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15 Sep 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Many global citizens recognise Kumamon, but fewer people know that he hails from Kumamoto Prefecture. Well, Kumamoto is right smack in the middle of Kyushu, so savvy and intrepid travellers may want to use it as a base for their fun times on this...
7 Sep 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
I was living in Japan when the competition to nominate the most popular mascot was launched. I remember thinking to myself that it was so silly of the Japanese to get themselves worked up over something so kiddish. Needless to say, I didn’t put in a...
4 Sep 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
One of the best things about living in Kumamoto City was that the zoo was a stone’s throw away from my apartment. I’m not kidding. It was literally a 5-min walk from my place. What made this serendipitous outcome sweeter was that all newly minted fo...
2 Sep 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Nabegataki Falls Bird Paradise Stepping behind the fake waterfall at Bird Paradise instantly transported me back to Nabegataki Falls in Kumamoto, Japan. Renowned as a power spot, Nabegataki Falls provided me with much-needed respite from...
18 Aug 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
I don't consider myself a gourmand, but I've realized that I have plenty of food photos on my phone. This series showcases the meals my parents-in-law painstakingly prepare for me during our annual reunion. They exemplify the thoughtful care and おも...
17 Aug 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
1. Matcha Truffle Chocolates 7 Eleven may be a humble convenience store, but it doesn't mean culinary innovations don't happen there. In a delightful case of East meets West, matcha is paired with truffle, yielding an interesting interplay of tastes...
11 Aug 2024 1 minute read 1 comment cryotosensei
When we were dating, my then-girlfriend once took me to a ramen restaurant, where they served…tomato ramen. Based in Kumamoto and having developed a preference for rich tonkotsu (pork broth-based) ramen, I thought it was an underwhelming option. Non...
4 Aug 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Visited Kanazawa many years ago actually. But needed to come up with sample exercises for my students, so chose this photo. Dear Diary, I had a great time at Kanazawa today. I visited the Old Quarter in the afternoon because it is a famous tourist...
21 Jun 2024 3 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Kyushu is the southernmost of Japan's 4 main islands and comprises 7 prefectures, namely Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Saga, Kagoshima, Oita, Miyazaki and Nagasaki. It may not be as well known as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, but is is regarded highly by the Japanese...
19 Jun 2024 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Mr Hirobumi Ito, a native of Yamaguchi, was Japan’s first prime minister. This proud tradition has continued, and even now, the number of prime ministers hailing from Yamaguchi is higher than the number from any other prefecture. But what else is Ya...
