Japan tops the list of the most aging country in the world (followed by Italy and Germany). It's hardly noticeable in buzzing megalopolis like Tokyo but we do notice it when we visit regional towns where some fill the abandoned town with scarecrows to fill the void where people once made a life there. It sounds all … Continue reading Finding the flip side in the aging country
I thought last year was doom and gloom but there have been seriously negative news from all over the world😞. I'm sure the global news are well covered where you are but in Japan, our news sites are all about: out of control covid-19 cases all around Japan with as young as people in their … Continue reading Finding comfort into Japanese traditional ‘western’ meal
It has nearly been two and a half years since I have moved back to my motherland, Japan, after living in Australia for 20 years during my teens through to twenties. In the early days of moving back to Japan, I have shared my surprises and thoughts about being a Native Expat, someone who feels … Continue reading Retrospective: 2 1/2 years of being a Native Expat
A couple of weeks ago, I received a missed delivery notice. Apparently a chilled item my grandma sent me. After I requested for the package to be redelivered, I received a box full of yoghurt jars, milk and caramel puddings, sausages and ham! It's not my birthday so I wonder why they sent it to … Continue reading What is ochugen?
To celebrate Tokyo Olympics 2020, two Japanese public holidays were shifted to create 4 day long weekend between July 22-July 25. My husband and I visited Shikoku over those 4 days and in the previous post, I shared the first part of our trip where we visited the art island, Naoshima, ate Kagawa's famous udon noodle and … Continue reading 3 nights and 4 summer days in Shikoku Part 2
Since 2020, some public holidays were shifted around specifically for Tokyo Olympics. Ocean Day and Sports Day were shifted to last Thursday and Friday respectively …so that everyone can watch the games from home (and maybe reduce traffic). I partially wanted to stay in Tokyo to experience the Olympic vibe that I heard so much … Continue reading 3 nights and 4 summer days in Shikoku Part 1
The show must go on! 6 more days until Tokyo Olympics. It's hard to imagine that Olympics will start next week while many decisions are made then updated day by day due to ever changing landscape thanks to the raging 4th wave of covid-19 accelerated by the delta variant. Getting ready... https://nativeexpat.home.blog/?p=3170(opens in a new tab) … Continue reading IOC: International Olympic Covid?
Last weekend, we revisited 'our lake side cabin' in Yamanashi prefecture that we visited in September 2020 (if you missed it, here's the link to the post from our first trip) hoping for a lake swim but more excitedly to barbecue🍖. There are many fun and exciting things about living in the middle of Tokyo but … Continue reading Lakeside barbecue and first shot of vaccine
Last week, I mentioned that I received one of my furusato nozei thank you gifts (cherries from Yamagata🍒) and June is the month when we receive our new resident tax in Japan (if you missed it, here's the link). Thanks to my last year's furusato nozei submissions, I anticipated a lower monthly tax but instead, it … Continue reading Adulting in Japan
Things are heating up in Japan from steep rise vaccination numbers and Tokyo Olympics fast approaching. About Japan's covid-19 situation Japan is out of the state of emergency but Tokyo is back on 蔓延防止(manenboushi) with new sets of relaxed rules such asmaximum of 2 people are allowed to dine in and drink alcohol but alcohol … Continue reading Counting down the dates to Tokyo Olympic but counting up the vaccination numbers in Japan
Native Expat 