I posted part 1 (back then, I didn't know it was part 1) nearly a year ago. A lot's changed since then, and a lot has stayed the same. To...

When I meet people, I tell them that I’m a freelance copywriter and comedy writer. Mid-handshake, they stop and give me an odd look. A...

Time for a short break, I reckon. I'm leaving Japan temporarily, because of changes to my mental health (and some changes to the way I...

Being unwell is no fun, no matter where you live. When you’re in another country, far from your family, friends, and a more...

Every so often, a quote or article comes along that has the foreigner population in Japan up in arms. Like this NYT piece on Pico Iyer, a...

I found a 'how to work in marketing in Japan as a foreigner' blog post linked by someone on Twitter, liked and RT'd by several friends....

(Part 1, about the joy of tax forms, is right here.) To apply for a visa renewal ('extension of period of stay') in Japan, you need to...

A few weeks ago, I put in my 'application for extension of period of stay' to renew my visa. It all went well, and now I can remain in...

As lovely as any air-conditioned building can be, the chance to take some time out and enjoy the summer holidays in Japan is definitely...

So, I have a job that involves running social media accounts. I try to do this without sounding too much like myself. That's the point of...

Since April, in between working on other things, I've sent out exactly 100 marketing emails. Before starting, I checked out what the...

Visit a public bath. Okay, you'll feel more like you fit in. Tiny difference. But trust me, a good, healthy mental state is extremely...

Yes, I know. But you clicked, didn't you? So here we are. 1. They're overdone, overrated, unoriginal, and uninspired Listicle. Noun. "A...

After nearly a year on a Working Holiday visa, picking up bits of work where I can., remaining here as a freelance copywriter isn't...

Every time I come to Japan, I put on weight. Every time other people come to Japan, they magically lose weight. Why is that? Japan has a...

For Halloween this year, I dressed up as a blue alien. Jumpsuit, funky shoes, LED antenna headband, the works. Even painted my face blue...