Tag: Japan

Diary Post | Four Months in Japan!

January 19, 2020

Dear Reader,

Long time no post (again!) and happy 2020! I’ve had this blog for over two years now, and I feel like because I don’t have a specific topic I blog about, I keep getting distracted and disappearing. To be fair, sometimes I disappear because of my long-time battle with depression, sometimes just because I just don’t know what to post? Other times because I get busy and don’t have time.

Side note: incase you don’t follow my personal IG @ insta_rinnn, I included some pictures I’ve taken since October!

enjoy this sunset I took on the bus drive from Osaka to Kobe!

So, I’ve been here an four months now, and wow time flies. Honestly, it feels longer? I’ve been settling into classes, which has been fun and challenging. The last time I was in school was Spring of 2018, so this has been fun trying to get back into a study routine (speaking of which I am now procrastinating my studying by working on this post, LOL).

shame me, i deserve it lol

Having spent some time here now, I feel like the newness of Japan has mostly worn off, don’t get me wrong I discover new things everyday, but it’s not sparkly anymore. Which is still valid because I’m enjoying myself. Last year, when I was going through a rather difficult depressive episode, my dad told me to just apply for school. He was like, “it’ll be better to be depressed in Japan and doing something with my life, than to be depressed at home stuck in the same rut.” Tough words, but good advice because I’m here now!

Osaka Castle

I really like the city I picked, Kobe, because it’s rather diverse. There’s a China Town, lots of Indian restaurants, and a district called Kitano, which was build by Europeans who were here a long time ago, so the architecture is very cool and different from what the rest of the city has to offer. Kobe is also next to Osaka, which is a much larger and exciting city filled with delicious food!

a pic of the local China Town
Snapped this pic of Kobe as I was riding up the mountain to the Botanical Gardens

By the way, if there’s anything you guys want me to blog about/review (makeup, manga, anime, dramas, etc.) you can DM on twitter or IG! Honestly, since of I’ve got here I’m mostly just been enjoying my youth, AND I do have a few topics I could blog about in a diary post if I can find the motivation. For example, I went on several dates, and I could make a separate post about my experience with Tinder and Bumble on Japan, because it’s been it’s own journey as a small town girl from Alaska. LMAO

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nyDqLAanB/

Though I will say, RIP my bank account. What I do need to do is get a part-time job, but I’ve been procrastinating it. I’m just so tired after working so much last summer, I needed a break. I have been browsing though, and it looks like most of the nice jobs are in Osaka, which is chill but I really don’t want to commute that far. I think from my station to Umeda Station (which is the hub, apparently?) it’s about 45 minutes? The struggle is real, and I while public transportation is convenient, sometimes rush hour–and being squished into a train like a can of sardines, is not!

Okay, and as for my music pick of the month (this was from like October, because I never talked about their lastest album on here properly like I normally do!) I found a store that sells kpop albums, I was able to buy The Table by Nu’est, their latest album in person for the first time in my life! Which isn’t a big deal to a lot of people, but as their fan for 8 years (omg) it meant a lot to me!

I’m literally that person who will promote Nu’est every chance I get, sorry ur mad about it lo

Anyway, let me know what you want to read! I’ll have a new post up sooner rather than later, I hope. Thanks for reading, and as always,

Love,

Rin

Japan Life | Trying ¥500 Sushi from the スーパー (Supermarket)

October 11, 2019

Dear Reader,

“What is she trash posting about today?” You may ask? Well, I’ve been here for exactly one week, and for some reason sushi is hella expensive here? I do live by the ocean, so why can’t I find a place that’s reasonable? Yeah, you right, I’m not looking in the right places. ANYWAY, now that you’ve roasted me, I thought I’d share a first impression for funsies.

BEFORE

I was at the super market for the first time (btw it was f-ing packed) and I walked by the pre-made food section and I saw some decent looking sushi. In America, or at least where I’m from, pre-made sushi is kind of everywhere? (Or as my younger sister calls them: gas station sushi). They’re at the grocery store (kroger, safeway), your local asian mart, or even in the college pre-made food kiosk. However, they’re usually just california or crunch rolls.

look at my cute shiba mat, i have matching silverware and glasses! #daiso

Not going to lie, I’ve been eating junk since I got here. Literally rice for most meals–it’s so easy. This sushi and kimchi was a nice change of pace, and not deep fried!

