Tag Archives: Japan

perseverance

Just last month I turned 36…it’s precisely this age that my father decided to take a job in the Philippines that would forever change our lives and eventually bring me to where I am today. As such I thought it might be a good time for me to take stock of just what I have [...]

the year I go to more festivals

In America we don’t really have festivals like you do here in Japan. We have certain holidays, like the Fourth of July, where we celebrate Independence Day, and everyone gets together at parks or at each others houses to have barbeques and light off fireworks. It’s fun, but for me it’s old hat and not [...]

Playing Gagaku(雅楽)

スミス英会話布施校講師が書いた記事。 日本語のメインサイトはこちら
If asked what brought me to Japan, there are lots of answers as Japan culture is very diverse and interesting. But the main reason for me coming to Japan was and still is to learn Gagaku (雅楽). Starting about ten years ago with the first Gagaku concert of the Gagaku club of at the [...]

t-minus 6 hours and 20 minutes

In just over 6 hours many of my students will be gathering around their television to watch the Japan Paraguay game…unlike Japan’s previous game it starts earlier which means I can watch it and not suffer from sleep deprivation. In my youth I could stay up late and wake up early and somehow be functional [...]

underdogs

When I was young I loved playing soccer but as I got older I found it harder and harder to play because it requires more than just a few people and a decent enough space was needed (I also wasn’t a fan of playing on muddy fields) so I turned my attention towards basketball. Despite [...]

A Working Definition of Success

In class today we were talking about success. I asked a student a very direct question: “What is success?” This stumped her for a minute before she went on to give her own, very clear, definition. I explained to her that when we do this it’s called a “working definition” and that it is often [...]

Kyoto: Entertainment District… A Night in Kyoto for Under ¥2000

Last Saturday I went to Kyoto in the evening with a couple friends. I’m not usually in Kyoto in the evening, especially not a weekend, so it was quite a fun experience. Let me tell you what we did and saw, all within 2 hours and 15 minutes of Keihan Sanjo station.
Immediately across the bridge [...]

New Categories

Hello All!
I have just added 2 new categories to the soapbox: Sightseeing in Japan and Travel Abroad.
As is likely obvious, the ‘Sightseeing in Japan‘ category is for any articles related to sightseeing in Japan- day trips, hot spots, local recommendations, hot springs, secret sightseeing spots, you name it. If it’s fun or interesting and you [...]

Another Year, Another Spring Festival

Community is the key to living a happy, connected social life. Sure, facebook and myspace and mixi are great online communities. But true community, human interaction, is tops. Living in Japan, community takes on a different form than back home. Particularly, annual community events stand out. Summer fireworks, cherry blossom viewing parties, Gion Matsuri in [...]

Toji Market in Kyoto

日本語のはここです:スミス英会話大津校ブログ:東寺の縁日:Toji Market is international!
Every month on the 21st of the month, the largest flea market in Kyoto is held at Toji Temple in Kyoto. Toji Temple is located about 1km west of the south exit of Kyoto station. There are English signs directing the throngs of tourists, which makes it very easy to find. It [...]

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