Long time! Game Review

For those who just want the review on Child of Light, skip the first paragraph.

I desperately need more motivation to write to this blog. My time in Japan proved to be the most fruitful for blog-writing-motivation, even though my time in Japan was no more or no less exciting than my time in France (I slacked big time when I was in France ...). I have attempted many times to create a schedule for my blogs, such as having Monday be Writing-Prompt Monday. I would like to do this but perhaps more of three times a week. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know in the comments through Facebook (or through here if you have an account at any rate). The topics I would enjoy covering would be writing prompts, folkloric beings, video game reviews, movie/book reviews, and/or food. Of course, I will occasionally update about my life if anything fascinating happens.

Today I will be doing a video game review. Mostly because I want to and because I like to critically analyze media. I will try my best to avoid spoilers, but in the instance I do spoil something, I'll put spoiler brackets.

This game is called Child of Light and is done by Ubisoft Montreal and published through Ubisoft, the company that is famous for Rayman and Assassin's Creed. It is a 2D side-scroller with a turn-based strategy battle formation. It is available on the PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, XBOX 360, and XBOX One. I personally played it on the PC. 

You play as the daughter of an Austrian Duke who has been pulled into a fantasy-esque world and must gather the sun, the moon, and the stars. On her quest, she meets helpful companions to aid her in her return home. 

The game is very unique. Its watercolor animation, with a few cell-shade exceptions, is very beautiful and appealing. In its entirety, the game is very artful, especially the music. 

I have played my fair share of strategy/turn-based RPG's (they are some of my favorite game styles to play in after all), and this game is delightful for those who enjoy the mechanics of this gaming genre. In most turn-based RPG's, everyone's attack is determined by speed or simply the player characters and then the enemies. Child of Light employs a speed mechanic as well; however, there is a neat bar at the bottom of the battle screen that shows all of the characters and when they can cast or wait. Once one of your two characters reach the casting section, you may choose a move but must wait until the end of the casting section to actually cast. If your character is hit by an opposing force within this casting period, your character will be "interrupted" and thrown back into the wait period. This unique approach to turn-base is very active and forces the player to pay attention.  

Of course, while the player can only have two characters in battle at once, there are plenty of characters that join your plight that can be chosen from and switched into battle easily. One of the downfalls to this game is that there is no monster encyclopedia. In many RPG's, there are often monster encyclopedias that track all of the monsters you have battled and defeated throughout the game. Tracking down enemy weaknesses are generally obvious in this game since they are color coded (ex. blue=water/ice and is weak to lightning, red=fire and is weak to water, et cetera); however, there are few enemies where their weaknesses are not obvious and after trying all of the elements on them it was presumed that there are enemies that are just assholes.

My complaint on no monster encyclopedia is actually very petty since the game is fairly easy (note: I did play on casual for my first play-through, so I may have to come back to this after a second go around - though, Child of Light forums are filled with people bitching about how easy this game is even on expert). Not once did I lose a battle. There were only a handful of times that even one of my characters fainted, but it was not really a problem since it is very easy to revive fainted characters. 

There is also the little firefly guy. He is controlled by the mouse and will blind opposing characters, slowing their speed down if you hold him over them. If he is held over a player character, he will heal them. While it is a cute gimmick and he is useful, he is very easy to spam. Take that as you will, whether you find that a good or a bad thing. There were times I found him to make the game incredibly easy, but there were other times when I thought he was useful. 

Perhaps bittersweet, the game is relatively short. It makes for a good, quick game that doesn't take too much time out of your schedule. On the other hand, it could have really benefited from a longer plot, and maybe some after-game quests. It really does feel like a full game, though, and that is important to the overall experience. 

This game has several upsides:

1. My favorite part of Child of Light was the battling system (albeit the missing monster encyclopedia). The battling is enjoyable and not quite as monotonous as other turn-based games. Maybe it was thanks to playing on casual, but I did not have to grind very much between boss battles to level up efficiently. Most of the turn-based strategy games that I have played I have spent hours (days/weeks/centuries/forever *cough* Disgaea) grinding. It was refreshing. The game may not be hard, but it is fun and simple enough. 

2. Atmosphere. This game has an incredible atmosphere that sets the tone and makes everything so unique. I know that I said that the battling system was my favorite part of the game, but without the atmosphere I'm not sure I would have managed to play all the way through.

3. The stunning artwork and the beautiful music is also one of the major upsides to this game. If you are the artistic/musical type, you will enjoy it!

4. Underlying themes. *WARNING* spoilers. Growing up and becoming a woman of your own instead of relying on everyone else while dealing with death and betrayal.

Besides the monster encyclopedia, (which is incredibly petty, I know) this game does have a few downfalls. However, I found that the upsides outweighed the downsides. The downsides did not hinder my play through very much. 

1. The first downfall is the incredibly lame dialogue. Let me go more in depth about this before anyone gets too turned off by that as I know dialogue can be very important. The dialogue is written in a rhyming fashion. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and there were times I found it very charming actually. Unfortunately, the rhyming keeps us at a distance with the characters and it is very difficult to sympathize with anything that is happening. Although that may not be the only reason it is difficult to sympathize as ...

2. The plot is so basic. You are Child of Light. Light is good. Dark is bad. Beat Dark. Win Game. Still cute at any rate. Luckily, the game's atmosphere and the underlying themes makes up for this even though I felt as though this game had a lot more potential. It was a great game, but it could have been even better.

3. I know that I previously stated that how short it was wasn't necessarily a bad thing but making it longer could have forced them to make a better plot. Though, there is a replay option, and perhaps that will quench my thirst for more.

