campfire
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You, Me, And a Tanuki is a weekly featured blog run by Michelle, a Californian who is currently one of only two foreigners living in Chibu, a tiny fishing village on one of the Oki islands in Japan. Check back every weekend for a new post or read more on her website here!
When I went on a camping trip last summer with the junior high students that I regularly teach, there were many things that surprised me. For example, we lit fireworks (sometimes firing them at each other), took a night walk to a creepy overgrown shrine, and stabbed snails at the bottom of the sea.
But the thing that caught my interest the most was the way they cooked rice while camping.
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McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Who makes Japan’s best Spam-style onigiri convenience store rice ball? Let’s find out【Taste test】
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
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No coins? Not a problem for Japan’s new cashless gachapon capsule toy vending machines
Weekly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo- More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】- All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Monthly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Yearly
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
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Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Who makes Japan’s best Spam-style onigiri convenience store rice ball? Let’s find out【Taste test】
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
10 awesome ice creams available from convenience stores in Japan
No coins? Not a problem for Japan’s new cashless gachapon capsule toy vending machines
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
We investigate the newly released film revival of Hayao Miyazaki’s Sherlock Hound
Does Japan’s “body fat-burning” bottled tea really work? Our 30-day investigation 【RocketScience】
Pokémon Colors interactive digital art exhibit returns this summer, makes first stop in Yokohama
These are the 11 most crowded trains in Japan…and surprise! They’re all in the Tokyo area
Men Who Disappoint at Goukon (Group Blind Date), Nine Types That Shouldn’t Even Bother Showing up!
Nozomi Shinkansen bullet train abolishes low-priced unreserved tickets during peak travel seasons
Korean Pokémon baked goods are so popular you can’t find them anywhere, but why?
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