Enrolment in some form of health insurance is mandatory for all long-term residents of Japan. This applies regardless whether you are a Japanese citizen or a non-citizen resident. Japan has a Universal Health Coverage ("UHC") system funded by a combination of insurance premiums paid by members,
Chances are that when you see a clinic (Japanese: クリニック) in Japan, there will be a pharmacy (Japanese: 薬局) next door or within walking distance. Pharmacies are not to be confused with drug-stores. The former is for buying prescription medication while the latter is for buying over-the-counter
On July 5th (Sunday), I will sit for the N2 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test ("JLPT"). This test is administrated by the Japan Foundation. The test paper is divided into three sections: (1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary & Grammar) (2) Reading Comprehension and (3) Listening. To pass
A family-run neighbourhood soba (Japanese: そば, English: buckwheat noodles) restaurant that we frequent - Sobadokoro Hoteiya (Japanese: 蕎麦処ほていや) ("Hoteiya") - is sadly closing for an indeterminate period of time. Hoteiya has a history of 100 years and is very popular with locals. Each time we visit for a meal,
Japan's rainy season is known as tsuyu (Japanese: 梅雨). The literal translation is "Japanese plum rain". 梅 means Japanese plum and 雨 means rain. Why is this the case? Well it turns out the rainy season traditionally coincides with the ripening of Japanese plums. Tsuyu starts
A few weeks ago I visited Book Off, a popular used-books chain owned by Bookoff Group Holdings (TYO: 9278) ("Bookoff Group"). Bookoff Group is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company has a market capitalisation of JPY34 billion (~US$210 million) and about 850 stores around
I recently started reading The Economist and have found it to be beneficial in broadening my exposure to global current affairs and improving my grasp of the English language. To recap, in Japan each issue of the print edition retails for JPY2,000 (US$12.50). Unfortunately, as The Economist
No, I did not go running without my clothes. Instead of running with my Apple smartwatch, which tracks running metrics like distance and pace, I have started running with a basic digital watch that tells the time and the duration of my run. After my run, I write down two
I have always been intimidated by The Economist magazine. Founded in 1843, it is a weekly British news and current affairs magazine whose name alone suggests a weighty, intellectual read. Probably the kind you would see in the briefcase or iPad of a globe-trotting business executive or world leader.
As Japan's summer is incredibly hot, I have found it nearly impossible to keep outdoor plants alive. My late bonsai (Japanese: 盆栽), which did not survive last year's summer, was one such example. Such experiences have prompted me to wonder if I could design and build
I find reading comprehension or doukai (Japanese: 読解) one of the more challenging sections of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The doukai questions are multiple choice format, with each question having four choices to pick from. The questions are based on short, medium and long opinion-style excerpts from
In Japan, inaka (Japanese: 田舎) refers to the rural countryside, conjuring an image of a place far removed from the bright lights and bustling sounds of the big city. I like visiting inaka to explore the local sights, sounds and smells. Who knows, you might also stumble upon a novel