4. *WARNING* spoiler. Massive spoiler. This is also kind of petty but it is a major pet-peeve of mine in video games. I absolutely detest when you get a team of characters and one (or more) of them either permanently die or betray you (unless it is in the rogue genre of gaming). So I level up a character, spend time and care into this character and then I get a betrayal out of the deal and can no longer use said-character. Ever. Even though it was kind of obvious, I just don't enjoy being teased like that. I am possessive. Once you are a part of my team I never want to let you go.

There is my review on Child of Light. Overall, I would give it an 8/10. Its upsides greatly outweigh the downsides and it is really worth a play if you like these kind of games. 

Toodles

Spring Break

Unfortunately since I have been back in the U.S. I have been slacking on my blog posts. This semester has been a lot less stressful than the last, though still stressful enough. I have taken a semester break from my psychology minor as that was what had been so stressful the semester before. Instead, I focused on my philosophy minor (even though the two courses I took don't actually count ...) and of course doing French and Japanese. I'm also continuing yoga, something I picked up in Japan that really is great for so many reasons.

I recently picked up German as my fourth language. Mostly, I am doing it through an app but have some dictionaries and make sure to practice everyday. It seems with each language, the easier they get (not to say that languages are easy by any means!) My uncle had lent me a Rosetta Stone for Spanish, so I should pick that up as well since I have been slacking on that too! The one language I really want to learn is Russian, but the app I got didn't offer it. Really, I just want to learn as many languages as possible.

This week is Spring Break so I hope to spend all of my time doing hobbies. Also, I recently learned that I have allergies so bought a humidifier and other OTC allergy relief medicines to test and try out through the break. I don't know what I'm allergic to, though since I am perpetually sneezing and have perpetual eye goop and runny nose among many other things I assume it is dust. Everything gets worse in the spring so maybe also pollen or a tree or something. When I was in Japan, my allergies would get awful when pollution levels were high, so that is probably another thing. With all that, I must assume that I am allergic to everything.

About the allergy medicine, I had some and it said non-drowsy but it has made me a little loopy honestly. I told myself I would write a blog post tonight since I slacked the night before, but I am already confused!

Toodles!

First Semester Back

My first semester back at the University of Alaska has finished. I am sure there are a lot of interesting things to write about, but this semester has been one of the most stressful semesters I have had. Dealing with constant pain, heavy work-load in my classes, and other stresses have not made for an easy semester. I do enjoy being back in Alaska, though the weather is far warmer than it ever used to be. There was definitely some reverse-culture shock for the first couple months, and sometimes I still get it.

I finished my last final today, so am not sure why I do not feel as relieved as I should. Perhaps I have gone to school too long and am unsure of what to do afterwards. I do have a plan, but it's more of a back-up plan instead of a definite, "This will be my career".

For this update, I think I will write ten things I miss about Japan and France (some will overlap).

1. (Japan) Convenience stores: they had easy food options, an isle for health, an isle for office supplies, an ATM, and you could pay your bills there (well, depending on your billing situation).

2. (Japan/France) Food: seriously fuck American food. Even the damn bread and meat here tastes like it's been injected with sugar and plastic. Also, it is no wonder everyone is obese here because when I first came back I thought everything tasted terrible. I had no appetite but the more I ate it the more I actually became addicted to the food here. The more fruits and veggies I eat, the less I want it. It is fucking crazy! When I was in Japan I almost never had anything with sugar in it. In France I did, but the food there is just ... different.

3. (Japan/France) Trains: they are the perfect mode of transportation.

4. (Japan/France) Seasons: well, except winter really ... but fall and spring actually existed, and Japan has a fantastic fall and spring. France a little less so, but I enjoyed the rain.

5. (Japan/France) Eco-minded: Why is it so difficult to turn off lights if you are leaving the room? Also, don't turn the thermostat up past 70! It is so wasteful! My host parents would have lectured me for hours if I did either of those things. I actually thought France was a little more eco-friendly than Japan ... especially after experiencing acid rain and pollution so bad you couldn't see the next street over.

6. (Japan/France) No Anti-vaxxers/anti-evolution/climate deniers: I can't even stand to argue about these things with Americans anymore. It is a waste of time.

7. (France) Ma and Pa Business Appreciation: Personal shops were everywhere. It was pretty difficult to find stores that were chains or whatever.

8. (Japan/France) More respect towards those who don't believe in what you do: Also, they tend to consider religion to be dangerous and private/keep-it-to-yourself. I agree.

9. (Japan/France) Walking/Health Respect: I mean, there are health nuts in the U.S. it is not quite the same ...

10. (Japan/France) HEALTHCARE: I have ranted about this so many times that I don't think I have to anymore. If you know me, you know that I am all for universal healthcare.

Since I am back in the U.S., I will now do a few things that I missed and am glad that I can now do again.

1. No debit card charge fees ... or exchange rate conversions ... though sometimes I still find myself trying to do some math then realizing I don't have to.

2. Snow. Even though it isn't as cold as it should be, I missed winter and snow. I need the cold and snow.

3. Northern Lights ... except Fairbanks has dirty air so I can only see them in my hometown where the air and water is very clean.

4. Alaska lingo. I no longer have to explain what I mean by "going outside", "northern lights", "snowmachine", "10 below/above", or "Lower 48". Now if someone doesn't know what I am talking about it just tells me that they are an Outsider, haha.

(At this point I had to google "Reasons to Like America" for inspiration ...wonder what that says about me.)

