Blogs on Japan

Blogs on Japan has started a new feature where we interview different bloggers who blog about Japan. Today we have one of our own authors of this site and the author of Japan Photo Guide babibubebo.

If you would like to be interviewed, please contact me! Also if you are looking for some interesting blogs on Japan, take a look at the previous interviews.

OK, first I gotta ask, what the heck is babibubebo?

Hehe, well, as far as I am aware of it has no real meaning. Japanese language is based on 5 sounds:

1. a (as in paw)
2. i (as in key)
3. u (as in food)
4. e (as in hay)
5. o (as in low)

Then to make other sounds you just add another letter infront of that sound, for example, ka ki ku ke ko, ra ri ru re ro and so on. I just liked the way ba bi bu be bo sounded (bah bee boo bay boh) and went with that. Most people don’t know what it means so I also have the domain Japan Photo Guide .

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

I started about one year ago, July 2006 I think, because basically I was traveling around Japan taking a lot of photos and decided I wanted to do something to share them with people. Also, after I went to most of the famous places it became harder to find information in English about the lesser known but sometimes equally beautiful/interesting places in Japan. So I decided I would try and share that information from my past travel experiences.

Describe your blog in one word.

Photography

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

I am going to cheat here and introduce them to two. The first is my favorite specific place (not city) in Japan, Himeji Castle. IMHO, Himeji Castle, during cherry blossom season, is the best. The second is about internet cafes. I am not sure why, but I have a slight obsession with Japanese internet cafes and find them just so cool and relaxing.

What blogs do you read?

• Engadget
• TUAW
• Japan Probe
• Tokyo Times

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

Whoops, already answered this one. Specifically Himeji Castle, but if we are talking about a city, I love big cities, so I gotta go with Tokyo. If we are talking about an area of Japan, I gotta go with Kansai just because it has so much to offer (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Arashiyama, Himeji…).

How long have/did you live in Japan?

About two years and 5 months.

The best thing about Japan is…

Wow, really difficult for me to choose one, but I won’t cheat here. I am going to go with the food.

The worst thing about Japan is…

Wow, really easy for me to choose. A lot of ATMs (especially outside Tokyo) close as early as 5-7pm on the weekends! What’s up with that? This bothers me a lot more than it should! Why does an ATM need to close at all? GRRRR!!!

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

Shabu Shabu

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

This

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

As much as I want an iPhone, the only thing I am more obsessed with than the internet cafes in Japan are the cell phones in Japan. I especially enjoy being able to use my cell phone to pay for things (including train fares and food) by simply touching my cell phone to a sensor. Much faster and easier than dealing with cash or swiping, waiting, signing for credit card. Oh, and my cell phone has facial recognition to lock and unlock these money paying functions!