On the Japanese admiration of having “a small face” [顔が小さい]

I have been wondering about this complement for a long time. If you have been to Japan, or if you watch Japanese variety shows, you may hear this comment made on somebody’s physical appearanc…

Thoughts on the COVID-19 Vaccination

There is so much nonsense happening around the world both globally and locally. I get that. Still, let me speak out my recent thoughts on the global vaccination because I cannot stop myself from th…

Long troubled with my name’s spelling…

No one will imagine Japanese names can also be caught into the labyrinth of English romanization… Neither did I. But here I am. When I stared learning English as a 4-year-old child in 1999, m…

Brief Art History about Tiger Paintings in Japan- How Mere Cats Transformed into Fierce Tigers.

When art historians analyze Japanese paintings of tigers, they tend to say, “This tiger looks mere a cat, failed to become a tiger.” –What does it mean? Tigers are not native to t…

Summer After College Graduation…

Hello again! I am still alive and well. How do you do everyone?  While I have not written anything, I have submitted my undergraduate senior thesis about one of my favorite contemporary artists, We…

Sometimes, It’s Okay to Be Vulnerable. —弱くてもいいんじゃない？と思ったり。

（日本語は英語の下にあります） I have been busy with school for the last couple of weeks. (What a typical excuse, right?) I feel like I am finally back to my daily routine as a U.S. college student. I finished up…

Japanese TV Shows’ Influence on Foreigners’ Images of Japan — 海外が持つ日本のイメージって？[テレビ番組から考えてみた]

（日本語は英語の下にあります。）When I first came to the US, I was surprised that many students around my age could name at least one favorite Japanese TV show. The same thing happened when I studied in Belgium to…

Funny Flight Stories from International Students — 留学生あるある：国際線でのクレイジーな体験

（日本語は英語の下にあります。） If you have taken multiple international flights before, I am pretty sure that you have at least one funny episode from your flight experiences. Not necessarily such occurrence mak…

Inflation of the Word “Love?”—「愛」を言葉にする国としない国

（日本語は英語の下にあります。）As I grew up watching American TV shows, I have always wondered, “Why American people always say ‘I love you’ before ending their phone calls??” It is just something we never do in …

This is How I Got to Perform in the Feminist Play in College. — 大学でフェミニズム演劇に出た話し

（日本語版は英語版の下にあります。） I wonder how many of you have heard of the play, “The Vagina Monologues” before. I know hearing or reading the word vagina makes some of you uncomfortable–I totally g…