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13 Jun 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
When you only have two hours in the city, you don’t freaking dilly dally. As the rain went pitter-patter on the ground, my heart went thud, thud, thud as I half-wondered if I could remember where Sri Lanka Kumamoto was located. I needn’t have worr...
10 Jun 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Plonk! The space heater stopped dead. Suddenly. Stifling an inward groan, I struggled to get up, fighting against the invasive cold which was determined to chain me to the futon. I was on a student exchange programme in the Japanese countryside, an...
3 Jun 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Kumamoto is home to several architectural marvels. Kumamoto Castle, which has achieved fame as one of Japan’s top three castles, is distinguished by its steep sloping walls. It was a feature thoughtfully incorporated to deter intruders. Kumamoto is...
3 Jun 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
these padi plants ushered into the new Reiwa era,they are beaten,left, right, centerby the sprightly June breeze that sometimes morphs intoa frightening storm that hasthe wife grimacing in dismay Still, They hold their ground I hope my son will grow...
20 Mar 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
“Welcome to my part of the world,” I chuckled gregariously, motioning for my newfound friend to partake in the delectable plate of cheeses. I had earlier agreed to host this fellow Singaporean through a website called Couchsurfing. Now that we had fi...
19 Feb 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
I'm sure you must have heard a lot about the Merlion and the Japanese lucky cat but have you heard of the Mercat? I was surprised when I encountered the Mercat for the first time. In actual fact, it is made up of the face of the Japanese lucky cat an...
22 Jan 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
A year ago, I was asked how I would justify the success of my involvement in the classroom during my JET interview. I realised today that I taught my sixth-graders enough vocabulary to make the goal of teaching them the first verse of “Sukiyaki” wit...
18 Jan 2026 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
Loud pop music blared in Kentaro Udon Shop, masking the cries of the toddler waiting for seats with her doting parents. All around me, efficiency had cast its spell on everyone. Diners of all ages and fashion styles slurped their noodles noisily, eng...
21 Dec 2025 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
A trip to Sakurajima encapsulated what I want to do with my life. After my freedom post on it went viral, a friend privately messaged me to urge me to buy Sakurajima mikan. THEY ARE IN SEASON! she shrieked in all caps. Normally, I wouldn’t bother...
19 Dec 2025 1 minute read 0 comments cryotosensei
“Which transparent coin bank do you want?” I asked my son. “What’s the meaning of transparent, btw?” that was my real intention of asking him to make a decision. “let light pass through it,” he replied. Okay, he passed my formative assessment. He h...
