How to pronounce the ‘R’ in Japanese

Just as R’s in English are hard to pronounce for the Japanese natives, the ‘R’s in Japanese are hard to pronounce for those who learned English as the first language…

What you need to know about using your credit card abroad

When you are traveling aboard, a credit card is an essential item to have with you.  It’s a convenient and safe way to make purchases.  But before you pack one of your credit cards for your international…

How to choose sake – By grade

The sake aisle at your local grocery or specialty shop can be pretty intimidating the first few times, especially if there are a lot of choices.  How do you know good vs. poor quality?  What characteristics can you…

Japanese Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This is the recipe for the lettuce wraps I grew up eating and loving WAY before they became a trendy menu item at many restaurants…

Easy Lemon Turmeric Rice

OK, this isn’t a Japanese recipe. Not.Sorry. People ask me for this lemon rice recipe every time I make it so I decided to just post it here. You’ll be glad I did…

5 myths about sake dispelled

Sake, a Japanese alcoholic beverage brewed from rice, has become an almost as commonly known word as ‘sushi’ in American culture.  And with that, there are now more choices and better-quality products available, even in the local grocery…

About Rocket, the Shiba Inu

Meet Rocket, my black & tan Shiba Inu furbaby who is also my little helper for my blog…

What to order at a Japanese restaurant – For beginners

You enjoy going to Japanese restaurants, but you find yourself ordering the same sushi or dish every time because you don’t know what else to order. Or you may have never tried going to a Japanese restaurant because you…

What is Shiba Inu

Shiba Inu is a dog breed that is native to Japan. While there are a ton of basic information already available about this dog breed, it is one of the most misunderstood breeds. Basic facts Here are some of the…

8 essential things to pack when traveling to Japan

Preparing to go to Japan is not too different from going to any other developed, foreign country. You need all your travel basics to keep your belongings organized and paperwork in order…