“Lunch?” repeats the JET alumnus, leaning forward and cocking his head. “Well, school lunch wasn’t too bad,” he relays, “It was balanced, at least.” A slow, sheepish grin spreads across his face and crinkles his eyes. “I mean, like… it was a lot healthier than my usual instant curry sauce on spaghetti dinner,” he shrugs.

On the third and fourth of June each year, Akiota Town (where I live) holds a Frog Festival in Kake. A couple of weeks before I’d heard about this event, the rice fields next to where I lived had been invaded by an army of frogs, so many and so loud that my family could hear them on Skype! The town logo is also a frog, so it seemed to make sense that – of course – there would also be a Frog Festival.

I’ve had my share of Spanish/Mexican food in Japan. From Hiroshima’s Cusco Café and Tinto’s Restaurant to the do-it-yourself ingredients sold at Jupiter to the Visitor’s Day at the Iwakuni Airbase (which I went to solely to taste the delights of the on-base Taco Bell).

In book 3 of the JET Language Course there is a dialogue on the International Festival (国際フェア). Kim Sonho – a favorite language workbook character and close friend to Nancy Nagai – provides some photos from last year’s festival. He describes how all the JETs in the area gather for the International Festival. They introduce their country, cook traditional food, put on folk costumes, and take pictures with the area residents. At this point, I begin thinking “いいな!”

As Groucho Marx himself once said, “Hello,” and welcome to the grand opening of the brand-new-old-curiosity-shop that is Flickerbook. If you are looking for up to the minute reviews of the latest slick Hollywood money-makers, then I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place. But, if you are happy to meander aimlessly with me along the cluttered aisles of cinematic history, I may have a few curios to show you.

Have your students asked your ketsueki-gata (血液型), or blood type? Have you noticed that celebrities in Japan often have their blood types listed as part of their vital statistics, and people even know the blood type of their favorite anime character? In Japan, blood type is seen as an important indicator of personality and personal success, similar to the way that Westerners sometimes put faith in astrology. Out of the four blood types, A, B, AB and O, each has positive and negative traits associated with it.

Behind every video is a story. This video was shot at the hanami party in Senkoji, Onomichi in April 2011. Hanami is a beautiful time in Japan when people get together to eat, drink, and gaze at the natural beauty of the newly-bloomed cherry blossoms.

After coming across the “Norwegian Wood” (ノルウェイの森) youtube trailer I must say I was more than eagerly anticipating the movie. This is the first of Haruki Murakami’s famous works to have been adapted to the big screen. Considering most of his books include talking cats, out-of-body experiences, and the like, “Norwegian Wood” is definitely one of his more grounded works. I pictured the scenes vividly while reading the novel, yet had never imagined a movie could encompass Murakami’s voice.

If Valentine’s Day is a manufactured holiday then what on Earth does that make White Day? Hyper manufactured? A spin-off of a fake? Valentine’s Day in Japan is basically split in two: on Valentine’s Day girls give chocolate to boys, and on White Day, one month later, boys are supposed to return the favour by giving chocolates or other gifts to the girls who gave them presents in February.

“Kyuu is where we burn dried grass on you pressure points to relieve muscle tension.” “Really?” I asked in mild disbelief and genuine interest. “Oh yes, it’s been a traditional healing method in Japan for over a thousand years,” he answered.