So I hear there was some monkey business going around in Japan..?? Last month, a wild monkey was seen in Shibuya Station ..and a week ago.. the monkey had a partner with him..and was seen running around.. and frightening the poor japanese at the Metropolitan area of Tokyo. So where did the monkeys come from..?? escape from the zoo.. and coming for some Christmas shopping..? Kekekeke!! nah.. not that funny .. according to my friend.. Miko-San.

If you think that the Japanese men are meek, well, you don’t know the Japanese guys that I know.  In Japan they do have hunting season too and a lot of Japanese men love to do outdoor stuff.  From hiking to canoeing to rock climbing, Japan has one of the most beautiful mountains and hiking trails.

I remember the summer we climbed the Japan Alps range, Mt Tsurugi also known as the Sword Mountain.  It was definitely one of the toughest mountains I had climbed. One thing that came in handy for all of us were the 5.11 Knives.  If you know anyone who loves the outdoors or loves camping, you might want to consider getting it for them.  And yes, Japanese students are encouraged to go out for camping trips too.

I think Japanese couples are so cute.. and the man seems shy as well as the bride. The traditional costume is still worn at this time and age .. even though during the reception.. the bride and groom changes into something more modern.

I had attended only 1 japanese wedding in my 6 months stay in Japan.. and i was kinda thrilled and excited.. to be invited.  I felt kinda honored if you know what i mean.  Afterall, she was just a co-worker that I  had met.  But i guessed since she invited my boss.. she had to invite me.. ?? hahahhaa!!!  Oh well.. Miko-San turned out to be a good friend.. that I continued keeping in touch after my 6 months stay in Japan for work.

I’ve seen a lot of Japanese girls marry Western man .. but i also know of a Canadian who married a Japanese man as well.  She is awesome.. !! she lives in Japan now.  And the Japanese laws states that all wedding must take place in your local city office.  You have to give notice to this office beforehand.  Even if you wished to perform your wedding in a church or a temple.. you will have to do it after you have had your civil wedding.

Japanese weddings are not cheap at all.. and i hear that the girl needs to come with some kind of dowry.  I don’t know if it is true these days.. but one thing for sure.. is that the Japanese Wedding reception is a very colorful and joyful one.  The temple ceremony was very serious .. and taking the sip of sake in the temple.. and all.. was an eye opener for me.  The two families will be introduced officially and red and white are the traditional wedding colors.  The married women in the wedding wears black.  I really did enjoy the Japanese wedding.

Japan’s Thanksgiving is a very different from the Thanksgiving in United States.. so for the Americans living in Japan.. they found it a wee bit funny.  In Japan, Thanksgiving is known also as Kinro Kansha No Hi, it means.. a labor day thanksgiving for the workers. Labor Thanksgiving Day is actually a national holiday in Japan.

Having said all the above.. the Americans in Japan still get together.. and have a small celebration.  I know the turkeys are not as huge as the ones in find here in the West.. but still.. they it was always a good attempt.   We always overeat.. and the next day .. the girls will be out looking for diet pill.

If you think that the Japanese only eat raw fishes.. then you are wrong.  They eat a lot of pork as well.  The bacon of the month club is my japanese buddy’s favorite bacon place to be in. After relocating the whole family to United States, they can’t find any bacon that they liked till they read about this  club.  So if you are a bacon lover, check out the site.

When Easterly Showers Fall On The Sunny West Episode 15 is ready to download and watch at my buddy’s blog.  Have fun and enjoy!

My absolute must have dish if i were in Osaka and can’t get enough of it.  My favorite place is FuGetsu, the restaurant is jam with ppl .. all the time.. and the only thing i donch like about it .. is the smoking part.  You can choose to sit on the booths or tables that has the grills in the center and the best part of it.. is they cook in front of you.

The waitresses were always nice to us.. i think it had to do with the fact that I had my American engineers with me all the time. Okonomiyaki is actually also known as the Japanese pancake.  I love the sauce that they put on top of it.. and the Japanese mayo. The dried bonito flakes were also the best thing ever.

I haven’t thought about Okonomiyaki for a long time.. till my blogging buddy reminded me of it.  Now i’ll have to get ahold of some ingredients.. and try and make them myself.. or i’ll go crazy.. mauahahah!!

The Japanese women are known for their smoking habits.  In Japan, the women are the ones with the highest smoking rate in any other developed countries in the world.  If you are as surprised as I am, well, you are not alone.  I was quite shocked to see a lot of my co-workers in Japan smoking every chance they get.  You don’t even want to know where they go and smoke, what a waste . .i tell myself.. whenever i see one of them doing it.. especially when they all looked so pretty.  i hope they bought some good term life insurance for we all know what cigarettes can do to people.

Gem Of Life Episode 18 is ready to be watched at my g/f’s blog.  Have fun.

Traditional Japanese homes in Takano River looked like that. In the cold winter months, it would really be nice to have a tankless water heater.  I remembered my host family having to take turns because they wouldn’t have so much hot water to go round the entire household and i feel extremely bad, because they always let me have a hot bath first.. since i am the guest.  I really wished i could send them one now .. since they had been so nice to me.. during my 6 months stay in Japan.