There I was, drinking in the serene green at the Kiyosumi Garden…
(Where, I might add, the herons on the far island were prancing around doing the “my genes are better than yours” dance)
…when I nearly stepped on this.
It’s a Northern Chinese Softshell turtle, and if Wikipedia is right, this one is setting the standard for maximum bigness
It’s (weirdly) classified as “invasive” (because China) and “threatened.” Which shouldn’t surprised me, after hearing what Japanese visitors talk about at the aquarium. In these here parts, this unlikely snack is better known as suppon.
Seriously, does this face look even remotely edible to you?
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When not being squicked out by the idea of eating a heckin’ huge, beady-eyed turtle, Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Tokyo
For nine years, Tokyo Detective Kenji Nakamura thought his mother’s death was an accident. Then he gets a call, and his life begins to unravel…Read more
By now you probably thought you’d seen it all when it comes to Japanese facial sheet masks – from the squicky & scary to skin treatments that turn you into a kabuki actor while they work their magic – but now you can look like the world’s smartest animal while battling those crows’ feet!
Whether your intellectual spirit animal is a kitteh…
…or you’re more of the Fido type (Unless this is a bear. Or a dog cosplaying as a bear. Or a bear cosplaying as a dog. Anything is possible.)
These eye masks have got the animal kingdom covered (although I’m still puzzling over that middle design – shiba? fox? You decide!)
When not attempting to beautify herself in weird ways, Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Tokyo
Nine Years. Nine death anniversaries. Tomorrow will be the tenth. He always comes early to avoid crossing paths with her family. He always comes on the day he actually killed her…read more
I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to Japanese curry rice molds, but these two cuties redefine ADORABLE. The only problem is that it comes in both cat and panda, and it’s too hard to decide (would it be greedy to get both? SHUT UP)
Found these at the Don Kihote in Shibuya
Not only does the pack include an easy-release mold for shaping the rice (conveniently sized to perfectly measure out the recommended serving of 160 g), it’s got cutters to punch out the features from a sheet of nori, so you don’t have to get out your tweezers and nail scissors at 5:00 am to make lunch.
And hey, if you’d like a killer curry rice recipe to go with your new kitteh rice mold, there are step-by-step directions for Niku-jaga Curry (my favorite!) in the March Japanagram, just sayin’
Japanagram is my new monthly newsletter, and it’s got all-new features you won’t see unless you subscribe: a fabulous Beyond Tokyo destination, A Japanese Home Cooking recipe, a book review & giveaway, and more. And, of course, it’s free!
(Just so you know, I hate spam too, so I’ll never share or sell your info.)
If I had to nominate one artist for Most Sanity-Saving In The Time of Coronavirus, it would absolutely be @meetissai, whose miniature sculptures inspired by pet tweets never fail to make me laugh out loud. Step away from your keyboard if you’re drinking tea, because I now present, for your spench-worthy enjoyment, these.
This was the tweet that rocketed @meetissai to internet stardomIt’s not just his obvious skill at capturing the exact likeness of his subjects……he’s also some kind of wizard at finding these hilarious photos in the first placeand seeing them a bit differently than most peopleOf course, he doesn’t just do catsPretty much any animal is fair game, as long as it becomes even better in micro-scale. And sometimes a photo will send him off on a whole riff…and he’ll imagine other animals, in other circumstances, like these pets melting in the summer heat, in front of the air conditionerAnd sometimes he doesn’t stop at meticulously recreating a funny photo……he re-poses them in different ways, to make them even funnierNaturally, it was only a matter of time before photos that should be internet-famous if they weren’t already came under his knifeAnd some were so great he didn’t stop with making a replica of this six-legged cat……he couldn’t resist imagining it going about its daily lifeThis one too…lolSometimes he even imagines ordinary pet pix as odd new creatures……if a panorama-fail phone shot hasn’t done it already!And in case you need someone to envy today, how about this Friend of the Artist? I’d pretty much die and go to heaven if I got to hang one of these from my backpack. These aren’t gachapon yet…but they SHOULD BE!
If you aren’t already following him by now, what are you waiting for? For your own mental health in this time of virus, he’s @meetissai on Twitter and @meetissai417 on Instagram!
