Why Japan is Scared to Fix Overwork Culture

By Tim van Gardingen On an empty train station platform in rural Japan, there is a poster pasted on the wall with a message in imposing red letters: “Stop Karoshi!” […]

The Nightmare of Names

By Tim van Gardingen What’s in a name? Or, in the case of Japan, what on earth is the name in the first place? I found out the hard way […]

Post-JET Diaries- Part Seven

By Jennifer Cerna February “Take a chance, you stupid hoe. 怖がってるんじゃねえ。” –Gwen Stefani February started off on a positive note. Work was going fine and I no longer felt on […]

Post-JET Diaries- Part Five

By Jennifer Cerna December One of the main reasons why I went to Japan was because I wanted to find myself. I grew up jumping from place to place, but […]

Post-JET Diaries- Part Four

By Jennifer Cerna November My first day of work as a server was on November first. I trained for the first two weeks, learning the ins and outs of my […]

Post-JET Diaries- Part Three

By Jennifer Cerna October “Failing is just as sweet as success. I’ve tried them both and have no preference. So open your eyes and scan the horizon. Pick a direction […]

Post JET Diaries- Part Two

By Jennifer Cerna September “People tell me slow my roll, I’m screamin’ out ‘Fuck that!’ Imma do just what I want, lookin’ ahead, no turnin’ back.” – Kid Cudi I […]

Post-JET Diaries- Part One

By Jennifer Cerna August This is the first installation in a series intended to chronicle my first six months as a JET alum. My goal is to present a condensed, […]

Hyphenated-American

By Michael Nguyen I am Vietnamese-American. I’m not Vietnamese. I wasn’t born in Vietnam. I speak the language, but only just. I’ve never been in the country of my ancestors […]