Blogs on Japan

Blogs on Japan has started a new feature where we will interview different bloggers who blog about Japan. Up this time is La Fuji Mama! If you would like to be interviewed, please contact me! Also you can read previous interviews.

When did you start blogging about Japan and why did you start?

I started blogging about Japan on February 9 of this year when I started blogging in general. I had been thinking about starting a blog for a while. I read lots of blogs written by other people around the world, and decided that it was time that I share my own experience because it was selfish to keep it to myself. Not that I think I have an extraordinarily interesting life, because I don’t, but I know that I am always interested to know about how people live in other countries, and to learn tidbits about those countries. So, I figure that if I am interested in learning about that kind of thing, someone out there may be interested in those things from my perspective. If nothing else, I figured it was a way to collect my thoughts on life.

Describe your blog in one word.

Eclectic.

If you could introduce one of your posts to new readers which one would it be and why?

My post written on, Thursday, July 12, 2007, titled “If I eat my hijiki, will my hair be black?” I like this post because it gives some insight into one aspect of the gaijin experience in Japan and it also gives a little bit of info about Japanese culture. This is more the direction that I want to take my blog in. My goal is to use my blog as motivation to get out and learn more about the culture/country that I am living in so that I can share it with my readers.

What blogs do you read?

Too many! Some of them are:

• • Anna Dilemna
  • C’est la me . . .
  • Chez Tse
  • Chocolate & Zucchini
  • David Lebovitz
  • Geisha, Interrupted
  • Going Underground
  • JapanSugoi
  • La Coquette
  • Lucullian Delights
  • My Life as a Gaijin
  • My Little Mochi
  • My Marrakesh
  • Paris Breakfasts
  • Pinku!
  • Popcorn and Sushi
  • Shiso mama

What is your favorite place you have been to in Japan and why?

Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo—that is where my daughter was born in December of 2006. It was an incredibly positive experience and one I will never forget. The entire hospital experience was wonderful, despite the fact that my daughter’s birth ended up being by emergency c-section. Other than the hospital, I would have to say Kyoto, because I love Japanese culture and Kyoto provides that in abundance.

How long have/did you live in Japan?

I have been living in Japan for one year now this time around. I lived in Japan for a little less than one year about 4 ½ years ago.

The best thing about Japan is…

Matsuri—the Japanese know how to party!

The worst thing about Japan is…

The humidity, hands down!

Who is your favorite Japanese celebrity?

Takeru Kobayashi—6 time world champion hot-dog eater

What is the most delicious food you have had in Japan?

This is a difficult question for me to answer because I am a total foodie. I live and breathe food, so living in Japan is as if I had died and gone to heaven. I could sit and tell you about my favorite udon place, or my favorite sukiyaki place, but that might take a while, and it tends to change from day to day as I make new discoveries. However, one of my favorite food of all time is sushi, so a good sushi breakfast at one of the little sushi establishments right outside of the Tsukiji fish market rates pretty high on my food scale.

What is the most disgusting food you have had in Japan?

I can’t think of anything that I have eaten that was really disgusting. I have eaten some things that weren’t as good, but nothing bad.

What is the coolest gadget you have used or seen in Japan?

I know that most people may start thinking about all of the cool cell phones or other bits of technology that can be found here, but the first thing that came to my mind was my toilet. In fact, I have been meaning to write a post about my toilet. It is a Toto Washlet, and Toto and I have a love affair that is ongoing. Anyone living in Japan can understand that after experiencing a toilet that opens and closes its lid for you, has a heated seat, self-deodorizes, and has an assortment of bidet options, it is hard to go back to a “regular” toilet. If you haven’t experienced such a toilet, you may want to stay away, it is addicting.

All in all . . .

My experience in Japan thus far has been an extremely positive one. I love how friendly the Japanese people are. I have found that once you make a friend in Japan, you have that friend for life.

Thanks for the interview Fuji Mama! See more interviews with Japan bloggers