And because you shouldn’t be alone in experiencing the joy of tea all over your phone, please feel free to pass on the LMAOs. If you know someone whose day might be cheered by these, share it! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/2QALgce
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And by the way, don’t miss all the amusing stuff that you’ll only see in
It’s my new monthly newsletter, and when you join, you’ll be automatically entered to win the monthly book giveaway, get directions to a fabulous Beyond Tokyo destination, learn to make a Japanese home cookingdish & more! And, of course, it’s free. (Here’s what was in the first issue, if you’d like to check it out.)
(Just so you know, I hate spam too, so I’ll never share or sell your info.)
How can I compel my overserfs to order things that come in bigger boxes?
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I hope your own quarantining is filled with small joys every day. If you’d like more fun bits & pieces, join me here! Scroll down & subscribeヽ(*＾ω＾*)ﾉ
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And if you’d like something entertaining amid the asks in your inbox, it’s not too late to get my new monthly newsletter
It’s loaded with features you won’t see anywhere else, and best of all? It’s free!
Click the button and sign up to get yours・° ♪・☆
(Still deciding whether to join me? Here’s where you can browse the features from previous issues. And just so you know, I hate spam too, so I’ll never share or sell your info.)
“Who cares? We’re probably never leaving our house again anyway”
ACCEPTANCE
“You know, even after this is all over, I might just keep wearing this turban”
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How you doing, friend? (I won’t ask about your hair if you don’t ask about mine ><;;) I hope you’re hanging in there, and starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. Stay safe out there!
And if you need a little break from the news, it’s not too late to get my new monthly newsletter
It’s got all-new features you won’t see anywhere else, delivered straight to your in-box! And of course, it’s free〜☆
Twitter user Derek Wessman is a genius to have spotted (and appropriately translated) these brilliantly vandalized Japanese missionary signs that change the word “god” into the word “cat” by removing a few small strokes.
“The kingdom of Cat is close at hand”
The character for “god”（神）appeared on the original signs, but the world’s most meticulous vandal has erased a few of the strokes to turn them into the word for “cat,” spelled in the Japanese phonetic alphabet（ネコ）
And they just get better!
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“Both earth and man are Cat’s”
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“Cat doth watch thee in thy private life”
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“Cat doth punish sin”
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“Fear and honor thy Cat”
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“The day of the righteous judgement of Cat is close at hand”
These dire warnings appear on buildings throughout Japan, put there by American missionaries of the grim “scare people straight” ilk. I only put a few here—there are many more funny ones in Derek Wessman‘s Twitter feed, and Mutantfrog has an excellent history of this odd attempt at proselytizing, if you want to explore in more depth.
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And if you’d love some fresh escapist reading…
“An immersive page-turner, meticulously researched and perfectly plotted. Without question, the best book I have read all year.” —Susan Spann, author of the Hiro Hattori mysteries and CLIMB
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, altering the lives of all who possess it...read more
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. I hope that the new year is bringing you all kinds of good changes and extra heapings of hope for you and yours! Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in December, and a preview of what they’re reading right now…
SEASONAL SECRET
The Japanese art of gift giving
If there were medals for gifting, the Japanese would own the gold and the Guinness record for owning the gold…read more
BEYOND TOKYO
Millions of twinkling fairy lights, dancing fountain extravaganzas, and glowing cotton candy, all served up on a roller coaster
Yomiuriland outdoes itself this year with all-new glittering lights and fresh spectacles of live dancers performing with choreographed water fountains…read more
WHY, JAPAN, WHY?
There’s nothing weirder than Xmas in Japan
Like most things in Japan, they get Christmas exactly, excruciatingly right, and at the same time so very, very wrong. Poinsettias are all the rage, lavishly-trimmed trees abound, and Santa and his helpers are on every corner, except sometimes they’re a little…off…read more
JAPANESE HOME COOKING
Marinated Pork Medallions with Melted Leeks
Want to try something new that’s guaranteed to have your guests begging for seconds? These marinated medallions of pork tenderloin always get rave reviews, even from people who “don’t like Japanese food.” (Bonus: they’re easy to make and turn out perfect every time)…read more
BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
December 6by Martin Cruz Smith
This novel is set in the hours right before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, capturing the moment from inside the world of the attacker. Seen through the eyes of one of the few foreigners in Japan, we watch from within as this tiny, insignificant country thrusts itself onto the world stage…click here
MY PICKS FOR GIFT READS:
There’s a book on this list for everyone on YOUR list
The gift of escapism is at the top of everyone’s list this year, and books are the perfect getaway when we can’t get on a plane ourselves. Here are books that your giftees probably haven’t read yet, in every category…read more
And in JANUARY…
In January, Japan dishes up all kinds of chilly delights, so read on and see what there is to look forward to as winter gets into full swing. If you’re not a subscriber, you can’t read these features until the end of the month, but it’s easy to join and get full access now for FREE! Click on the link at the end of each description or scroll down to the Get Japanagram button.
