3月, 2021 | MUSUBI by BORDERLINK

Fundamental Fitness: How to Avoid a Transplant

Top Photo: Timothy Ian Horn, used with permission

There’s a sickness that cannot be cured with simple rest or over-the-counter medicines. It won’t affect someone all the time, but it will affect everyone some of the time. The symptoms can be hard to see, but you will feel them. The sickness I’m talking about is the dread HS: Home Sickness.

As the saying goes; home is where the heart is. But a heart transplant costs far too much for this common issue. Home sickness is something that everybody warns us about, and it is often laughed off, till it hits you or someone close to you. I know exactly what you are about to say: It’ll never happen to me!

And I’m sure that for some it won’t. For those that it will, there’s good news. By following a basic (mental) exercise routine anyone can keep the dreaded HS from hitting them. It is all up to you which of exercises you choose to make a part of your life, but I recommend doing at least three every month with one a week being a good minimum. Personally, I try to do number three multiple times a week. But here we go:

Walk

It is widely regarded as a good form of exercise, but we should not overlook the added benefits of a good city-walk. While I call it walking, I actually recommend bicycling for this as well, purely for the ease of movement that makes a city-walk so much more interesting. I’ve been doing city-walks wherever I live, be it back in South Africa or any other country I visited.

The purpose is always the same, get out, see the city, and find new places. We can get trapped in our own heads when we stay trapped in our own rooms or houses, especially now that we are looking at a global situation forcing social interaction to be limited. So get out of your own house, air out that gray matter, get some fresh air, and make sure to go down the side streets.

Eat

Eating correctly has long been held as a cornerstone of health, thus it is only fitting that it be included in this article about (mental) health. This has two parts: 1) Finding places around your residence where you can get something akin to comfort food. A nice ice cream shop, or a ramen restaurant, or so forth. 2) A place where you can get food that will help you relax after a stressful day of hearing 150+ reading tests where half of the students forgot to study for it.

Next, you should look for food that reminds you of home. I know that this sounds difficult, but let me share my experience and methodology with you. I love spicy food and even back in SA I preferred a good burn to a mild sizzle. This in and of itself is not a problem, but my favorite spicy dish is curry. I have had the opportunity to eat many different types of curry in my life, so I was excited to try curry in Japan.

To say that the curry here is mild is a serious understatement. Often it is sweet, and though flavorful, it does lack a certain bite that I associate with the word “curry”. So I made it my mission to find a small curry restaurant that makes authentic Indian curry. The joy of finding it and the nostalgia of eating a true spicy curry did wonders for me. (That I had to go there multiple times and ask them to make each order hotter, is a completely different yet tasty story.)

Finding that link home in the food is a wonderful thing, but sometimes to find that direct link, we need to get creative. What I want to do in the future is revive an old tradition I had, where a group of us expats from different countries would get together and share our food culture with one another.

Talk

Communication is the name of the game, and talking has long been known to help people manage their frustration. So what do you do when the only person who you can speak English to are the people working closely with you? That is when you need someone in another country that can listen to you. This is so much easier these days as technology has advanced to the point where a basic internet connection can have you speaking to and often seeing your loved ones back home.

But what happens when you want to talk about things with someone that is not family? Once again, technology comes to the rescue with the advent of groups. I personally belong to 10 different interest groups, some here in Japan and others overseas. The reason for so many is that while some of the groups are really active, some go many months between messages (often by yours truly asking a question or for a check in). Even in this time of social distancing, we can still stay connected to our friends and families.

