Rebecca Shiraishi-Miles

Cherry blossom season in Japan is a magical time when the whole country seems to be painted in pink and white.  But it’s not just about the flowers. It’s a time to celebrate, connect, and embrace a centuries-old tradition: hanami, or enjoying the blossoms. During this season, parks and gardens come alive with families and … Read more

Spring in Japan is full of holidays, festivals and celebrations. It’s a time when people come together to enjoy unique traditions that have been around for generations. From throwing beans to bring good luck at Setsubun, to the nationwide public holidays of Golden Week, spring in Japan has so many fun customs, tasty seasonal foods, … Read more

Learning Japanese isn’t just about mastering the language—it’s also about immersing yourself in the culture. And what better way to dive deeper than through food? In this post, I’ve rounded up 15 simple and delicious Japanese recipes that anyone can make, no matter your cooking skills. Whether you’re looking to spice up your weekly meal … Read more

One of things I miss most about living in Japan is how cute everything is! I just love how, whatever you need to buy – no matter how mundane – you can find a kawaii version. From chopsticks to toilet paper, from food packaging to roadworks signs, everything is so impossibly cute! Seriously, kawaii culture … Read more

Japanese snacks are in a league of their own! With their cute and aesthetic packaging, unique flavours and fun limited editions, there is nothing like a Japanese snack to make you feel transported to a different world. Luckily, you can enjoy some of this magic even if you can’t travel to Japan or don’t have … Read more

One thing I really love about Japanese snacks is all the unique flavours. Anko (red bean paste), kinako (roasted soybean flour), umeboshi (sour pickled plums), ramune soda and more. Most of these tastes are hard to come by in the UK where I live now. Taste is a very powerful sense, so when I do … Read more