Here’s what’s in the January issue:
WHY, JAPAN, WHY?
Dogs dressed in schoolgirl uniforms are just the tip of the iceberg
In the land with the most rapidly shrinking birthrate in the world, it’s easy to see where all that energy is going. Pets have their own fashion, transportation, spas, gourmet delis and more…(To read more, click here to get Japanagram)
BEYOND TOKYO
A magical cliffside of icicles lit up at night
This secret Japanese pleasure isn’t a famous tourist destination—it’s really more of a pit stop along the way to other great places—but it’s so spectacular in an ur-illuminations kind of way, I just have to show it to you…(To read more, click here to get Japanagram)
SEASONAL SECRET
The grand pooh-bah of Japanese flea markets
This treasure trove of a flea market only happens twice a year, but what a goldmine it is! Where else might you find a set of antique lacquer ozonibowls, a disgruntled workman doll, a pre-dial-era telephone, and a couple of courtesan’s tobacco pipes, all on one table!…(To read more, click here to get Japanagram)
A LITTLE NEW YEAR’S FUN
Let’s play Japan Jeopardy!
The questions will be easier if you’ve read The Last Tea Bowl Thief, but they’re all diabolically guessable. There are enough clues in each question that you can give them a pretty decent shot, even if you haven’t read or finished the book…(To play, click here to get Japanagram)
BOOK REVIEWS & GIVEAWAY
OUTby Natsuo Kirino
A brutal murder is just the beginning of this dark thriller, where we watch an ordinary housewife and her friends cover up the crime with Ripley-esque practicality and utter absence of guilt…(To enter to win your very own copy, click here to become a Japanagram subscriber)
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Jonelle Patrickis the author of five novels set in Japan
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…read more
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
You’ll get the joke immediately if you know that ehōmaki rolls are only sold on Setsubun (which happens to fall on February 2 this year) and this everything-but-the-kitchen-sink of a sushi roll traditionally contains non-live eels, plus pink fish powder, egg, cucumber, dried bonito, mushrooms and rice.
To harness the ehōmaki’s true demon-slayer power, you have to face this year’s lucky direction (that would be SSE or south-south-east on your phone compass) and eat the entire thing without taking it out of your mouth or speaking (a fortunate requirement, since speaking with a mouth crammed full of this monster sushi roll would be well-nigh impossible).
Last year the aquarium built some sushi rolls that would only accommodate one eel each…
But they were so popular, this year they decided to go big or go home:
And now, what you’ve really been craving: THE VIDEO!
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Still catching up here, how about you? Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in January…
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SEASONAL SECRET
The grand pooh-bah of Japanese flea markets
This treasure trove of a flea market only happens twice a year, but what a goldmine it is! Where else might you find a set of antique lacquer ozonibowls, a disgruntled workman doll, a pre-dial-era telephone, and a couple of courtesan’s tobacco pipes, all on one table!…read more
•
BEYOND TOKYO
A magical cliffside of icicles lit up at night
This secret Japanese pleasure isn’t a famous tourist destination—it’s really more of a pit stop along the way to other great places—but it’s so spectacular in an ur-illuminations kind of way, I just have to show it to you….read more
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WHY, JAPAN, WHY?
Dogs dressed in schoolgirl uniforms are just the tip of the iceberg
In the land with the most rapidly shrinking birthrate in the world, it’s easy to see where all that energy is going. Pets have their own fashion, transportation, spas, gourmet delis and more…read more
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BOOK REVIEW
OUT by Natsuo Kirino
A brutal murder is just the beginning of this dark thriller, where we watch an ordinary housewife and her friends cover up the crime with Ripley-esque practicality and utter absence of guilt…click here
Did you enjoy any of these? Subscribe!It’s FREE!
Every month, Japanagram subscribers get fresh features you won’t see anywhere else, and a chance to win that month’s book.
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Jonelle Patrickis the author of five novels set in Japan
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, altering the lives of all who possess it…read more
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in January…
Click on photo or link to read
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BEYOND TOKYO:
40,000 dolls dressed in Imperial court robes? Yes, please!
