One day he was teaching English in Japan, and the next day, he was blind
"If you start to feel disoriented, you're getting it," is how one writer describes the process of losing his sight at the age of 29. And after the disorientation comes the process of rebuilding a life in a foreign country.
'Kurly in Kansai' host Ayana Wyse: 'I'm involved in the community, not the society'
As one half of the duo hosting the podcast "Kurly in Kansai," Ayana Wyse is doing her part in building a community for the international community in Japan.
Lifestyles on the Seto Inland Sea change with advancements in the fishing industry
When I first came to Japan, I was stunned by the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea. Its thousands of peaked islands look as if they'd dropped straight from the sky and settled like gum drops on the water. Stretching 450 kilometers from Osaka ...
The subtleties that bedeviled St. Francis
There's a certain script that you need to follow when interacting in Japanese. It's a shame nobody told St. Francis Xavier.
The odd blunder is OK at your local dad-to-be class
Future fathers in Japan get lessons in caring for a baby at their local ward or city office. Yes, pregnancy suits are involved.
Plan your response before taking on passive prejudice at the office
What should you do when one of your Japanese colleagues makes a problematic comment? Sometimes it's best to keep things light.
Humanity is sure to come through for those on a modern pilgrimage
As I made my way up the steep road to Kakurin Temple — aka Temple No. 20, I realized how foolish I had been to have bought a bicycle. Rising at dawn, I had ticked off temples 18 and 19 of the 88-temple Shikoku ...
Tokyo is big, Kyoto is polite, but Osaka's for the Scots
Writer William Lang says the frankness and openness of Osakans is a common trait of the people he remembers from growing up in Glasgow.
Deal with clutter while the choice to toss is still yours
A big part of retirement is spent organizing your home and your affairs, but tidying experts advise decluttering well beforehand.
A Buddhist priest reflects on growing up on Shiraishi Island during a time of war
Living on an island that was too small to receive direct attacks didn't stop the people living there from having to take extreme measures.
Cleaning toilets with a smile: The lessons you can learn from a convenience store side job
Learning Japanese and want a bit of extra cash? Getting a part-time job in the service industry can teach you a lot more than the language.
Memoirs from a Japanese internet cafe
While some people pine for traditions from Japan's ancient past, it might actually be the more modern things that we'll truly miss.
