Japan

Your Stories From Abroad
Japan
It’s Hard To Eat When Your Dinner Is Watching You
Live squid tastes even better when you catch it yourself. I learned this on a September afternoon in the sleepy town of Hirado, Japan. My friend had brought the necessary ... read more
by Joshua Beatty
08 Feb 2008
Japan
We Can Choose To Look Only At The Beautiful Things (And To Eat Some Of Them)
I hadn’t been prepared for the complete transformation: It felt like time travel. The room in the ryokan (Japanese inn) that we had checked into a couple of hours ... read more
by Amanda Kendle
07 Feb 2008
Japan
There's Nowhere To Eat Near Jiko-Ji
The only place I’ve ever seen Jiko-ji mentioned is in a guidebook about Tokyo. Buried in the back of the book, a few pages from the index, a short ... read more
by David Goodman
18 Feb 2009
Japan
TOP 5: Japanese Slang Words
Google it. Friend me. LOL. Slang reveals a lot about how a culture is adapting to changing times. Take Japenese slang, which includes an acronym meaning “to forget your cell ... read more
by Glimpse Staff
07 Apr 2009
Brazil
China
Finland
Japan
Netherlands
United Kingdom
TOP 5: Green Initiatives Abroad
In the United States, we like to think of ourselves as innovators. But when it comes to tackling environmental problems ... read more
by Glimpse Staff
21 Apr 2009
Japan
I Visited The Japanese Mafia And Asked For A Tattoo
We walked through a series of alleyways, sprinkled liberally with sex hotels. Rosemary suddenly turned, approached a windowless, unmarked steel door, and spoke into a receiver on the wall. The ... read more
by Wade Shepard
15 Nov 2007
Japan
The Place Where Pretty Girls Think You’re Smart And Funny
The woman who is being paid to flirt with me is very good. She's sitting in front of me, batting her eyelashes and playing with the translucent boa that ... read more
by Saleem Reshamwala
04 Aug 2009
Australia
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
TOP 5: International Western Films
Two cowboys stare at each other, their hands hovering over their six shooters. A tumbleweed blows across the dirt road. Then, suddenly, a group of German-speaking Native Americans storms in ... read more
by Glimpse Staff
16 Jun 2009
Japan
The Neon Neighborhood Where Taboos Fall Apart
The O-Edo-sen subway spilled us into the gothic interior of the Roppongi train station. With beer buzzing in our ears, we headed up the stairs and out the ticket stiles ... read more
by Joe Novak
01 Feb 2008
Japan
The Buddhist Monk Who Can’t Resist A Good WWF Smackdown
We were an hour and a half into the train ride when I finally began to notice a change in scenery. Small patches of vegetable fields appeared in the distance ... read more
by Misa Dikengil
01 Feb 2008
Japan
On A Quest To Find The Real Japan, Whatever That Means
“Walk a little more… a little more gracefully,” said the videographer’s assistant, gesturing with her hands. “Smaller steps.” She turned to show me, swaying slightly from side to side ... read more
by Mary Catharine Martin
01 Feb 2008
Japan
HOW TO: Party With Your Japanese Boss
You know the stereotypical image of the Japanese businessman getting tipsy on a karaoke stage? Well, if you work in Japan and you're invited to the office party, you ... read more
by Saleem Reshamwala
24 Nov 2009
Japan
How I Finally Got My Japanese Students' Attention
The naked woman was about to be penetrated by a subway train. Her legs were spread and cuffed, her mouth contorted into a dark peanut of terror as the train ... read more
by Malena Watrous
18 Apr 2010
Tips
Japan
Eat mochi in all its colors
Mochi is a pounded rice cake found in soups, desserts, and enjoyed just by itself. It's a little sticky and chewy. Dango, a popular grilled version of it is ... read more
by Michael Malarkey
09 Feb 2009
Japan
Don't be home for Christmas
During my few months in Japan, I made tons of non-Japanese friends, but had trouble befriending locals. I found it really easy to make acquaintances, but local people often seemed ... read more
by Saleem Reshamwala
15 Feb 2009
Japan
"He's so K.Y.!"
In Tokyo I was surprised to discover my Japanese friends using an English-letter acronym, "K.Y.," to describe certain people -- a term that always brought a laugh. What could it ... read more
by Dalena Frost
18 Mar 2009
Blog Posts
Japan
Speaking Partner Program
Hey there whoever may be reading my blog. So, last month I applied for something called the Speaking Partner Program. What this program is, is that...well, I'll copy the massage I got from KGU's (Kansai Gaidai University) website that talked about this program. "This program enables you to meet local ... read more
by Andrew Vo
11 Aug 2010
Japan
United States
Vlog #2 - Raisin Canes
I was bored so I decided to record myself eating Raisin Canes. I know its lame, but its pretty funny to me! ^_^v Also, I was not alone. lol I was with my "lil sis" and her friend. My "lil sis" kept giving me weird looks like O_o...I wonder why...=P ... read more
by Andrew Vo
05 Aug 2010
Japan
United States
First Vlog is up!
Vlog #1 is up! Happy Watching! =D www.youtube.com/watch read more
by Andrew Vo
03 Aug 2010
Japan
United States
Visa!!
Soooo....My visa finally arrived! It took about 4 days, but finally it came in! I'm so excited now! A lot of things are getting accomplished as time draws closer for my trip abroad! =D Check out my shiny sakura covered visa ^_^ Ok ok I lied its not ... read more
by Andrew Vo
31 Jul 2010
Japan
Introceptance!