Do

What do you do in the moments in-between? I want you to think about that for a minute. Doing is about actively being in a different state of mind from your normal everyday life. The easiest way of doing this is to practice your hobby here in Japan, or even just taking up a new one. Do you like nature? Japan has beautiful camping sports as well as some great fishing spots. More into shopping? Go window shopping and keep your friend up to date about what’s available here. Interested in anime and manga? Well, yeah, you know what? I probably don’t need to tell you that this is the place to be for that…

Hobbies are for your well-being, and a way for you to actively seek something out instead of just sitting around doing nothing. Be it something that you do alone or with other people (socially distant of course) it is for your own benefit to have a hobby that you can indulge in from time to time. For those who haven’t found their preferred hobby yet, this is a good time to try out something like photography or fishing. Both work wonders to get you to focus on something other than work. Or, if you are more a ‘house mouse’ type, even something like knitting can help you de-stress, and allow you to make some cute handmade gifts.

Conclusion

I know that life currently makes social interaction a bit more risky, but by being smart and keeping the areas I spoke about in mind, you too can keep your (mental) health high and the dreaded HS at bay.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone who stuck through this that even though it might not always feel true, we are not alone, and with just a little bit of effort, we can stay in touch and up to date. Stay well and stay safe.

Photo Credits:

Top Photo: Timothy Ian Horn, used with permission

Top photo: photoBさん on PhotoAC

When people around the world think of Japan, one of the first things that comes to mind is electronic devices, and for good reason. Japan is widely regarded as one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, and home to many companies that produce top-quality electronics. But where should you go to buy your gadgets and gizmos? Here’s some basic information on what I think are Japan’s best stores to find your next TV, rice cooker or electric razor at.

Disclaimer before we begin: the stores discussed here will be ones that are focused on selling electronics, and stores that are more home and hardware-based that also happen to sell some electronics will not be included. With that out of the way, let’s begin!

Yodobashi Camera（ヨドバシカメラ）

Yodobashi Camera Co., Ltd. was founded by current CEO Terukazu Fujisawa in 1960. They have 23 locations in Japan and rank fourth among consumer electronics mass retailers in the country. Their online shopping has become the second largest platform for electronics in Japan behind only Amazon. Yodobashi tends to focus on opening large stores at very popular locations, such as Shinjuku and Harajuku. The Akihabara “megastore” location is truly a sight to behold.

Bic Camera（ビックカメラ）

Originally founded as Takasaki DP Center Co., Ltd. in Takasaki, Gunma by Ryuji Arai in 1968, Bic Camera has grown to become the third-largest electronics and home appliance retailer in Japan. With 41 locations in Japan, they tend to open up stores in urban centers similar to (and even close to) Yodobashi, and so the two are often seen as rivals. Since it has nearly double the locations, however, it is easier to find one than a Yodobashi. The two chains also carry many of the same goods for roughly the same price.

Yamada Denki（ヤマダデンキ）

Yamada Denki first began as a privately-owned store in 1973. After merging with a dormant company in 1987, it went on to become the second-largest electronics and home appliance retailer in Japan with hundreds of stores all across the country. Because they are a more country-wide store and don’t focus on urban centers as much as Bic Camera and Yodobashi do, Yamada Denki shops tend to carry more “everyday” electronics and less specialized goods. They’re also considerably easier to find if you live out in the suburbs!

Kojima（コジマ）

Founded in 1955, Kojima is a company very similar to Yamada Denki in scale and in terms of what they offer on-site, although they have fewer locations. In fact, Kojima and Yamada Denki are often seen as rivals, much in the same way the Yodobashi and Bic Camera are. Speaking of Bic Camera, 50% of Kojima is owned by Bic Camera, so you can expect a taste of Bic’s prices and offerings if you happen to live near a Kojima.

K’s Denki（ケーズデンキ）

K’s Denki is a little bit of an outlier here. They run themselves in an identical style to Yamada Denki and Kojima, so like them, they don’t have as many specialty goods available that Yodobashi and Bic Camera would. However, as the fifth-largest electronics and home appliance retailer in Japan, they don’t quite have the clout that Yamada Denki and Kojima enjoy either. Nonetheless, they are a perfectly fine electronics retailer, and will most likely be able to fulfill your needs as well as Yamada Denki or Kojima would.