5. My family and cats are here.

6. Barnes & Noble and the prices of books. Why are books (other than manga in Japan) so expensive abroad? It is so absurd to me. Books are knowledge! Well, unless we're talking about textbooks, then we have another situation entirely. Video game prices are also better here, and I don't have to worry about voltage/plug-in nonsense anymore (or region locked gaming, ugh!)

7. Racial diversity. Didn't really see much for racial diversity in either Japan or France ... there was a little more France but not as much as here in the U.S.

8. Personal bubbles. When I was abroad I felt like people were always breaking my bubble ... I don't think that my personal bubble even existed abroad. French people are naturally very close and Japan is super crowded ... also, if you barely become friends with Japanese girls they are very clingy physically (in my experience).

9. More respect in classrooms ... when I was abroad I would see students from other countries constantly on their phone texting, on the internet with no punishment or asking to put the phone away. Students were always late or did not turn in homework. Some students would argue with the teachers and get into fights with them. These things do happen at my university, but not the frequency they happened when I was abroad. Plagiarism is a serious problem if you do it here, where in France and Japan it was kind of like a slap on the hand.

10. Classlessness ... I do think it kind of exists in the U.S., but I think that for the most part, everyone is on the same page. Contrary to popular belief, there is a formal and informal language in English. It is just not as intense and class-related as French formal/informal and Japanese formal/informal language. In Japan and France, you cannot speak to your teacher the way they would speak with you. Not that I think I should speak super casually with my professor, I always try to speak formally with my professor and I would expect them to speak formally with me. That is not the case in French and Japanese. For an English speaker, it seems as though you are being spoken down to, I know that is not what is happening but it really does feel like it.

That is it for now, though I do want to throw in that I hate tipping. France and Japan don't tip and I don't think we should either. Waiters and waitresses should be paid enough to where tipping is not necessary.

For now, that is all. Hopefully I'll write again soon. I'll try not to keep a seven month break between!

~Toodles

Life

I am back in Alaska, have been for almost a week now. I spent the week before in Hawaii, which was an experience in the least. Of course, leaving Japan has hit me harder than France did, though I'm finding better ways to cope this time around. I'm actually in a good mood right now so I don't plan to get emotional over explaining how my trip to Hawaii then to Alaska went.

I will say a few things about Hawaii. I went snorkeling for the first time, something that was honestly exhausting but not as terrifying as I had previously imagined. I fell asleep on the beach, received a nasty sunburn on my legs of all places. I used so much sunscreen except on my legs because I had a brain malfunction and figured legs would handle themselves. Lesson learned. I also went to a luau and learned a bit about Polynesian and Hawaiian history, or culture anyway. Hawaii truly is a paradise but next time I'd like to visit someplace other than Honolulu and its commercialised "paradise". I was a bit melancholic in Hawaii but have been making sure to keep in touch with my friends that I made in Osaka. They were some of the closest friends I have ever made in my life and I wonder if I will ever be able to make such good friends again. I miss them every day.

I have been "climatized" (not sure if that is a real word but it is for now) so Alaska is really cold. I can't seem to give up Celsius and still keep my phone and computer synched with the metric system. Anyway, Alaska is beautiful but very inconvenient. I am so far away from everything. Even the buffalo herd that was a twenty minute walk away has been sold apparently. I live in the middle of nowhere. I told myself I'd appreciate it when I returned ... I do like the clean air, fresh water ... but solitude didn't seem to mean the same to me as it once did. Don't get me wrong, I am the type who needs their solitude but there is something lonely about it. Loneliness is not often a word muttered by a good chunk of Alaskans, and I never said it (if I had I wouldn't have meant it) prior to going abroad.

Well, that's enough of that. Let's just say that at this point in my life I am meant to travel. People are always giving me suggestions for future careers and whatnot ... I recognize the kindness but I have thought of many things to do and every single one does not fulfill my inner desire. I'll figure it out on my own. It's always "when will you get married", "when will you graduate", "what job/career will you do", "you should be this, you should do that". I simply don't know nor do I care right now. I'm going with the flow. Shit will happen when it happens. I'll figure out my career/future whatever when I do. I don't need pushing from my family and friends, thank you very much.

Okay, I think I'll be done for now. Enough of my ranting. I'll return to Writing Prompt Monday, if I don't forget anyway. I'll update more when I feel like it!

Toodles!

Farewell Japan!

Tomorrow I will be on a plane to China where I will sit in Beijing Airport for nine hours, clutching my bags and probably feeling really depressed. I remember when I had a ten hour layover in Germany after leaving France and how absolutely morose I felt the entire time. So far, getting ready to leave Japan has been far harder than leaving France. Perhaps it is because I have stayed in Osaka longer than I stayed in either Angers or Grenoble. Or maybe it is because I have met so many friends who I have had with me for the past eight months. Either way, I have bawled my eyes out last night and this morning, which is very out of character if you know me and my "I only cry maybe five times a year" policy. Even when I do cry it is usually only for a few moments then I am done, but this time it has been a constant, hour long cry fest. I don't know what to do with myself. Who is this person?

All jokes aside, I am very nervous to leave Japan and very emotional. I have anxiety, and I have come to learn how to manage it; however, these last few months in Japan my usual methods simply have stopped working. Breathing exercises work for a few seconds, but then the anxiety comes right back. It is miserable and painful, but I will find new ways to find relief.