Every year, the town of Katsuura puts on a Girls’ Day Doll Festival to end all doll festivals. Nearly 40,000 magnificently attired hina-sama suddenly appear all over town, in displays that are truly jaw-dropping…read more
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SEASONAL SECRET
The fabulous flower season that happens when nothing in its right mind would be blooming
February in Japan is not fun. Cold and gray, its only festival involves demons, dry beans and smelly sardines. There would pretty much be nothing to look forward to, if it weren’t for the…read more
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THE THING I LEARNED TODAY
The strange barbers of Yoshiwara
This is a new feature I’m adding because I thought you might enjoy the truly odd nuggets I’ve been discovering in the stack of academic tomes I’ve been plowing through for book research! This month’s is about an emergency service catering to wayward flaneurs of the pleasure quarter…read more
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JAPANESE HOME COOKING
Japanese Chicken Soup for the Soul
When it’s cold and wet and dark outside, people in Japan long for comfort food just as much as we do, and this chicken soup will warm you right down to your toes. It’s comforting, but a little bit exotic, all at the same time…read more
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BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein
The yakuza are nearly as legendary as the mafia (but harder to quit, since there’s no easy undo for full-body tattoos and missing fingers). The silver screen portrays them as stylish bad boys, but the real gangsters these anti-heros are based on are no joke. From extortion to human trafficking, they protect their…read more
And right now, subscribers are enjoying the
MAR-APR FEATURES
Beyond Tokyo: Cherry blossoms to die for…a month after all the rest are history
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Seasonal Secret: Japanese ceremonies we didn’t know we needed
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The Thing I Learned Today: Be careful what you hang on your wall…
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Japanese Home Cooking: Japanese Treasure Rice
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Book Review & Giveaway: The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda
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Win a hosted Book Zoom with author Jonelle Patrick for you and your friends
If any of these look appealing (or you’d like to make that recipe for dinner tonight!) subscribe to Japanagram and get access to all of them right now. And of course, it’s always FREE!
•
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…read more
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in January…
Click on photo or link to read
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BEYOND TOKYO:
Cherry blossoms to die for, long after the rest are history
Hirosaki delivers cherry blossoms season like you always imagined it would be, a month after The Season is done and dusted in other parts of Japan. I think this town in Japan’s northiest north is the most picturesque place in the whole country for grand pinkness…read more
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SEASONAL SECRET
Japanese ceremonies we didn’t know we needed
Everybody knows about Japan’s famous tea ceremony, and of course they also mark weddings, funerals and graduations with appropriate pomp, but the Japanese have ceremonies for all kinds of great things besides the biggies…read more
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THE THING I LEARNED TODAY
Be careful what you hang on your wall…
…because it might be something you don’t want to explain to your dinner guests!…read more
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JAPANESE HOME COOKING
Japanese Treasure Rice
When it’s cold and wet and dark outside, people in Japan long for comfort food just as much as we do, and this chicken soup will warm you right down to your toes. It’s comforting, but a little bit exotic, all at the same time…read more
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BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda
The yakuza are nearly as legendary as the mafia (but harder to quit, since there’s no easy undo for full-body tattoos and missing fingers). The silver screen portrays them as stylish bad boys, but the real gangsters these anti-heros are based on are no joke. From extortion to human trafficking, they protect their…read more
And right now, subscribers are enjoying the
MAY-JUN FEATURES
Beyond Tokyo: Come for the purple, stay for the lights
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Seasonal Secret: Seven things you didn’t know about Japanese weddings
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The Thing I Learned Today: How to live forever, Japanese style
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Japanese Home Cooking: Ginger-Soy Steak Sauce
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Book Review & Giveaway: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
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If any of these look appealing (or you’d like to make that recipe for dinner tonight!) subscribe to Japanagram and get access to all of them right now. And of course, it’s always FREE!