One thing all of these stores have in common is a point card system; while physical cards are still present, some of them (such as Bic) have transitioned to a phone app system. I highly recommended getting your closest store’s version of a point card, as you’ll probably find yourself shopping there often. Racking up points that can be cashed in for price reductions later is worth the time, especially when you’re buying 5000-6000 yen worth of items and not having to hand over any money. It’s a great feeling!

Now that you understand a little more about electronics stores in Japan, you should be well-prepared to go shopping at an appropriate location for whatever you may desire. Who knows, you may even develop a little bit of brand loyalty towards one of these stores. I know I have!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: photoBさん on PhotoAC

Top photo: rmsep4 on Pixabay

MUSUBI presents the conclusion in a two-part essay on Culture Shock and how to manage it.

Part 2: The Light at the End

Last time, I wrote about the Honeymoon Period and Frustration Period or Culture Shock proper. After the elation of those first few weeks, I crashed hard. I felt like I had hit rock bottom and all seemed lost. So how did I recover?

The way to get through that difficult, reclusive state you feel is the same over here as it is anywhere. Find the things that you like to do outdoors; the kind of stuff that gets you out and about. There are plenty of exercise groups, gaming groups, hiking groups, etc outside. You should be able to find something you like if you look, even just a little.

Second, at least for me, is finding your reason to be here. You may find that through the group you start hanging out with, or a hobby that you find when you are here. There are teachers whose purpose is teaching and feel that’s all they need in life, but even they have a little something on the side that they do; that group of friends they can joke with and shoot the breeze with.

If you’re here as a teacher, I personally don’t recommend that you look for your schools to be that social group. There are always exceptions to the rule of course, but when I was finding people to spend time with, I wanted to keep those two aspects of my life as separate as I could. Leave your home at home and your work at work as they say.

I honestly think that’s a way that most Japanese teachers will try to keep it too. You might be invited to the occasional celebration by the school or bonenkai (Basically the New Years’/ end of the term party) and you absolutely should join in. But if you are relying on them entirely for your social life, you will be found wanting about ninety percent of the time.

Photo Credit: cplz99atcsnilyk on Pixabay

OK, so if you’re like me, you started out being really happy when you got to Japan. It was a dream come true! Then you got kinda frustrated and lonely. Everyone back overseas remarks how traditional and unique the country is, but all you can see is how they like to put corn and mayonnaise on or in everything in sight.

What’s the third stage? This is the building stage otherwise called the “Adjustment Period,” the stage where you start to get your feet under you again and get better at daily life. You start training to be healthier, studying the language and customs, and you establish your social circle. As far as I’m concerned, this is the most fun part, because this is where you don’t feel like a toddler stumbling all over the place. You can start building towards a purpose.

I honestly think that I spend most of my time between stages two and three because with life, you run into frustrations then rise to overcome them by adjusting and adapting to the challenges. This is the stage that leads to accomplishment of goals, and opens all the doors you might want to open.

Personally, this is the stage where I started to teach myself how to cook along with exercising more. I now have things I can share with others― my students, friends, girlfriend, and family― as well as strengthening those bonds between u. This causes a positive feedback loop that just makes everyone around me better and stronger. This, in my opinion, is the stage where you want to spend your time.

The last stage is the Integration or Mastery Period, where you are used to your new surroundings and have adapted to meet your new life. I don’t know how many people are truly in this stage a hundred percent of the time, but it’s definitely a lovely place to be for a bit.

The idea of the Adjustment curve (U-curve) by Keally (1990), Black and Mendenhall (1991). Source

It can also be (in my opinion) a bit of a trap in itself. When people feel like they have mastered something, they tend to stop working on it. This goes for everything in life. I think the most successful/fulfilled people over here that I know go between mastery and adjustment the most. They find a new challenge, overcome it, then move on to the next thing to learn, which again creates a positive feedback loop and makes them stronger as a person.

Also keep in mind that Culture Shock isn’t like catching a cold, getting over it, and going right back to normal. It’s more like a wave that passes over someone again and again. The first time around it feels huge and powerful, but with each subsequent time it washes over, it loses its impact. Eventually you can control which stages you spend most of your time in.

Before you start thinking to yourself “Culture Shock won’t effect me, I’m way different than those other millions of people who went through this thing, I’m super special and made of rainbows and unicorn glitter, etc” keep in mind that people who think they won’t be affected tend to get hit the hardest. They often spend the longest time in the “Frustration Period,” because they aren’t aware of the changes, so they get hit all at once and aren’t prepared for it. Hopefully, this article will help to prepare them.

In conclusion, Culture Shock will hit everyone, though it might appear differently to each person. It is temporary, and once you are aware of it, you can more easily deal with each stage of it. You may feel like you’ve mastered the new culture you are in, but don’t allow yourself to get too comfortable, because Culture Shock can always come creeping back. Always stay hungry, humble, and strive to learn and try new things. Remember, the light at the end of the tunnel may seem far away, but it never goes out.

Photo Credits:

Top photo: rmsep4 on Pixabay

Additional photo: cplz99atcsnilyk on Pixabay

Culture Shock Curve Graph Source

Top photo: John Paul Todd-Pantaleon, used with permission

When one thinks of places in Japan, several immediately come to mind. Mount Fuji. Himeji Castle. Various districts and suburbs around Tokyo. But how about Tsuchiyama, Shiga Prefecture? It’s not a place many know about, but it might just be one of the best-kept secrets in all of Japan.

About an hour from Kyoto by train, Tsuchiyama is a town in Shiga and part of the City of Kōka. How does that work you ask? Back in 2004, Tsuchiyama and 4 other towns in the Kōka district were merged into one city. Today, each area retains its own unique charm while being united under one name, partly in hopes of attracting more visitors out to the area.

The Kōka district is famous for tea fields, rice fields, and ninjas. Yes, ninjas. Kōka prides itself on its authentic ninja history and culture, and the Kōka Ninja Village is one of the city’s major tourist attractions. If you’re at all interested in the history of ninjutsu, then this place is a must-visit. In fact, the city is hoping you will!

But there is another side to Kōka, and Tsuchiyama particularly. A side rooted firmly in the nature of the area. The place I live in is pretty far from the city center, but it is extremely peaceful. It’s very beautiful as well. Living here, in the ‘heart of nature’ as I like to call it, I have seen magnificent eagles, regal pheasants, tired frogs, patient spiders, and curious monkeys or Macaques.

A few months ago I got a new bike, which has been an absolute lifesaver. It allows me to travel and explore the area with relative ease. I have been all over Tsuchiyama. I’ve seen the numerous shrines and temples. I’ve passed by countless rice fields. I’ve rode over the many rivers that run through this town.

In this world, where COVID-19 has changed the way we live our everyday lives, being able to get out and explore the countryside on my own has been liberating. My eyes have been opened to a part of Japan that once, I didn’t even know existed. Some would say that Tsuchiyama is “in the middle of nowhere” and “it has nothing for you to do”. But clearly they’ve never actually been here. It has plenty for adventurous types who are willing to travel far and explore the vastness of this great area.

I find myself having a lot of time in this amazing new land I have come to call home. So I’m making the most of it. Every day I see new things, visit new places, and discover new treasures. I hope you’ll have the opportunity to do so too some day, and join me in cruising through Tsuchiyama.

Ready to start your next adventure? Come teach Shiga, and you too can experience the beauty and adventure of Tsuchiyama and Kōka! For more information, read all about the job of an ALT!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: John Paul Todd-Pantaleon, used with permission

Additional photos provided by John Paul Todd-Pantaleon, used with permission

Top photo: Matt Cannon on Unsplash

MUSUBI presents the first in a two-part essay on Culture Shock and how to manage it.

Part 1: Stranded on a Solitary Island

Ok, so you’re in Japan! You saw the local sights, ate some good food, talked with some kind strangers and you got your daily life in order. You will probably have a routine that you like to do, whether it’s working out, going out, or playing some games etc. It all seems fantastic, like you’re on top of the world. Then one day, seemingly out of nowhere, the shine is off the apple, the glimmer is starting to dull, and everything just seems to have a matte gray look to it. The honeymoon phase of the transition has come to an end, so now what?

In a clinical sense, when you get to a new country there is a psychological reaction that you go through called “Culture Shock.” I’m aware that when the average person thinks of culture shock, they only think of the negative side. For example, they don’t know which side of the road to drive on, or they don’t know certain manners, so it can be hard to get along in a new place. However, culture shock is actually made up of about four stages that we will go over together. And, I’ll share a few ways that you might be able to handle the transition.

The first stage is called the “Honeymoon Period,” and besides being the title of this article, it’s probably the most fun part of culture shock. When you get to a new place with such different ways of doing things, a lot of people see even the most basic thing as fresh and new. Therefore, they start to view essentially everything that way for the first few months of being here. All the food you eat will be the “BEST THING EVER”. All the places you will go to, all the sights you see, and all the experiences in general will all feel like the “BEST THING EVER!!!!!” You might even start saying things like “Why don’t we have this/these back home?”

In certain cases, like Japanese curry, that makes sense because it’s a delicious food that you may have never had before. In other cases though, it might get down right silly. I remember my second week in Japan, I was looking at a mirror that was placed on the corner of a blind turn down a sharp turn while thinking, “We should have those back in Iowa,” just before realizing that Iowa doesn’t need any mirrors around our turns because everything there is so wide open that you can literally see in almost 360 degrees around your car.

Okay, I get it, you might not think of something as specific as “Oh boy, look at those mirrors,” but I would bet that if you pay attention to the thoughts you have during your honeymoon period, it might as well be “I love those mirrors,” levels of silly.

Photo by angel4leon on Pixabay

Honeymoon is the highest emotion you will experience during your first few months or even year of being in Japan, right? What comes after a huge peak, I wonder… well, it’s like riding a roller coaster. You guessed it, after that huge climb there is naturally a deep decline, which is stage two.

This stage is the “Frustration Period,” and is probably what people think about when they think of culture shock in general. Due to the new customs, completely foreign language, and general behaviors of the new society, newcomers tend to have a hard time after their honeymoon phase has ended. After things are new and fun because they are so different, they start just becoming difficult. And this difficulty in the afore-mentioned social changes will be what throws you into the “Frustration Period.”

I will also refer to this period as “the depression stage” because this is when feelings of homesickness and boredom set in, which can lead people to depression. This is the stage from my experience that was the most unexpected, even though I knew it was coming. Everyone told me, everyone warned me, yet I still didn’t see it until I was about a week deep. I was in my room all time time. I didn’t have much motivation to go out or meet people. I turned into a bit of a couch potato.

Truth is, I felt like I was a castaway on a deserted island. The beach party had been one of the greatest nights of my life, but then without even realizing it I had been left behind while everyone else packed up and went home. And I now I was alone to fend for myself. A place that once made perfect sense now made no sense at all.

“So, how do we get out of this Dave?” I bet you’re wondering as you read this. Well dear reader… stay tuned for Part 2 next week!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: Matt Cannon on Unsplash

Additional photo: angel4leon on Pixabay

Top photo: JordyMeow on Pixabay

Most who come to Japan tend to mainly support the tourism of the major cities and tourist spots. But there is far more to Japan than what you’ll see in the major cities. Though I wasn’t born or raised in Japan, I consider Gifu my home and where I truly started this chapter of my life. It’s a beautiful place ー and an interesting one if you wish to have a glimpse of the classic Japanese way of life. Here are a few of my favorite places in Gifu Prefecture that I recommend you to check out!

Gero Onsen

As previously covered on MUSUBI, Gero is a must-visit destination if you ever sfind yourself in central Japan, since Gifu is right there north of Aichi! This onsen is famous among tourists and yet still something of an obscure treasure. Nature in this place is like paradise. You get to look at the beautiful mountains while you’re enjoying a hot dip in the onsen. Gero is located in between Gifu and Takayama on the JR Takayama Line and historically considered to be one of the “three best hot springs” in Japan.The water here is referred to as the “springs of the beautiful” because of the silky-smooth effect it has on skin.

Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go is a place that has yet to be affected by the tremendous advancement of modern Japan. People still live in gassho-zukuri houses, and it is said that these houses can only be found in Gifu. If you really want to immerse yourself in the the classic Japanese way of living, then visit Shirakawa-go. Don’t forget to take a sip of doburoku which is an unrefined sake.

Takayama City

Finally, please visit Takayama City. There are lots of places to see in Takayama ー if you ever stop by during the winter season, then you can ski or enjoy a piping hot bowl of ramen. Don’t forget to eat Hida-gyu or Hida beef. It’s pricey, but less expensive in Takayama since it’s where they raise the cows in Hida. It’s delicious!!!

That’s just a small sampling of the many wonderful surprises that Gifu has to offer. But don’t just take my word for it. Experience it for yourself! Happy travels in this small island of Japan, and I wish you many more fulfilling adventures.

Ready to start your next adventure? Come teach in one of Gifu’s many great cities and towns, such as Kaizu, Kawabe, or Mizuho! For more information, read all about the job of an ALT!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: JordyMeow on Pixabay

Top photo: Joseph Albanese on Unsplash

Searching for a place to live is a daunting task, even in the familiarity of your home country and native language. Doing the same in Japan can be terrifying for first-time renters. This guide will hopefully familiarize you with some of the basics of Japanese apartments and what to expect from them.

Part One: Layout

The way that Japanese apartments are advertised is different from Western countries. There is a sort of shorthand unique to the country which quickly conveys the layout of an apartment. This takes the form of an acronym that states what kind of rooms are present in the apartment. L = Living Room, K = Kitchen, D = Dining, and numbers represent how many other rooms (which can be used at the renter’s discretion) exist. For example, 1LDK mean one room (typically your bedroom), a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. Here’s some typical layouts for an apartment you’d see in Japan.

Refer to the picture titled “2LDK”: two rooms, living room, dining room, and kitchen. There are a few things that I’d like for you, the reader, to take note of. One is that even though there are only five rooms explicitly designated by the layout, there are other “rooms” that exist in the apartment, such as the entrance, a balcony, the bath/shower, and powder room.

This is very common, as the acronym is quite simply just a quick way of letting prospective renters know the more important details of the apartment so that they don’t waste their time with undesirable layouts.

Another thing I’d like to draw your attention to is the living/dining/kitchen area. Readers from western countries may expect all three of those rooms to be completely separate, but that is not the case in Japan. If kitchen space of any sort exists in your Japanese apartment, you have a kitchen. The living room/dining room discrepancy is more confusing. The “L” for “living” designates a space where a person would likely put a sofa/chair and a low table, and the “D” for “dinging” designates space where a person can place a dining table.

Therefore, if a space can do both of these things (and in the case of this apartment, also contain the kitchen) then it’s all of these things. The last things I would like to draw your attention to is how the picture labels the two rooms as “western-style”. We will explore what that means in the second part of this article.

Part Two: Style

Apartments in Japan are typically a mix between traditional Japanese-style and western-style, with the more modern apartments being increasingly more western. To be able to understand that statement fully, it needs a little explanation. Japanese-style means shorter doorways, shoji (rice paper doors), and tatami (woven straw) mats. Western-style means taller doorways, solid sliding doors and regular doors, and hardwood (or fake hardwood) floors. Let’s look at another example (see “Advertisement Example #2”).

This apartment looks similar to the apartment we looked at before in terms of layout (albeit smaller), but one thing in particular stands out as different: the room with the rectangles inside of it. This means that the room’s flooring is tatami mats. You can generally tell the age of an apartment by how western vs Japanese it is, as hardwood floors and solid doors are more durable and easier to clean and replace, and Western-style has become increasingly more chic. Therefore, the newer the apartment, the more western.

I hope that this article has given you a basic understanding of how apartment layouts work in Japan, and that you will now feel more comfortable in any apartment search you may undertake. As long as you keep the basics in mind, you should have no problem in finding what you are looking for in a living space. When it comes to the next step of actually signing for your new abode, well… that’s a story for a future article!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: Joseph Albanese on Unsplash

Articles/photos cited in this article:

JAPANESE APARTMENT LAYOUTS: JAPANESE APARTMENT 101 GUIDES

Living in Japan Part 4: How to Read Apartment Listings

Top Image: Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

For those that live a mostly halal lifestyle, it can be challenging at times to find a certified halal restaurant in Japan, let alone one that doesn’t have pork ingredients in all their menu items. This can be extra troublesome, especially when a group of friends invite you out for dinner, and you have to take an unusually long time to look at the menu for a potentially pork-free dish. You think you’re finally successful when you spot チキンカーレー on the second-to-last page of the restaurant’s “grand menu”, but you still want to make sure that it’s safe, so you call a waiter to ask, “sumimasen, kore butaniku haittemasuka?”

Unfortunately, you find out that even though they do not put in any pork or ham, the roux that they use to make the curry itself contains lard. Then you start cursing pig fat in front of all your friends, who are probably already giving you weird looks for taking such a long time to decide.

If you want to avoid that kind of mess, then here are some halal or pork-free restaurants which you can suggest to your friends that are not too “in-your-face” with being halal. And by that I mean it’s not just Indian, Persian, or any other kind of Middle Eastern cuisine. Rather, you can still have the ‘authentic’ experience of eating traditional Japanese dishes, just with some minor modifications to make them enjoyable for all. One word of caution: most of these halal places are in bigger cities like Tokyo and Osaka, so for those out in the country… well, plan a day trip! It’ll be worth it!

Japanese Restaurant ORIGAMI ASAKUSA (Tokyo)

ORIGAMI ASAKUSA is in the top 10 best halal restaurants list, according to Tripadvisor, and not only does this restaurant offer a wide selection of Japanese dishes on their menu, happy customers have also praised ORIGAMI ASAKUSA for their generous portion sizes. They have a special wagyu beef bento which is priced at around 5000 yen, but it is definitely worth the price because of the quality of the beef. This place is also close to Asakusa station and other popular tourist spots, so it’s a great place to stop by if you need to have a halal lunch or dinner. They also have a 10% off lunch special and a prayer room equipped with an ablution area, so it is the ideal restaurant for Muslims.

Halal Wagyu Yakiniku PANGA (Tokyo)

If you’re looking for a restaurant that’s specifically a yakiniku place, then PANGA is the best place to go. It is better to book in advance instead of just walking in, because this place is normally pretty busy. Their happy customers keep on coming back for their A5 Wagyu beef – the type that melts in your mouth! Besides that, the meat comes with all kinds of side dishes, soups, and a rice set. There are even a la carte options which come with authentic Korean dishes. This place also has English-speaking staff, so it’s recommended for tourists too.

Ayam-Ya Okachimachi (Tokyo)

One should not leave Japan without trying some delicious ramen first, and Ayam-Ya Okachimachi is the best option for strictly halal-eaters. Most ramen places will use pork and other pig parts for their broth, so it’s definitely not safe for Muslims and vegetarians. Ayam-Ya’s broth, however, is made with chicken, and it still has that rich, creamy consistency. Also, “Ayam” is the Malay/Indonesian word for “chicken”, so this place has probably attracted a lot of Malay-speaking customers. Ayam-ya’s specialty is their spicy chicken ramen, which has undoubtedly won the hearts of those who are all about the ‘spice life’.

Chibo Diversity (Osaka)

When people think of Osaka food, takoyaki and okonomiyaki are always the first ones to come to their minds. The Chibo franchise is also popular for their famous okonomiyaki, and there is finally a halal-certified outlet now! It is not only pork-free, but alcohol-free as well. They even made sure to use brand-new iron griddles too, in order to make sure that the freshly made okonomiyaki never has to come in contact with pork residue or any other haram ingredient out there. This Muslim-friendly Chibo chain also comes with prayer facilities and a specified area for ablution.

Matsuri (Osaka)

Matsuri is known or making all of their ingredients from scratch. They do not use any frozen or pre-chilled foods, so you can expect to have authentic and fresh Japanese food every time. This place is known for their halal takoyaki, and they even let you make your own too if you’re willing to try. Not only that, but there is also a small condiment store right outside which sells halal ingredients.

Sama-Sama Indonesian Restaurant (Kyoto)

If you want to try something halal that is not Japanese and not Indian, then Indonesian/Malay food is your next option. Sama-Sama is one of the best halal restaurants in Kyoto, and even though all their food is halal, they still have a bar with alcoholic drinks just in case your non-Muslim friends tag along and they feel like they might need an alcoholic beverage. Some of the recommended menu items are rendang, ayam penyet, and satay. Of course, they do have nasi goreng, but there are so many other interesting Indonesian dishes to try at this restaurant. This place has great ambience because of the lighting and an overall cozy interior. There are also English and Indonesian speaking staff, so it’s a good hangout spot for when you want to invite your more ‘international’ friends.

And that’s it! I hope you enjoyed this article, and happy eating!

Photo Credits:

Top Image: Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Top Image: Irasutoya

Previously used photo: ” Hanko ” by Angie from Sawara, Chiba-ken, Japan, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license (cc-by-2.0). No changes or alterations were made. Wikimedia Commons Link

Much of Japanese culture is world-famous. Japanese food, music, film, animation and other forms can be found in almost every country across the world. But there are still many different parts of the culture that remain less-known. And today I will introduce you to one of these: Stamps!

The Japanese have a long and loving history with stamps and collecting. For example, there is the famous hanko, or inkan. This is the Japanese variation of a family seal, and it is still very common in the current Japanese business world. It takes the form of a small stamp and is important for various official documents.

Also, the Japanese have a long tradition of collecting Goshuin. This is stamp or seal that is unique to Shinto shrines. Shinto is the original religion of Japan and obviously has a long history dating back to ancient times. The Goshuin are collected from each shrine and stored in a small book.

Today, the Japanese fascination with stamps continues and can be seem in various other forms. One great example is in the station stamps.. Each station has its own stamp that can be collected inside the station itself.

An example of station stamps. These are the redesigns that JR released in 2020. Source: https://allabout-japan.com/en/article/9352/

Many people make an activity out of trying to collect all the stamps on various train lines, or in various areas. It makes for a fun day riding trains and visiting different stations and areas around stations.

There are even various seasonal and thematic stamps that often occur. For example, there was recently a Star Wars Stamp Rally organized by JR and the Tokyo Metro. During this event, there were special themed stamps available for only a limited time. Popular homegrown franchises such as Pokémon and Gundam also have station stamp rallies on a regular basis. Oftentimes there is a prize for collecting a certain number (or all) of the various stamps.

However, the stamp rallies don’t just stop there! There are even rallies based on
traditional Japanese castles and onsen (traditional hot springs), as well as things such as trains themselves! Many books and brochures based around these can be found in various book stores. Some of these books even offer discounts for entry into the locations. A good rule of thumb for stamps in Japan: If it exists, then there is a stamp for it!

These stamp rallies can be found literally all over Japan, from very rural areas to in the middle of bustling Tokyo. They make for a great excursion and an excuse to get out and about. And if you’re planning on staying in Japan long-term, getting a personal stamp for business or any document-signing is an absolute must.

Why not try getting during your next visit – or even ‘competing’ in one of the many rallies!

Photo Credits:

Top Image: Irasutoya