I've Been Writing Up a Storm! Check Out my Articles!

As of this year, I officially became a freelance writer! I've been loving every minute of it – the feeling you get from seeing your writing officially published! It's a pretty big goal for me, as one of my dream jobs includes being able to combine my passion for writing with my passion for Japan. (It's also nice to get paid for it, too!). Thus I've been writing up a storm over the past seven months, and I've already published a whopping sixteen articles! Unfortunately, since I've been so busy doing freelance writing, I've been less active on my blog, as I'm using most of my ideas for articles. But don't despair! I'll be posting more blogs, and you can count on my monthly Disney store updates!

If you haven't read my articles yet, please check them out on izanau.com!

Japan Trend Tracker: Radio Fish's "Perfect Human"​

Radio Fish's "Golden"​ New Hit

The Ultimate Simple Yet Effective Japanese Study Trick

The Cool, the Cute, the Bizarre, and Downright Scary in Japan

Time for another addition of cool/awesome/weird things I've stumbled across while living in Japan. If you're familiar at all with Japan, you know it's known for such things, from the latest cutting edge technology, animal cafes, and hilarious commercials. This is my third year in Japan, so I'm pretty used to things around here – sorry but no, you won't encounter any giant robots battling over the city skyline or cute alien girls trying to declare their love to you. Mostly vending machines and conbinis (convenience stores). But there are still things that have me stopping and staring at how cool/awesome/bizarre they are!

Strange

This is supposed to be a beauty product. So why does it so closely resemble an instrument of torture?!

Halloween is in Full Swing at the Disney Store!

As predicted, October brings us some awesome Nightmare Before Christmas products! This month is packed with new products, and I can't wait to share with you all the great new stuff!

Happy 3rd Anniversary to Tsum Tsums! How did we ever live without their cuteness in our dull, dull lives?

Funny Conversations I've Had with Japanese People Recently

Since being back in Japan a month after an equal amount of time visiting family in the states, I've already had some pretty interesting conversations with Japanese people.

When I first came back to school, one of the female teachers I work with noticed that my face looked darker than usual. "You got a suntan!" she remarked to me with a smile. "Huh?" I thought. "Uh, no, not really..."

"Oh?" she said. "Your skin looks darker..."

I thought...And immediately recalled my stepmom saying something quite similar to me when I was back home. "Melissa, you look so white! I don't think that makeup is the right color for your skin tone..." "Really?" I had said in surprise. I'd run out of my American foundation, so I had been forced to buy some more in Japan. I bought what I thought matched my skin color...but apparently not.

August/September Disney Goods – Goodbye Summer, Make Way for Halloween!

It's been a while since my last Disney update as I was on summer break in America for the whole month of August! I'm back and refreshed, and super excited to hit the Disney store again! It may only be September, but Halloween goods have already hit the shelves. Right now the Unibearsity bears are this month's highlight, with adorable Disney Halloween costumes to dress up your bear with.

Daiso Japan vs Daiso America: A Comparison

Recently I made a trip back home to my native country of America (which is how the USA is known in Japan), excited to be comfortably surrounded by all things American. What should I find, however, but a very familiar sight right next to good ol’ Trader Joes – Daiso! Daiso is the equivalent of the dollar store, and it’s everywhere in Japan. Their products are actually quite good, ranging from handy kitchen products to cute stationary and nail stickers. I knew I had to check out this “Americanized” Daiso. Would the products be the same?

A Guide to Japanese TV

As a TV/movie fanatic, I jumped at the chance to familiarize myself with what’s popular in Japan. Luckily for me, my first apartment – a Leopalace – came equipped with a big flat screen TV (although this also got me into a contract with the dreaded NHK because of this – but that’s another story. Tip: unless you’re expecting someone or something, never, ever open your door in Japan. Even real Japanese people refrain from it for fear of the NHK). Not only is watching Japanese TV entertaining, it’s a great way to boost your Japanese learning! The great thing about Japanese TV for foreign learners is that there are subtitles of select speech that pop up on the bottom (I suppose if this was done in English it would be quite annoying, but it’s very helpful for those of us who could use the extra support). Also, in the top right and left hand corners is an overview of what's currently going on in the show and the topic of discussion, filling in any channel flipping viewers coming in halfway through the show. In the morning the time is also displayed, helping people getting ready for work keep track of the time.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Arrives at the Disney Store!