I think that I have covered this before, but whenever someone asks me about how my time abroad went I am always faced with a conundrum. It is like trying to comprise everything that you have done in eight whole months together and give them one word about it. I have found out a way to get the point across by mostly saying, "There was everything, good, bad, happy, sad ... but that's what makes it the whole experience." I think people are usually surprised by the answer. It seems as though most people just want to hear you say how fantastic it was, since I guess most people associate bad with miserable and something you don't want. But when you go abroad, sometimes the bad is good. It is all a part of the experience. Without the bad, how do you fully appreciate the good? Sometimes it's nice to look back at how bad things went and laugh a little.

I'm not the type to have any regrets, but I do have one regret. It is a bit of a personal regret, but I think that I will be able to accept it eventually. I still have one day to maybe fix the regret; I will find out.

In Japan, I fell in love. No, really. I thought I had but when i "fell out" of love I realized that it hadn't been love, just strong crush feelings. However, there was someone else that I had fallen in love with, but it took me a long time to realize that. It is complicated. I haven't admitted anything but maybe I should before I leave. Then I will have no regrets left. Love is complicated. People are complicated. I am not usually a romantic or the type to fall in love, but I guess it took me by surprise. As someone recently told me, "Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time (place? I can't remember now)." It hurts, but what can you do?

Anyway, away from that ... Japan has been everything. I have experienced too much, and I don't think words are satisfactory enough. I love the friends I have made, and I love Japan. I can't choose between France and Japan because the experiences were so different. I love both countries. This is the end of my two year journey, and I thought I would have a lot to say, but I don't. I don't have words.

My host mother was so fantastic. She was like a real mother to me, just as my French host mother in Grenoble was. All of my host families have been fantastic and I can't choose between them.

Before I cry more (Zeus Almighty! What has happened to me?) I'll end this blog post with some of my favorite things about Japan and France:

1. French Healthcare. I've said it before and I'll say it again.
2. Trains! Trams!
3. Japan's obsession with cute/small things.
4. Both countries have such a long history.
5. Architecture.
6. French sense of humor.
7. Osaka's uniqueness in strict, serious Japan.
8. Japanese television.
9. Good food.
10. Game Centers in Japan (maybe the Lower 48 has this but Alaska sure doesn't ... maybe Anchorage but I'm not going to drive for six to seven hours for a Game Center).
11. Real spring.
12. Real autumn.

For now, that is all. This ends my two year journey. I have new journeys to experience, such as Hawaii and then rediscovering Alaska!

Farewell Japan!

~Until Next Time

The Best Decision of My Life

Was to go abroad, but my second best decision was to buy a brand new, fancy razor for the first time. I usually always buy disposables, but I will never go back. Here are some reasons you should stop getting disposables and stop torturing yourself.

1. Disposables are cheap, and I am pretty cheap (and poor) ... however, cheap means low quality, low quality means spending more time to shave yourself with satisfactory (but not great) results. Non-disposables, on the other hand, great quality, less time, awesome results.
2. Expensive, non-disposable razors are better for the environment.
3. Non-disposables last longer.
4. They feel heavenly.
5. You will be confused as to why you tortured yourself for so long, but that's okay because now you have freed yourself.

That is today's quick blog post! I only have one week left so I've been busy and haven't had time to post my regular writing prompts!

Toodles

Long Time No Blog

I suppose it's not as long of a pause as I have had in the past, but I didn't realize I had missed last week until halfway through the week. I missed yesterday as I was extremely tired and even went to bed around 8:30 pm. Not too much has happened over the past two weeks, though I did go to Nara this last Sunday. It is one of Japan's oldest capitals and is known for its abundance of deer. I went with my student's family. Every Saturday I teach English to four kids. It is nice. This week there is a poster presentation that I worked most of last weekend and this weekend on, so I have been terribly busy. Other than, that most of the week blends together and I can't recall everything I've done even though I know there is more.

Today is Earth Day, so Happy Earth Day! I am very big on environment so I think Earth Day is pretty important. Although, I really think every day should be treated as Earth Day.

I only have two and a half weeks left in Japan. Since that is the case, I am going to give a list of the things I will miss when I return back to Alaska.

