I guided a walk last weekend to my favorite place: the Lafayette Reservoir. You can find me there often, as it’s just a 20 minute walk from my door.

I watched this series a while ago and I was in 2 minds about sharing it with you because I'm still not sure if I really liked it or not. Compared to the Little Miss Sumo documentary I wrote about a few weeks ago, this is definitely dark(er).

I’ve really enjoyed listening to this book, which follows a woman who takes on a series of temporary jobs after suffering a burnout. In spite of asking her job coach for easy assignments and the jobs do look simple at the start they all come with their own quirks and challenges.

If you've been put off visiting Japan because of the recent articles about over-tourism, there are plenty of places off the beaten path waiting for you. One such place nestled in the Sea of Japan, Sado Island, offers a unique blend of experiences that will leave you enchanted and inspired.

As a self-proclaimed ramen nerd, my husband was beyond excited when he discovered the Yokohama Ramen Museum in Shin-Yokohama. It’s just a short train ride from Tokyo or Kita-Kamakura, where we were living at the time. He put a lot of effort into convincing me to go, and I’m so glad he did!

"Little Miss Sumo" follows Hiyori, a young female sumo wrestler, and her journey in a sport that's traditionally for men only. Her story is both inspiring and eye-opening, as I had no idea that there were female Rikishi (力士, pro sumo wrestlers) at all.

People often ask me what inspired me to pursue a Master's in Japanese Studies, especially since I hadn't set foot in Japan until after I graduated. It's true—my journey started with Oshin!

An often repeated scene in our household: I say for example rinGO (りんご - apple) and then my husband says oh you mean RINgo? Then he'll invariably make some joke about my Kansai versus his Kanto accent.