•
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…read more
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in January…
Click on photo or link to read
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BEYOND TOKYO:
Come for the purple, stay for the lights
The Ashikaga Flower Park not only boasts insanely huge wisteria, it bursts with equally wonderful flower displays and nighttime illuminations in other seasons too. The grounds are filled with meandering paths and reflecting pools, so every photo delivers double the wow…read more
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SEASONAL SECRET
Seven things you didn’t know about Japanese weddings
From fake priests to Barbie princess gowns, Japanese weddings are a whole different ballgame…read more
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THE THING I LEARNED TODAY
How to live forever, Japanese style
You know those “artist names” that get passed down from one generation to the next in Japan? I always assumed those were about art. That the passing of the torch was all about choosing the most gifted artist of the next generation to take their predecessor’s place at the top of the…read more
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JAPANESE HOME COOKING
Ginger-Soy Steak Sauce
Grill up your favorite meat and give it a fresh new taste by dipping it in this easy but oh-so-tasty Japanese steak sauce! Or you can eat it yakiniku style, wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a slather of tangy miso…read more
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BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
The latest novel by Nobel prizewinner Kazuo Ishiguro explores what it means to be human, through the character of Klara, an artificially intelligent android bought to be a companion for a gravely ill girl…read more
And right now, subscribers are enjoying the
Jul-AUG FEATURES
Beyond Tokyo: Let’s meander through a park with twenty-three thatch-roofed farmhouses
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Seasonal Secret: The most delightful summer festival in all of Japan is all about…goldfish!
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The Thing I Learned Today: How to read a haiku poem
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Japanese Home Cooking: Green Salad with Japanese Pickled Onions and Wafu Onion Dressing
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Book Review & Giveaway: The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon
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If any of these look appealing (or you’d like to make that recipe for dinner tonight!) subscribe to Japanagram and get access to all of them right now. And of course, it’s always FREE!
•
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…read more
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in July & August…
Click on photo or link to read
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BEYOND TOKYO:
Let’s meander through a park with twenty-three thatch-roofed farmhouses
The Nihon Minka-en Folk House Garden is a jewel of a walk, featuring houses that are thatched in the time-honored way and built without nails. These beauties were brought from all over Japan, and they’re not just fun to look at—you can go inside…read more
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SEASONAL SECRET
The most delightful summer festival in all of Japan is all about…goldfish!
There’s nothing more traditional than ogling insanely fancy (and expensive!) goldfish and, of course, catching your own…read more
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THE THING I LEARNED TODAY
How to read a haiku poem
Here are three things that will triple your reading pleasure…read more
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JAPANESE HOME COOKING
Green Salad with Japanese Pickled Onions and Wafu Onion Dressing
There’s nothing more summery than a green salad made with crunchy pickled onions and flavored by a tangy Japanese onion dressing. Add chicken or grilled shrimp for a perfect summer meal…read more
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BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon
This collection of jottings on Hateful Things, Things Which Makes One’s Heart Beat Faster, Splendid Things, Things That Gain By Being Painted, Things Which Should Be Large, Oxen Should Have Very Small Foreheads, and much, much more is as amusing now as when it was…read more
And right now, subscribers are enjoying the
SEP-OCT FEATURES
You can too! Scroll down and sign up to get yours—it’s FREE!
Japanese Home Cooking: How to host a great sake tasting
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Beyond Tokyo: Let’s go to Sado Island, a paradise of bathtub boats, taiko drummers, & spooky Jizo caves
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Seasonal Secret: A parade of people dressed up as angry ghost cats? Yes, please!
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The Thing I Learned Today: The 47 Rōnin? This story is so much crazier than I knew!
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Book Review & Giveaway: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
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If any of these look appealing (or you’d like to make that recipe for dinner tonight!) subscribe to Japanagram and get access to all of them right now. And of course, it’s always FREE!
•
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…read more
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Links to the September-October 2021Japanagram features
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in September & October…
Click on photo or link to read
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JAPANESE HOME COOKING
How to host a great sake tasting
Sake isn’t just for Japanese food anymore—restaurants all over the world are discovering it’s the perfect pairing for all kinds of food. But how do you know what kind of sake you like? Here’s everything you need to know so you can enjoy Japan’s national drink and order like a pro!…read more
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SEASONAL SECRET
A parade of people dressed up as angry ghost cats? Yes, please!
The Bakeneko Festival gives even those who wouldn’t usually get caught dead in a set of whiskers a chance to let loose their inner ghost cat, and—no surprise!—it’s one of the best parades all year…read more
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BEYOND TOKYO:
Let’s go to Sado Island, a paradise of bathtub boats, taiko drummers, & spooky Jizo caves
Sado Island is just an hour offshore by hydrofoil, but it used to take a lot longer to get to the place where troublemakers got sent by the powers-that-be. This ruggedly gorgeous spot isn’t your average run-of-the-mill purgatory, though…read more
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THE THING I LEARNED TODAY
The 47 Rōnin? The true story is so much crazier than I knew!
