JETFuel Spring/Summer 2020

S p r i n g / S u m m e r I s s u e /

J e t F u e l 2 0 2 0

Fuel the ALT life

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photo by Megan Luedtke

Editors' Hello Readers, Messages

Though it's been difficult to find the words to describe the current state of the world, it's important to find pockets of positivity wherever you can. During times such as these I urge the importance of self-care and ensuring that you are keeping up good habits. searching for small ways to improve, instead of focusing energy on things that we Can't control, can work wonders. in spite of current events or what else you might be reading, we at JETFUEL hope that you can enjoy this issue's submissions.

In the words of uncle Iroh, "Sometimes life is like a dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end, but if you keep moving , you will come to a better place."

Please enjoy this season's issue of JEtFuel!

Leah Burkett, Co-Editor

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Dear Readers, It's hard to believe how much the world has changed since the last time I wrote here. However, there are still things that have and will remain constant. The sakura bloomed in the spring, the temperature is rising in the summer, and soon the cicadas will start to chirp. Those and other constants have been a comfort to me in these turbulent times, and I hope that they have been for you as well.

This issue has taken on a special meaning for me as it is now one more thing that is continuing on in spite of all. People are still writing, painting, taking photographs, and doing other things that they love. They are also still willing to share those things with us here through JETFuel, and it's been a joy to be a part of that.

Thank you once again to all of our contributors. As always, this wouldn't be possible without you. Everyone, take care and be well!

Nikkole Martin, Co-Editor

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Photo by Nikkole Martin

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Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske

ALT ALUMNI

Table of Contents

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3 EDITORS' MESSAGES

TRAVEL 10 Photo Series: Quarter Trips

A YUKATA TUTORIAL

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102

THE IMPOSSIBLE ROAD TRIP

16 Winter Travel Diaries: Okinawa & Taiwan 22 Christmas in Tokyo 24 The Impossible Road Trip: Tohoku Tour

COMMUNITY 49 ALT Leavers' Interviews 57 ALT Alumni: Where Are They Now? 66 Fukui Hidden Talents 71 Halloween Make-up Tutorial

LIFESTYLE 74 Personal Motivation 76 Growing Guidebook 81 Bookmarked 88 Music Reviews 92 F-ART

HIDDEN TALENTS

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GROWING GUIDEBOOK

CULTURE 101 Kagiko Life: School Festival 102 A Yukata Tutorial 109 Ramen Quest 112

Sizzling Summer Cooking

118 Japanese Riddles 119 Crossword 121 CREDITS JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 07

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Photo by Megan Luedtke

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25 CENT TRIP THE

ART

OF

UNSCHEDULED

ME GAN

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L UE DT KE

WANDERING

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REAL TRAVEL REQUIRES A MAXIMUM OF UNSCHEDULED WANDERING, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OF DISCOVERING SURPRISES AND MARVELS. ALAN WATTS

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T R A V E L has always been my biggest

passion in life. The thrill of taking in all the various sights and sounds of places different from my own, be they big or small differences, is something I've never been able to get over. I love looking at the city lights at night or visiting tourist hubs to see what sight draws so many visitors, from so many places, to that one specific spot on the globe, out of all the places there are to see in the world. I love to people watch in places full of crowds and learn about their history by visiting local landmarks. But as much as I enjoy all that, my favorite form of travel has always been something that is, gentler, softer, quieter, than adrenaline inducing adventure.

Something that is less of a "to do" or "to see" list, and more of a "to find" list. And my favorite way to do that is by bringing along one of my most trusty companions. A quarter.

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Rewind seven or eight years, back to some time during my high school days. I stumbled into an article titled Fun and Inexpensive Date Ideas for You and Your Partner.

Or, something like that. I don't remember the exact title, nor what magazine I found it in, or why I was even reading it in the first place. I rarely read magazines, and even more rarely did I read articles about dating or dating advice. I don't even remember hardly any of the article itself, except for one small paragraph, one date idea called "The Penny Date."

The concept was simple, to get started you asked your partner to pick an number between 1 and 20. Once they choose a number, you could start walking or driving in any direction you pleased. Then, you would flip a penny and see which side it landed on. If the coin 14

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landed heads up, you turned left, and if it landed tails up, you turned right. You would repeat this process again and again until you reached the number your partner gave you. Once you reached that magical number, you would stop, and explore the area you landed in. I was immediately intrigued by the idea. I thought it was a fun and creative way to spend time with your loved one. Though at the time I wasn't dating anyone, and I never really stopped to consider how it would have been something just as fun to do with my friends. So, the concept got set aside. Filed away somewhere in the back of my brain, where it would remain for many years, forgotten over the passage of time. Until a couple years later, during my first trip to Japan, when I lived in Kansai as a study abroad student.

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During my study abroad days, most of my traveling was done with the friends I'd made in my classes and at the dorms, but I also did a fair share of solo traveling. And it was on one of these solo excursions that I remembered the penny date concept I had read about years prior and decided to repurpose it for my own.

The idea came back to me rather suddenly, without preamble, while I was on the train headed to Kyoto for a day trip on my own. I quickly decided to change my plans and I pulled out my phone and wallet, pulling up a random number generator and digging around for a penny (though I decided to ditch the idea of a penny and replace it with a quarter). I had my phone spit out a random number that would determine how many more stops I would go before I got off the train, and another to determine how far I would go once I got off the train. After about 20 or so minutes, I reached my new destination, ready to explore the area. At first glance, there was nothing noteworthy around to see, and by tourist standards there wasn't anything there at all. No trail of torii gates to walk through or golden temples to explore, just a small suburban town, laying out the outskirts of the city. And despite all the signs that it should be a rather forgettable town (in the grand scheme of things), it was one of the most memorable trips I took throughout my stay in Japan.

After getting off the train I used my quarter to guide me though the town, weaving me this way and that though the streets. Eventually, I ended up near a bus stop, so I boarded the next bus and pulled up my number generator once more, rolling a number to determine how many stops I would go. I got off the bus about 10 minutes later, and determined this would be the spot that I now had free reign to explore. Generally speaking, there wasn't much around. One convenience store, some homes, a few rice fields, and a lot of road. But after a little bit of poking around I discovered a trail that seamed to go up into a nearby mountain. The trail was pretty, a nice walk though a small bamboo grove. I followed the path for about 40 minutes before I reached the top of the small mountain, where I discovered a unique looking abandoned shrine.

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The torii gates at the shrine were unlike any I had seen anywhere else, made of carved stone and almost Greek like in their appearance. I poked around for a little while but I wasn't really able to learn much about it other than the fact that it was clearly once a shrine used to worship the Inari. After a little post visit research I learned it was called Oiwa Shrine, though little is still known about it.

Once my curiosity was appeased enough, I went back down the mountain and continued my adventuring around town. I was quickly noticed by a kind elderly man who wanted to know everything about me and why I was wandering around their town instead of cruising the tourist attractions in the city just 20 minutes north. After trying my best to explain how I ended up there, he decided to tell me a little history about the town, which he had grown up in. To be honest, a lot of it went over my head due to my sub-par language skills, but it was still fun to watch him animatedly talk about the town. Eventually we said our good byes and I started to work my way back to the station and headed home.

There had been nothing particularly grand about the town. Yet, I was unmistakably drawn to the experience I had there. There was something fascinating about letting chance determine what you would be exploring that day. A thrill of discovering something you might have otherwise totally overlooked. Since that trip, I have used this method to explore all sorts of areas. I've found shrines hidden within forests and ended up joining (albeit accidentally) a flower arranging class full of oba-san's. I've discovered temples covered in bells that chimed in the wind and hidden waterfalls. Nine times out of ten, the places I end up in are nothing grand. They're small, off the beaten path, and quiet. But it's in these places that I have found some of the most intrequing and authentic sides of Japan.

Plus, it's a pretty cheap trip. It only costs 25 cents.

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QUARTER | FLIP | TRIP photo-bleu

meg.lue

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Winter Travel Diaries

By Amy Rowling

Okinawa & Taiwan

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This past winter I completed my first ever ~solo travel~ in Okinawa and Taiwan. Both locations were incredible and provided me with very different, enriching experiences.

If you want to travel during school vacation, these are both convenient locations and fairly easy to visit in one trip. In addition, they are very safe if you are traveling by yourself. I will break down my itinerary if you are interested in doing a similar trip in the future, once the corona madness has subsided. Safe travels!

Day 1

Naha, Okinawa

I flew from Osaka to Naha fairly smoothly. After checking into my hostel I took the bus to Sunset Beach just in time for sunset. This beach is located at Mihama American Village, so I was able to indulge in some American food that I dearly missed.

Hostel Recommendation Greenwood Hostel 3 Chome-6-40 Uemachi, Izumisano, Osaka 598-0007 About 15 minutes from KIX.

Day 2

Umikaji Terrace

I hopped on the bus to Umikaji Terrace, a cute village with shops and lunch spots. I ate tacos while swinging in a hammock, and afterwards, I walked along the beach.

I rode back to Naha for a Beach Yoga session that I signed up with via AirBnb. If you love yoga & beaches as much as I do, I highly recommend this experience (especially at sunset).

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Day 3

Okinawa World

This was SO much fun. Okinawa World is a place to experience traditional Okinawan crafts, nature, food, art, music & more. There is an underwater cave, a fruit farm, and shops, so you get to know many parts of Okinawa culture in one place. Next door, there is Gangala Valley, where you can tour some beautiful nature.

Day 4

Mibaru Beach

I explored a secluded little beach called Mibaru Beach. It was so nice having it all to myself, and there was a delicious Nepalese restaurant, too!

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Day 5

Scuba Diving

While this was definitely a splurge, my trip would have not been the same without it. I booked a trip to the Kerama Islands, where my tour group spent the day scuba diving and snorkeling in the big, open water! The ocean was crystal clear and the marine life was absolutely mesmerizing. I cannot recommend this enough.

Day 6

Naha City

I spent my final day exploring Naha City.

I walked through the markets, bought some omiyage, and admired the shrines.

From there, I caught a bus to the airport.

Off to Taiwan!

Hostel Recommendation My Place 1F JEIS Building, 3-1-8, Tomari, Naha City (¥2500/night)

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Day 7

Taipei

I spent my first day exploring Taipei. Despite the heavy rain, the sites were breathtaking. I checked out Liberty Square, as well as Huashan 1914 Creative Park, which was filled with trendy pop-up shops and art exhibits.

And naturally, I pretty much drank my weight in bubble tea.

Hostel Recommendation Formosa 101 ~ 110, Taiwan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Section 2, Keelung Rd, 115 5

號 樓 (¥3000/night)

Day 8

Free walking tour + Fireworks In Taipei, there is an array of Free Walking Tours you can choose from.

Being a history nerd, I opted for the history tour, which brought me to many new sites, and I was able to meet some great people. That evening, I watched the New Years Fireworks at the Taipei 101 building. They were short, but it was an unforgettable experience.

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Day 9

Taichung

The next morning, I hopped on the train to the city of Taichung, which took about 2.5 hours. Taichung is the birthplace of bubble tea, so I recommend hitting up Chun Shui Tang, the restaurant where the drink originated! After, I went to Rainbow Village, which had a beautiful display of street art. It was painted by a now 97-year-old man named Mr. Huang (or “Grandpa”) in an attempt to save his village from destruction. His story is beautiful & you can learn all about it there, and maybe meet Mr. Huang himself!

Day 10

Wondering

Day 11

I spent this day wandering the city to see what I’d come across. I ended up at the Museum of Fine Arts, and the most delicious lunch restaurant called Hoyo Cafe. Then, I went to an amazing gourmet ice cream shop called Miyahara Ice Cream.

Home

Back to good old Fukui. Thanks for following my journey!

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Christmas in

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Photographs by Karim Mohanna

I went to Tokyo to spend Christmas for the second year in a row. Once arriving in Tokyo, I was instantly reminded of why I decided to return. The city lights of Tokyo mixed with the glow of the upcoming holiday is certainly a special sight to behold. If you're going to spend your holiday season in Tokyo, then I recommend following this guide to Christmas in Tokyo.

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"The blue lights hanging in the trees and the collection of bells ringing through the streets brought me back to Christmas past."

THE FOOD A lot of Japanese restaurants serve special meals around this time of year but none so famous as Kentucky Fried Chicken. I'm not sure as to why KFC has become such a staple in Japan around Christmas time but who am I to question it; KFC's chicken really is "finger-licking good!" You don't have to be in Tokyo to enjoy this strange Japanese holiday tradition but it certainly is easy to find a KFC establishment within walking distance in the city. I also paid a visit to my favorite café, Café de Ginza. It's a slightly expensive coffee chain around Tokyo renowned for being the classiest in all of Ginza.

However, they are most famous for their chestnut Mont Blanc cream cake of which over 200,000 are sold each year!

THE LIGHTS

On Christmas day, I treated myself to the beautiful Tokyo Illuminations at Shibuya. I've seen a number of illuminations during my time in Japan but the lights in Tokyo felt extra special. With the blue lights hanging in the trees and the collection of bells ringing through the streets, it brought me right back to memories of Christmas back home. Along the street you were allowed to choose one large bell to ring at random. I rang the bell of wisdom so moving forward into the next year I hope to be blessed with wisdom.

THE SHOPPING Lastly, I went shopping. Christmas is the season for shopping regardless of where you are in the world it seems.

My favorite store in Akihabara is Yodobashi Akiba. There I bought the latest Nintendo release the Switch Lite, which was the hottest video game item this winter.

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THE IMPOSSIBLE

Roadtrip

BY LEA H BURKETT & KALI MICHELL E

TOHOKU TOUR

six days - six prefectures & over 3,000 km travelled Embark on an adventure through the least ventured region of Japan, Tohoku. we spent a week driving across the beautiful and expansive wilds of the Tohoku region in Northern Japan. We visited all 6 prefectures of the region starting and ending in Aomori.

For some people, this road trip may seem impossible . But we not only managed to stop and enjoy over twenty-five different sights, we also found ourselves with extra time to make some interesting detours.

How did we do it? and on only a budget of less than a ¥100,000 no less? ! I would like to believe our secret lies in being great travel companions, our love for long winding country roads, and the ability to fall asleep anywhere.

Join us as we retell our perilous journey through the far reaches of the great northern Inaka of Japan.

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tohoku Akita

Aomori

Iwate

Yamagata Miyagi

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Tohoku

O

ur journey began in the summer of 2019. And just like any great journey it sprouted from a simple idea, which then grew into an epic tale of adventure, talking animals, and unlikely alliances.

In the fateful events leading up to our intrepid expedition through Tohoku. I had heard whispers of a mysterious legend whose origins lied within the deep northern territory of Japan. A legend about a revered prophet who went by the name of Jesus Christ.

From the first mention of this legend I was intrigued. How had Jesus found his way to the far reaches of Japan? And why does this small town in Aomori Prefecture believe that they are the final resting place of Jesus Christ?

Thus, the seeds had been planted and plans were laid out. I could no longer ignore the call of adventure. I would uncover the myth behind the legend at any cost and explore the Great Northern Inaka along with it.

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DAY 1 Shingu Village; Christ of the Tomb I recruited a friend, Kali, to help in my quest to uncover the truth. Together we laid out our course, packed out bags, and set off. The answers we sought led us far from our humble homes as we flew to the northern most prefecture. Once engulfed in the deepest region of the north, Aomori Prefecture.

The air around us filled with an ambrosial scent, and the water ran sweet like freshly squeezed apples. With the rolling, lush green hills of Aomori sprawled out before us, we rented a white plate car and began our drive through the wilds.

We headed towards our first stop on our journey- the inspiration behind it all- the Tomb of Christ in Shingu

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Village. Though the trek alone did not take up too much time, finding the root that lead us to the Promised Land, had felt like a pilgrimage in itself. If Kali and I had fostered any comprehensive expectations of what we'd find here, they would have jarred us in the wake of what we actually witnessed. I can recall only a few instances in which I have exhausted my limits to the point of no return and afterwards claimed that I had seen the face of God himself. And in this respect I may report that while I did come face to face with the Tomb of Christ, the payoff was among the most underwhelming.

On the flat top of a steep hill in a distant corner of Japan, we unearthed the truth. The legend proved to have been more enticing then the fabled Tomb of Christ. Laid out before us were simply two identical dirt mounds pierced with white, wooden crosses at its middle. I can't say which dirt mound concealed the final resting of Japanese Jesus and which hid his brother's ear and lock of his mother's hair.

Despite the simplicity of the sight, the legend itself is still worth the visit. Japanese Jesus was believed to have cheated the executioners by trading places with his unsung Japanese brother (but not before cutting off his brother's left ear as a souvenir), and fled to Japan to escape persecution. He then became a garlic farmer, fell in love with a Japanese women, fathered three children, and died at the ripe old age of 106.

unmarked roads, and low speed limits. Upon our arrival, the observatory was completely devoid of human life. Though the Sanriku Park in Iwate Prefecture boasts of wonderful, noteworthy views of the rugged coastline-all the shops were closed and the nature around us had gone silent. Given our late arrival to the park, we missed any opportunities to enjoy a scenic boat tour of the vicinity but we reveled in having the place to ourselves.