1. High-tech toilets. Everyone seems to be terrified by them but they are so convenient. Also, they have pictures on them so I don't understand why people think they are difficult. I mostly just like them for the warm seats and the sound button (makes a flushing sound or nature/birds chirping sound that is louder than you). I absolutely cannot use public restrooms when other people are in there at the same time for fear that someone will hear me. It's irrational but comes with so much anxiety it is stressful. Thank you, Japan. I will greatly miss your innovation to make bathroom time anxiety-free. Honestly though, I'm not sure how Green the warm toilet seat is ... though I know they added the noise button because Japanese girls are apparently like me and would flush the toilet every time just so people couldn't hear them. The sound takes less energy and wastes less than flushing the toilet so ... yeah.
2. Trains. I have a whole blog post on trains about three or four posts back. I love trains.
3. Food. American food sucks. The idea of returning to eating greasy, sugar-pumped, plastic-tasting food makes me cringe and want to weep. Every American needs to get a passport and get the hell out of the U.S. long enough to realize just how awful the food is so that it can change and become healthier. When I return I am going organic only.
4. Being able to walk to places. Five minutes and there is a supermarket ... in Alaska it would take me maybe two hours to walk to the nearest store (I don't know, I live in the outskirts of an already small town that is about fifteen minutes by car and I am a slow walker ... town only has one grocery store ... the bigger city is two hours to drive to ... so ... yeah... goodbye convenience).
5. For the most part, the idea that religion is rather 1. dangerous, or 2. very personal. Even if they want you to convert to their religion, Japanese culture is very passive and respectful. You can always say "I'll think about it ..." which pretty much means "no thanks." and they'll leave you alone. In the U.S. if you are not a Christian you will have people tell you nice things like, "you're going to hell", "you must not be happy", and ... yeah, there is a lot more but I'll leave it at that.
6. Did I mention food? Okonomiyaki ... tacoyaki ...
7. Farewell good internet ... I will miss you. Though apparently some people think that Japanese internet is the best, which is a complete lie. South Korea has the best internet in the world. Japan is ... so-so. Mine likes to shut off occasionally. France's was better.
8. Healthcare. Yeah, after experiencing paying only 1500 yen (15 bucks) for a doctor visit and five different types of medicine, antibiotics included ... I will totally pay taxes for that. I kind of really do not understand how that is a bad thing. Also, it is actually more expensive for a foreigner than it is for the Japanese. I mean, Japan's taxes are only 8%, which isn't like say ... Sweden or Iceland ... 24% and whatnot. Still ... cheap healthcare, cheap schooling ... hmm ... after all, the U.S. comes to about number 37 in the world for healthcare and health outcome. France is pretty high up on the list, I think France may be higher than Japan, though I find Japan to be cheaper. Perhaps in emergency situations France is better since I have heard that the Emergency Room in Japan can get frustrating. It is probably because of paperwork.
9. The history that exists for Japan. It is a very old country and has old religions, old architecture, old everything.
10. I will miss using Celsius and some bits of the metric system. I have gotten used to it since I've been using it for two years (I don't know the metric system too well, but I don't really know the imperial/standard system that well either [I just think it is hilarious that it's called the standard system when the only country that uses it is the U.S., how the hell is that standard]). I suppose I can still use them but Americans get all weird and offended about it. Not that I really care about offending people ...
11. Convenient stores. They are everywhere and have just about everything in them.

Disclaimer: I don't have an opinion of which system is better than the other regarding metric vs. standard. I simply do not care which is better. Use whichever one you want. They both have pros and cons.


Things I will not miss!

1. Pollution. Yeah, it's not as bad as China, blah, blah, blah ... so I guess if something is not the absolute worst that means it is okay? For some reason not being able to see the stars at night, coughing and wheezing all the time, people getting sick and having asthma at higher rates thanks to pollution, and acid rain is okay as long as it's not China!
2. So I have had a lot of experience with different cultures and I have to say that the Japanese, so far, are number one with the excuse of, "But it's our culture!" in order to defend really racist, sexist, and overall, shitty things that are not acceptable to the rest of the developed world.
3. Sexism. It's worse in Japan than in the U.S. and France. It is obviously worse. Also, xenophobia. Unfortunately, Japan's xenophobia is predicted to only get worse, but we will see in the future how that goes.
4.  Too many people.
5. People staring at me.
6. You cannot pay bills online or with a card. It must be cash and it must be at the post office or city hall.
7. Paperwork. Ugh. Just ... yeah ... the amount of paperwork to do anything is completely absurd.

Bonus: This one doesn't really count because Alaska also has this issue ... but why the hell does fax even exist still?


Things I look forward to in Alaska!

1. American food is terrible, however, in Alaska there are a lot more organic choices. I really prefer river fish to ocean fish. Japan mostly does ocean fish while interior Alaska does more of the river types. Also, Alaskan salmon and crab is significantly better. Halibut is so expensive in Japan, it is almost cry-worthy.
2. Nature. Ugh, nature. Except that bad or no internet thing ...
3. Winter. Two years without snow that sticks or real winter is so depressing.
4. Clean air. The city with my university has some air pollution, mostly because of wood burning and car exhaust, but it is nothing compared to Japan or France (in turn is not even compared to China, I guess). Nothing tops my hometown, though. The air is great, except when there are forest fires or strong winds that make dust storms.
5. Wildness. Alaska has a wildness that I don't know if I can explain.
6. I can use the term "below" for temperature without people becoming confused (seems as though most English speakers and the English taught to foreigners is "minus"). I can also use Lower 48 to reference the contiguous United States. "Outside" to reference anything outside of Alaska, "Break-Up Season" to reference spring ... Alaskan slang.
7. No more having to worry about exchange rates.
8. Carefree attitude. Little stress, slow-pace lifestyle. Alaskans usually are pretty difficult to offend compared to Lower 48ers ...


Things I do not look forward to in Alaska!

1. Dryness. Interior Alaska is a subarctic desert.
2. Forest fires.
3. The sun in summer. It "goes down" for maybe an hour, that hour being mostly a dark blue and not really "darkness".
4. I hear that this is a very common issue with people who have travelled abroad and gone places in the world, but I feel like people back home are very uneducated about the world/close minded.
5. American politics and "America only" mindset. American politics are not the only politics in the world. They are not the only messed up politics in the world either. Other countries are worse or better than the U.S. regarding politics.
6. Bread ... France really, really spoiled me in the bread department ...

For now, I will end this blog post. No Writing-Prompt Monday (though it is Tuesday for me ...) today. Since I am getting ready to leave Japan, I will be very busy and a bit stressed out as I try and do things I want to do before leaving.

Until Next Time~

A Full Blog Post

Let's start this blog off with a bang! We'll begin with food. This little fish is called Taiyaki. They are very popular at festivals and are absolutely delicious! It is fried bread (kind of pancake-tasting) with some kind of filling, usually red bean paste ... though I've tried green tea and chocolate too.  This first picture was at Osaka Castle and was chocolate. I actually had that one the most recent.

