MUSUBI Presents: 2021 in Review

Posted on 01/04/2022 Last updated on 06/01/2022

Welcome to 2022! A brand new year is ahead of us, if you’re reading this in January, anyway! Before we dive deep into the Year of the Tiger, let us think back and reflect on the year that passed. While MUSUBI celebrated its 1-year anniversary back in September, 2021 was also a first year for us. That is, it was the first time we posted new articles for the entire year- over a hundred between January and December.

As the chief editor of this blog, it’s my duty to read & review every article that we post. While there are many great blogs about Japan and Japanese culture out there, with MUSUBI we wanted to do something different. All our articles are written by folks living and working in Japan, many as English teachers.

Indeed, we do like to indulge in topics related to teaching and ALT life here and there. But we also wanted to give our writers a venue for sharing their own favorite aspects about Japan and its culture. Places they’ve been, foods they’ve eaten, or just their own advice for living a healthy lifestyle. As we move forward towards our 2nd anniversary and another full year of posting on this blog, we hope to continue expanding and improving on the work we’ve done before.

So in the spirit of looking to the past in preparation for the future, here’s a good old-fashioned recap of MUSUBI in 2021! Every article I edit is great in its own way, and I can’t namecheck them all (there are over a hundred, after all!) But here are a few that left a strong impression on me personally in the past year.

2021 in Health

What are we without our health? In 2021 we covered a variety of topics, such as:

Feeling sick and tired in Japan? Here’s our short overview of what to do!

Health isn’t just about physical well-being, but also mental. Here’s how to avoid “a transplant” and dealing with homesickness.

Living out in the countryside? Here are some tips for staying fit in the inaka!

Looking for cosmetics in Japan? We featured two different guides on this topic!

Last year there were articles on healthy food and drinks you can find in Japan, from gut-friendly substances to good old Green Tea.

And finally, sometimes travel and health are intertwined, as this great exploration of the Tohoku region showcased.

2021 in Food

Writing about Food is always a popular topic on MUSUBI. As our writers are all across Japan, we have articles about the foods of big cities like Nagoya and Osaka.

In 2021 we also evaluated convenience store sandwiches. We extolled the wonders of the drink bar. And we shared how to enjoy an inexpensive, tasty curry dinner!

Looking for authentic Japanese dining that is also Halal? Last year, we found it!

Japan is more than just Japanese food though. Here are our guides on finding Indian curry in Yamanashi and vegan places in Tokyo. And sometimes you just want a really good burger.

There were many quirky and enjoyable restaurants to be found, such as one themed on a dungeon and another in a little slice of Americana in Saitama.

And perhaps most useful for those cooking at home is our guide on reading Japanese food labels.

2021 in Lifestyle

‘Lifestyle’ is our broadest category in that it can cover a wide range of sub-topics. Some of these included:

Taking a dip in Japan’s famous onsen! There’s plenty to visit!

Traveling to scenic destinations such as Sado Island and Okayama City!

Avoiding social faux pas and learning good train etiquette.

Learning the wonders of the 100-Yen store or the traditional art of haiku.

Driving in Japan, a must-have skill if you plan on living in the beautiful countryside.

Living in Japan, be it in an apartment of your own or a share house with others!

And, if you’re studying in Japan, how to smoothly transition into a teaching career!

And on to 2022!

We hope you enjoyed this blast from the past. As mentioned, we posted many articles last year, so there’s much more beyond these! Please check out the Health, Food and Lifestyle tags for them all.

Finally, I want to thank each and every one of our writers and readers who keep MUSUBI going. As 2022 gets underway, I hope this blog will continue to grow and improve. It’s our mission at MUSUBI to keep delivering high-quality articles that serve as your bridge to inner Japan.