A few weeks ago, I finished watching TV drama series called ばけばけ/Bakebake/The Ghost Writer’s Wife. I first encountered the promotional poster of this drama during my trip to Matsue (Japan 2025). It was a very interesting series! It tells a story loosely based on Lafcadio Hearn's life. That's why the setting of the drama is...

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Izumo-class helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183) has appeared in public view with a dramatically redesigned bow, marking a key milestone in its conversion to operate F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter jets. The lead ship of the class was recently sighted alongside the quay at Japan Marine ...

The post Japan’s JS Izumo shows off…

Things got off to a good start on our crazy-cheap trip to the land of the gods, but with funds running low, will we have a roof over our heads on a snowy night? Our Japanese-language reporter Go Hatori has spent years traveling overseas without spending very much money, visiting a number of Asian nations […]

Can we make it from the capital to the land of the gods, sightsee, eat, find a hotel, and make it home for just 30,000 yen (US$195)? Our Japanese-language reporter Go Hatori has never been one to let a tight budget, or a tight schedule, keep him from traveling. In his Extreme Budget Travel series, […]