An ethereal mist then descended upon us, alluding to Jurassic terrors. Though once crossing onto the trail-head towards the cliff side, it relinquished little more than a few mischievous spiders. Spending the next thirty minutes repelling the pests with our forearms we barely registered the beautiful rock formations that jutted out across the violently raging sea before us; the sun shone through the stone arches casting auspicious shadows. Watching the crashing waves, we felt at peace in the isolated beauty of the cliffs at sea-level. Transfixed though we were from the first instant, our next thought was of the waning daylight we had left to spend at the observatory as the sun began to slip below the horizon and with it out first day of adventure.

Kitayamazaki Observatory The disappointment and hilarity of our quest for Japanese Jesus only fueled our desire to push onward towards our next stop, Kitayamazaki Observatory. Due to its remote location, our way there may have only been a short drive but it was full of narrow pathways,

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DAY 2 Ryusendo Cave The daylight finally broke over the peak of the distant mountains abruptly blinding us awake through the car windows. We had set up our camp the previous night just across the way from the legendary Ryusendo Cave, located along the northern border of Iwate Prefecture. The magical blue waters therein have brought hordes of travelers to its entrance to explore its depths and try a taste. We paid an admission fee of ¥1000 and ventured forth. In the early hours of the morning, we were the first visitors of many for the day.

Our isolation felt amplified by the bellowing roars of the waters crashing underneath the bridge laid out before the cave.

Watching on either side of the bridge perched twin stone

dragons. Both displayed broad, knurly snouts that portended to an ominous presence that lied within.

Crossing the bridge, we stood before the mouth of the cave, desolate, and soon to be swallowed by its encapsulating darkness.

At once, I was smacked by sensory contradictions: an air that while damp was crisp to breathe; pursued by an unrelenting chill that haunted my heels but spurred me onward. Only the sounds of our footsteps and the distant dripping of water broke the silence that seemed to swell around us. As we progressed through each cavity of the cave, we were awed by the brilliant blue springs that flowed throughout. Once deep within the cave, we were surprised to find massive reservoirs of water gushing out from the depths forming profound iridescent lakes. Basking in the beautiful sight, we were tempted to taste the mythical waters of legend.

The legends of long ago tell of a dragon-snake-like creature, named Ryuu, that once lived within the mountain side.

Then one day, the dragon-snake split apart the earth, revealing the cave's entrance to the local villagers. The villagers were shocked to discover not only bright blue springs flowing inside but also that the water was cool and clean. Thus, the villagers declared this place as sacred, naming it after the dragon that had lived here. To this day, locals still drink from its springs. Situated just outside the cave's entrance sits an old water pump. Kali and I each refreshed ourselves with deep drinks before bottling up more of the magical water for the journey ahead.

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Jodogahama Beach After an hour's drive from Ryusendo Cave, we stood looking out upon the expansive Pacific. Twin bands of golden beach nestled into a craggy bay bound the cedars at both edges of the cove. Several giant rock formations protruded from the water to form the spine of the peninsula before us, while images of fierce deities were portrayed in their crevices. We had heard of a seaside cave speckled with metallic ore and vibrant starfish. Our desire to partake in the spelunking of the cave were dashed when we realized that the cave was little more than an indentation in the rock. But discouragement had no hold on us; we chartered a ferry to take us to the seaside caves to content our curiosity.

No sooner when the dock behind us became a speck on the horizon, that we were engulfed in the cacophony of seagulls squawking for any spare morsels. We braved our way through the flutter of wings and continued to sail forth. While sheltering our faces from this barrage we nearly missed our ship approaching the sea cave's entrance. Although it was not as cavernous as we had imagined, it did not lack beauty or wonder. The light reflecting off the water lit up the stone walls with iridescent colors that shifted from blues and purples to greens and yellows. Moving deeper into the caverns we were welcomed with the most exotic looking starfish abundantly dotting the waterline. Their unique orange and bright purple color stood out against the obsidian stone adding to the cave's mystery.

Just as soon as we had arrived we were being pulled back out to sea, once again being swarmed by the ravenous gulls. We could hardly make out the distant port when our boat abruptly came to a halt, nearly throwing us overboard.

Our captain informed us that the ship had become entangled in something hidden below the surface. After over 10 minutes of sitting like ducks with the waves slapping against our boat and the gulls screeching in our ears, we were finally released from the vices of kelp.

As if on cue, stepping back onto the waterlogged planks of the port, are stomachs grumbled with hunger. We asked fishermen near the docks what local cuisine they would recommend, with all of them agreeing we must try... bin don?

Intrigued but unsure of the fishermen's advice we headed to town in search of "bin don".

In town we learned that bin don was the locals' new take on rice bowls. Instead of a typical sashimi bowl, we were served steaming rice and two glass jars layered with a variety of seafood toppings. The flavors of tuna and seaweed, squid and roe and salty miso made for the perfect lunch to complement our seafaring afternoon.

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Miracle Pine Passing through the now small town of Rikuzentakata, we were surrounded by obvious signs of destruction... broken buildings, barren tracks of land and a very conspicuous lack of houses. With every step further into the town we were haunted by the memory of what once was. Deep within the tomes of our New Horizon textbooks, we had taught about this memorable but sad place. However, as we began to take a closer look at the rubble, we were happy to see growth and renewal. Though the town was laden with scares, we could feel a strong sense of hope lingering in the air.

We stopped at a quaint little shop to help contribute to the local economy. When Kali inquired about purchasing some rice, the aged shopkeeper replied, "It's a bit salty," with a sheepish grin.

The elderly shopkeeper went on to tell us her experience of the 2011 disaster.

Almost a decade earlier, the town was bustling with well over 100,000 residents and blessed with 70,000 pine trees towering over the coast. However, when disaster struck the trains abruptly stopped, the earth began to violently shake, and structures were collapsing left and right. The Earth had opened up beneath them swallowing whole communities.

The women recalled that just as soon as the shaking began, the world stilled and went deathly silent. In the silence, nothing moved. A mixture of fear and anticipation hung over the town and the coastline began to shrink. Everyone knew what was coming, but they had almost no time to prepare.

After only 12 minutes the roaring waves came crashing.

Goliathan waves; waves that broke heights of almost 40 meters. It hungrily consumed everything in its path- sparing nothing. When the the old women finally emerged from sanctuary with her family, there was nothing left but one pine tree looming over the flattened earth. The elderly women weeped at the state of her town and at the sight of the one tree still standing. This lone pine became a beacon of hope and life amidst the devastation.

Unfortunately, the salt from the sea soon took its toll on the pine and within a year it too met its end. Not to be deterred by more tragedy, the remaining people of the region built a replica to match this icon of hope, which has henceforth been known as "The Miracle Pine".

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THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT ONE PINE TREE LOOMING OVER THE TOWN.

-Shopkeeper Kali and I decided that we should see the Miracle Pine for ourselves and pay our respects. The path to the pine was a solemn and quiet one. In the presence of the tree we became weighted with grief. The only sound was the wind rustling through its plastic leaves as we ourselves lacked the strength to speak. We were quickly reminded of how fragile life was and how quickly the world could change around us. Looking up into its branches we were reminded of the resilience of the people and that, with a little hope, disasters can be overcome.

The return journey back to our car was much more light-hearted and filled us with a new perspective.

Rather than seeing only the damage, we saw how the rice fields were full and green, gardens were thriving, and how humorous the locals remained. We departed Rikuzentakata not with despair, but with a feeling of accomplishment and hope. As of September 2019, there is a museum commemorating the Great East Japan disaster.

After traveling over 400km, we rounded off the day in Sendai City, we opted to appease our grumbling bellies with the local delicacy of Miyagi Prefecture- juicy, tender cow tongue. The succulent meat melted like butter in our mouths satisfying our appetites.

With exhausted bodies but sated stomachs, we found a dark rest stop to park our car and drifted off to sleep.

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DAY 3 Zao Fox Village Just as the sun was rising in the morning are excitement of the days adventure was rose with it. We could barely sleep a wink the night before in anticipation for visiting the well known Zao Fox Village. Tucked away in the quiet forest, is a slightly rundown village of talking animals. Anyone who wonders within a reasonable distance from the village can easily find it due to the chittering and chattering of foxes echoing throughout the woods. Though the nearby villagers may not be as happy to have such noisy neighbors, Kali and I were dancing with delight at the growing noise.

Upon pulling up to the village, we were initially confused if we had arrived at the correct destination. Greeting us just outside the gates was an unthematic gorilla statue. The only inclination that verified we indeed landed in the right place was the sound of talking animals just ahead. We forked over the ¥2500 admittance fee and entered the kitsune's domain.

Once inside the village, the canopy of trees created a damp, chilling atmosphere of mystery around us. With a heavy fog hanging over the carefully concealed burrows, foxes appeared to materialize from the the mist itself. With quick feet and curious minds only glimpses of orange coats could be seen along the outskirts. Crossing the threshold into the village center, a clearing in the trees above uncovered a heavenly glow upon the town's square. All at once, hundreds of lively

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foxes revealed themselves. I was surprised to discover the variety of colors in which they came in; ranging from the familiar oranges and reds to blacks and silver, to even platinum!

Foxes are notorious in mythology for being tricksters. And they certainly hold true to their reputation upon first meeting. At every corner of the establishment they'll try to swindle you for a shiny coin, pick your pockets, and make off with your food.

Do not allow yourself to be so easily deceived by their cotton tails and puppy-dog pouts. With hundreds of red, white, and black critters nipping at your toes, its important to remain vigilant. Openly displaying any sign of weakness or wearing shiny objects will warrant an uncomfortable amount of following eyes., Though they are tricky creatures by nature, once you have broken bread with them (quite literally) by leaving offerings at their local fox shrine they will reveal their true form. They are secretly lap dogs just wanting a quality cuddle.

Now becoming more comfortable among the town's residents, we each cradled a young pup in our arms for 15 glorious minutes. Though my pup probably wouldn't describe those minutes as glorious since our session ended with a damp lap.

Despite leaving the village reeking of fox piss, I couldn't help but foster a smile.

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Ouchi-Juku Hidden away in a valley between two mountainsides in Fukushima Prefecture, rests the once bustling trading town of Ouchi-Juku. At a glance the street doesn't seem like much.

The remaining shops are nestled tightly together on either side contrasting the largely empty main street. Most shops seem to be selling similar trinkets and snacks. However, walking along the road taking in all its sights and smells I was easily transported back to the Edo period. The street came alive with chaotic energy of customers and merchants alike; the surrounding air smelled of fresh fish roasting on a spit accompanied by the clean mountain air. With the summer sun beating down on our backs, we moved from shelter to shelter in hope of shade pretending to admire the craftsmanship of the handmade curios.

Making it to the end of the street, we settled on old soba hut to rest our throbbing feet and fill our stomachs. The soba shop was well preserved, perfectly encapsulating a moment in time. The old man who owned the shop smiled enthusiastically as he guided us to our table. He was overjoyed to host two travelers from such a distant land. We were granted arguably the best seats in the house. We sat squarely in front of an open archway that looked out across the entire trading street. After only a few minutes of taking in the view before us, the man came running out with two full bowls of fresh soba. As we ate, the owner sat down next to us explaining how the soba is made and that his family has made it the same way for generations, spanning back to the Edo period. Neither Kali or I were disappointed by the refreshing taste of the soba. The slimy soba noodles and cold spiced broth felt euphoric on my lips after being slowly cooked by the sun all afternoon. Scarfing down our lunch, we sat enjoying the hustle and bustle of the street as we rested

our stuffed stomachs.

Finding the motivation to rise from our comfortable cushions on the floor, we made our way towards the local shrine just up the hill behind the restaurant. The aged shrine was beginning to become one with nature; the wood was blacked with age and wild flora sprouted from its thatched roof. From the peak of the hill just before the shrine, a panoramic view of the street was visible. Viewing the street from our perch, we watched crowds stroll along the road perusing the merchandise and devouring the local cuisine of skewered fish.

In that moment, it was easy to imagine what this trading street must have looked like during its prime.

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Waterfall After spending several hours on the road, my mind had started to wonder and reminisce about our perfect adventures thus far. Something, though, refocused my awareness and snapped me out of my daze. I heard a distant rumbling coming from the woods we were passing through. It sounded like thunder from a far away storm. Intrigued by the sound, we followed the growing roar. The birds danced above our heads, cicadas echoed around us, as we made our way up the footpath. Not long into our walk, we passed a shrine that looked as though it had faded from the memories of the world. The shrine was not for the people anymore, it was for the insects, animals, and nature that reclaimed it. Suddenly, from behind the shrine we were blinded by a bright light coming from above.

I quickly shielded my eyes with my arms until they began to adjust. When my eyes refocused I realized the light was the reflection from the waters of a huge waterfall! It stood over 60 meters high and ended with a crash into the rocks below.

We had arrived at the most perfect time of day... the water filtered the sun's rays so the water glowed golden and silver at the same time. How long we sat there, I couldn't say. I watched as the water fell over and over and over, just mesmerized by the energy, shapes and colors it created. Soon the sun slipped behind the falls, blanketing us in the murky blackness of the evening. The only thing to let us know of its presence was the thunderous bellows that had led us there. Such a magnificent waterfall had never graced us before and we were sure none ever would again.

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Bandai Swamps It was late in the evening; we had glanced up from dragging our feet to find an oppressive amount of signage hammered to the surrounding trees, warning us of dangerous wildlife, treacherous pathways, and boiling multi-colored lakes ahead. The peeling paint and rotting wood added to a sense of foreboding. Kali and I instinctively made eye contact, psyching each other up before following the trail further. We were imminently approaching the forsaken realm of Bandai Swap.

We tentatively crossed the threshold, the rotting wooden bridge eerily soft beneath our feet. With every step, it bent in strain under our combined weight to reveal the moisture of the ages embedded into the planks.

Although it was the height of summer, the usual drone of cicadas and chirping birds could not be heard. A silence hung over the swamp thick like fog.

Our original trepidation was soon replaced with enchantment once we came upon the first of the four lakes. It was the purest shade of turquoise. The mirrorlike surface glowed and I instantly likened it to a polished bead. The stillness of the lake created a scene most serene, juxtaposed against the gnarly trees and wild flora.

The next clearing was home to both the second and third lakes. These twin lakes were a deep red color. The lakes: hue shifted from burnt red to a dusty rose as the reeds moved in the wind. The bewitching sight of boiling bubbles rising to the surface was reminiscent of a witch's brew.

The fourth and final lake at a glance seemed to be a trick of the light. The lake was an impossibly bright emerald green. The shimmering substance before us could only be enhanced by the golden light at the end of the day, adding an ethereal feeling to the swamp. I am convinced that if there ever were a potion for eternal youth, its liquid would be of a similar color. Here is where Kali and I finally sat, properly taking in the scene.

A rustling in the woods hinted at something waking from its daytime slumber, jarringly pulling us back to reality. We realized that we had allowed the sun to slip too far below the trees. Now with the threat of the setting sun at our heels it became a race to make it out of the swamp, before whatever lived here found us first.

Our desperate sprint, however, hastened not our escape but our displacement and led us awry. We made it back to our car with mere seconds before the final rays of sun disappeared beyond mountainscape.

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"THE HEAVENS OPENED UP GIVING THE VALLEY A GODLIKE GLOW. "

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DAY 4 Risshakuji Temple We Shielded ourselves from the invasive rays from the sun to allow an extra hour of sleep before we started our day- we would need the extra rest. The morning was cool despite the growing warmth from the sun.

Seemly mocking us on the distant mountain top stood Risshakuji Temple. To reach the promised vistas from the mountain's summit, however, required tackling a series of staircases totaling 1,000 steps!

Coming to the foot of the first step of onethousand, we each breathed a long sigh in the face of the daunting task that was before us. Our minds were suddenly heavy at the thought of lugging our bodies up the mountain.

I had kept a cadence in my head as we ascended; Only hundred steps in and my lungs were already gasping. At threehundred steps, every lift of my leg had felt weighted. At five-hundred steps, I thought

to myself, "I've made it halfway". Tohoku felt abnormally warm this summer as waves of heat rolled through the forest.

The branches of the evergreens above provided us with little respite from the sun. At eight-hundred steps, we briefly stopped to catch our breaths under the guise of examining some of cravings etched into the mountainscape. At ninehundred steps, the sound of cicadas, that were so present just a few hundred meters below, had began to fade. Their buzz replaced by the loud beating in my chest as I continued climbing higher. At nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, a wave of euphoria washed over my soul, I'd almost done it. Finally I reached 1,000 steps. I'd done it... but wait.

It turned out to reach the temples apex you must climb a total of 1,015 steps!?

Standing on the top of world, I was met with bustling breathless tourists dripping in sweat from the significant climb instead. Certainly less than a beautiful view at first. I pushed past the equally exhausted climbers, Finally I saw the breathtaking view that had brought us to Yamagata prefecture. Clear across the

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open valley every house, building, and street were dwarfed by the summit. The heavens opened up exposing the valley to a golden light giving it a god-like glow. In the presence of such divinity, one has to wonder "is Japan's nature truly worth the hype?"

