Today, we headed to the shopping mall! We needed to pick up some new indoor school shoes — my kid had grown out of the old ones. Yes, in Japan, kids have separate shoes just for inside the school! 👟 But of course, the moment my kids spotted the gachapon corner, everything else had to…
Today I spent the afternoon doing freezer meal prep for my kids’ bento boxes — and honestly, cooking is the perfect time to think… and sometimes overthink. 😅 Let me take you through what I made today, along with what was actually going on in my head the whole time. Step 1: Nira Tsukune (Chive…
Have you ever heard a word so perfectly Japanese that it made you smile? Welcome to Only in Japan Words — a series where I introduce unique Japanese slang, internet words, and expressions born from manga, anime, and everyday Japanese culture. These are words you’ll never find in a textbook! 😄 What Does 豆腐メンタル Mean?…
This morning, my child woke up with a fever. We headed to the clinic right away, and thankfully, it turned out to be just a mild cold. The doctor prescribed some medicine, and we were on our way home — phew! 😮💨 A Sore Throat Calls for Ice Cream 🍦 On the way back, my…
This morning, I accompanied my mom to her doctor’s appointment. The waiting room was packed, and I didn’t feel right taking up a seat when I was perfectly healthy — so I slipped out and headed to the park just across the street! It turned out to be the best decision of the week. 🌿…
There’s something about watching movies and anime with your kids that completely changes you. My boys are obsessed with Coco and Zootopia. We’ve seen them so many times that I’ve lost count — but here’s the thing: every single time, my kids spot something new. A character hiding in the background, a tiny detail on…
Every morning, I make a bento box for my child before school. Over the years, I’ve found a few simple tools that make bento-making so much easier — and they’re all from the 100 yen shop! (That’s about $0.70 USD each!) In Japan, the 100 yen shop (百円ショップ) is basically a national treasure. Daiso, Seria,…
Yesterday was a holiday, so my husband and I headed to our favorite supermarket together! 🛒 The store was SO crowded — it was raining outside, and there was also a baseball game at the stadium right next door! ⚾🌧️ Such a Japanese combination, right? Japanese supermarkets are a different world If you’ve never been…
Hi hi! I’m An — a mom of two silly boys, living in Nagoya, right in the cozy heart of Japan! 🌸 I’m totally obsessed with beauty products and finding cute Japanese goodies. Oh, and I pack bento boxes for my boys every morning… even though I don’t really like cooking. 😅 Moms do what…
