♥ Japan

My stay in Japan is rapidly coming to an end and in less than a month I will be back in the UK. I am sad to go as I still feel that Japan has so much more to offer, but at the same time I am sooooo incredibly excited to see all my friends and family. However one thing I am a little bit treading is the moment when I see everybody and they ask: ‘So, how was Japan?’.

To Kabuki or not to Kabuki.....

In my determination to experience as many Japanese things as possible before going back to the UK and leaving without any regrets (as they say, better regret what you’ve done, not what you haven’t) I was more than happy to accept an invitation from the ladies from my Nihongo Kurabu to go and see a Kabuki play. It doesn’t get more Japanese than watching Kabuki, not only because it is a traditional Japanese play dating back from the 17^th century, which combines a story line with traditional dancing, but also because it displays some amazing traditional Japanese costumes, intricate makeup and of course all the lines are related in Japanese.

Momiji vs Sakura

Momiji (aka autumn leaves) and Sakura (aka cherry blossom) are 2 well known phenomena in the Japanese culture. If you get a chance to speak to any Japanese about nature related things they will tell you that each season has a certain phenomenon related to it that gives them the opportunity to feel more connected with the nature. Spring has the Sakura, summer has the flowers in blooms, autumn the Momiji and winter has the snow (when it happens to snow….if it ever does).

You can't start life in Japan without some sushi.....

Whether you love it or hate it you have to admit that sushi is the most representative dishes when it comes to the Japanese culture. I am not saying that it is the only traditional food by all means and one should give credit to other dishes like ramen, soba or tempura, but if you would ask anybody in the world to give you an example of a Japanese dish, they would very likely say ‘sushi’. Anyway, luckily I am a well and truly sushi lover and it is true what they say that you haven’t really tasted sushi until you’ve had it in Japan. Although you can find it pretty much everywhere and sushi-ya (restaurants) are spread everywhere, like mushrooms after the rain, they do not come cheap.

A crazy beginning……

So staring my own blog was probably something I should have done months, if not years ago. But most likely at least 9 month ago when I came to Tokyo. You know as they say, it is better to write everything down while it is still fresh in your mind, but to be honest all those first months have been a little bit of a blur, with the occasional awe-ness thrown in and filled with lots of embarrassing and frustrating moments. But as I came to find out along the way, they all form an important part of the cultural adaptation and learning process, aka finding out how to best fit in a country of crazy but wonderful people.