The sky was a clear bright blue, and the temperature was just warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt. A period of heavy rain a week before brought more temperate weather to Japan, so even in the sun it felt nice to be outside. My grandmother and I decided to go on an afternoon walk […]
Where To Buy The Best Japanese Stationery in Japan
Part of resting is indulging in your hobbies! Engage your mind and curiosities in ways that don’t count as work, and you’ll be able to discover life and joy in unexpected places. It’s not just fun, about it’s necessary for people to take breaks from the pressures or stresses of life. One of my hobbies? […]
Overcoming The One Craving That’s Really Hurting Your Health (That Stuffed Feeling)
We all overeat sometimes. Sometimes we don’t mind it, and other times we really don’t want to — we know it’s not good for us, we want to stop, but for some reason we can’t rid ourselves of our addiction to that stuffed feeling. Naive individuals would ask why? Why don’t you just stop overeating, because is […]
Mottainai: The Story of Saving My Shoes
“Kaki-chan! That’s so mottainai.” My sneakers had holes on the bottom of the sole, the white leather was now an ash-like color, and the laces were stained dark gray from the rusted steel eyelets. I had put them in a plastic shopping bag, ready to throw them out when my mom stopped me in the […]
The Original Japanese Meal-Prep Guide (2 Things About Food That It Should Always Be)
Can we start eating please? The table was lined with boxes, filled with colorful and bright foods that are specially made just this one time of year. The bright red prawns, still glistening from their sweet sake and soy sauce marinade, were inviting me to reach for them. My eyes also scanned for the sugar-coated […]
Solutions for the Frequent Traveler’s Stressed-Out Gut
It was around noon and I was eating lunch with friends at a new chic-trendy cafe: Glass panel walls, lots of plants, and a natural sunlight which made the place feel incredibly spacious. The room smelled like brunch; of earthy coffee, of faint just-toasted bagels, of cheesy eggs and butter. It would usually be an […]
What It’s Like To Do a Thanksgiving Wellness Retreat
Mohonk is a private mountain resort located in the Hudson Valley, surrounded by 40000 acres of forest and wildlife. Founded in 1869, it’s an old and historic landmark resort, well-known for the loyal families that make an annual 90-minute drive up from New York City. Rumor has it that it’s also the supposed inspiration location […]
‘One Soup, Three Sides’: The Japanese Art of Eating Healthfully
The eating style ichiju-sansai offers lessons in portion size and nutrition According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Obesity Update released in 2017, more than one in two adults and nearly one in six children are overweight or obese in OECD member countries. Despite this global pattern, Japan remains an outlier; its […]
Become the Friend Everyone Needs: Spreading Love Through Postcards
Learning how to use the design equipment at my school better, I’ve recently spent my weekends designing and laser cutting or rastering special, personalized, postcards for my friends. (You can read more about laser cutting in design here) These are dumb nicknames that we made for eachother, and together we think of ourselves as a […]
Why Low Stomach Acid Can Contribute to Depressive Symptoms (And Why I Believe In a Holistic Approach to Health)
The role of stomach acid in depressive symptoms is an interesting one– while it’s hard to argue against the fact that the food we eat and our overall nutrition has an impact on our mental health, most individuals don’t really think about how it’s not just the food we eat, but about how we digest […]