From the summit, we retraced our steps back down the mountain; the descent passing significantly faster than the initial climb. Reaching the bottom, we were ripe with accomplishment proven only by our clothes securely glued to our skin.

We were in desperate and over due need for a good long soak in a hot spring.

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Ginzan Onsen & Mines Beckoned by the call of secret treasure and misty hot springs,, we found ourselves hidden away deep within the mountainous countryside of Yamagata prefecture. There, an old town rich with history, silver ore, and naturally flowing warm water welcomed us. The town itself was less of a town and more of a collection of old homes and fancy bath houses with a wide river passing through its center. At a glance, Ginzan appears to be a retired town living in the shadow of its bustling past but don't be fooled by first judgements. The town is remarkably still thriving and bubbling with energy. Brought to life by the assortment of strangers chatting away, walking from bath house to bath house in yukatas, and leisurely drinking fresh cherry juice, this town will easily lure you with its rustic charm.

After conquering the 1000 step shrine, we were hot, sticky with sweat, and ready to relax - but we still had one more trek to take on before rewarding our efforts. Grudgingly, at first, we hiked to the outskirts of town towards the fabled mines of Ginzan. The passing hot springs taunting us, offering no respite from the unforgiving midday sun. The noises of the town slowly drifting away as we approached a fork in the road. Naturally, the path leading to the mine was carpeted with stairs, which made our (still) sore muscles scream. Despite the unappealing prospect of climbing more stairs, we resigned ourselves to our fate and continued upward with only the ring of cicadas cheering us on.

From the top of the stairs we could see the small onsen town behind us, calling out for us to turn back and rest our tired bodies. Almost giving up in reply, we caught a glimpse of the of the mine. The low hanging rock protruded like a natural lintel that framed the entrance. Posted outside were signs almost too faded to read which warned of danger within. Paying the posts no mind, we stepped inside the mine. The floor was slippery and smooth, the air cold and musty. Jagged markers were etched into the stone, showing the strong efforts to extract the silver it

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had entombed. Inside its depths, wooden walkways appeared before us, They creaked and swayed gently as we moved forward. It was eerily quiet until a piercing screech of bat broke the silence. Displeased by our invasion, we were quickly swarmed by bats, swooping down and pushing us out of the cave. We gladly exited the cave and made our way, practically running, back to town.

We bursted through the doors of the first bath house we spotted, only then believing we were safe. Once our fear motivated bodies calmed, we barely managed to drag ourselves to the natural sulfur spring. Though the air reeked of sulfur, it didn't stop us from swiftly stepping in and soaking our throbbing muscles,. The stinky spring water boiled away all reservations from the day.

We then spent the rest of the day hopping from onsen to onsen in our rented yukatas only stopping to soak our feet in the special outdoor foot-baths and drink Yamagata's famous cherry juice.

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DAY 5 Namahage Museum Our shared interest of Japanese folklore, monsters and mythical beasts led us to the Namahage Museum in Akita Prefecture. Far removed from civilization, isolated, on a small peninsula along the Sea of Japan, the Namahage Museum houses hordes of giant, fearsome demons.

Namahage, or northern Japanese demons, have appeared in Japanese folk tales for centuries.

Red-faced, angry visages can be seen to this day decorating t-shirts, stationery, and all manner of souvenir goods throughout Japan. While it's unclear of the exact origins of the Namahage, many theorize that these demons were actually foreigners who drifted ashore. As a result of the foreigners' strange customs the locals assumed them to be formidable demons.

Distracted from our debate about their birthplace, we found ourselves completely encircled by vicious, stomping devils enraged and ready to attack. Though they were mere statues, they felt viscerally real. Believing we were in the clear and wouldn't encounter any "real" monsters, we exited the main hall towards a small traditional Japanese home. Greeting us inside the home was a balding middle-aged man fitted with a dark blue yukata. He graciously bowed before directing us to sit on a worn patch of tatami mat in the center of the room. He warned us that he was expecting some unconventional guests. Only moments later did we hear aggressive stomping and thunderous growls just outside the hut. In the same instant, The middle-aged man quickly instructed that we keep quiet and tightly clutch our belongings.

With a booming crash, the hut shook and the front doors slammed to the floor. impending upon us were two massive Namahage dressed in grass skirts! One began racing through the home pounding on everything in

sight while the other loomed over us, loudly grumbling and stamping his profound feet at our cowering forms.

The man of the house pleaded with the demons to settle and offered them a feast in return for their cooperation.

The demons calmed and sat just before us while the man hastily presented each with a full dish of assorted meats and vegetables. Once sating their hunger, their attentions turned to the reasoning behind their visit. The Namahage were displeased with the behavior of the man's young children. They cautioned that if the children didn't become more diligent students, then they would curse the family with a bad harvest. Not wanting his family to starve, the man deeply bowed and promised to heed the demons' warnings.

Even after the demons departed, fear kept us glued to the floor. Only when our host came over to us and coached us to our feet did we finally stand and leave the little hut, but not before pocketing a strand of straw that had fallen from the demon's skirt. Apparently, possessing this straw would bring us good luck in the future.

In an effort to liven up our spirits and distract our minds from our recent encounter with Namahage, we elected to purchase some locally crafted sweets.

Turns out, just next door to the man's hut was a sweet shop stocked with an array of traditional treats! We each decided on sweetened mochi balls with a red-bean filling.

The sweet subtle taste proved to be the perfect distraction.

However, we unanimously agreed that it was time to move on towards our next destination. And hopefully it didn't involve any real-life beasts from legends.

"WITH A BOOMING CRASH, THE HUT SHOOK AND THE FRONT DOORS SLAMMED TO THE FLOOR. "

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Lake Tazawa After over 3 hours of driving, we stopped to take a rest along Lake Tazawa. It is the deepest lake in Japan with a recorded depth of 423 meters. However, what truly brings people to stare out onto its waters is the serene beauty that's breathed into the reflective water and surrounding nature.

At the western end of the lake there is a famous golden statue of a women named Tatsuko that has slowly become a local symbol over time. According to the legends, Tatsuko was an elegant and lovely woman who wished to retain her beauty forever. She ventured to the lake in hope that the lake deity would grant her wish. Instead, however, the deity cursed her and turned her into an unsightly beast. In despair, Tatsuko sank herself to the bottom of Lake Tazawa so no one would have to ever look upon her disgraceful form. Now, this statue stands at the water's edge as a memorial of her mistake, as well as a reminder of the dangers of greed.

Kali and I delighted in giving our legs a good stretch walking around the lake's rim. During our stroll we noticed the water was unusually rippled near the shore. Upon closer inspection, the ripples were revealed to be a school of fish chaotically swimming in the shallow end. Our shadows over the water drove the fish into a frenzy, believing that it meant the arrival of food. We taunted them by moving our hands over the water and watching them follow. Their flying and flopping out of the water captured our attentions for a short time before we eventually continued our trek.

In our return journey, we passed a delicate rose garden that hugged the coastline. Frolicking through the enchanting gardens we agreed to treat ourselves to rose-flavored ice cream. The strong floral scent mixing with the sweet candied rose flavor added to the delectable experience.

Just beyond the rose garden was a meager shrine. Though the shrine may have not looked like much upon first glance, its placement on the water's edge imitated the appearance of a floating shrine, dancing on the water's surface.

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Godzilla Rock On e of the best parts about adventures are discovering hidden gems and making impromptu stops.

While driving along the rocky coast of Akita, we passed through a few sleepy fishing villages. When passing through one village in particular, a sign caught our eye.

Though we could barely make out the font as it had faded with time, we were able to make out the words " ." (Godzilla Rock). As the words escaped our lips, the air seemed to chill and the hairs on the back of our necks stood up. We wandered through the old fishing village hoping for answers about the mysterious rock but any mention of it was met with silence. The only information we could find were old signs alluding to its location.

We followed twisted, salt-covered coastal road, zigging and zagging northwards. Soon, enough, we arrived at a large stony expanse that jut out far into the water. It was low tide when we arrived, so a thick, muddy sand was what we had to wade through to get to the rocks.

The suction of the sand grabbed at our shoes and slowing our pace. The further we went in, the larger the rocks around us became. The rocks soon became so big that we had to start looking for the elusive Godzilla Rock.

As we crested one of the larger rocks, suddenly and without warning, it appeared! We stood in the awe of the likeness of the rock. Our shock must have caught the attentions of a fisherman who was there, because he soon appeared in front of us and told us about the rock.

"This is not just any orck. It's a tomb. The movies are not fiction. Godzilla is real and the only way to control him after filming is to encase him in stone. The signs are not for visitors, but serve as a warning instead. Be gone from this place! He can sense the presence of strangers and if he wakes up there's nothing we can do to placate his rage."

Although it sounded far-fetched, we didn't stick around to find out its truth. The eerie sound of the wind whipping, quickly picking up speed, and the increasing violence of the waves had us making out way back twice as fast as we came. we were ready to leave this stony place behind.

ゴジラ⽯

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Morioka Wanko Soba Challenge With our last night in Tohoku upon us we rounded back to Iwate Prefecture to take on the infamous Wanko Soba Challenge in Morioka City. The Wanko Soba Challenge is an incredible test of both endurance and gluttony requiring challengers to eat at least 100 bite-sized bowls (with 15 bowls being equivalent to 1 normal bowl of soba).

Only a few people are able to accept the challenge and have the gluttonous honor bestowed upon them. Kali and I laughed at the measly bite-size servings of each bowl, thinking that we could complete this challenge with ease.

How difficult could it truly be when the world record for the most bowls eaten by a women is over 800?

We confidently strolled into the best-rated Wanko Soba restaurant, without a shred of doubt in our abilities. Sitting down at the table, we continued to loudly boast how simply we would complete the challenge while our assigned server for the evening gave us a knowing grin. She expertly prepared the first tray of soba as another woman fitted us with aprons.

Without asking if we were ready to begin, the sprightly server dropped the first bite of soba into out personal bowls. The first bite was delicious. The warm, savory broth coated my taste buds with a soft chicken flavor and the noodles smoothly slipped down my throat. Just as soon as we emptied our bowls, the server promptly slid another bite in the bowl. Kali and I soon found ourselves automatically falling into a rapid routine of slurping, swallowing, next serving. The first 30 or so bowls went down comfortably before things started to take a turn.

Around bowl number 40, I could feel my stomach extending, approaching its limits. Drinking the broth became a burden. When I could no longer bear the thought of drinking it, I dumped the remaining liquid in what became the leftover broth pot on the table after each bite.

By bowl number 60, I began to feel lethargic from my growing fullness. Each bite becoming progressively more difficult to swallow. Kali on the other hand, continued to eat with gusto. She was throwing them back in rapid fire succession, not once chewing the noodles before gulping it all down. Before I knew it, she was twenty bowls ahead of me, nearing bowl 80. By the time I finally reached 80, Kali was finishing off her last 5 bowls! My stomach was pushing against the top button of my pants praying for release, Each new bowl of soba before me was a battle.

I barely remember my last 10 bowls. My mind had drifted somewhere else day-dreaming of the end. With the challenge transcending into literal hours of eating, time had lost all meaning. By this point, Kali had slammed a lid over her bowl, l victoriously declaring that she had finished. She seemed to

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TRAVEL have eaten 100 bowls with little difficulty. Meanwhile, I fought to keep down my food with every swallow. With Kali now finished, she cheered me on during my final moments, advising me not to let each bite sit on my tongue - just throw it back!

5 left. I gagged each time the noodles neared the back of my throat.

4 left. I'm going to puke, but I've come too far to quit now.

3 left. Don't think just do.

2 left. Victory is just beyond the next bite Last one. Holding the noodles to my lips with my chopsticks I searched for the strength to open my mouth once again and slurp them down. Fighting with everything I had, I finally swallowed bite 100 - my last bite.... or at least I had thought.

In the excitement of my victory, I had forgotten to place the lid over my bowl to confirm I was done. The server was lying in wait with a fresh round hovering over my bowl, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. A huge smile spread across her face as she saw her opening. With lightening speed she poured another round of soba into my bowl. She laughed maniacally at my great displeasure, reveling in my pain as if she had done this a million times before.

Staring down at the now full bowl, I almost cried. Despite my internal crisis, I began laughing in disbelief at my situation. In that same moment, Kali lifted the lid from her bowl and accepted another round with solace. A frightfully determined look appeared on her face as she declared that we would suffer through our 101st bite together. With great effort, we both lifted our bowls, clanked them together, and threw them back.

Except I didn't. My hand stopped right before the bowl came to my mouth. I had no fight left in me. I didn't plan on eating even one more than the challenged advertised.

But I couldn't let Kali down, or worse, myself. I forced my hand to move, tilting the bowl and to my surprise the noodles appeared in my mouth. Pushing myself to swallow, I desperately grabbed the lid to the bowl and dramatically smashed it over the top, much to the servers disappointment.

I DID IT! I finally did it! Kali and I triumphantly cheered "101, 101, 101!" as the server awarded us each a wooden block that recorded our number and names. Like fattened pigs we proudly rolled out of the restaurant. And didn't eat another bite of food until at least a day later.

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DAY 6 Rice paddy art During our last few hours in Tohoku we drove out to the small village of Inakadate in Aomori, The village was made famous through its elaborately designed rice field artwork.

Excitedly driving towards the observation towers, from ground level, we entirely missed the detailed artwork planted in the paddies just to the right of us. However, this made the final reveal of the rice field art feel all the more special.

Climbing almost ten flights of stairs to the top of the tower had us struggling to catch our breath. But nothing quite took our breath away as swiftly as laying our eyes on the magnificent display of perfectly placed grains of rice creating an extraordinary image. This year's rice paddy art depicted a scene from the popular television drama, "Oshin". Staring out upon the artistry before us we were filled with complete awe. Each strand of rice was clearly carefully thought out and placed, ultimately coming together to create a unique picture. It's difficult to fathom the amount of careful planning that goes into arranging each stalk but their efforts definitely don't go unappreciated.

Hoping to get a closer look at the individual stalks of rice, we returned to the ground to view the picture at eye level.

Along the street laid out in front of the image were rows of different-colored rice. Each patch of rice informed us of the different colors and varieties of rice used to make the image, totaling about 18 different types! I had no idea that that many kinds of rice even existed, only adding to the brilliance behind the artwork.

Just a 15-minute trek north, hidden away inside a playground/amusement park of sorts, is another rice field.

However, this field displayed characters from well-known children's TV shows. Though after observing the detailed image from the first field, the second felt less aweinspiring. Quickly moving from the second field, our eyes caught a glimpse of something out of the ordinary. Just beside the second field were two portraits made from a collection of stones. Looking out at the portraits our sense of wonder was restored and with that we finished off our Tohoku adventure on a high note.

What started as a small idea soon grew into an enormous endeavor; a road trip across 6 prefectures in 6 days. A road trip for the ages! Through careful planning and mapping we decided on a route that took us to the most famous destinations in each prefecture.

Though sometimes the distances were long, excitement was never far from our minds.

The rolling landscape of Aomori, the jagged cliff sides of Iwate, the furry fox faces of Miyagi, the stillness of Fukushima, the hot springs of Yamagata, and history of Akita all added to the endless wonder of the region.

Taking the road less traveled, alongside the best companion, created the most memorable road trip ever.

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COMMUNITY

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Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske

COMMUNITY

' s r e v a s Le w e i v r e t n I Every year, some of our number leave us here in Fukui to go off to their futures.

Three paused in their packing efforts to share some of their thoughts at this time.

Boarding Pass Boarding Pass

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Sarah Schafer

Boarding Pass Boarding Pass

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Sarah Dake Boarding Pass Boarding Pass

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Sarah Schafer From: California, USA Time in Fukui: 2 years JET Placement: Mikata High School

What made you decide to leave?

I’m leaving for many different reasons, the biggest reason is that after 2 years I feel I’ve experienced a good amount of Japan and now it’s time to move on to the next stage in my life. A secondary reason is because I don’t agree with many aspects of the Japanese education system.

What type of graduate program would you like to do and what would you like to do once you’ve completed it?

I would like to get a Masters in Public Health and apply it to my work, or I may enter a combined MPH and MSW program and do work in counseling.

What are you planning to do after JET? Do you know what kind of NGO you’d like to work at?

I would like to work at an NGO which reduces smoking and second hand smoke, like the American Lung Association.

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Depending on the condition of coronavirus, I want to travel a little in Southeast Asia and then go back to America and start working at an NGO and then hopefully next year I will start a graduate program.

What do you think you will miss most about Japan?

I think I will miss the beautiful nature and the fresh food that is in Tsuruga. I will also miss convenient stores, there is always one close by and you can always find everything you need.

What are you doing to prepare to leave?

I am starting to organize my things and decide what I will take back and what I will sell. I am also working on my resume and looking into graduate programs that I would like to do. I’m also figuring out which places in Japan I want to visit before I leave.