You can understand why the tale of the 47 masterless samurai who avenge their lord appeals—righteous grudges, extreme consequences, clever & twisted revenge. It’s definitely got the makings of a killer Netflix series. But the most amazing thing is…read more
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BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
This National Book Award winner is not just for snobby critics—if (like me) you’re a sucker for sweeping generational tales about people who overcome hardship, bad luck and prejudice, and are sympathetic even though flawed, you’re going to love Pachinko…read more
And right now, subscribers are enjoying the
NOV-DEC FEATURES
You can too! Scroll down and sign up to get yours—it’s FREE!
Japanese Home Cooking: Kinako Shortbread Cookies with Salted Brown Sugar Buttercream
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Beyond Tokyo: So. Many. Foxes. Let’s go to Fox Village!
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Seasonal Secret: Come stroll through the tunnels of golden gingko trees with me!
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Why, Japan, Why?: The real reason why I love Japan
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Book Review & Giveaway: All She Was Worth by Miyuki Miyabe
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If any of these look appealing (or you’d like to make that recipe for dinner tonight!) subscribe to Japanagram and get access to all of them right now. And of course, it’s always FREE!
•
Audiobook just released!
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
Links to the November-December 2021Japanagram features
Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in November & December…
Click on photo or link to read
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JAPANESE HOME COOKING
Kinako Shortbread Cookies with Salted Brown Sugar Buttercream
Every holiday season I like to sneak one new cookie onto the plate of old favorites, and I can already tell these are going to be a big hit! They’re sparkly and buttery (with a hint of nutty), and the filling is bursting with brown sugar goodness…read more
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SEASONAL SECRET
Come stroll through the tunnels of golden gingko trees with me!
In Japan, gingko trees are planted in stately alleys for one reason and one reason only: the few days in late November and early December, when they become tunnels of wonder and pave the streets with gold…read more
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BEYOND TOKYO:
So. Many. Foxes.
Come with me to the mountains of Miyagi prefecture when they’re are covered in snow, and let’s cavort with dozens and dozens of foxes at their fluffiest and furriest…read more
This excellent page-turner was the first one by bestselling Japanese mystery writer Miyuki Miyabe to become available in English, and it’s still my favorite. If you haven’t read any of hers, you’re in for a treat!…read more
And right now, subscribers are enjoying the
JAN-FEB FEATURES
You can too! Scroll down and sign up to get yours—it’s FREE!
Japanese Home Cooking: Kinako Shortbread Cookies with Salted Brown Sugar Buttercream
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Beyond Tokyo: A stroll through one of the three great gardens of Japan
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Seasonal Secret: If you thought quilting was a Western art, think again!
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Why, Japan, Why?: Travel anxiety? The Japanese have a product for that!
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Book Review & Giveaway: The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi
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If any of these look appealing (or you’d like to make that recipe for dinner tonight!) subscribe to Japanagram and get access to all of them right now. And of course, it’s always FREE!
•
Audiobook just released!
The Last Tea Bowl Thiefwas chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon
“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
How did you guess that the moment I caught a glimpse of this vending machine filled with cat shaming gachagacha, all my laundry coins would be history? There was only one problem… I got the first four before running out of coins, but how could I not come back to try for the mystery cat?Continue reading "The Cat Shaming Vending Machine"
Riusuke Fukahori paints 3-D goldfish so real you can’t believe they’re not wriggling. And I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but the exhibit of his work going on RIGHT NOW at the Sano Art Museum in Mishima is so astounding, that in real life, the fish look more real than in the photos. HisContinue reading "3-D Goldfish Art: Wait, Those Are PAINTINGS?"
There I was, drinking in the serene green at the Kiyosumi Garden… …when I nearly stepped on this. It’s (weirdly) classified as “invasive” (because China) and “threatened.” Which shouldn’t surprised me, after hearing what Japanese visitors talk about at the aquarium. In these here parts, this unlikely snack is better known as suppon. •
I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to Japanese curry rice molds, but these two cuties redefine ADORABLE. The only problem is that it comes in both cat and panda, and it’s too hard to decide (would it be greedy to get both? SHUT UP) •
In January, Japan dishes up all kinds of chilly delights, so read on and see what there is to look forward to as winter gets into full swing. If you’re not a subscriber, you can’t read these features until the end of the month, but it’s easy to join and get full access now for FREE! Click on the link at the end of each description or scroll down to the Get Japanagram button.