Side note, and this is not sponsored btw, I really love daiso! I got my chopsticks and plates from there. It’s helped a lot, especially with my student budget lol

AFTER

So, how was it? It was aight, what you’d expect for premade sushi in Japan, and LOADS better than the dried out rolls you get in the American stores (i’d probably rate it a 6.5? Maybe a 7 if I had bothered to break out the soy sauce).

My favorite were the fish sashimi, and the eel. The ebi was aight, and the tamago was slight on the sweet side. Overall, not bad.

attempting to watch anime on Japan netflix but they don’t have english subs, sad.

Now the kimchi? I’ve def had better, but tbh I’ll probably buy it again. I’m not going to lie the cabbage kimchi tasted slightly of wasabi? Which I’m meh about, but the cucumber and daikon kimchi was bomb, which is why I’ll buy it again lol.

To finish it off I had some already cut asian pears, which was delish for ¥130. I know some people feel some kind of way about presliced fruit/food, but I like it because I a) don’t have to slice it myself, and b) i only want a little bit anyway.

SO. Hope you enjoyed my little blog about supermarket foods! I think I’ll do a random series about japan life? I’m thinking I’ll also do a post about moving to japan as a new adult too, but you probs won’t see that one for a bit. If there are any makeup/foods you want me to try and review, DM me on instagram @insta_rinnn, and I’ll catch you later!

Love,

Rin

J-drama Review |Wedding Bells for Otaku?

February 11, 2019

**This post is NOT sponsored.

Dear Reader,

So, I posted a picture on my Instagram stories about a short one episode drama called “Wedding Bells for Otaku?” that I was going to watch. Several people DMed me about it, so I thought I’d make a little review blog about it, and share this cute story with everyone!

The story begins with our heroine in the middle of a battle field. . . No seriously, when they said love is war they weren’t kidding. Our beloved otaku, Fujita Haruko (Kuriyama Chiaki), must battle her way through the scary and perilous 婚活、aka marriage hunt. Where people go to group meetings to find a potential marriage partner, usually via a dating or marriage agency.

We eventually come to find out that Haruko is a BL Mangaka, so for those who don’t know what BL is, she writes manga about Boy’s Love, or romantic relationships between male characters. With the support of her trusty sidekick and asisstant writer, aka the super cute Tachibana Kiriko (Sano Hinako), she attends many different kinds of marriage hunt parties. Which makes her all kinds of uncomfortable. . .

Ah yes, that familiar look of dread and anxiety. Me too. Me, too. I really like Haruko, because even at 34 she’s still out there trying to find her destined one. She never really focuses on her age, she’s getting left behind by her peers, but it’s not really about her age, just the fact that she’s lonely, and spends her days drawing about characters that always get a happy ending. If she’s destined to be alone, so be it, but she wants to at least try. Which is so cute!

However, her main dilemma comes back to the fact that she draws BL, which men don’t find attractive at all. She goes on all these dates, but gets rejected time and time again. With this profession, will she be able to find love? Of course! I wouldn’t recommend a drama with a sad ending. . . or would I?? I’ll leave the rest up to you!

Rating: 9/10! It was cute and cheesy, I almost wish it was longer, but honestly it was also the perfect length!

Find the drama at viki.com: Wedding Bells for Otaku?

Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you late!

Love,

Rin

Diary Entry: Mochi Festival

December 6, 2017

mochi banner

12/3/2017

Dear Reader,

Today, my friend Sam and I went to a rice cake pounding festival! We had delicious mochi, and had a lot of fun. It was held by the Japan Alaska Association, we learned a bit about rice pounding, and the traditions of it.

Then, we got to taste it! I kind of preferred this fresh mochi over the kind that you buy in the store. Usually it’s super sweet, but this mochi was plain, but was flavored by the fillings or soup. We tried one with red bean paste, which was super delish!

We also had some kind of mochi and vegetables in a fish broth soup, which was also really yummy! And plain mochi dipped in some starch that tasted like peanut butter.  Sam was not a fan of either of these two dishes, but I quite enjoyed them.

Anyway, it was really interesting, and I had fun! After we ate mochi, we decided to have sushi for dinner. I would have taken pictures of that, but the lighting was awful. . . Anyway, this was just a quick post to share our food adventure!

Have a great week guys, and good luck to any students who are about to face finals! As always, thanks for reading~ bye~

Love,

Rin

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