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Socializing around Ikebukuro
As I write this, I’m thinking “Dang, this might be the best matcha latte I’ve ever had!” Or maybe it’s normal and all matcha lattes are amazing. Regardless, the latte art is pretty, matcha lattes are where it’s at and life is good. May 26th to June 2nd | Ikebukuro, Tokyo I felt my excitement…
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Peaceful Week in Hino, Tokyo
It’s 2:30pm on June 6th. I’m in a cozy corner of Flux Café in Ebisu, Tokyo on a cloudy day feeling sated after a tasty plate of butter chicken with salad. I find it amusing that I chose brown rice. When asked what kind of rice I wanted, I didn’t understand the question and only…
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A Nice Productive Week at Miyoko’s
It’s 3:30pm on 5/30 and I’m sipping on rooibos tea at a coworking space in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. I’m happy to be sharing the table with a couple Norwegian friends I met over the weekend at a board game Meetup. There’s gentle elevatorish music and the quiet chatter of a Japanese guy being as polite as…
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Why Japan?
I’ve been in Japan a month now and have heard this reasonable question a handful of times. I don’t have a crisp response. I don’t need a thoughtful clean story. Despite this, it’s something I wish to work towards. There is no single powerful reason. I view the answer as the result of many lesser…
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Quick Kyoto Visit
It’s 10:20pm on May 29th and I’m sitting in bed in Ikebukuro tired from a run. After vegetating for a couple hours watching disc golf and eating konbini food, I’m craving some productivity so here I am writing. May 9th, 2023 | Kyoto Great Food and Long Time Friends The day started with taking a…
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Traveling Japan With Mom
It’s noon on May 26th and I’m once again at Hon Dana Café on the 3rd floor of a large building in Tachikawa. I’ve felt compelled to use my café time as opportunities to explore but this café was too perfect so I’m back! It’s a beautiful sunny day and I’m in the midst of…
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Jetlagged in Japan
It’s 3pm on May 23rd and I’m in at Hon Dana Café on the 3rd floor of a large building in Tachikawa on a rainy day. I’m listening to Kaskade and feeling very optimistic. My first few days in Japan generally followed a pattern. Wake up between 630 and 7am, go for a walk, shower,…
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Off To Japan
It’s 11pm on May 21st and I’m in bed at my Airbnb in Hino (western Tokyo) listening to Muse and feeling self inflicted pressure to catch up more on my blog. Apr 30, 2023 | Final Lil American Day It felt familiar to wake up in my hometown of Los Gatos – yet unfamiliar to…
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Hanging With Happy Californians
It’s 2pm on May 20th and I’m writing this in a Tully’s coffee shop at a train station in Tokorozawa (outskirts of Tokyo) with some time before a ping pong meetup. With my late bedtime and loving sweet matcha drinks, I had to order the matchalista – a frozen matcha drink topped with cacao bits.…
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Back To Work Doesn’t Mean Fun Has To Stop
As I write this, it’s 5pm on May 18th and I’m in Tachikawa, Tokyo at Caffe Veloce indulging on iced matcha and a matcha cake. Normally I stay away from caffeine in the afternoons, but “normally” I’m not working until 1am like I am now in Japan. I call that glass half full! Apr 25,…