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DIY Japanese Summer Festival (Natsumatsuri) at Home
Natsumatsuri (夏祭り) means “Summer Festival” and is one of the best parts of summer in Japan. People wear beautiful yukata and jinbei, play games, eat sweets like kakigori and chocobanana, and munch on…
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What’s in a Diaper Bag in Japan? (Toddler-Edition)
Diaper bags in Japan are called マザーズバッグ (yes, a little gendered…) and are a must-have for every parent. As outlined in my article on what was in my diaper bag for my 3-month-old,…
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Recipe: Ojiya (Japanese Rice Soup) for Babies and Toddlers
Last week, my daughter was sick with a cold so I made her the ultimate Japanese comfort food when you’re ill — おじや (ojiya). Ojiya is a Japanese rice soup that is simple…
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One Year of Daycare in Japan
My daughter has officially finished one year of daycare (hoikuen) in Japan! In the beginning, I was very worried about her starting daycare from only 9 months old, especially because of the pandemic.…
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A Road Trip in Japan with a Toddler
As some of you may know from my article on housing in Japan, we’re currently in the process of looking for land to build a house. Although we have an idea of where…
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Earthquake Preparedness in Japan with Children
Last Saturday night (February 13th, 2021), I was sitting at the kitchen table and texting away on my phone when an emergency alarm starting blaring from it, signaling an impending earthquake. As this…
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Setsubun: Casting Out Demons for Good Fortune in Japan
Every year at the beginning of February in Japan, people celebrate setsubun (節分), a day to cast out demons in order to bring in good luck for the year. This tradition is particularly…
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Recipe: Okara Pancakes for Babies and Toddlers
When my daughter turned 9 months, I was very excited to start introducing her to different kinds of food and finally make something new for breakfast — pancakes. I initially used Wakodo’s ready-made…
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Gift Giving in Japan: Uchiiwai (内祝い)
A while back, I wrote an article about my recommendations for Japanese gifts for babies, and at the end, I mentioned a very important point — if you’re a parent-to-be or parent who…
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Undoukai (Sports Day) at a Japanese Daycare
Last month, my daughter (Baby A) had her very first Sports Day (運動会 ・ undoukai) at daycare! Sports Day is an event held by schools in Japan, usually in the spring or fall,…
