How to access Japan-only iPhone apps
on Dec 31, 1969By Joshua Zimmerman One of the most annoying things about the iTunes Store is the way it treats different countries. Every iTunes Account is linked to the country of origin, usually the country the credit card is from. While this isn’t a problem...

Three hiking trails with outstanding views of Mt. Fuji
on Dec 31, 1969A view of Mt. Fuji from a Mitsutouge hiking trail in Yamanashi prefecture. Editor's Note: For those who may be planning an excursion to Yamanashi after reading the Wide Island's story on Japan's wine country, why not plan to spend some time explorin...

Scootin’ Around: Getting your 50cc license
on Dec 31, 1969Courtney's scooter. (Photo by Courtney Coppernoll) By Courtney Coppernoll Note: This article refers only to the 50cc scooter licensing process! Larger classes of 2-wheeled vehicles (anything more than 50cc) require a practical driving test and may...

O-susume desu! Marvelous fall foliage at Mitaki Temple
on Dec 31, 1969The tahoto on the grounds of Mitaki Temple By Gail Meadows Like all gaijin in Japan, I’ve seen my share of temples, and after two years here I admit the luster of Japan’s ancient temples has dulled a bit for me. Temples tend to all look the sam...

Language Learning Tool Reviews: Rikaichan
on Dec 31, 1969Hiroshima-ken JET Jonathan Fisher, based in Kure, reviews various tools for learning Japanese, including books, websites, flashcards, podcasts and more. Tools are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the best. By Jonathan Fisher Rikaichan...

Sanfrecce Update: With 3 games remaining, third place within reach
on Dec 31, 1969Sanfrecce's NAKAJIMA Koji and Gamba Osaka's NAKAZAWA Sota challenge for the ball during their teams' 2-2 draw at the Big Arch. (Photo by Stephen Packer) Itsukaichi JET Stephen Packer fills us in on the latest news on our hometown soccer team, Sanfre...

Building Japanese vocabulary — the fun way
on Dec 31, 1969Buddy Lindsey blogs about Japan and Japanese langage, history and culture at his blog Dumb Otaku. Here he shares a method combining flashcards and videos that he's used to successfully build his Japanese vocabulary. By Buddy Lindsey Guest contributo...

The Japanese Way: No insulation, no central heating
on Dec 31, 1969Kotatsu Kitty says hello. (Photo by Matthew McVickar / Published under Flickr Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Editor's Note: Today's column debuts a recurring feature called The Japanese Way. In this monthly column, Courtney Coppernoll wil...

Get ready for a ride! Getting your Japanese driver’s license
on Dec 31, 1969Vivien's very kawaii car. (Photo by Vivien Tsuong) By Vivien Tsuong Life sucks without a car, especially if you live in the inaka. If you plan on living in Japan for at least a year and know you must get a Japanese driver’s license, don’t do wha...

Nihongo for Beginners: I-dentity crisis
on Dec 31, 1969Photo by Oishi Kuranosuke / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Originally published Oct. 4, 2009 By Nicholas Bradley One of the telltale signs of a beginner in Japanese is the insistence on using “I” when speaking. To give a more natural sound to your speech, dro...