Oomisoka is how to call the New Year´s Eve in Japanese and is one of the very important event of a year for Japanese. What they do and how they spend the night?

22nd of December is Touji in Japan. What is it and what they do?

Do you know how to say “my wife” in Japanese? Actually there are many ways of saying it and why?

Today is the 22nd of November. What is special about today in Japan?

This is Sakura-Kan, my local sento bath in Oota-ku. It even has an open-air bath.

The 15th of Novemer is shichigosan in Japan. It´s a celebration for Japanese children to grow healthy. So when did it start and what they do?

There is a photo exhibition of feet. What you can see are nothing but kids´ feet. But what about kids´ feet to Japanese?

Have you ever wondered why many Japanese people carry transparent plastic umbrella? It´s a really good invension and here is a history of plastic umbrella.

Obon is one of the most important annual events in Japan, when there is a huge migration inside the island. This is an examle of Japanese lifestyle during obon.

Yoko Ogawa (小川洋子) is a Japanese novelist, born in Okayama prefecture (岡山県) in 1962. She won one of the most important prize in 1988 with her debut novel, "Agehachou ga kowareru toki (When the swallowtail breaks)" and since then she became one of the leading novelist in Japan.

The first book I pick was this, "Kanpeki na byoushitsu (the Perfect hospital room)".

The story is about the little brother of the protagonist who is about to die.

The theme is a little dark but some how it was subjective. I mean I know he is dying but the focus isn´t on his death.

One of the characteristic of Yoko Ogawa´s work in general is silence. It´s not plain nor dull, but it wraps you in the silence, as if you are in a crystal cubicle which is totally sterilized. Very clear her writing.

In the private life, she is an usual housewife who love music and a fanatical fan of Hanshin Tigers (One of the Japanese baseball teams).

Some of her book available in English are these.