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I have learned more about myself and had to figure how to improve.

Do you think you’ll be taking a lot of things home with you or are you trying to keep things light?

I probably won’t be taking too much, but I’ll take some things with me. Most important is that I will take my goshuin book and my wakasa chopsticks.

How do you feel you or your life has changed since joining the JET program?

I have learned more about myself and had to figure how to improve. I am not great at communication and asking for help but in order to survive in Japan I had improve my communication skills and learn to be comfortable asking for help. I also feel like I can understand certain aspects of Japan’s culture better.

What are some of the aspects of Japanese culture that you’ve come to better understand? And are there some aspects you still don’t?

There are so many aspects which are different than Western culture. Dajare, or dad jokes, was a fun part of

the culture I learned. They enjoy a good play on words.

For example, one of the teachers always says

しまっ た しまった しまくら ちよ こ . A difficult aspect to learn

was honne and tatemae, as an American I can be very direct I often wondered if I was offending anyone.

An aspect that is still difficult to understand is their reluctance to make mistakes. I constantly make mistakes and in America I felt that I was taught to learn from my mistakes.

However, when dealing with the students, it was hard to get them to participate and a big part of that was because they didn’t want to make a mistake. If I taught them anything, I hope it is that it’s okay to make mistakes.

If you were able to send a message back in time to yourself on the plane ride here to Japan, what would you say?

There is one simple truth in life and it is that nobody knows anything (Socrates).

There is one simple truth in life and it is that nobody knows anything. ~Socrates What is the first thing you are going to eat when you get back home?

Carne Asada Tacos from Los Primos Market

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Sarah Dake

From: California, USA. Time in Fukui: 2 Years JET Placement: Asahi Junior High School in Echizen Town

What made you decide to leave?

I knew I was limited to at max 3 years because of teaching credential things back home, so it was always a debate of 2 or 3 years. But at the beginning of this year, I realized my teaching abilities as an ALT weren’t progressing as I would like or as I think my school deserves. More negatives kept piling up as reasons for me to be replaced with someone “better” and more suited for my position. While I enjoy living in Fukui and working with my school and students, I feel they would benefit more from a potentially new ALT in my position, and I would benefit more from returning to teach in CA.

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What are you planning to do after JET? I am planning on becoming an English teach in CA at first. I also plan on getting a Master’s in TESOL eventually. Originally I planned to move abroad after getting my Master’s and teaching English abroad somewhere, but now I am not so sure. But I want to work with non-native speakers whether inside America or elsewhere.

It sounds like you’ve always planned to work with non-native speakers.

What made you want to?

I have not always planned to. It was something I arrived at when looking for backup careers. I thought getting a teaching job in Japan as an ALT would be nice

and not so hard, so I started taking classes towards doing so.

When I took linguistics classes for a TESOL certificate, I fell in love with the subject which I hadn’t felt since high school. I also had a job at a Kumon and found teaching wasn’t as frustrating and annoying as I had assumed. It also felt nice to help a child understand something they struggled with.

If you do end up moving abroad to teach after getting a Masters, where would you want to teach?

Somewhere in mainland Europe would be nice. I am not fluent in another language so can’t teach in some places that have high English proficiency. The actual country would depend on where my fiance could get a job, however.

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As someone who plans to go into teaching after JET, how much do you think your experiences here in Japan will help you?

For teaching English in an American school, not much if at all. The methods and games are good for low-performers and the ESL which I want to focus on, but I haven’t learned much that would apply to teaching students at a JHS level in schools where I was from. So for my ideal classroom, it’s been very nice learning how the JTEs use the students’ L1 to teach and how they discipline students without the methods many American teachers fall back on.

But I’m not sure how applicable it’s all been for a classroom of students who don’t respond to different kinds of discipline and perform at grade level, so are focused on report writing, analysis, literature, etc.

What do you think you will miss most about Japan?

The people. My friends, coworkers, students, neighbors (aka my self-appointed host family), and even the everyday people I interact with. Japanese people are so kind and welcoming, and even though Americans are very social, I do not feel the same sense of general friendliness as I do from Japanese people. This could be isolated to my experiences, but the feeling remains.

How do you feel you or your life has changed since joining the JET program?

I’ve become more confident in myself. I didn’t know if it was possible, but it’s something I’ve worked towards during my travels abroad. Small changes I didn’t notice over time and needed my mom to point out during her visit here. I am not more assertive, just more capable of seeing that the negative outcomes I’m afraid of won’t happen and I have the ability to solve them.

I've become more confident in myself.

Aside from seeing friends and family again, what are you most looking forward to when you get back home?

I’m going to include my pets with family, so I’m most looking forward to eating American food again. Being able to have vegetarian options almost everywhere and all the chain restaurants I’ve come to rely on. I miss Americanized Mexican food the most.

If you were able to send a message back in time to yourself on the plane ride here to Japan, what would you say?

Get more data for your phone. You’re going to be using it a lot more than you would in America, and having the extra data will be a life saver. It will make traveling Japan less stressful.

What is the first thing you are going to eat when you get back home?

Chipotle. Or any Mexican food, really. I’ll even take Taco Bell.

What are you doing to prepare to leave?

Trying to sort my things into what’s staying and what I’m bringing/shipping back. What I can leave my successor and what I should offer to everyone else to buy/give away.

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Natasha Taliferro From: Virginia, USA Time in Fukui: 4 Years JET Placement: Base: Seiwa JHS Visiting: Koshi JHS (previously Miyama JHS)

What made you decide to leave?

Although I loved teaching and interacting with students and I’ll miss all of their little personalities dearly, I feel that it is time to move on to the next step in my career and in my life. I didn’t study education in university and had no plans of teaching long term, but because I’ve had experience volunteering with and mentoring children, I love children, and I wanted to live and work in Japan, I applied for the JET Program.

However, my getting into the JET Program was always just one step in a long list of goals I had for myself. When You know it's time to go, it's time to go.

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Did you always intend to be on Jet for 4 years?

Actually, I only intended on being on JET for 2 years, and then I wanted to move to South Korea to teach English for two years as well. At least that was the plan! Instead, after I signed on for my third year I decided that I wanted to spend at least 5 years in Japan before thinking about the next step like graduate school.

When you know it’s time to go, it’s time to go.

What are you planning to do after JET? I hope to be working in international relations, translation/interpretation or cultural exchange/tourism in Tokyo after JET, but with the Coronavirus, the job-hunting season has been even more difficult than usual. Some companies, especially those in the tourism industry, have had to stop the hiring process completely for the year. It’s disappointing and very worrying for me, but I’m trying to stay positive and keep applying. If not Tokyo, I am also applying to positions that deal with international or U.S.-Japan relations in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, the goal is eventually graduate school and then foreign service, but nothing is ever truly set in stone.

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It sounds like you’ve got a couple different ideas in mind for your future career. Do you have one particular dream job that you’re really aiming for?

I’m aiming to become a U.S. diplomat in the future. Even better, I always wanted to be an ambassador to Japan, but those positions are usually given to specially-chosen politicians, so I’ll just settle for a diplomat stationed in Japan and see where I go from there.

Have any of your personal goals changed since you first came to Japan?

I don’t think any of my personal goals have changed.

My biggest goal has always been to become a diplomat or to work in U.S-Japan relations, so everything I’ve done so far has been to give myself experience to get into those type of positions.

What do you think you will miss most about Japan?

If or when I leave Japan, I will miss the friends I’ve made and all the little things I’ve taken for granted (like those charcoal nose pore strips from DAISO that you can’t find in the U.S., or Japanese Indian Curry, Kaki No Tani, and Chocolate PaPico ). I’ve lived in Fukui for four years and previously lived in Tokyo for about 6 months during study abroad, so I’ve made so many friends

that are doing so many great things and are hard to keep up with. I really hope that I can maintain these connections and friendships in the future, because hey, I never know if I’ll end up in Fukui again in the far future.

Hopefully this won’t be my last time in Japan, though!

Since you said you want to work in Tokyo in the future, what do you think you’ll miss about Fukui (or rural Japan in general)?

I’ll miss my friends, the ease of life living in rural Japan, the Fukui slow days, and the life I’ve crafted here. Fukui has become a second home to me (and that spot used to belong to Tokyo!), so I’ll miss Fukui probably the way I miss my home back in the U.S. Hopefully I can at least visit often.

How do you feel you or your life has changed since joining the JET program?

I joined the JET Program straight out of university, so my life and who I am has changed drastically. Not only with entering the “adult world” or joining the fulltime working class, but also just living abroad for an extended period of time. You really learn a lot about yourself when you’re isolated or thrown into an environment that forces you to seek out a path for yourself. I’ve gained so much insight into myself and this experienced has helped me grow enough to move onto a much larger or more rigorous professional role in the future.

Hopefully this won't be my last time in Japan.

What are you doing to prepare to leave?

As of now, I’m not focused on preparing to leave or move as I’ve had to put all of my energy into the leadership roles I maintain and job hunting. Sometime in April or May, I will start cleaning out my apartment, throwing away clutter, and canceling nonessential memberships. Once June rolls around, I’ll have to kick myself into overdrive and start preparing boxes whether that means I’m moving to Tokyo or moving back home.

Outside of packing up my life, I want to hang out with the people who made my life in Japan great these past four years, take pictures of Fukui to keep for my memories, and do any last Fukui touristy things that I never had the time to do before. Remember, #experienceFukui.

#experience Fukui

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What were your top 3 #experiencefukui moments?

1.

In my first year, I was invited by another ALT (who was invited by their JTE), to wear Japanese wedding dresses to take photos for a dress studio in Sakai. Japanese wedding dresses are not your usual white dresses, so for that to be one of my first experiences in Fukui, it was super unexpected.

2.

Every year, there is the Mikuni Fireworks Festival. While experiencing Japanese fireworks is an experience in itself, coupled with getting on one of the last packedtight trains back to Fukui City was one of the “Japan” experiences that I think you should have at least once

3.

In my second year, I decided to join the omikoshi carriers for the Phoenix Festival.

Omikoshi are super heavy, but it was one of the best hands-on (and back-breaking) cultural experiences that I had ever had! I also got to see yosakoi and meet one of my soon-to-be students who was also a junior yosakoi dancer.

If you were able to send a message back in time to yourself on the plane ride here to Japan, what would you say?

Don’t worry, Fukui isn’t where you wanted to be, but you’ll learn to love it within the first year and make a great life for yourself.

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You’ll make friends that you cherish, have some of the best experiences of your life and grow even more into yourself than before.

What is the first thing you are going to eat when you get back home?

The first thing I’ll eat when I go back home is either a grilled cheese sandwich from Sonic (or maybe Friendly’s ) or some fried chicken from Bojangles!

Then, I’ll follow that up with some Talenti Double Dark Chocolate gelato. As you can see, I’ve had four years to plan out my dream meal, but there is so much food that I’ve missed from the U.S. (I’m planning on gaining a couple of happiness pounds)! One thing I noticed when I went back for a visit two years ago is that food is so salty in the U.S.! I never noticed how crazy salty everything is and I’m sure I’ll have to adjust to that when I get back.

INTERVIEW

ALUMNI

Angela Hinck

Odelie Labelle

Devon Smith

Emer Geraghty

AFTER JET LIFE AFTER LEAVING JAPAN & THE JET PROGRAMME

01 Angela Hinck 02 Emer Geraghty 03 Devon Smith 04 Odelie Labelle JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 57

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Photo by Angela Hinck

ANGELA HINCK A PAST JETFUEL EDITOR TAKES ON NEW YORK CITY AND CONTINUES TO PURSUE HER PASSION FOR JOURNALISM AND WRITING. 1. WHY DID YOU COME TO JAPAN? WHAT WAS YOUR PLACEMENT? I came to Japan on the JET Programme in 2015 and lived in the small town of Maruoka in Fukui Prefecture. I stayed in Japan for about 4 years before deciding to leave.

2.WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I left Japan to try and work in the book publishing industry. I'm currently getting started as an intern with St. Martin's Press in New York City.

3. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT JAPAN? AND IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR HOME COUNTRY THAT YOU HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR? Now that I'm living in a big city, I definitely miss the natural beauty (the kids weren't kidding about all that beautiful nature!) I also miss traveling so often and with so much ease.

Between having a car and the extensive public transport around Japan, I got to see so much of the country while I was there. I miss being able to take a solo trip over a long weekend to someplace new and see a famous historical landmark or some gorgeous scenery.

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I definitely took the food in America for granted. I never realized how much I rely on cheese for my emotional well-being before I moved to Japan. The food is also something I miss about Japan.

4. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE? DID YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BACK INTO YOUR HOME COUNTRY? First rule of leaving Japan: DO NOT PANIC! Having said that, it's likely you'll panic anyway.

I know I did. It's kind of unavoidable, and telling yourself to chill out is not super helpful.

But just take it day by day and stay organized.

Make a list of things you want to get done before you leave well in advance of when you're actually planning to move. Break things down into small, specific steps and give everything a deadline. I kept a Google doc for this which included links to how-to's for tricky stuff like pension paperwork, and it basically kept me sane my last few weeks in Japan.

Also, if you do have a post-Japan or postJET goal in mind and are feeling anxious about it, start considering what you can do to ease your job transition. Look at job postings and

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see what relevant skills they're looking for that you can develop now. Take free online classes in your downtime to fill gaps in your resumé.

Network with alumni on social media. The more proactive you are before leaving, the easier it'll be to hit the ground running.

When I was in Japan, I felt like a pretty social person at work. Office chit-chat? No problem! Then I came back to the USA and realized just how much I'd actually adapted to the Japanese style of indirect communication. It's been almost a year and I'm still adjusting to the talkative and direct social atmosphere in my office. A lot of that has to do with me naturally being extremely introverted though, so you extroverts will probably have the same experience and feel relieved instead! Other than that, the reverse culture shock hasn't been too bad for me.

"

I LOVED THE CONSISTENCY OF JAPAN AND I LOVE THE SPONTANEITY OF NEW YORK CITY

"

5. HOW PREPARED WERE YOU FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU LEFT? I think I was pretty prepared. I knew 2019 would be my last year in Japan, so I started stress-prepping some things way in advance. Turned out to be worth it since I had to break contract to attend a summer program for publishing that I was dying to get into, which left me about a month and some change to do everything there is to do before you move. I'm grateful for my school for being so accommodating during that time, and I'm really lucky to have had the chance to be on the staff of magazines like JETFuel and AJET Connect to get experience relevant to my post-JET plans.

Without all of that, I don't think I'd have felt so ready to make this next step.

6. YOU ARE CURRENTLY AN INTERN AT ST. MARTIN'S PRESS IN NYC. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES WORKING FOR THEM? WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS AFTER INTERNING? I came back to the US to start a a career in publishing, so actually getting to be in the office of such a huge publishing imprint at one of the Big 5 publishers has been pretty amazing! It's given me a real functional understanding of just how many different moving parts are involved in the making of a book, which is exactly what I'd hoped for going in.

My ideal next step would be fulltime work somewhere on the editorial side of things; though with

coronavirus bearing down on NYC and many industries going into crisis mode, including this one, it might be some time before I get the opportunity to do that. But I've already gained a lot of great experience so far.

7. AFTER LEAVING JET YOU MOVED TO NYC. HOW DID YOU ADJUST FROM LIVING IN THE QUIET COUNTRYSIDE TO A BIG CITY? I'm honestly still adjusting to a lot of things about the city, like the crowds and the constant noise. I love the variety of things to do, see, and eat. I can indulge in my hobbies more easily and there's always something going on. What I loved about the countryside of Japan was the consistency, and what I love about NYC is the spontaneity.

They're both great in their own ways, but I think it'll be some time yet before I feel completely settled in.

Especially since I'm not from here initially, so it wasn't like going back to baseline.

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Photo by Emer Geraghty

EMER GERAGHTY SHE IS CONTINUING HER LOVE FOR TEACHING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN HER HOME COUNTRY AS WELL AS REDISCOVERING HER ROOTS. 1. WHY DID YOU COME TO JAPAN? WHAT WAS YOUR PLACEMENT? I was in Japan to teach English and provide opportunities for cultural exchange. I chose Japan because I wanted teaching experience overseas and I wanted to do it in a country that was completely unlike the one I grew up in.

I was placed in Fukui City in Fukui Prefecture. I loved my time in Japan and therefore ended up staying for 5 years from 2015 to 2019.

2.WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I'm teaching in a language school and taking exams to enter graduate school. I hope to become a primary teacher in Ireland in the future.

3. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT JAPAN? AND IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR HOME COUNTRY THAT YOU HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR? I miss the life long friends I made while in Japan. I also miss Japanese traditional sweets and seasonal festivities. While Fukui's annual St. Patrick's Day festival was very special to me because it was a great way for me to feel a piece of home I'll miss the small local festivals most.

Since moving back to Ireland, I've realized now that I've taken how small my home country is for granted. Because it's so small everything is very accessible. The more I've traveled and lived abroad, the more I realize how much of

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Ireland I still haven't seen. While I lived in Japan, I often saw more of the country than all of my Japanese friends and co-workers. This made me think about how little I've seen in my own country. Since coming home I've had the opportunity to travel more here and I'm looking froward to making more plans.

4. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE? DID YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BACK INTO YOUR HOME COUNTRY? If you have a lot of expectations, try not to focus too much on them.

Each person's work and travel experiences are so unique and I think the reason I adapted so well to my life in Japan was because I went without specific expectations, other than the chance for new and exciting opportunities. What I got from my life there was so much more.

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7. TRAVELING AROUND JAPAN HAD MADE YOU MORE AWARE OF HOW LITTLE YOU'VE SEEN OF YOUR OWN COUNTRY. WHAT ARE SOME PLACES THAT YOU HAVE REDISCOVERED OR DISCOVERING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY?

Personally, I didn't find it too difficult. I think if you go home for the right reasons, the transition period will be easier. If those reasons are a little less certain, remember to communicate and reach out to people, at home and back in Japan. Remind yourself of why you appreciated your life in Japan and why you also appreciated you life prior to JET. But of course reverse culture shock happens, and you might not even realize it when it does. It's best to try and avoid comparing Japan to your home country, once I did that, things got easier!

5. HOW PREPARED WERE YOU FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU LEFT? I feel like I was very prepared. If you think of the amount of preparation you had to do for JET, you should prepare to the same extent, if not more, for the next step.

We can never be fully certain of what lies ahead for us, but we can at least try our best to make a plan.

Your final year in Japan and your homecoming will be that bit more enjoyable if you do!

I rediscovered the GaeltachtGaelic speaking area, in a new area of Ireland, Donegal. Breathtaking views, Gaelic speakers and nothing but you, the sheep and the coast, perfection. I really loved visiting castles in Japan, this made me revisit Irish castles. Kikenny castle for example, is one of the highest ranking castles in Europe. Irish and Japanese castles have a lot in common; defense location, symbols of wealth and politics and often located through rivers/towns.

8. CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A FUNNY MOMENT WHERE YOU REALIZED (OR DIDN'T REALIZE) THAT YOU WERE EXPERIENCING REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK? At a bus stop once, the rain was falling heavily and the bus stop had been recently constructed so there was a barrier around it. Some people removed the barrier ignoring instructions not to do so, for shelter.

This made me so so angry and I just kept thinking about how this would never happen in Japan. I was very

annoyed for ridiculous.

days,

which

was

Also on the flip side, I was running late for the train here one day and the driver saw me, stopped the train and waited. I'm not so sure that something like this would have happened in Japan because trains are very punctual.

But I guess that's just culture comparison right?

"

IT'S BEST TO TRY AND AVOID COMPARING JAPAN TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY.

"

6. YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN A LANGUAGE SCHOOL, HOW DIFFERENT IS IT TEACHING A LANGUAGE IN IRELAND VERSUS TEACHING IN JAPAN? Well, I'm teaching adults here so it's very different from teenagers. I have lot more autonomy because I'm no longer an assistant. But I'm grateful for that experience I had, it was priceless. I really miss sharing lunch with the students, this is where we interacted the most naturally and exchanging culture stories. I miss the innocence of the younger students.

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DEVON SMITH AFTER AVENGING HIS FATHER'S DEATH DURING HIS TIME IN JAPAN, DEVON HAS RESETTLED DOWN IN HIS HOMETOWN IN THE HOPES OF LIVING A SIMPLE LIFE. 1. WHY DID YOU COME TO JAPAN? WHAT WAS YOUR PLACEMENT? Five years ago, I was witness to something ghastly. My father was taken from me by an evil corporation.

I studied the lore surrounding creatures with powers beyond anything my home had witnessed. The powers of the elements embodied in hundreds of species roaming through the landscape of Japan. I missioned to this new region to catch and train a formidable fighting team of mini beasts to defeat the evil organization that took my father from me. My journey brought me to Mikuni town, northern Fukui, in late July 2017.

My story ended in late August 2019, and that organization is no more.

2.WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? After avenging my father, I settled back in my hometown. I took a job as a pub supervisor. A quaint little place that's just like you'd find in Harry Potter.

3. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT JAPAN? AND IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR HOME COUNTRY THAT YOU HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR? Although I miss the food, scenery and the friends I made I think I miss my students the most. Which is probably why I'm going back to university to start a career in teaching.

Also, I miss the nights of passion I spent with my co-ALT. We became quite adventurous together.

The concept of having friendly everyday conversations with strangers is the norm. I've laughed with people while waiting in a queue, on a bus or just walking the street.

Having a chat to someone for a fleeting moment is a special thing I feel that wasn't so easy to do while in Japan.

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Photograph by Angela Hinck

4. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE? DID YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BACK INTO YOUR HOME COUNTRY? If you're thinking about moving to another new country, start that process now! I can not emphasize it enough that it is important to start as early as possible and to expect things to not go perfectly as planned. I had planned to move to Canada shortly after returning to the U.K, yet I find myself still trapped in the mundane grind of my old life.

Realizing that in the U.K, complaining about everything under the sun is an earnest form of communication. We in the south love to complain. It's our way of life and seemingly out birth right. I'm not so sure I'm okay with this. It's been difficult to transition back to hearing it everywhere when in Japan it was a rare sound.

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"Ther's nowt like a carveree daahn a' local wi't' family on a Sunday. Our young un' nos Matt behin' bar. Get's us 'alf price tha norrz."

Imagine all the above in your best British/Harry Potter/Cockney accent and it'll make far more sense.

Doesn't it just remind you of old Blighty?!

7. YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT RETURNING TO UNIVERSITY TO STUDY TEACHING, WHERE DO YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING UNIVERSITY? IS THERE A SPECIFIC MEMORY THAT LEAD TO THIS DECISION?

Photo by Devon Smith

5. HOW PREPARED WERE YOU FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU LEFT? I could have been more prepared.

However, Simon has done a fair job with the Leaver's Handbook. You won't go too far wrong if you follow its wisdom. Don't end up like me and decide not to take the Leaver's guide more seriously.

6. YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING AT A SMALL PUB IN YOUR HOMETOWN. HOW IS PUB CULTURE DIFFERENT IN YOUR HOMETOWN THAN THE IZAKAYA CULTURE IN JAPAN? ?

If you're reading this, maybe you're from the 'The Greatest Country on Earth'. If not, maybe you're from America. Either way, pub culture won't be too dissimilar to what you know. But let's indulge anyway shall we? Yeah, let's.

Pub culture in the U.K is deeply social. Here are some examples of typical conversations you may come across while "pubbing" in the U.K with "work-chums", "mates", or having a homely meal with "the fam" (for those not from 'The Greatest

Country on Earth,' "homely" is a term of endearment in British English).

"Alright Angus, mi'ole China! How you feelin' 'baut nippin' down da booza for a swift un'? You know, liquid lunch un' dat. I'm gaggin'!"

"Right! We'll start "The Sesh" off at The Nags Head, smash a pint at The Gardener's Arms, meet Derrick at The Cross Keys and smash him in, go to the takeaway to smash a kebab, and pop down to The Winchester to find a stuner to smash.".

"

ALTHOUGH I MISS THE FOOD, SCENERY, AND MY FRIENDS , I MISS MY STUDENTS THE MOST.

There's no specific event that triggered me. There are thousands!

Doesn't it annoy you when students happily focus on your lesson? Does it piss you off when a whole class joins groups activities; and likes them?! How does it make you feel when there are too many volunteers?! I know how I feel! What if a student has the damn cheek to get a good score on their speaking test because they "tried really hard"?! It makes my blood boil when I see their smug faces. The fires of Hades cannot compare to the rage I feel when a students gains the confidence to use English to my face, or any other native English speaker for that matter.

They're the triggers for me deciding to continue pursuing teaching, and I'll do it wherever I can.

And don't get my started on my co-ALT. She triggered me every day.

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Photo by Odélie Labella

ODÉLIE LABELLE FROM WORKING IN TOURISM IN A SMALL TOWN TO TAKING ON PR IN THE BIG CITY OF MONTREAL THIS ALUM IS BRINGING IN THE CROWDS. 1. WHY DID YOU COME TO JAPAN? WHAT WAS YOUR PLACEMENT? I spent six months in Fukui City in Fukui Prefecture with the JET Program working as a CIR. Before JET, I had a previous internship in Tokyo and travelled through the country several times. It's a little hard to tell how much time in total I spent in Japan since it was in bits and pieces but each time I enjoyed it.

2.WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I work in PR and marketing for the public transit authority of the greater Montreal region in Canada.

It keeps me pretty busy these days but It's work that I enjoy doing.

3. WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT JAPAN? AND IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR HOME COUNTRY THAT YOU HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR? The scenery! It was the first thing I fell in love with in Japan. It's always changing from region to region and throughout each season.

Even though I miss Japan's legendary beautiful nature, one thing that I don't miss is the lack of insulation. Now, that I'm back in Canada, I will never take central heating for granted again!

4. WHAT ADVICE TO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE? DID YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BACK INTO YOUR HOME COUNTRY? Always remember the reasons why you decided to embark on this adventure. The experience will probably differ from your expectations but you can always shape it into the best thing for you.

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The transition was pretty smooth you need to keep an open mind about moving to Japan you need to have the same mindset about returning home. I have to admit having a job lined up is the easiest way to get back into the way of life of your country of origin (or your next destination).

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"

JAPANESE IS TRICKY BUT EVEN AT A LOWER LEVEL OF FLUENCY, IT CAN REALLY PAY OFF.

"

5. HOW PREPARED WERE YOU FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU LEFT? I was lucky enough that my job in Fukui was very much in line with the direction of my career, so I was able to find work very quickly. Living abroad and in Japan specifically teaches you a lot about being resourceful and flexible. These are the great qualities that can help you with anything in life!

Many people are unsure of how to translate what they do while on the JET Program into your specific career that you wish to pursue. My best advice is to try to find a way to incorporate aspects of your career path into the job. You can also use your time on JET to try and knock out qualifications needed for your next job such as certificates or completing online classes.

6. YOU ARE NOW WORKING IN PR AND MARKETING FOR MONTREAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT, HOW IS WHAT YOU DO NOW SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DID AS A CIR ON JET? While public transport and tourism don't have much in common on the surface, working for the helped me learn more about PR in the context of a government entity.

Public organizations face different challenges than private companies when it comes to advertisement or press relations. Surprisingly enough, they remain the same both in Japan and Canada. No matter how unique a situation in Japan might seem, there's always a way to integrate your experiences abroad into your new life.

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7. BEFORE COMING TO JAPAN AS A JET YOU WERE AN INTERN IN TOKYO. WHAT WAS YOUR INTERNSHIP AND HOW WAS WOKRING IN TOKYO DIFFERENT THAN WOKRING IN FUKUI? I Interned at the Quebec Delegation in Tokyo, mainly for projects related to the Mois de la Francophonie. Every March, people all over the world celebrate Frenchspeaking cultures and communities.

Even if Japan does not have a large French-speaking population, I was happy to help share my culture and connect with other francophones in Japan.

As for Tokyo, it was the polar opposite of Fukui, I'll never forget my first commute to my office in Roppongi.

The subway was so packed! My commute in Fukui, on the other hand, was just a brisk walk that passed by the Youkokan.

8. YOU HAVE MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO JAPAN OVER THE YEARS. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED OVER THE COURSE OF EACH STAY? Japan has a lot to offer, so there's always something new to discover.

What has changed the most throughout my trips is my ability to speak Japanese. It's what enabled me to have really unique experiences wherever I went. One example I'd like to share is a spontaneous guided tour that a man from Hiroshima took me on.

I visited the city in 2015 and I had just finished a class in university that focused on the history of nuclear energy in japan. While visiting the Genbaku Dome, I ended up chatting with a hibakusha, a person who survived the nuclear bombing of the city in 1945. He was an activist and was happy to meet a foreigner with whom he could talk about his experience in Japanese. He ended up taking me on an unofficial tour of the city and I got to see stuff most tourists would miss. Japanese is tricky to learn, but even at a lower level of fleuncy, it can really pay off!

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HIDDEN TALENTS How well do you really know your fellow ALTs in Fukui?

E

veryone has at least one hidden talent. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to explore what their hidden talent could be - hence "hidden" talent.

For these three ALTs, they have not only discovered their own hidden talents but have also perfected its artistry. Their hidden talents vary from pottery, to nail art, to leather-working. Each featured ALT discusses their skills and also include a how-to guide for the folks at home to try.

In Fukui City, Johnathan has been spending his down time at work developing his leather-working skills. While leatherworking is often an expensive hobby, Johnathan's efforts appear to be paying off.

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In Sakai City, David has found his talents in ceramic making. He and his wife have been regularly taking pottery classes together at the Kanazu Forest of Creation ceramics studio for the past year or so.

Down south in Tsuruga, Kali has yet to go two days without having beautifully styled nails. Despite being tucked away in the deep south of Fukui, she has already begun to make a name for herself. Everyone dreams of displaying nails as well manicured as hers.

“True happiness involves the full use of one's power and talents.”

- John W. Gardner

COMMUNITY HIDDEN TALENTS

LEATHERWORKING STEPS:

JOHNATHAN'S LEATHER WORKING A LESSON IN LEATHER By Johnathan Etchart I've always been into "making things" but I took advantage of the free time I had since coming to Japan to sort of refine that interest. There is something therapeutic about sitting down, putting stuff together, and then ending up with a finished product at the end.

It was maybe ¥10,000 worth of tools and supplies later that I managed to slap together my first version of a planner. It wasn't great but it was my creation, so I was proud. From there, I did a bit more research and fell into a rabbit hole of YouTube tutorials and Reddit threads. I learned a lot and bought a lot more supplies. I learned how to make book covers and wallets too.

There were lots of mistakes along the way but I learned from them. Most importantly, I learned how to better go from conceptualizing my ideas to finalizing a finished product.

THE PROCESS THE BEGINNING My journey into leather-working started about 5 years ago with some basic bookbinding. I mostly gave away the empty sketchbooks as gifts. I progressed a bit but always dreamed of being able to do leather covers. A year or so later, I got ahold of some leather and managed to make a sleeve for manga volumes. That same year, I had a few friends who got into those midori planners that you can sometimes find at Loft. I really wanted one but I didn't feel that the ¥5,000 or so was worth it. I could make one myself for cheaper, right?

STEP Finally, you can dye the leather. This part is kind of tricky to do evenly, especially with larger pieces. Let it dry and then you can opt to polish up the pieces with some finish.

Next comes putting everything together if your design has more than one piece. This includes any stitching, zippers, rivets, or buttons your piece needs.

When it's all put together you can polish it up some more and make any adjustments you think it needs. BAM! You have just made something.

Let's go through the process of making something out of leather. The planning part takes the longest, but it is very important and can save you a lot of money's worth of supplies.

STEP It's expensive, so the first step is to make a cardstock version. After that, trace the leather with a cardstock stencil and cut with a metal straightedge and a blade.

STEP Next is the design stage. There are a lot of options here including leveling the edges, stamping in patterns using metal stamps, or using a swivel knife to cut in designs. You could even just skip this step if you want something simple.

"

LEATHER-WORKING KEPT ME SANE DURING LESS BUSY TIMES AT WORK.

"

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DAVID'S POTTERY

KANAZU FOREST OF CREATION

By David Sudyka

When I got the chance to enroll in the Kanazu Forest of Creation ceramics class I was psyched from the very beginning. I had dabbled in ceramics while I was in university by taking a few classes but I quickly learned that creating pottery in Japan was very different. In Japan, there is a specific technique for every small detail and thus there is a larger emphasis on the fine points of pottery-crafting and design.

TAKING CLASSES The ceramics studio at the Kanazu Forest of Creation is run by the government so the classes are (very) cheap.

If you are not confident with your Japanese speaking skills but are interested in taking pottery classes then worry not. With three of the staff members able to speak English and even one from America, the studio is more than welcoming and accommodating to English speakers. They offer both long term and 1 time classes that entertain any skill level.

ARTISITIC TECHNIQUES Ceramics can be divided into two main types: earthenware, for which pottery is made from soil; and porcelain, which is made from stone powder. I work exclusively with earthenware pottery because it's what's available at the studio. For earthenware, the soil is mixed well with water to make a smooth clay, which is then shaped into dishes, pots, vases or other items and then placed in a high-temperature oven called a kiln.

Some common techniques in pottery are:

“Raku is a different style of firing which is unpredictable and beautiful.” "throwing", which is a term for when something is made on a wheel. "Donabe" (or "earthenware pot" in Japanese), which are pots made out of special clay that can be used over an open flame in Japanese cuisine. And "crawling", which is when unglazed areas are bordered by uneven or different types of glaze.

I also tried a famous Japanese pottery technique called "raku". In the traditional Japanese process, raku pottery is cooked at a lower kiln temperature and is removed from the kiln to cool in the open air. This style of firing is interesting because it's both unpredictable and beautiful.

