks… And watermelons. The watermelon, or suika, is the spherical summer symbol that you can look directly at without damaging your eyes. At many a summer […]
I’m a diner, let me out of here!
Whenever someone asks me about ‘strange’ or ‘bizarre’ restaurants in Tokyo, I direct them to prison-themed dining experience The Lock Up. The site’s in Japanese but I think you can get the gist. Three of us intrepid explorers visited this hideaway in Shibuya recently, at my insistence. Sorry guys! It’s in a basement, at the […]
There be pirates on the Dotonbori!
Osaka’s Dotonbori river is where much of the action is, day or night. Have a wander around at almost any time, and you will inevitably pass food stalls and restaurants, souvenir shops, and hordes of other tourists. The area is also the home of comedy, with several theatres and clubs including one run by Yoshimoto […]
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’ […]