The second picture (on the top right) was in Sakuranomiya, one of the best places to see the sakura (cherry blossoms) in Osaka. This one was green tea, which I think is my favorite filling so far ... though I did like the red bean paste too.

This last week the cherry blossoms were out and about. They were very beautiful. I think they are kind of like the aurora borealis, you can see all the pictures you want of it, but it really isn't the same as seeing it for yourself.

The picture to the lower right is of my feet, some chocolate I bought, a little branch of cherry blossoms (that I picked up off the ground, picking them from the tree itself is taboo and really a big no-no), and some kind of drink that is actually in the fridge still.

The other photo to the left is of me holding a sakura blossom that had fallen off of its branch.

We're going back a little, the picture to the left is of a sort of candy they eat in Japan. March 3rd was Girl's Day, a day where you celebrate having a daughter. People will show off by putting up little dolls on display. These treats are also given to the girls and is kind of like mochi, pounded rice.
The picture to the right is the only tofu I've liked.

The picture here is of candy. It's just glorified sugar. Same with the Konpeito. The green stuff off to the far right is weird, jello-like, traditional Japanese sweets. I was not fond of it.

 To the left is oysters, the green stuff mayonnaise and some spices and the red being salsa. The right has raw octopus and veggies (raw food at this point means nothing to me. France was also big on raw meat, so I've long been used to it ... raw horse, raw rabbit, raw octopus, raw beef, raw pork, raw fish, raw egg , raw pretty much everything ...)

 Mochi is sweet, pounded rice cake ... it is very gooey and stick, but very delicious. One of my favorite things here. That is what you see on the left, though the mochi is underneath the reddish-brown stuff. That is red bean paste and is a specialty in Shizuoka (Mt. Fuji area). The picture on the right is sashimi/sushi. Tuna.

 This was a fun meal. The little dish to the right are little baby eels. The whole thing. I've already been eating a lot of them, so they're not too strange for me. Off to the left there was some sea urchin, which I wasn't too fond of ... more eels, and more tuna sashimi.

Lastly, what is this? That is a fish skull with its eyeball intact. I asked if the eyeball was edible and I guess that was an invitation for me to try it out. At first I was hesitant, but I pried the eye out of its skull and stared at it until I braved the courage to eat it. The lens was interesting, but what really surprised me was when I bit down it was surprisingly kind of tough.

Though, to be entirely honest ... it was the most delicious part of the meal. Fish eyeballs are really good. The flavor is just perfect.




So, I went to Mt. Fuji this weekend. It was great. I went to an onsen (hot spring) where you could see the mountain as you bathed, it was fantastic. I really love onsen, I think they are very atmospheric, and honestly ... I think it is a bit disappointing that in Alaska you have to go in with a bathing suit. The water feels a lot better naked. They should just do what Japan does, have a women section and a man section and people can go in naked to enjoy the water (though I guess there are onsen in Japan where it is not gender split). Wearing clothes in the hot spring would completely destroy the atmosphere. It feels like you're going into a swimming pool, not into a spring with nice water that has minerals and whatnot. It has an earthiness, a wildness that I wish people were a little less weird about in the U.S.

So, it is writing prompt Monday. I came across this writing prompt "Make me fall in love with the character, and then in the last sentence make me hate them," but as I said ... I went to Mt. Fuji this weekend, which was a whole weekend of driving basically. I am exhausted. So something small will have to do. I found this: http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~creativewriting/Prompts.php ... number 18. In case your internet is slow or you don't want to click a link, the prompt is:

"18) Describe the room of one of the following: a high school student about to drop out; a cashier who has just won the lottery; a faded movie star who still thinks she's famous; a paranoid person, etc (see full list of suggestions in What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers). Be as detailed as possible."


I'll do each of them, a few sentences for each ... and maybe you'll have to guess which room belongs to whom? High school student about to drop out, faded movie star, cashier won lottery, a paranoid person?

1. A cozy, yet worn-out recliner took up the far end of the room, its faded color clashing with the dark curtains that were floral print in design. They hadn't been opened in a long while, but they did allow for some light to come through as the fabric was thin. There wasn't much for decoration in the small space. A fold-up bed, a closet that's doors had been broken off long ago, a dresser with a few misplaced photos and the delicate necklace the owner had forgotten to put on for the day, and some tubs filled with random knickknacks. Although a bit bare, there was a small pet bed for an old friend. The plump cat that took up one of the corners always managed to give its owner a peace of mind.

2. It was the type of room that would have the owner denying disorganization by saying they were the "messy organized" kind of person. Clothes piled high no matter how many times the room was cleaned, random socks thrown across the room. There was a stash of junk food in a grocery bag next to the desk, because one never knew when it was snack time. Lost items were everywhere, never to be found thanks to a scatterbrained owner. A bag of chips on the bed, waiting for their master to return and eat them after a long day. The messy room was always full of hope though, the owner always looking around, nodding and telling themselves they'd get around to cleaning. The next clean-up would be the clean-up and the room would never be messy again.

3. The trophies on the wall hadn't always had the odd, cancer-like effect they did now. Before, they lit the room up, making everything appear brighter. Now, the room seemed dim, even with the windows open and curtains rustling in the wind. Trophies weren't the only thing that decorated the walls, photos joined them, smiling faces looming, watching. There were happier things. A ring on the nightstand, new and glistening. Although there was something bright in the room, it couldn't light up the shadows that crawled around, owning the room.

