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On Being Anxious in The Japan Times

Posted on May 24, 2012

I had a nice interview with Mads Berthelsen of The Japan Times, which ran today. He asked me about expat anxiety and we discussed whether or not This Japanese Life is a self-help guide to Japan. God help you if it’s … Continue reading →

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On Always Having an Empty Train Seat Beside You in Japan

Posted on May 23, 2012

On a recent trip to the near-abandoned coal mining town of Tagawa, I took the wrong train three times, taking me into the true inaka – Japan’s rural backwater.

Posted in Culture Shock, Thinking, Uncategorized, Zen | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

On Going and Coming Back in Japan

Posted on May 17, 2012

I carry my Japaneseness in my shoulders.

Posted in Culture Shock, Homesickness, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

On Drinking Too Much in Japan

Posted on May 9, 2012

When someone assures me, with profound sincerity, that they don’t have a drinking problem, I assume they have a sincerely profound drinking problem.

Posted in Culture Shock, Food, Fun, Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments

On Making Ice Cream Out of Plastic in Japan

Posted on April 18, 2012

Somewhere near the divine Buddhist wholesale district of Tokyo is Kappabashi-dori, the street with the highest concentration of plastic food manufacturers in Japan.

Posted in Food, Weird | Tagged , | 3 Comments

On Letting Go of a Tree Branch in Japan

Posted on April 4, 2012

There’s about 4,000 kids outside my apartment screaming about cherry blossoms. 

Posted in Culture Shock, Homesickness, Thinking, Tradition, Zen | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments