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  • 2009
  • 2008
    • December
      • Shameless Commercialism, 2009 Edition
        12/31/08


        Another year, another calendar. Check it out at Cafepress: thirteen of our photos from around Kitakami, Iwate, and other nearby places in Tohoku! Just click the calendar to take a closer look.

      • Safety Driver
        12/28/08
        Late at night, especially on weekends, there's a common sight on the streets of Kitakami: pairs of cars, one with a taxi-style light on the roof. But if you look closely, the printing on the taxi light doesn't say "taxi". It says "daikou".

        Daikou is a service

      • Pie Are Square
        12/23/08
        A couple of weeks ago, we visited the local model shop. Usually when we drop by, the owner's wife sets out tea and coffee and we visit for a bit after Matthew's done his shopping. This time, she showed me a holiday edition of a Japanese cooking magazine, which got us to talking about app

      • Holiday Finery
        12/15/08


        The trees in front of the Kitakami city office, all dressed up for Christmas. The name of the decoration scheme is "Ribbon Showers."

      • You Know You're In a Big City When. . .
        12/13/08
        . . . there's at least one giant TV mounted on a building downtown.



        This is Morioka's giant TV. Kitakami, alas, isn't big enough for one.

      • Old Non-Habits Die Hard
        12/12/08
        The genkan, or entryway, serves an important purpose in Japanese buildings. It is much more of a transition zone between inside and outside than in most American homes. When we enter someone's home or an office building, we remove our shoes and coats in the genkan before we enter; similarly,

      • Serving Suggestion?
        12/09/08
        Although we've been here about a year and a half, Japanese packaged foods continue to surprise us. Last night, we made a bowl of ramen that we'd received at a community event a few weeks ago (community events in Japan always involve giveaways of household items). The picture on the packa

      • Going Dark
        12/01/08
        Just a quick note to let our readers know we won't be updating much for the next week or so; we should be back in full swing by mid-December, though!

      • Studying the Karaoke Way
        12/01/08
        That Japanese people love karaoke is a stereotype, but it's a well-grounded one. Allowing that there are some who dislike karaoke, the vast majority of our friends enjoy it. Any group of people out having a good time is likely to end up in a karaoke bar or "box" (where you can rent a

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