Hey there viewers, readers, bloggers, and all you other homosapiens. So, I'm going to start off this blog with a little introduction. My name is Andrew Vo and I am from New Orleans, Louisiana. My adventure will start at the end of August in the most advance technological country on ... read more
by Andrew Vo
31 May 2010
Japan
Japan Uncovered
Posted on January 26th, 2010 by Cole The last couple of days have been packed with Japanese sights and culture. We’ve done everything from rubbing the belly of the Great Buddha to watching ten thousand people cross the famous intersection in Shibuya. It seems that no matter how long ... read more
by Cole Patterson
20 Feb 2010
Japan
Penke Panke Lodge
Posted on January 22nd, 2010 by Cole What an awesome day for Ride Our World. The Penke Panke lodge where we are staying is simply out INCREDIBLE. The ambiance is next to none with about 15 other guest all hanging around the common areas chit-chatting and watching snowboarding flicks all ... read more
by Cole Patterson
20 Feb 2010
Japan
Murphy's Law
Posted on January 21st, 2010 by Cole “Anything that can go wrong WILL GO WRONG!” That is the easiest way to describe exactly our first 48 hours in Japan. Upon arriving in Japan, we find out that Ride Our World could not travel to Niseko because we incorrectly booked ... read more
by Cole Patterson
20 Feb 2010
Japan
So Far So Good
For the past year plus I have been thinking about and imagining what it would be like to actually do this trip. Cole and I have been planning and planning for this adventure for so long that it all seems so surreal to me that we are doing this and ... read more
by Brian Lipski
20 Feb 2010
Japan
Backlog 2: Japan, Gozaimas
Hello, many konichiwas to you and gozaimas indeed. We're in Japan, for those of you who didn’t recognize my fluent Japanese greeting, and it appears to be quite a lovely place. We spent about a day in the giant hive of humanity that is Tokyo and then whisked ourselves off ... read more
by Molly Sterns
06 Jan 2010
Japan
Japanese Cuisine is More Than Just Raw Fish
by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel high school abroad participant The one thing that is completely different between Japan and America is the food. Everything about it is different, from the ingredients, to the place settings, to table manners. Even the way it is viewed within the culture is different. ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
09 Nov 2009
Japan
Japan, the land of adventure
Maybe it’s because it’s so far away from where I grew up that I’ve always seen Japan as a land of adventure. Maybe it was my early exposure to Japan through games. Or it might be the influence of my professor, who sent us on Kyoto tankyu, (adventures), when we ... read more
by Daniel Fishman
08 Nov 2009
Japan
Climbing in the North Alps
Back at the end of August, a student of mine invited me to go climbing in the Northern Alps between Toyama and Nagano Prefectures. It was my second time to spend the night in a yamagoya or "mountain hut". Part of the trek also involved walking across the Kurobe Dam. ... read more
by Tim Wright
08 Nov 2009
Japan
Adjusting to Attention Abroad
by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel High School Abroad participant Being an exchange student in Japan is a little different from being an exchange student in France, or Australia. Japan is about 99 % ethnically Japanese, so people don’t even have to talk to you to know that you ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
28 Oct 2009
Japan
Part III: Gion, Geisha and Gourmet Cuisine
by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel High School Abroad participant By this time I was pretty hungry, and ready for lunch. First, however, we rode several buses. One was so crowded there was barely room to move. A piece of advice: if you ever have to get on a crowded bus, ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
21 Oct 2009
Japan
Part II of the Kyoto Experience: Yuzen Dyeing and Taizo-In Temple
by Jes Stayton with Greenheart Travel’s High School Abroad program The next day, we woke up, dressed, and left the hotel. We walked to breakfast, which was nice, because the weather was cool. Kyoto is warmer than Sendai, because it is farther south. The restaurant was a famous coffee shop, so we ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
16 Oct 2009
Japan
Weekend Trip to Kyoto, Japan: Green Bean Kit Kats, Gion and History Dramas
by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel Participant in the High School Abroad Program Last week there was a holiday from the 19th through the 23rd. This holiday happens every year in Japan and it is a common time to go on trips. My host family and I went on a trip ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
13 Oct 2009
Japan
Part II of Adventures in Japan: Life as a high school exchange student
by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel High School Abroad participant The day begins and ends with homeroom, each about twenty minutes. Classes start at 9:00 a.m. There are seven periods, each fifty minutes long, with alternating five and ten minute breaks in between. The breaks are nice. In the ten minute ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
18 Sep 2009
Japan
High School Abroad: Adventures in Living in Japan
by Jes Stayton, Greenheart Travel High School Abroad participant Hi! I am an American exchange student living in Sendai, Japan. I will be here for ten months. Before coming to Japan, I studied Japanese for three years. I am so excited to be here! Japanese culture is so different from ... read more
by Greenheart Travel
15 Sep 2009
China
India
Japan
Thailand
Turkey
United States
Experience Mormonism (or Hinduism or Islam or Buddhism) For Yourself...
Are Americans losing their religion? That's the question that ABC News posed when it reported that "young Americans are dramatically less likely to go to church—or to participate in any form of organized religion—than their parents and grandparents" (May 6, 2009). While the percentage of young Americans who say they ... read more















