Hobbies in Japan

As someone coming from the Philippines, I’ve always wondered what Japanese people did in their free time and I wanted to know if I would be interested in doing the same thing as they are.

I’ve talked to many people in Japan and have found out that the most common hobby is reading, followed by listening to music and watching dramas, especially those recorded on the weekdays to be binge-watched on the weekends.

There are also those who enjoy music such as playing the piano, violin, cello, guitar, and the not so common instruments like saxophones and clarinets. I believe that there is a niche for classical music in Japan. In addition, there are also those who enjoy dancing classical ones, Latin dances, hip-hop, and even Hawaiian hula. Other prefer sports like soccer, baseball, and even fishing.

These are in contrast to people who love collecting different things, from stamps to figures, to clothing, etc. The wide variety of interest always amazes me.

I’ve finally decided that I want to pick up photography and craft-making once this virus outbreak is over. How about you? What new hobby are you interested in?

A sea of people at a Japanese fireworks event

Japanese Wagashi

Does your country have its own famous traditional sweets? Do you also love eating rice cake? Or are you more of a western sweets kind of person?

Ever since I came to Japan, I’ve wanted to try Japanese sweets called “wagashi” like dango, daifuku, dorayaki, taiyaki and many more. They have their own unique flavor and are usually stuffed with “anko” which is red bean. They aren’t too sweet and you can feel the work put into making them.

I’ve first seen these in anime like Doraemon as he enjoys his dorayaki or Naruto which often features dango as a popular snack. Coming to Japan and having access to all these sweets and flavors makes my heart full and my childhood dreams fulfilled.

Perhaps my favorite among all these is the “daifuku” soft rice cake wrapped around a filling or sometimes ice cream. It’s one of my comfort food whenever I feel down or stressed.

Another memorable one is “oshiruko” which is mochi in red bean soup which was prepared by a friend’s mother for me on New Year’s which was a very warm experience.

If you are ever in Japan or if you are ever in a bad mood, please give them a try and you might feel a lot better.

Sakura Mochi

Being a Foreigner in Japan

I have been living in Japan for a little over four years now, and have had a mix of the good and the bad experiences. It’s been a blast living in another country not my own. There were various challenges, however, there were also joys to be celebrated.

I will not go into detail for some but I will share the most memorable ones I have experienced. The very first one is my first time in Japan. I have just gotten off the plane and with my luggage in hand as well as other bags, I found it difficult to go around the bustling capital. I got lost several times before I reached Tokyo Station to ride a bus to Kisarazu. At first, I felt that the atmosphere was colder than I thought.

Arriving in Chiba, the atmosphere changed and I felt the welcoming mood of the locals. I find living there so peaceful and satisfying. Fast forward to a few months later, I have adjusted to the lifestyle and have been enjoying daily life in Tokyo.

Some challenges were just homesickness, the occasional try-to-eat natto challenge, and the conflict of schedule with friends and loved ones you’d like to meet and talk to.

However, all the good still outweighs the bad as I made friends and even met the love of my life in the country’s capital. I’ve traveled and seen many places and have etched memories on my mind.

How about you? What are your challenges and unforgettable memories in Japan?

A sea of people from the Tsuchiura Fireworks Competition in Ibaraki

Japanese Instant Food

Are you the type of person who’s always on the go? Don’t have enough time to make a decent home-cooked meal? Well, fear not because Japan has an array of wonderful and ever-changing instant food to keep you full and comfortable when you eat~

I’ve always been a fan of instant noodles especially the Nissin brand since I was in the Philippines and coming to Japan and discovering its many other flavors gives me joy as I re-live my childhood.

Other instant food that I like include Japanese Sea Chicken or canned tuna which can also be found in my country under a local name. I enjoy making quick pastas with it as well as salads.

I enjoy other treats like instant gyuudon—Japanese beef bowls, which were recently released during the onslaught of the pandemic. These among others make my life a bit easier especially when I feel too lazy or tired to cook.

I believe that Japan’s instant food is also changing for the better and healthier as it offers more natural ingredients and less preservatives especially for onigiri—rice balls, soups, and noodles. I hope that you can try them one day when you visit or if you have always been the hardworking mom, just take a step back and have your family heat some up for you.

I hope you share a lot of comfort food with your families!

One of my favorite instant food is tada~ Instant Omurice!