Japanese cuisine truly has something for everyone, especially in mega-cities like Tokyo! Here are some of my most and least favorites throughout our three-week study abroad trip to Japan.

⭐⭐⭐- good but nothing special

Oyakodon: a yummy chicken and egg bowl typically served with miso soup. The name oyakodon translates literally to “parent and child”. I found this dish during one of the many shopping sprees my friend Haruka and I took. It’s an easy introduction to Japanese cuisine that I enjoyed!

⭐⭐⭐⭐- memorable and delicious!

Gelato: I know, I know, not exactly Japanese but still delicious, nonetheless. Our group bought this from a gorgeous little store named Venchi in Chuo, a ward in Tokyo, and the raspberry dark chocolate combo was easily the best gelato I have ever had the pleasure of trying. We found this place (like most) while wandering in one of the many shopping centers during our free time (the perks of being a little too punctual)!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- would fly to Japan for this

Fruit Sandwiches: maybe one of the most aesthetically pleasing treats in the world, and maybe one of Japan’s most famous. I was so excited to get my hands on a fruit sando during my stay. So was the rest of the country because it took me about a week and a half to finally find a 7/11 with one in stock. The one you see below is filled with strawberries, peaches, custard, and whipped cream and tasted like heaven incarnate. I would live in Japan solely for these sandwiches.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- would fly to Japan for this

Japanese Pancakes: I had these on multiple occasions they were so good. Light and fluffy, yet somehow able to melt in your mouth, these pancakes are unforgettable. The first one I tried was topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and custard, while the second (only a few days later I’ll admit) featured strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries over vanilla ice cream and strawberry drizzle. They were both works of art.

Specifics of the Wagyu

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- this gets a 6 because my mouth will never be the same

Kobe Wagyu Beef: I have never had anything more glorious touch my tastebuds. If you have any opportunity to try Kobe beef, please do.

⭐⭐⭐⭐- memorable and delicious!

Tanghulu: also known as candied strawberries, I had only ever seen these in various animes I had watched. When I found these at a street vendor in Harajuku with a friend, I knew I had to try them! Tanghulu is so yummy but make sure to bring a mouthguard for the moment your teeth break through the sugar because it can be sharp. Overall a very fun and delicious experience!

⭐⭐⭐- good but nothing special

Okonomiyaki: while this was good for the first ten minutes I was eating it, I soon became tired of the giant mash of flavors and textures that it offered. Many of my classmates loved it, but I wasn’t a huge fan. I would only have this again once or twice but it was still a great flavor experience!

Throughout the four or so weeks that my classmates and I were exploring Japan, there were some blatant (and not so blatant) differences between Japan and the United States. Here, I would like to discuss some of them and ways to adapt and thrive within a changing environment!

Metric versus Imperial System – this is a smaller difference between the two countries, but a frustrating one at times. Whether it be height, speed, weight, or distance, each measurement is different. I always used to think in “science” terms and use the universal 2.54 cm to 1 inch for length conversion. This one is easy peasy to overcome!

OHIO in flood tunnel.

Public Behavior – behavior in public may be the greatest difference between the US and Japan. Japan is known for its peaceful and respectful society, while Americans often praise being different and loud in the way they live. Loud and rowdy behavior is frowned upon in public places, especially trains, and it’s important to not take up more space than necessary. Walk on the left on sidewalks and stand on the left on escalators to fit in with the public. If you’re unsure of a standard or custom, do as the natives do, they will always know best!

Punctuality – as you will soon see, everything in Japan is perfectly on time. Punctuality is one of the biggest characteristics of the Japanese society, something you will need to learn to thrive. Give yourself enough time to get ready/eat/shop so you don’t inconvenience others or yourself if you are late. My professors always said that being early is on time and being on time is late, so prepare ahead of time.

Train Station at rush hour.

Public Transportation – this is one of the most advanced parts of Japan! The train and shinkansen lines are some (if not the) best in the world because of excellent engineering and punctuality of service. Because Japan’s trains are one of the main modes of transportation throughout the country, they have a constant need to be on time and operated well. Before going to Japan, I was nervous that I would not be able to understand the train system and inevitably get lost. However, I found that the train lines were all color coded and easy to follow and that trains ran very frequently, so missing one after program hours isn’t always a big deal.

Kindness – exploring a new country can be extremely nerve wracking, especially when you don’t understand the language. From the first week in Japan, I found that everyone I talked to was very kind and willing to help me, regardless of the language barrier. Most Japanese people are kind and patient with foreigners, especially when you ask for help. Google translate was a huge help during the trip so don’t be afraid to use it! Don’t take people’s help for granted either, thank them and use what they said to the fullest. You can meet some really amazing people while traveling if you only have the courage to speak up!

My wish at Haneda Airport!

New Experiences – try absolutely everything you can get your hands on, regardless of whether you think you’ll like it or not. Traveling new places is about experiencing new things, whether it be foods, conversation, people, or adventures. My motto anytime I travel is “try everything twice” and it’s one I’ll always live by.

Best of luck and enjoy,

-Lachlan 🙂

On the second week of our study abroad trip to Japan, we visited the beautiful city of Hiroshima. During our short stay, we had the privilege of going to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park to learn about the tragedy that occurred in August of 1945. After touring the museum, Professor Ibaraki recommended Barefoot Gen to me. He mentioned that he had read it himself as a young man and that the story had a lasting impact on him. That is how a copy of the first volume of Barefoot Gen made the 7,000-mile journey back to the United States with me.

Barefoot Gen, written and illustrated by Keiji Nakazawa, is a ten-volume manga series first serialized as Hadashi no Gen in 1972-73. The manga was banned in many local libraries on multiple occasions on account of it containing “unsupported depictions of Japanese atrocities”. Thankfully, local courts lifted the ban soon after, leaving school systems to make their own decisions about the importance of Barefoot Gen. If you are planning on reading Barefoot Gen for yourself, I suggest skipping the rest of this blog.

I knew very little about the series going into it, only that my professors and a few classmates recommended it. I knew that Barefoot Gen was going to be an emotionally challenging read- something I was correct about. I did not, however, expect to be so deeply impacted by the continued abuse of Gen and his family. While the illustrations in Barefoot Gen are in no way refined, the rawness

How police treated “traitors” like Mr. Nakaoka.

of Nakazawa’s lines and the exaggerated style only serve to enhance the brutality of the life that Japanese citizens lived during the war.

Because Gen’s father did not support the war effort, his family and everyone who associated themselves with the Nakaoka family were labeled as traitors and treated as less than human. Violence was very prevalent throughout the entire volume, whether it was from Mr. Nakaoka, the Nakaoka kids fighting back against neighbors and townspeople, or the gruesome scenes after the atomic bomb was dropped. However, some of this violence was vital in showing a key characteristic in Gen: that he is much like his father in that he will do “wrong” or societally unacceptable things for what he believes is right.

Almost all of the first volume was dedicated to showing how Japanese society treated “traitors” during the war, in addition to the struggle it took to redeem one’s family from the title of traitor, as seen with Koji Nakaoka (Army pilot recruit). Some of the hardest scenes to read occurred after the bomb was dropped and we see half of Gen’s family trapped in the rubble. The mangaka did an excellent job getting readers attached to these characters, only to make it more tragic as we see them literally burning alive in the last fifty pages.

The tragic effects of the atomic bomb.

Barefoot Gen is definitely a manga I see myself reading through completion, as it is such an important part of history that is told in such a heartbreaking but impactful format. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone curious about the everyday lives of those affected by the war effort and the atomic bomb.