Although the new movie Alice Through the Looking Glass debuted in America months ago, it just premiered in Japan last weekend, and with it came a ton of awesome products at the Disney Store! Alice in Wonderland is wildly popular in Japan and sells well, so the movie should turn a good profit even if it didn’t produce much fanfare in America. Following the color theme of the movie, there are a ton of white and gold products that are just gorgeous.

Disney Store New Arrivals! Stitch, Zootopia, Ice Cream Tsum Tsums, and More!

It's June, and that means new arrivals at the Disney store, my favorite place to shop in Japan! So, what's new this month? Stitch!

My First Trip to a Cat Cafe!

One small key chain, hours of entertainment. Who can resist the soft pads of a kitty's paw?

If you’re familiar with Japan at all, you know all about their love of cat-related things – these squishy cat paw key chains, anime cat girls, this popular cat – and the awesomeness that is cat cafes. Cafes are another thing Japan loves, evidenced by maid and, more recently, butler cafes (which I will eventually visit and give my full report on, I promise you readers). Maid cafes are even so popular that they have opened in the states. Japan aficionados have brought back their love of cat cafes to places like London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York. Just what makes them so desirable to emulate?

Awesome Food I’ve Been Enjoying in Japan – Limited Edition Kit Kats, Taiyaki Okonomiyaki, and Gorgeous Cold Stone Ice Cream Pops!

Living in Japan for two years, I've enjoyed tons of great food both novel and familiar-with-an-Asian-twist. I've had my fill of okonomiyaki, my absolute favorite Japanese food, in Osaka until I literally got sick of it (never thought this was possible), inadvertently tried monkfish liver (never again!), eaten Burger King Japan's black burger, been fed a mouthful of shirasu (tiny white fish – also never again), eaten the most delicious curry flavored popcorn at Tokyo Disneyland, and had about the tastiest burger at a beach side shop in my previous home of Hitachi, Ibaraki (about the only place to get American food!). I love food! So I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting things to try.

As a self-professed sweet-tooth, I'm always searching for good places to satisfy my cravings when the weekend rolls around. Japan isn't traditionally a culture big on sweets, and when they do eat sweets it's usually mochi with sweet bean paste (not really my thing) or something green tea flavored (also not my thing). Unlike America, fro-yo bars, cupcakeries, or bakeries selling all sorts of cakes, pies, cookies, and muffins are almost nonexistent. That being said, nowadays Japan definitely appreciates sweets (there are even dessert-only or buffet restaurants such as Dessert Kingdom) and loves to invent unique, limited edition flavors! One thing I love is that in Japan Kit Kats come in all different flavors, while the ones back in the states are always the same. Besides green tea, "adult" (darker chocolate), and regular, all special flavors are limited edition. (For some reason Oreos are the opposite, leaving me pining for all the cool flavors being released back home, although you can find chocolate cream ones at Daiso and there is an interesting selection of Oreo bars). There's been a boom in new Kit Kat flavors this spring, such as these awesome Easter Kit Kats, which are pancake flavored!

Meet Japan’s Hottest New Character, Osomatsu-san

One of the many things Japan is known for is its love of characters, whether it be its own creation such as Hello Kitty, Totoro, or Pikachu, or those of another country such as Winnie the Pooh or Moomin (a popular character from Finland, which you have never heard of back in the states). Characters are seen everywhere, from snacks to sports drinks, kitchen goods, anime and games. There are even characters created purely to sell products. Japanese youth love characters, and it’s perfectly normal to have at least one character pinned to your pencil case or backpack, even if you’re an adult. I’d like to say I’m pretty savvy when it comes to popular characters in Japan.

My Review of the Edo-Tokyo Museum – and it’s Definitely Worth Seeing

So I did something the other day that I don’t normally do. I went to Tokyo. To visit a museum.

And I actually liked it!

Museums aren’t really my thing. But when my Ibaraki friend said he was coming into town to visit and he had some museums on his list, I thought museums…isn’t that…well…boring?

Then I recalled seeing some friends’ pictures of the Edo-Tokyo museum, which was on his list. And it actually looked pretty cool, like a real life replica of Edo period Japan. And guess what? It was definitely worth the trip! I’ve never enjoyed a museum so much as I did the Edo-Tokyo museum. Just what makes it so great? It brings history to life. Usually museums are very static representations of historic items, paintings, sculptures, etc. The Edo-Tokyo museum does have these things. But they don’t stop there – they push the boundaries. Then – BAM. You’ve got history right in front of your eyes!