PERSONAL PROJECTS

I regularly take ceramic classes in Kanazu with my wife. It's become not only a fun activity that we can do together but also a very rewarding hobby.

These are probably some of my most interesting and favorite pieces that I have done while taking classes in Japan.

THE FROG & THE FLY This is a raku sculpture I made of a frog eating a fly. The tongue can be removed and the head can be used as an earring case.

TONGUE & LIPS The best thing about pottery is that if you need a gift for someone you can just give them one of the bowls that you don't like that much! If you've never tried pottery before you should give it a try and you too can create fever dream creations like me.

NABE COOKING POT This was my last project before the studio closed down for COVID-19.

It's a nabe pot made with special clay that can be put on a stove top.

My wife believes that top handle looks a bit phallic.

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KALI'S NAIL ART

EASY INSTAWORTHY NAILS

By Kali Michelle

I got my Bachelor's in Fine Arts (much to my father's chagrin) with the idea I could one day become a great artist. I never imagined, however, that I would become a nail artist.

I have painted my nails as long as I can remember but I only started to do nail art and designs in 2012. I remember seeing some pictorials on Pinterest (the early days) and falling in love with how some simple dots or stripes would brighten a normal mani. Since January 2012, I haven't gone more than two days without having my nails done. So, what have I learned?

NAILS 101 KEEP YOUR CUTICLES HEALTHY! Healthy cuticles = healthy nails. Cuticle care is paramount in having nice nails and it's easy to do. I recommend using an old toothbrush and cuticle oil (or coconut oil or Vaseline) to get your cuticles in insta-worthy shape. Put your moisturizer of choice on the bristles, and in

small circular movements work it into the cuticle. I usually do 15-20 seconds per finger. That's it!

NAILS PREP

You must buff your nails to remove any shine and make them a little textured. I've found that this helps polish stick better. DO NOT OVER BUFF. Over-buffing can leave your nails thin and bendy, which is no bueno.

Have you ever done a mani so gorgeous that you keep getting distracted by it throughout the day, only to have it chip a day or two later? That is heartbreak and I know it too well. To prevent chips, you don't just apply your polish all willy-nilly from nail to nail!

You have to get rid of oils on your nails. Many brands offer pH balancers and cleansers, but if you can't find those then regular rubbing alcohol will work just fine. (Be sure to moisturize your cuticles after because it will dry your skin out!)

"

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE TO CRAWL BEFORE YOU CAN POLISH.

"

You need a base coat. Orly Bonder is my favorite because it's rubberized (not sure what that means but it works). But my favorite brand in Japan is PA Base Coat Hardener. However, feel free to play around with different brands.

TOP COATS MATTER You can have a gorgeous application of polish but if you don't use a good top coat it's all for nothing. In my experience cheap polishes can be fancy manis as long as you use a good top coat.

My recommendations are Seche Vite (not sold in Japan) or Out The Door (sold in Japan). Both are quick-drying and hardening top coats that have a high shine.

You know that feeling when you find the absolute most perfect color and then you get home and use it only to find that it's not as beautiful on your nails as it is in the bottle? Yeah, it sucks being deceived like that BUT there is a fix. For colors that don't meet your expectations once out of the bottle, there are only three things you need to do to get it how you like it.

COLOR MATCHING

First, apply a white base color. You need to do it in one or two very thin layers.

Second, apply a matte topcoat on top of the white. The matte topcoat creates a very even finish for the color to settle into. Kate Tokyo (sold in Japan) makes a great matte top coat for this.

Third, apply your color and VOILA a beautiful match!

ALL IMAGES SUBMITTED BY KALISNAP. Original nail patterns and custom prints.

Finally, practice makes perfect. Keep trying again and again. No one starts out perfect and I know it can be discouraging not getting it the first time, but you have to crawl before you can polish.

CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP

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KALI'S STEP-BY-STEP NAIL TUTORIAL:

KAWAII ONIGIRI STEP

THE BASE LAYER First choose a base layer color. (I went with a nice tan color but any color will be fine.)

I recommend a somewhat lighter color to make the design pop.

STEP

THE ONIGIRI Paint a small white triangle (or circle if that's the type of onigiri you prefer). You can use the nail polish brush, a thin detailing brush or a dotting tool.

STEP

THE SEAWEED Paint a small black square at the base. You can use a brush and paint down slowly and softly to get this shape.

STEP

FINISHED! To finish the mani, paint the rest of you nails black. (I hand-placed glitter to mimic the shine of nori.) And bam!

Onigiri mani complete! He's such a cute lil guy, huh?

NAILED IT!

STEP

FINAL TOUCHES Using a dotting tool, put in the eyes, cheeks and mouth.

If you don't have a dotting tool, you can use a bobby pin or the tip of a pencil.

(You can get dotting tools at a ¥100 store though).

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FOLLOW ME @KALISNAP

Tutorial

:

make-up

By Kali Michelle

Step 1 Make sure your face is clean and free of any moisturizers, creams, etc. Start with a bare face.

Step 2 Using a 100 yen store eye lash glue, start building up the shape of your wound. Make sue to let it dry between each layer. You can use a hair dryer or fan to help speed up the drying. Repeat the layer untl it's bumpy. I repeated it about 7 times.

Step 3 Once the glue is 95% dry, use a loose powder and gently tap it on top of the glue. This will help create a nice base for the foundation.

Step 4 Using a sponge, VERY gently, dab on a liquid over the glue to blend into your natural skin color. (Don't worry about evening out the foundation on the rest of your face).

COMMUNITY

Step 5 Using a small brush, with eye shadow or even lipstick, paint the inside of the wound. I used a combination of purple, red, and black eyes shadow. Use black eye shadow around the edges to create more depth.

Step 6 Layer some lipstick to add more texture and depth within the wound.

Step 7 Next, using a small brush, add bruise-like colors to the outside of the wound. I did mine with a combination of yellow, orange, and purple.

Step 8 Add foundation to the rest of your face and blend. You can use a makeup brush or a sponge, whatever your weapon of choice is. Just be careful about blending it around the wound.

You may need to gp back over the foundation with some bruise colored eye shadow to blend it more evenly.

Step 9 This is where you can get creative. I used my finger to smudge black eye shadow all over my lids to mimic a skeleton's eye socket, but you can detail it any way you want.

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Step 10:

Finished product. Messy hair, dark eyes, red lips,

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Photo by Kim Carrero

LIFESTYLE

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LIFESTYLE

Personal M otivation

By Karim Mohanna

We all saw what happened in recent months. Many people fear the new COVID-19 coronavirus. It has already had a big impact on the world population and the world economy. We must remain strong and hopeful despite the current situation. I want to share with you some positive words to stay focused on positivity. They come from three different sources.

“The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”

- Vince Lombardi

“An expert is an ordinary man away from home giving advice.”

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”

- Amelia Earhart

-Oscar Wilde Definition of “unshakeable”: an unwavering and undisputed confidence, a steadfast commitment to the truth; presence, peace of mind and a calm amidst the storm.

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“Welcome to the jungle.”

“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.”

-Guns N’ Roses

-AESOP

LIFESTYLE

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy oaths.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Relax for easy power: In any situation be relaxed, keep calm, take a friendly attitude, have faith, do your best. Do this and usually you can make things come out all right.

“For god hath not given us the spirit of ear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

(2 Timothy 1:7)

Try prayer power: APRPBWPRAA Affirmative Prayers Release Powers By Which Positive Results Are Accomplished.

A peaceful mind generates power: The words of the bible have a particularly strong therapeutic value. Drop them into your mind, allowing them to dissolve in consciousness, and they will spread a healing balm over your entire mental structure.

This is one of the simplest processes to perform and also one of the most effective in attaining peace of mind.

Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske

How to create your own happiness: Abraham Lincoln whom nobody could accuse of being superficial, said that people were just about as happy as they made up their minds to be. You can be unhappy if you want to be. It is the easiest thing in the world to accomplish.

Just choose unhappiness. Go around telling yourself that things aren’t going, that nothing is satisfactory, and you can be quite sure of being unhappy. But say to yourself: “Things are going nicely.

Life is good. I choose happiness,” and you can be quite certain of having your choice.

Power to solve personal problems: A person who develops a working faith brings emergency powers of the human brain into play in connection with normal activity. This explains why some people demonstrate greater force than others in daily requirements and in a crisis. They have made it a habit normally to draw upon powers that would otherwise be ignored except in some dramatic necessity.

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LIFESTYLE

My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.

— Claude Monet

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Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske

LIFESTYLE

GROWING GUIDEBOOK E L L I S

L E E

TOP

3

HOUSE PLANTS

TIPS & TRICKS ON KEEPING A HOUSE PLANT

Looking to spruce up your tiny Japanese apartment and make it feel more like home? Here is a howto-guide for growing indoor plants.

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THE MOST POPULAR

Of Houseplants

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rowing plants is way easier than most people may think. A general rule for all plants is that you can easily check when you need to water them by poking your finger one inch into the dirt. If your finger is moist and has dirt, then don't water the plant! If you finger is dry, then go ahead and let them have a drink!

When you water your plants, take it over to the sink and run water slowly into the pot till it drips out the bottom.

Give it a thorough run through and let it stop dripping before placing your plant back.

Now, I have three plants to suit the lifestyles and homes of forgetful, lazy, plant loving people.

Peperomia If you have an apartment that gets a bit of sun and want an easy and cute plant that you can let dry to absolute hell, I have the perfect plant for you- the Peperomia Obtusifolia. Many of you have probably seen me selling quite a few of these. One main reason is that it grows quickly in warm weather and any cuttings can be placed in water and grown into a new plant. That means you get many plants for the price of on! One thing to be careful of Peperomias hate having "wet feet". If you ever see your Peperomia droopy with squishy leaves, this means you've been overwatering your friend. For the Peperomia, let it dry all the way out before you do a nice soak of water.

Peperomis is a relatively easy, compact, and attractive plant to grow.Though they may look like succulents, they actually prefer higher humidity and more water.

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"If there was a prize for the most tolerant plant, this plant would win. "

Snake PLant Does your apartment have no light or do you have a room with no windows? Do you want to forget that it even exists and not water it for months on end? I have a plant that not only looks nice but also filters your air at night! The Snake Plant is the PERFECT plant for a person who forgets to water but wants a plant that looks immaculate.

There are many varieties of Snake Plants but the care is all the same. In warm summer months, you can water it once a month or a bit more frequently if in direct sunlight. In cold winter months, one good soak should last you three months even if in direct sunlight.

If a prize were available for the most tolerant plant, the Snake Plant would definitely take home the award. Don't worry about it getting any sun - it can live completely in the dark! Think of this plant as a cactus you can't kill.

The most important thing to remember is that they can easily rot, so a free draining soil needs to be used.

Despite Snake Plants basically being one of the best houseplants to own when living in a small Japanese apartment, it's biggest selling point for me is the fact that it actually filters the air around you. Whereas most other plants release carbon dioxide at night, the Snake Plant continues to produce oxygen. So if you're feeling like your tiny, windowless Japanese apartment is stuffy and unwelcoming then a Snake Plant would be a great investment.

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Pothos If your apartment gets a little more sun and you want to be more of a hands-on plant parent, the Pothos is for you. It comes in gorgeous dark green, lime green, and marbled varieties. It likes to live in indirect sunlight and grows very quickly. Like the Peperomia, is hates having "wet feet" and prefers for you to let it dry out completely. Similarly Pothos also makes for beautiful cuttings that turn into new plants, and as a bonus, Pothos cuttings help other plant cuttings grow faster!

Pothos are house plants that are well known for being displayed on trellises and supports as a result of its vine-like appearance. If you are interested in growing your Pothos on a trellis, you must first train your Pothos to do so. Yes, you heard me right - you must train a plant! Good news for you, it's quite easy to do so. Simply wait unit your Pothos has grown a good amount of length to its vines and then hang your Pothos however you desire.

One important thing to mention about Pothos is that all parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. So, if you have dogs or cats be on alert that they don't accidentally eat it or easier yet - don't have this plant in your house.

How to: Propagate Throughout my guide I've mentioned propagation.

Propagation is the breeding specimens of a plant such as small cuttings of the parent plant that grow into their own plant. Propagation doesn't have to be a daunting task but it can be tricky; therefore, i don't recommend trying if you're a complete beginner to growing plants.

Propagation can be done simply by planting plant clippings into water and placing them in a spot that receives bright to moderate indirect sunlight. Be sure not the place in direct sunlight or super-low light and to change the water when it becomes murky.

Over the course of a few weeks you will see roots begin to grow from the clipping. Once you have some a root that at least 1 inch long, you're ready to pot your new baby plant! And now you have a new plant in your home.

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Those are the three indoor houseplants to brighten up your home with almost no extra responsibility on your part. Hopefully this motivated to take a leap of faith and finally add a little green and life to your tiny Japanese apartment.

LIFESTYLE

Bookmarked

Book reviews by Tara Henley

Red Rising A science fiction dystopian series that takes a different approach than those before it.

The Goldfinch A look at the Pulitzer winning coming-of-age story about a troubled young man following a life-changing childhood event.

Dark Matter A science fiction novel that leaves the reader questioning their own life choices and the paths not walked.

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Red Rising et me preface this review by making something clear: I hated the Hunger Games novels. I thought that the concept was brilliant, but the author, Susan Collins, created a bland love triangle out of (what should have been) a dystopian thriller. The idea itself wasn’t even originally her own as she was clearly influenced by Lord of the Flies and Battle Royale.

Pierce Brown’s first book in his series, Red Rising, is immediately comparable to the more popular Hunger Games series, although the overall concept is very different in terms of where each trilogy evolves and concludes.

The novel is set hundreds of years in the future, and humans have successfully terraformed Mars and many other planets.

Society is divided into a racist class system based on skin colour. The Reds are weak slaves who mine Mars and the Golds are genetically perfected, God-like giants who rule over the rest of the colours.

Darrow, a Red miner, is called to join a terrorist group that is focused on destroying the hierarchical society. They genetically modify him and make him look like a Gold so he can infiltrate the upper class. He enrolls at an elite school for Golds where students are forced to compete, often to the death, for glory and status

L

"My son, my son. Remember the chains.

When gold ruled with iron reins.

We roared and roared.

And twisted and screamed.

For ours, a vale of better dreams"

among their own colour.

Hopefully you’ve been able to draw several parallels between Darrow’s journey and Katniss’s, but don’t let the similarities fool you. Red Rising is well written, humorous and genuinely had me on the edge of my seat. Brown’s story also focuses on the repercussions of upheaving a wellevolved society, particularly one in which none of the slaves realize they are, in fact, slaves.

"Red Rising is well written, humorous and genuinely had me on the edge of my seat."

While I’ve not yet completed the Red Rising books, I have finished the original trilogy and I am eager to read more. I gave this book series a four-star rating only because I feel like there are definitely a few boring parts that should have been cut for clarity’s sake. I’ve read rumors that this series might be picked up for a television adaptation, and I really hope it will!

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The Goldfinch

LIFESTYLE

I

t wasn’t until after I started reading The Goldfinch that I realized it was recently adapted into a film with pretty abysmal reviews. Fortunately, the novel fairs much better in the eyes of most critics and art lovers alike.

The premise surrounds the young life of Theo Decker, who is a 13-year-old when his mother is killed while they are visiting the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.

Through the chaos and panic that ensues, Theo leaves the scene of the tragedy with a priceless painting in his possession: The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius (one of Rembrandt’s pupils). The novel follows Theo through his troubling adolescence following his mother’s death and leads him to become a self-destructing, bitter adult.

Tartt’s rich descriptions brings the reader into each scene, whether she is describing the desert sky in Nevada, the bustling alleys of the Red Light District or the claustrophobic streets of New York. She creates a sympathetic yet despicable protagonist through Theo and several other main characters.

Drug addiction, depression, PTSD and alcoholism are all illustrated through various characters and their subsequent, desperate actions.

Whether it’s money, purpose, love or redemption, everyone in this book craves something from the world.

"A great sorrow, and one that I am only beginning to understand: we don’t get to choose our own hearts"

"Tartt’s rich descriptions brings the reader into each scene whether she is describing the desert sky in Nevada ... or the claustrophobic streets of New York."

Having read the novel, I can see why the movie failed so miserably at box offices. It is a slow burn that takes place over the span of 14 years, not the non-stop action novel that the reader might expect from the opening pages. A series of stories from Theo’s adolescence are included to add to the overarching themes of mortality and fragility. In print, it works, but so much of the book is Theo’s inner monologue as he reflects back on his emotions (or lack thereof) of his childhood. It would be nearly impossible to translate this rich prose into visual media.

Overall, I would give this book four stars. I can see why many critics have mixed reviews of the story and find the characters to be “hollow representations” of vices, but I ultimately disagree with that sentiment. I think especially art lovers will thoroughly enjoy this novel’s comparison between media and human existence.

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Dark Dark Matter Matter

D

o you believe in the existence of the multiverse? Can you imagine multiple versions of yourself stretching across an infinite number of dimensions? If so, in which reality would the real “you” exist?

