I went on an environmental exchange program to southern Korea with seven children and two adults over the weekend. The Japanese children met Korean children, and we did outdoor activities together: birdwatching, catching fish and insects in a marsh, and harvesting rice. I enjoyed watching the children interact. The boys looked everywhere for insects, and the Japanese boys were excited when they found a grasshopper that doesn’t live in Japan. A Korean junior high school student took some great pictures of flying birds and shared them with us. A Japanese girl used her smartphone as a camera and took funny pictures of the other children. I laughed when a Japanese boy used his new Korean words to make a strange sentence, “Hwajangshil mashissoyo!” which means “The toilet is delicious!”   (129 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week,

The Asian Games ended last Sunday. They were exciting for people of all nationalities. Some British friends of mine were happy because they could watch cricket live. India got the gold medal, Pakistan the silver medal, and Sri Lanka the bronze medal. My granddaughter, who is on the horseback riding team at university, volunteered for the equestrian events. She said that Saudi Arabia was the winner of the event she saw. That’s not surprising. Arabs have some of the best horses and riders in the world. Even a small country like Nepal won medals in kabaddi and karate. China, Japan, and South Korea were the big winners of these games, but every country had its hero.   (116 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga” at jaremaga.online for more information. You can send me

One of my favorite Japanese sweets is “bontan ame.” It is a soft chewy candy from Kagoshima. Each piece is covered with starch paper that you can eat. The name comes from a citrus fruit called “bontan” in Japanese and “pomelo” in English. I had fresh pomelo in Shikoku, and it was very good. Unfortunately, they don’t sell this fruit in Nagoya. I don’t think the candy tastes much like the fresh fruit, but I like a nice fruity flavor. I also like the retro-looking package. This product goes back to 1925, and they haven’t changed the design of the box for at least 50 years. It still has the kanji name written on the side from right to left.   (122 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga” below for more information. You

My favorite author is Miri Masuda. Over ten years ago. I saw her book “Is It Okay Not to Marry?” at a bookstore. The title really surprised me because I felt like I was hearing someone’s true feelings. The main character Suchan is the manager of a cafe, Her daily struggles with anxiety about marriage and her future are realistic and funny. I could really relate to her.  Miri’s artwork is very simple, but her messages are deep. Another favorite of mine, “My Older Sister,” became a TV drama in 2022. There are funny conversations between a brother and sister, and she has great insights. Although I enjoy reading other books, her books make me feel the most relaxed and at peace. You can easily find them at the library. I highly recommend them to everyone, regardless of age or gender!   (141 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

When they started selling tickets to the 2026 Asian Games earlier this year, I bought two tickets to see sepak takraw. I wanted to see a sport that I can’t see live in Japan. Sepak takraw is played throughout Southeast Asia. The name comes from two languages, Malay and Thai, and it means “kick ball.” The sport is like volleyball, but the players use their feet and their heads to pass and make shots. I went to see the semi-finals on Monday with an American friend, and we had a great time. We didn’t know the rules, but we guessed them just by watching. Sepak takraw players are real athletes and amazing acrobats. They can make incredible spike shots while doing a backflip!   (123 words) Jaremaga now comes out online on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To become a paid subscriber and read it 5 days a week, go to “Support Jaremaga” below for