4. It had been out of style for at least fifteen years, but that didn't stop a closet full of bright reds, blues, yellows, and greens. The clothing would definitely come back in style soon. The boudoir was newer, nice mahogany and rich lacquer that made its surface shine. Lit up, the room had more windows than necessary, but the view was worth it. Her kids were embarrassed of the room, but the photos and newspaper clippings that clung to the frequently polished mirror never dampened anyone's spirits.


All right, it is getting late for me so I rushed the last bit. If you want to figure out which room belongs to which person by yourself, read no further ... and once you think you figured it out, come back and read the next paragraph.

Some may be more obvious than others. The first paragraph goes to the paranoid person. A paranoid person is similar to everyone else with their forgetfulness (leaving the necklace behind). They keep their curtains closed, have a few necessities in their room. The cat was to show that often times paranoid folk like to have something close for comfort. The second paragraph was for the cashier. A bit cluttered and stuck in a routine (how we often find ourselves in jobs like cashiers) but with high hopes of eventually getting the room clean (winning the lottery, starting anew). The third paragraph was the drop out. I've met a lot of girls who dropped out to get married, thinking it would be perfect only to get divorced and regret their choices later on. Not to say all do, but this is supposed to reflect the cases that do have the regret. Although marriage seems like the right choice and glitters bright and is full of hope, the rest of the room is shrouded in regret that can only be distracted from for so long before the ring's glitter will die out. Lastly, the fourth one is the faded star. She has her old style, clinging to the past and even her kids think she should jump into the present. However, she is happy the way she is, with her memories (the pictures and newspaper clippings). We shouldn't let go of the happiness our past gave us, but we should make new memories and new happiness (the open windows that allow for a lot of light to come in with a great view = opportunities).

Until next time~

Mondays: Writing Prompts

I've seriously been lacking in the update category for this blog. I do think of it often, but that doesn't please the readers. I was having up to seventy views every now and then but as of late I have just been so busy with school, a bit of melancholia, hobbies (I have to be honest, I get stuck drawing, writing, reading, or playing video games and don't get around to important things), and now I am sick. My lovely friends went to Tokyo and brought back an ugly cold then gave it to me.

I have a terrible head cold, started with the usual sore throat and then made its way to a miserable, stuffy nose ... headache, slight fever, the whole shebang. I took the day off since this week I have a big presentation and wish to be 100% better before then. I forced through the sickness and did things this weekend, even though I really shouldn't have. I'm paying the price now. When sick with a cold, I have such a difficult time sleeping and usually get hit a bit harder than the initial illness. Perhaps I have a weak immune system, I don't know.

Although I have a headache and my eyes are a bit blurry, I can't stand to nap any longer. Sleeping is almost more effort than it is worth since I have to sleep on my back or I can't breathe through my nose. I absolutely cannot stand breathing through my mouth and when I sleep on my back I sometimes get sleep paralysis. In case you don't know what sleep paralysis is, it is really awful.

Anyway, I can't really think memory-wise to update on everything ... just know that the cherry blossoms are happening this week and I'll be going the countryside near Mt. Fuji this weekend.

From now on, I think I'd like to proclaim Mondays as "Writing Prompt Day" since I have been slacking on updates. Next Monday may get a break since I am not sure when I will be back from Mt. Fuji (I'm not going to climb it, that I am aware anyway).

Why a writing prompt? Well, I like to write and I figured writing prompts would be a good way to improve my writing. I've always been a bit hesitant about writing on the internet. Although I have self-published one book (that I am going to pull off the market, I keep saying it but I really am. I look back at it and think of how horrendous it is. I thank everyone for the support, but I wrote that when I was fourteen), I am nervous about people seeing my writings. I'm not worried about criticism; I can handle that.

Maybe it is because I have read one too many bad fanfictions* ... or young writers who litter their work with Mary-Sues* and Weeaboo* characters.

*Quick explanation in case you don't know these terms:
fanfiction basically fan written stories of already published work (example: fanfiction of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pokémon, et cetera).
Mary-Sue/Marty Stu an original, usually self-insert character that you created in your fanfiction (though I've heard the term used for original work too) that is super perfect and has no flaws; therefore, the character lacks character development and is uninteresting to readers.
Weeaboo people who are really obsessed with Japanese culture/entertainment. Usually to the point they think/pretend they are, or want to be, Japanese and actually know very little about the real culture outside of Japanese animation and comic books. The term is used for real life people, but when I say Weeaboo characters ... I mean characters that are basically Mary-Sue but written by a Weeaboo so have all the Japanese/anime/manga flair to them.

Basically, I have read a lot of fanfictions and original work by writers who fall into the category of, "I am such an awesome writer, my characters are really awesome and totally not Mary-Sue! Please read and I'm going to publish my fanfiction and ........" yeah. Why am I mentioning this? Because maybe I've read too many embarrassing writings on the internet and it makes me feel embarrassed of my own writings. I don't write fanfiction, but I am shy and overly critical of my writing.

Either way, I suppose I'll do what I intended to do with this blog post ... write.
I picked this writing prompt up on Facebook, it was a while back so I can't remember where exactly.

1.Use one, some or all of the following words in a story, scene or poem (I'll attempt all ... since this is just a writing exercise it'll be a bit sloppy. My worst is first person writing, so I will give it a try):

Coffee, star, pen, match, envy

Park, window, fear, strand, frame

Her picture was all that I had left. The frame was dusty and cracked, but the picture itself was well preserved. I gently brushed the dirt away, stumbling my way through the wreckage in order to find an exit. A shattered window made for an excellent escape from the abandoned home, as I no longer wished to stay. Unexpectedly, a wall of rubble blocked any knowable path. Instead of crawling up it with a clunky picture frame, I pried it open and slipped the photo out. The back of the picture was stained yellow from age, but the ink was readable as it appeared to be written in pen. I didn't bother reading it, that wasn't important. The frame was tossed to the ground, picture folded and deposited in a pocket, and then I began my climb. 

