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Tag Archives: Japan
Sashimi sides: field-guide to raw fish garnishes
In my Nov. 29 column in The Japan Times, I wrote about what a reader described as the “the stringy piles of daikon radish” that come with sashimi. As I explained, the daikon is called “tsuma,” written with this character: … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, What the Heck is That?
Tagged alice gordenker, garnishes, Japan, sashimi, seaweed, The Japan Times, tsuma, what the heck is that?
2 Comments
Japanese police: don’t they have something better to do?
You’ve seen them in front of police stations. And outside neighborhood police boxes. Maybe you’ve seen them in busy train stations up on a box looking fierce. Don’t you wonder why Japanese police always seem to be standing around? That … Continue reading
Posted in Life in Japan, What the Heck is That?
Tagged alice gordenker, Japan, Japan Times, keijo, koban, police, police guard, ritsuban, standing
2 Comments
Is the mask the new veil?
In my Nov. 22 column in The Japan Times, I reported that wearing masks in public has become completely normal in Japan, and promised to write here about the mysterious phenomenon of perfectly healthy people wearing masks. As I explained … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged alice gordenker, anna nakahara, date mask, date megane, Japan, mask, surgical mask, why do people wear masks in Japan
6 Comments
Talk Tanuki to Me: CWAJ Luncheon Sept. 10
If you’re in Tokyo on Wednesday Sept. 10, why not pop by the Tokyo American Club for my talk to the College Women’s Association of Japan? I’ll be talking about my “So, What the Heck is That?” column in The Japan Times, … Continue reading
The Making of Tetrapods
In my April 15 column in the Japan Times, I wrote about “tetrapods,” the four-legged wave-breaking concrete structures you see all up and down the coast of Japan. In the column, I explained that these huge structures are made on-site … Continue reading
How to Reduce Food Waste (in Japan)
In my Jan. 21 column in The Japan Times, I wrote about the expiry dates on food labels in Japan and explained how to use them so you don’t throw away perfectly good food. The gist is that the highly … Continue reading
Posted in Life in Japan
Tagged doggie bags, expiry dates, food labeling, food loss, food waste, Japan, shōhi kigen, shōmi kigen
5 Comments
Understanding the new “above sea level” signs
In my column in The Japan Times on Oct. 22, I wrote about the spate of new 海抜 kaibatsu (elevation over sea level) signage going up all over Japan. Each sign provides the elevation at the spot where the sign … Continue reading
The 5 o’clock bell, explained
In my April 16 column in The Japan Times, I reveal the real rationale for the 5 o’clock bell. For the benefit of the uninitiated, I’m referring to a daily broadcast of music that is played on outdoor speakers in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 5 o'clock bell, alice gordenker, bosai musen, disaster management, earthquake, Fujitsu General, Japan, tsunami
12 Comments
Lack of counter space — solved!
So I’ve been working my way through Naomi Pollock‘s new book on Japanese product design, which I wrote about in an earlier post and in an article in The Japan Times, cherry-picking from the well-designed Japanese products she introduces. I’ve … Continue reading
Sneak preview: new book on Japanese product design
I just got my hands on an advance copy of Naomi Pollock‘s new book on Japanese product design: “Made in Japan, 100 New Products.” I’ll be doing a Q&A with the author in The Japan Times on October 2, but … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged design book, Japan, Japan design, Made in Japan, Naomi Pollock, product design
2 Comments
Alice Gordenker アリス・ゴーデンカー 