Dark Matter tackles the idea of the multiverse brilliantly with a compelling, emotional storyline that, while fictional, is based on several real physics theories.

The novel’s protagonist, Jason Dessen, is a physicist himself, and earlier in his life he passes up the opportunity to advance in his career when his girlfriend becomes pregnant.

Jason chooses the life of a teacher and father over the life of a renowned scientist, but he is ultimately happy with choice and has no regrets.

But in an alternate reality, Jason makes a very different decision. He continues on with his physics experiments and progresses his inventions. One day, he creates a device that allows its user to travel through multiple realities.

The plot kicks off when Jason the teacher is kidnapped by Jason the physicist, who is jealous of the life the other version of himself leads.

"For anyone who has wondered what their life might look like at the end of the road not taken."

They swap realities, and the book turns into a terrifying, science fiction-based Freaky Friday.

The author, Crouch, brilliantly forces the reader to question their own identity and self-worth. It gave me a minor existential crisis in the best possible way and I have since been raving about this book non-stop. If you’re a fan of science fiction, mystery or even horror, you will enjoy this thrill ride.

"It gave me a minor existential crisis in the best possible way."

I gave this book five stars on GoodReads before I’d even finished it (which, admittedly, I did in less than a day). This is the first book by Crouch that I’ve read but I’ve already put my name down on the library’s waiting list for all of his other novels.

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MUSIC REVIEWS

BY JAMES CHILDE

EXPAND YOUR MUSICAL HORIZONS BONNIE "PRINCE BILLY JONI MITCHELL SLEEP STEVE REICH THE FALL SCOTT WALKER

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The Selection

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Y

ou will have undoubtedly read suggestive articles (suggesticles?) ad nauseam on how to expand your own horizons in the shadow of the Corona cloud. Maybe you gave yourself a little project, like cooking, or toning your beach body for the summer of 2021. I wanted to give this time to a long list of albums to which I would not otherwise get around. Below are reviews of some of the ones I've so far traversed for anyone marginally interested; loathe as I am to recommend that a bloc of millennials spends this time of self-imposed isolation navel-gazing, instead of listening to what yet another white man thinks on something endlessly subjective.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness (1999) Americana In terms of raw introspection, BPB is up there with the best of the acoustic-guitar -wielding-plaid-shirt-wearing tortured souls with terrible haircuts. I must have played this through a good four or five times without thinking about it, and was struck by how brooding (and yet light and replayable) this is, particularly the middle section which is spotless. I love the way in which the slightly disjointed arrangements complement the subject matter in each of these songs. I'm likely a tad biased towards what is one of my favorite musical genres, but being held to a higher standard I feel it's fair to state Billy has earned a place in the alt-country all-star team here. If nothing else, stay for the moody and atmospheric notes it leaves without ever feeling fake, affected or overly obsessed with tugging on heartstrings.

Recommended for fond followers of the late David Berman (Silver Jews; Purple Mountains), or believers of David Byrne's more contemporary solo projects.

Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971) Singer/Songwriter, Folk A beautifully crafted record through which I floated very easily, even relative to other landmarks of this genre. A creeping world-weariness gives way to self-reflection in this former flower child. The old idealism is still there, but these songs are wise to the cheap promises of the previous decade and instead seek to embrace a deeper sense of belonging. I've an aversion to the sort of artists which albums like this have spawned, and struggle with prolonged exposure to Mitchells's vocal oscillations, but the arrangement is top-notch. Bearing a fondness for "California" and "My Old Man," it's easy to imagine this album faltering in the hands of some of Mitchell's contemporaries.

Recommended for fans of Joan Armatrading and James Taylor, and ill-supplied Valium dependents,

Sleep - Dopesmoker (2003) Stoner Metal In the three days it took for me to listen to the opening number of this two-track release, I played it while I was working, cooking, and exercising. Credit to Sleep for finding that right balance for music that's not good to listen to during any of these activities. This album is unapologetic and, in a way, impressive in its singular focus. I also found it to be impenetrable, though much too deliberately so. In my endeavours not to be too far removed from this San Jose-based ode to Drop C riffs, I attached myself to this stoner caravan for a feeble couple of playthroughs before resorting to Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees for a relative cool-down.

Recommended for those who spent their teen years stalking with Black Sabbath or Electric Wizard, and perhaps fans of Mastodon and Clutch out to get their hands even grimier.

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Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians (1978) Minimalism Without being the ablest of wordsmiths to begin with, I gave this three or four playthroughs and still struggled to verbalise how this one made me feel. Easily lulled in by the opening four sections, I could use words like "cerebral," "pulsating" and "hypnotic."

Some critics of Reich could tell you that it belongs in the same pile as Four Tet, with its stable pleasance that may require your attention while being too polite to demand it.

You'll have me tell you, however, that its minimalism doubles as versatility; blending seamlessly into the background of your workout routine or mundane spreadsheet admin is valuable but, frankly, this is music at its most experiential. Reich is responsible for fathering countless imitations that played their hands in the 80s and 90s, though very few of them come close to a record now 42 years old.

Recommended for anyone who has taken a liking to Brian Eno and Philip Glass. Anyone who holds less than overbearing reverence for Tubular Bells should also get along fine.

The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour (1982) Post-punk If you lack prior familiarity with The Fall, you might be in for a shock, notably due to Mark E. Smith's conveyance. So which inventory item will Mark E. use to beat us with this time? Whether it's a kettle plug to the ribcage or a rifle butt to the jawbone, his regime is relentless in its delivery of shock treatment over methodical craft. However, once you're indoctrinated the latter qualities begin to bleed through and, as intended, you learn to appreciate him on a different plane. And one might find fair hints of The Smiths in "Winter." Post-punk is not to everyone's taste, but this album provoked a greater devotion to it while breaking the mould of my usual listening.

Recommended for those already broken in by the likes of Joy Division and The Cure, or anyone who fancies delving into The Sound's other influences.

Scott Walker - Scott 3 (1969) Baroque Pop I had fun with this record, more than I could've expected after the first playthrough, helped in large part by a certain 'WTF' factor. I think the lyrics are marvellously peculiar (if you wade through ”Two Weeks...”’s aquatic metaphors). Musically, and in a similar vein to The Moody Blues, Elbow and early Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker imposes a cinematic charm on the everyday. First time around it's the action hero epics ("We Came Through") and elegies ("Big Louise") that steal the limelight. But it's in the darker corners that one finds the gold: the dissonant strings throughout "It's Raining Today," Walker's sense of humour, use of imagery and musical virtuosity come together beautifully at times - and all in rich baritone technicolour. I give this a moderate score for being genuinely original - and in some moments, arresting - while it's something to which I see myself returning only in the rarest of circumstances. Paving the way here for his own musical dementia in the 90s, this was in my book a good effort from a weird man.

Recommended for individuals with a penchant for The Beach Boys' and The Zombies' more soothing numbers. With more modern referencing, you could do worse than to work your way in via Arcade Fire or, more appropriately, Belle and Sebastian.

Think I'm being too harsh? Maybe there are some bangers out there you're eager to highlight to me? This is an ongoing project and I'm open to others' opinions and sharing a dialogue, so feel free to start one with me: jchilde91@gmail.com

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By Iggy Jeffery IginJapanPrints @ Etsy

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"Bowie" 80

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"Quarantino"

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Photo by Megan Luedtke

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Photo by Leah Burkett

Kagiko Life: School festival

I

by Karim Mohanna

n October, my main school celebrated their school festival. For the next two days, Kagaku Gijutsu High School was full of excitement and energy. The students and school staff had been hard at work planning an amazing school festival jammed packed with various fun events.

On the first day of the school festival there was a costume contest. I jumped at the chance to throw on my full "Duke Fleed" costume and show it to all my students. Much my students amazement, I strutted into school that morning in full costume. The teachers were so impressed with my costume that I was asked to introduce my costume on stage. I announced to the crowd of students that my name was Duke Fleed from the TV anime show, Grendizer. I told them Duke Fleed is a super robot pilot, then sang a Capella of the first few lines from the opening song. It was so much fun to walk around as Duke Fleed all day and I think my students also really enjoyed it.

Later, the parents association served up several delicious and homemade dishes such as curry rice, yakisoba, yakiniku. and frankfurters while the students sold yummy treats of popcorn,bubble tea, and other things.

Before the first day of festivities came to a close, I decided to give blood to the Japanese Red Cross whose van was stationed just in front of our school. It made my feel like a real-life super hero!

The second day of the school festival was just as exciting as the first. In the morning, there was a huge karaoke event. Most the students and teachers were jumping in on the action so I decided to participate as well. Being used to performing on stage, I felt right in my element, singing a song from the rock band BON JOVI entitled "Because we can." It was fun to entertain the students and audience members. Those two days participating in the school festival are some of my favorite memories in Japan. I was happy to have a part in the festival and I can't wait until next year!

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A Yukata Tutorial

D

By Nyssa Giangregorio

id you know Japan has four seasons?

Joking aside, Japanese culture does seem to change seasonally. Be it the produce they eat, the flowers they enjoy, or the drinks at Starbucks, each season has something to look forward to.

Wafuku ( ), Japanese traditional clothing, is no different, specifically

和服

kimono have different styles for different seasons. There are kimono made of silk, wool, or cotton; lined, unlined, and padded; formal, informal;and that’s not even beginning to look at the colors and patterns which are also seasonal! The good news is that, while kimono can be incredibly difficult to wear properly, the summer yukata is so easy everyone can do it! Summer is on its way, and you’ll need something cute to wear on your firework dates anyway.

Natasha, Amanda, and Ariel at the Eiheiji Festival, via @OneOclock_Jump on Instagram

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浴⾐)?

What is a yukata ( A yukata is a casual style of traditional dress in Japan, almost exclusively worn in the summer or at traditional inns as onsen clothes.

They are usually made with cotton or other synthetic materials, and have no lining. This means that they are very thin, no bright panties! Also, due to the stiff material, they’re surprisingly easy to fold into the clean lines people associate with kimono.Yukata also differ from more formal kimono in their patterns.

Maybe because they’re usually worn to festivals, especially by young people and performers, the colors and patterns on yukata are bright and cheerful. They usually have repeating patterns of flowers or geometric patterns.

Of course, men’s yukata tend to be darker and more simple in patterns, usually opting for something geometric.

The advantage is that men also have thinner fabric (cooler, but risky), and it’s also as simple as wearing a robe. Give and take I guess.If a yukata isn't really your style, you could also look into a jinbei ( ).

Jinbei traditionally were only for men. A kind of shorts and wrap shirt ensemble.

Recently, however, stores have been selling ones meant for women as well, in the same fabrics as you see yukata made. I see more and more women in these at firework festivals every year! I bought one for my brother, and he practically lives in it over the summer. Big recommend.

甚平

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Photos by Sawyer Scherbenske

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When buying a yukata

My yukata set with tsuke obi

Yukata have a wide range of prices, and it’ll boil down to what you want to look like in the end.

You can get some yukata sets, especially online, for as little as ¥2000 or for as much as a couple ¥10,000. Touristy places usually have higher prices for lower quality products, so I recommend looking locally. Also, yukata, as most things in Japan, are sold seasonally! That means once they’re gone from stores, that’s it.

You’ll have to look online.

More or less, male and female yukata come in one-size fits all.

For a lot of us, especially the well endowed, this can make buying a yukata more difficult, but don’t lose hope.

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Sometimes you can find them in larger and longer sizes. There’s also the option of buying online or even special ordering them.

The most important part for both genders is that it can fit over your hips. With 104cm hips on a good day, this is my biggest struggle personally. The side seam of the yukata should fit roughly halfway on your hips. A little forward is OK, too far behind is not and you should look for a larger size.

Most department stores will help you try one on if you’re interested in buying. Don’t let them eyeball you and tell you it won’t fit. It’s becoming less common, but sometimes people still assume that western people automatically won’t fit into kimono. Of course it’s not true, but we do sometimes need some tricks to help us look polished, which I’ll get into later.

The length of yukata is also usually one-size, but depending on the store they may sell it according to your height. For women’s yukata, you want some extra fabric at the end, roughly 30cm (1ft). If you don’t have that much extra, but it’s the most beautiful pattern you’ve seen, don’t worry about it! For men’s, there’s not usually any excess, so the bottom should hit somewhere around your upper ankle.

CULTURE

For men’s, as you probably guessed, there is no pre-tied option. The kaku obi ( ) is more common and used in any situation from at home to weddings depending on the material it’s made from. There is also the heko obi ( ), for men between the ages of 15 and 25, but usually isn’t worn in public by anyone over the age of 25. If you’re not sure which one your yukata comes with, you can always ask the clerk so you can look up how to tie it properly.

Finally, the shoes! Geta ( ) are wooden sandals traditionally worn with informal kimono and yukata.

They sound uncomfortable, but modern ones really aren’t that bad! Many yukata are also sold in sets including geta. There are two main styles of geta - twopronged geta, and modern geta.

The two-pronged style is what most people think when they hear geta. With two “teeth” on the bottom, and a flat piece of wood on top, they’re incredibly lightweight, but not terribly comfortable in my opinion.

⻆帯

兵児帯

下駄

But wait, there’s more! The wide belt around women’s yukata is called an obi ( ). There are two different styles that you can choose from - hanhaba obi ( ), or tsuke obi ( ).

Most yukata will be sold with tsuke (pre-tied) obi as it’s the easiest as the musubi ( ), or bow, is already tied separately.

It’s very obvious this is tsuke obi as these bows are not particularly small. But, the hanhaba (half size) obi gives you the most freedom to try different styles, and there are a lot of them! When sold with the yukata, it would be completely flat. Be careful that you end up buying the style you want!

帯

半幅帯

つけ帯

結び

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They’re nice if you enjoy the “geta-geta” sound and don’t have to do a lot of walking. The more modern geta resemble standard sandals a bit more with ergonomic wood bases. Both styles have traditional fabric thongs that you can choose to coordinate accordingly.

For women, it’s considered “cute” if your geta are a little too small for you feet, 1cm or so, so that your heel hangs off the back. Handy, if your feet are over 25cm.

When you buy your yukata and accessories, usually they’re sold in sets (should include yukata, obi, geta, and koshihimo ties to keep it secure when worn), but if you have the opportunity to mix and match your own, here’s some things to keep in mind. Matching things too exactly is considered poor taste.

If you imagine the color wheel, it’s usually a better choice to choosecomplementary colors versus colors from the same family.

The color combination of red and green is very popular, along with purple and yellow. Any variation within these ranges is also perfectly acceptable, such as pink and green for a more sakura look! A good trick is to pick one accent color from the yukata or kimono and go with that. Much like western fashion, white and metallics are usually considered neutral, but don’t wear an obi with gold or silver with a yukata!

It’s way too formal, so you’ll look like someone wearing flip-flops with a suit.

How to wear a yukata Wearing yukata isn’t difficult, but it’s easier to understand when you’re able to see the steps. Therefore, I’m going to give you some troubleshooting tips here, and recommend that when you’re ready to wear it, check out Uniqlo’s site and other YouTube tutorials provided at the end of this article.

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Things to keep in mind: The right side MUST be under the left. The opposite is reserved for the dearly departed.

Neutral underwear is a good idea. If you’re having trouble fitting the yukata over your bust, try wearing a sports bra or other similarly flattening top.

If you’re uncomfortable simply wearing underwear, you can wear a tank top, undershirt, leggings, etc. under your yukata, just make sure that the collar is low enough that it won’t show.

When you twist your obi around, make sure you’re going to the right, in the direction of your yukata. If you go left against the overlap, your top layer will become loose.

If you’re having trouble with a lumpy yukata, slide your fingers under the ties and work them to your sides.

You can fold the extra fabric over itself to give an overall smoother look. You want a smooth front and back, the sides can be hidden by your sleeves!

If you have hair that is at least shoulder length, you should wear your tied hair up.

Some people still follow traditional rules, such as don’t wear a red obi if you are over 18, but most people don’t care. Especially because you’re clearly not Japanese, they will simply be impressed that you’ve managed to dress yourself. Wearing kimono is becoming a lost skill in Japan.

For women, both sides of the collar should cross around the soft spot at the base of your neck. Men, just make sure your chest isn’t out.

That’s OK for a “bad boy” look, but it’s also considered trashy.

Make sure the collar in the back isn’t too much against your neck. You don’t need to leave the traditional gap like in kimono, but it shouldn’t touch your skin either.

If your waist is too thin compared to your bust and hips, you can use towels to give yourself a more cylindrical shape (necessary for kimono, optional for yukata).

To get the slight angle at the bottom of your yukata (as seen in the video below), line up the corner of the left side with the crease on the right front panel. The left corner should be 1-2cm higher than the hem of the right side. This isn’t the most necessary step, but makes it look like you know what you’re doing!

Don’t store things in your sleeves, you will drop them. Yukata bags are definitely a thing and also sold in many stores!

Fold your yukata CORRECTLY. If you don’t, you’ll make it difficult for yourself to wear the next time (see how-to below).

Finally, Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Whether from ALTs or Japanese friends and teachers.

They’ll be eager to help you discover another part of Japanese culture!

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Video Guides

Picture How-to: Uniqlo’s how to wear a yukata and tie an obi: https://www.uniqlo.com/yukata/uk/popup/kitsuke.html Video: How to tie a tsuke obi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WonQaGlSiFo

Video: How to wear a women’s yukata and also how to tie a hanhaba obi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXb3EiM0Bhs Video: How to wear men’s yukata and tie the obi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRB0WDLNJz8 Picture How-to: Folding your yukata: https://japan.yukata-kitsuke.com/katazuke.html Video: Folding your yukata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDeSvIrrvHM

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2 3

4

5

Ramen Quest

By Sawyer Scherbenske

A

side alley restaurant with dense black kanji on a bright neon sign catches your attention. It's cold, you’re hungry, and you live in a country where you’re mostly illiterate, but even you can make out the katakana. It says ‘Ramen.’

My first ramen experience cost me $4.21, warmed my soul, and changed my life. It was a light shoyu bowl that inspired me to take on a quest: to find the best ramen in Japan. My noodly quest continues here in Fukui, and it’s time to share some of the big hits.

Here are my Fukui top 5 ramen restaurants so far: Fukui

#5 - Kukuru

Kukuru is a small, locally owned restaurant in downtown Fukui, and a perfect example of a local ramen experience. It’s a family-run restaurant, and while you wait Mom & Pop chat you up at the bar, making sure to take care of you in every way they can. While their ramen options are limited, the shoyu and tsukemen they have is pretty great, and topped with bamboo chutes, green onion, and a big cut of pork. More than the ingredients though, what makes Kukuru special is that Mom & Pop ramen atmosphere. Mom knows everyone, and everyone there will regale you with stories, gossip, and Fukui info regardless of if you speak Japanese or not. Some people go to bars to meet people; I go to Torippu.

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Fukui Do you like meat? Because meat blooms at Oichi. Their miso,, shoyu, or tonkotsu comes with 2 large cuts of chashu that fan out across the bowl, and the chashumen comes with a whopping 9 cuts of pork that circle around your bowl like a meaty fortification.

#4 - Oichi

When it comes to quantity, Oichi is king.

Their moyashi bowl has bean sprouts filling the bowl, and they don’t seem to be afraid of dumping bags of ingredients into a bowl. Their broth is the average shoyu, miso, shio that you can find most other places, but the sheer amount of noodles and ingredients that they fill the bowl with is reason enough to come on an empty stomach.

#3 Nidaime Ramen Sekai

Sabae One night, I got on my knees and prayed to the ramen powers above. I asked “Ramen-sama, will I ever find someone I love as much as ramen?” After going to Nidaime Ramen Sekai, the ramen doesn’t matter because I want to marry this restaurant. However, this place’s ramen can’t be trusted; underneath it’s tonkotsu-shoyu broth is a powerful secret ingredient: garlic.

The tonkotsu-shoyu, salt, and miso ramen here all come with an option of having a healthy amount of garlic added in for free, and it carries a big kick in flavor. Speaking of optionals, Ramen Sekai also has appetizers including onigiri, fried chicken, rice bowls, and gyoza.

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#2 Iwamotoya

Echizen City Ramen broth is usually a shade of brown, but the thick white broth at Torippu most likely comes from the pieces of heaven that they put into it.

Torippu uses thick broth, and the noodles are just a little al dente.

Torippu goes the extra kilometer by adding cut-up red onions in addition to the bamboo and crunchy negi. That crunch seems to come from the freshness of the ingredients at Torippu.

Best yet, when only broth remains, you can get a small bowl with rice, pork, corn, and a dollop of wasabi. From there, you recycle the leftover broth to make a bizarrely good ramen-rice soup.

Genius!

Echizen, Fukui, etc.

Iwamotoya has become a large chain restaurant, but for good reason: their quality and variety. After you get your ticket from the vending machine and show a chef, they’ll ask you how thick you want the noodles, how oily you want the broth, and how thick you want it.

They then cook it up, put in some green onions and charred bamboo chutes, and send you to ramen paradise. Which circle of paradise you ascend to depends heavily on what you order. Some ramen places have different broths, but use the same toppings on all of them, but not Iwamotoya. Iwamotoya adds sesame seeds to the salt ramen, shredded onion to the shoyu, and real oysters to the oyster ramen. Even if you’re picky, Iwamotoya will have something to fall in love with.

#1 Torripu

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Sizzlin' SUMMER

Recipes

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CHEF LEAH

dishes. I started out with probably the most famous Japanese dish, sushi. I've always left sushi-making to

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS

the professionals, thinking that it would be too difficult to make at home, but I was wrong. With the right tools, sushi is actually quite easy to make and it doesn't have to be expensive! You can make sushi with only the vegetables already in your home or substitute fish for canned tuna and it will turn out deliciously. Follow my original (on-the-fly) recipe and you can create a beautiful sushi spread perfect for a lunch under the cherry blossom trees.

With summer quickly approaching, I wanted to perfect my barbecue skills by preparing all the fixin's of a

Spring and summer are easily my two favorite

traditional Japanese BBQ. Shockingly, this required a

seasons. Spring brings cherry blossoms and picnics

lot more effort and necessary ingredients to prepare

while summer brings beach vibes and barbecues. With

than simply rolling sushi. After interviewing my fellow

the recent quarantine, I'm sure many of us filled our

Japanese co-workers , I received an overwhelming

time either binge-watching TV shows or deciding to

response of Yakiniki and Yakisoba. Alongside my

try something new. As for me, I chose the latter with

adopted Japanese grandmother, we managed to

my boredom bringing me into the kitchen.

make a mouthwatering display; chicken and scallion

I love Japanese food but I always struggle to find the

skewers paired with lightly seasoned grilled

energy after a long day of work to make something

sweetcorn, and a large helping of yakisoba. Lastly,

new or - at the very least - even know where to

for dessert, juicy slices of watermelon, all of which

begin! However, with my new-found free time, I took

screamed summer. I have written a simplified version

it upon myself to finally get into the kitchen and try

of the recipe I prepared with my Obaachan for you to

my hand at making delicious, traditional Japanese

cook and impress your friends with. Happy Cooking!

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H O W

T O

M A K E

T H E

P E R F E C T

Hanami Lunch

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Photos & Recipe

by Leah Burkett

HANAMI LUNCH SET Makes 18 Sushi & 4 Sandwiches

Prep 35 Mins

Cooking 5 Mins

Sushi

Place

3 sheets sushi seaweed

one at Diaso) and spread

sushi rice

1/2 pickled diakon 1 cucumber

1 canned tuna

seaweed

on

a

bamboo mat (you can find an even layer of sushi rice with a rice paddle.

1 tbsp mayonnaise

With a sharp knife, cut the

2 eggs

and cream cheese into long

4 oz cream cheese

cucumber,

soy sauce

strips. Then place the cream

Sandwiches

in one roll and the diakon in

wasabi

3 Slices of Bread 1 can tuna fish

1 tbsp mayonnaise

pickled

diakon,

cheese, tuna, and cucumber the

each

other. roll

Tightly

and

with a knife.

roll

slice

up

them

2 ham slices

Next,

Extra

special square-shaped pan.

2 cheese slices 1/2 cup whipped cream

1/2 cup strawberries (uncut)

pour

scramble

the

eggs

mixture

and

into

a

When cooked, remove from

squares and place over rice.

For the sandwiches, make

tuna salad to your taste.

Evenly spread it across one slice

of

bread

and

then

cover it with another slice.

On

top

sandwich, ham

and

of

your

place

both

cheese

tuna the

slices

before topping it off with another piece of bread. And you've created the perfect three-tiered sandwich.

Lastly,

place

strawberries serving cream.

cup

into

with

a

uncut

small

whipped

heat, cut into smaller

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H O W

T O

M A K E

T H E

P E R F E C T

Outdoor BBQ

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Photos & Recipe

OUTDOOR BARBECUE Makes 1 serving Yakitori & 4 servings yakisoba

by Leah Burkett

Prep 50 Mins

Cooking 25 Mins

Yakitori

In a saucepan mix together

For Yakisoba, slice the onion,

green onions/ scallions

Bring the sauce to a boil and

thin

1 lb chicken thigh

all

vegetable oil (for cooking)

then reduce the heat to a

Yakitori (Sauce)

Soak the green part of the

1/2 cup soy sauce & mirin 1/4 cup sake & water 2 tsp brown sugar

Yakisoba

the

sauce

ingredients.

simmer for about 30 minutes.

scallions in the mixture. While prepping, soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes.

carrot,

and

onions

into

strips.

cabbage

mushrooms

Then 2

into

cut

inch

into

green

pieces,

bite-sized

pieces, and meat into 1 inch pieces.

First cook the meat until no

longer pink, add onions carrots

Cut the chicken and scallions

and cook for 2 minutes. Add

1 carrot

scallions

Then

2 green onions/scallions

have 4 chicken pieces and 3

3/4 lb sliced pork belly

Coat with sauce then place on

then

3 shiitake mushrooms

alternating order. You should

mushrooms

4 cabbage leaves

scallions per skewer.

Lastly, transfer the ready made

1 pkg yakisoba noodles

4-6 tbsp Yakisoba sauce

Extra

2 whole corn

1/4 of a watermelon

line

the

on

chicken

the

and

cabbage and cook until tender.

1/2 onion

skewer

in

grill. Cook for 12 minutes and

flip skewers half-way through,

add

minute,

scallions

and

cook

and

for

1

yakisoba noodles into the mix.

Pour over the sauce, mix and serve.

coating with another layer of

Bonus: Grill and cut the corn

ready to eat!

watermelon into triangles.

sauce. Once cooked, they are

into

small

slices.

Cut

the

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おかしは じ、 いまはなんじ？ 3

SNACK TIME IS AT 3 O’CLOCK, WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?

RIDDLE & WEEP

BY LEAH BURKETT

パンはパンでも⻝べられな いパンは、なに？ BREAD IS BREAD, BUT WHAT BREAD CAN YOU NOT EAT?

1

⽇に 回あるのに、 年に 回しかないものって何？ 2

1

1

WHAT HAPPENS TWICE IN A DAY, BUT ONLY ONCE IN A YEAR?

ボールなのに、しかく いものは何ですか？ WHAT IS SQUARE, AND YET A BALL?

WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE EATS TIGERS?

お料理なのに、⻝器だっ て⾔われるものなーんだ WHAT IS IT THAT IS FOOD, BUT LOOKS LIKE A DISH? ANSWERS: ON PAGE 120

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Crossword

BY

ANSWERS

KALI

ON

MICHELLE

PAGE:

120

PUZZLE

22 Across Across 1. A HABITUAL DRUNKARD 4. TO GIVE LIFE TO 9. OPERA SOLO 13. ARU ____ (SHOPPING CENTER) 14. JAPANESE BEER 15. A FRIEND IN FRIENDS 16. REQUEST 17. ALT INVASION 18. ANIMAL PARKS 20. ONE NIGHT ____ 21. REGRET 22. JESSICA LANGE TV SHOW FOR SHORT 23. NOT NEW 24. A SHORT COMEDY SKETCH 27. PERSONAL NINE-DIGIT NO. 29. STEAM ROOM 30. FUKUI HAS BEAUTIFUL _____ 31. MORE STUPID THAN 32. TINA TURNER'S EX-HUSBAND 33. LUXEM ENDING 34. HALF OF THE STAR-CROSSES LOVERS

38. A STAKE MADE IN POKER 39. MY DOG ____ MY HOMEWORK 40. ___TOP 41. FUJI, HAKUSAN, AND TATEYAMA 43. LIKE A RUBY OR EMERALD 47. THESE ARE USED TO EXCUSE OUR SHENANIGANS

50.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

A

FEMALE

CHICKEN

TO

BOTHER

AN

___

ONE

OF

OF

OPPOSITE HALF

OF

CORN

FOUR OF

THE

SUITS WSW

STAR-CROSSED

Down 1. A HYPERACTIVE PERSON 2. MORE OR LESS 3. OCTOPUS IN JAPAN 4. SOUNDS FROM SHEEP 5. __ __ _ BOY OR GIRL? 6. JASMINE'S TIGER 16. REQUEST 7. STARTS LOSING HAIR 8. THE BACK PART OF THE BODY 9. VACCINATION SITE, OFTEN 10. LIKE LION SOUNDS 11. PROBLEMS 12. PUT OUT A CIGARETTE 19. JAPANESE ESSAY 23. OPEN PROJECTOR FILM 24. APIA IS THE CAPITAL 25. CHEMICALLY ACTIVE 26. BULLS EYE SHOPPING STORE 27.TURN ____, MECHANICAL GATES 28. LIKE IN JAPANESE 29. WRITTEN SCRIPT FOR A MOVIE,

LOVERS

57.

TO

HAVE

FOR FUN

34.

SKI

SHORT

___

IN

35. ABSOLUTE 36. TO BROWN 37. TUPAC'S RIVAL 42. LEGAL TENDER 44. TO MAKE A LIVING 45. BOXER TYSON 46. TO SWINDLE 48. KEANU'S NAME IN THE MATRIX 49. ___ YOU READY? 50. MUSLIM PILGRIMAGE 51. ____-FRIENDLY (BE GREEN)

36 Down

KATSUYAMA

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n A

w s

s r e RIDDLE & WEEP

にじ ( T W O O ’ C L O C K ) 2 A N S W E R : フライパン 3 ANSWER: ち (CHI) 4 A N S W E R : 段ボール ( C A R D B O A R D ) 5 A N S W E R : トラック ( T R U C K ) 6 A N S W E R : サラダ ( S A L A D ) 1 ANSWER:

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JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Credits JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Travel Travel Cover Page Photo by Megan Luedtke Photo Series: Quarter Trips Written & edited by Megan Luedtke Photos by Megan Luedtke Winter Travel Diaries Written by Amy Rowland Photos by Amy Rowland Edited by Nikkole Martin Christmas in Tokyo Wrtten by Karim Mohanna Photos by Karim Mohanna Edited by Leah Burkett The Impossible Road Trip Written by Leah Burkett & Kali Michelle Photos by Leah Burkett Edited by Leah Burkett

Community Community Cover Page Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske Leavers' Interviews Written by Sarah Schafer, Sarah Dake, & Natasha Taliferro Photos by Sarah Schafer, Sarah Dake, & Natasha Taliferro Edited by Nikkole Martin Alumni Interviews Written by Angela Hinck, Emer Geraghty, Devon Smith, & Odelie Labelle Photos by Angela Hinck, Emer Geraghty, Devon Smith, & Odelie Labelle Edited by Leah Burkett Hidden Talents Written by Leah Burkett, David, Sudyka, Johnathan Etchart, & Kali Michelle Photos by David, Sudyka, Johnathan Etchart, and Kali Michlle Edited by Leah Burkett

Halloween Makeup Tutorial Written by Kali Michelle Photos by Kali Michelle Edited by Leah Burkett & Nikkole Martin

Lifestyle Lifestyle Cover Page Photo by Kim Carrero Personal Motivations Written by Karim Mohanna Photos by Canva.com and Sawyer Scherbenske Book Covers by Simon & Schuster Ltd, Ebury Publishing, and Holy Bible Publishers Edited by Nikkole Martin Growing Guidebook Written by Ellis Lee Photos by Ellis Lee and Sawyer Scherbenske Edited by Leah Burkett

Kagiko Life: School Festival Written by Karim Mohanna Photos by Karim Mohanna & Leah Burkett Edited by Leah Burkett A Yukata Tutorial Written by By Nyssa Giangregorio Photos by Nyssa Giangregorio & Sawyer Scherbenske Clipart from openclipart.org & canva.com Edited by Nikkole Martin Ramen Quest Written by Sawyer Scherbenske Photos by Sawyer Scherbenske Backgrounds by Canva.com Edited by Nikkole Martin Sizzlin' Summer Recipes Written and edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Leah Burkett & Canva Japanese Riddles Written and edited by Leah Burkett Crossword Written by Kali Michelle Edited by Leah Burkett

Bookmarked Written by Tara Henley Book covers by Del Rey Books, Little, Brown and Publishing, and The Crown Publishing Group Edited by Nikkole Martin

Magazine

Music Reviews Written by James Childe Album covers from Palace Records, A&M Studios, Southern Lord Records, ECM, Kamera, Philips Records Edited by Leah Burkett

Front Cover Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske

F-Art Art by Tara Henley, Iggy Jeffery, and Leah Burkett Edited by Nikkole Martin

Table of Contents Photos by Kali Michelle, Angela Hinck, Leah Burkett, & Ellis Lee Edited by Leah Burkett & Nikkole Martin

Culture Culture Cover Page Photo by Megan Luedtke

Editors' Messages Photos by Meg Luedtke, Leah Burkett & Nikkole Martin

Answers and Credits Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske Edited by Nikkole Martin & Leah Burkett Back Cover Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske Edited by Nikkole Martin All font from Canva.com

Spring/Summer issue 2020 Photo by Sawyer Scherbenske

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 121

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