It didn't take long to reach the top. I sat down, no longer bothered by the tiredness that hung around me. There was a park in the distance; though, one couldn't tell now. My grandmother used to take me there, drinking her coffee and smoking her cigarettes. I never liked the smell the match would make before she lit one up, but at this point in time I wouldn't mind it. 

Finally, I brought the picture out in its unfolded glory in front of me. Besides the frame I had so callously tossed away, it was all I had in this world. There was a woman in the picture. I did not know her, but she was beautiful and shining. I didn't doubt that she had been a star in many people's lives. Her time was gone; she was lost in a strand of time that I could no longer reach. My envy for her grew. I envied her for after my many years of searching, her picture was all that I could find. Her existence outlasted everyone else's, and I did not know her. But most of all, I envied that she could no longer feel the fear of a dying world where the only thing that existed was her photo.

Ah, well, there is today's writing prompt. I wanted to make it short. It's not a part of anything, so the story is that. It's a bit sloppy, but I didn't get around to actually writing it until about 8:30 pm and I am sick.

Unsure of when I will update next, but until next time~

I love trains.

But seriously.

It's been forever since I've updated, I know. Nearly two months now. The last two months have been stressful and long. To be honest, I've been a bit moody as well. Occasionally I fall into this mood where I have absolutely no motivation, bad anxiety, and kind of just hang out in this odd haze of melancholia. Usually it comes and goes, not lasting more than a week or so, but it's been hanging out more as of these last two months than the norm allows for.

Anyway, not too much happened in February. Went to Osaka castle and looked at the plum blossoms. The castle was a major disappointment, mostly because the inside was modernized with an elevator and everything. Albeit that, the outside was nice. There was a Chicken Ramen Museum field trip, and I received a grant from my university. One of the things that had been contributing to my melancholia was how I would always eat in my room. My host mom would bring my food to me there. It happened for about two-ish months when finally, last week I casually mentioned how eating alone was lonely. I guess it did have something to do with my host father, as she asked if I was okay to eat with him around. Apparently he has weirded out other students. But either way, now I eat with them and it is a lot better.

Other than that, there isn't a lot to update on. My pain has been gradually getting worse, and my pain pills aren't working as well as they used to. I worry about family at home on a daily basis, to the point it intermingles with my already bad case of nightmares. I have them at least three to four times a week, and it is rarely just ever one in one night. Sometimes I have up to four or five during one night. Honestly, I have no idea what to do with my life. I am dried up and out of loan money and I can't take anymore out this year. Besides, I really don't want to because I am already almost $40,000 in debt. So if I don't get a job this summer I can't return to school next semester. I'm pretty desperate for a job, will pretty much do anything. This has been ongoing for a long while, and maybe everything is just catching up with me.

But besides my complaining, I am a bit torn on the melancholia. Sometimes I like it because, honestly, my creativity goes up a lot during this time. On the other hand my motivation drops and I just lie around in "the haze". I feel like I am literally in a haze. My thoughts just kind of waver around and the world around me feels unreal. I escape into fantasy worlds where life is easier and I get stuck there with little to no intentions of getting out.

Well, that's enough of that. Let's return to the title of this entry: I love trains (high-speed rails). There are many reasons why I love trains and why you should love them too:

1. They are convenient.
2. Let's be honest, they are really awesome looking.
3. I enjoy how smooth they are while travelling. Also, I like the sounds of going over the train tracks.
4. They are apparently Green! Yay! Less carbon emission! Save the planet! I'm a hippy!
5. So fast.
6. In case you didn't know why people usually take buses or trains ... in the end, it's because they are cheaper than buying a car and paying for gas. Except buses are really expensive in Japan ... not sure what that's about really ...
7. You can go lots of places! More opportunities!
8. Cozy. Sleep-inducing.
9. People watching!
10. Because they are awesome.

I read this article that talked about how they were looking into a train system that would go through the U.S., up through Canada and Alaska then speed through Russia. I really hope they do something like that, since I recall stops in Fairbanks and Anchorage. I imagine that it would make it easier for Alaskans to leave Alaska, and maybe influence more Alaskans to get passports.

So, for today, that's all I have. Some complaining about melancholia and some train talk. I hope it wasn't terribly boring! I'll leave you with some food photos (all taken by me).

 Just some soba (noodles) with a steamed bun.

 This goes into nabe (hot pot), they are see-through noodles that are kind of slimy but delicious.

 Some kind of cookie-thing. It was delicious.

 Takoyaki (little balls of flour, cabbage, and one other thing ... they also have octopus in it.) They are my second favorite Japanese food.

 Some kind of seaweed food. It has a very nice flavor.

 This was for New Year's. Miso soup with mochi (pounded rice cake) inside.

 This was also for New Year's. Every food in it has some kind of signification (vitality, luck, money, et cetera).

 This is eaten for a holiday where they throw rice outside to scare away bad spirits and demons. It is actually really big.

 Valentine's Day chocolate from my host mom.

 Natto, fermented beans. Really slimy and smells weird. It is one of those foods where people are really hesitant to try it, even some Japanese people don't like it. It wasn't bad.

 Chicken Ramen museum. Made our own ramen. This one was mine c: (haven't eaten it yet).

 Nabe (hotpot)

Just a selection of traditional Japanese food.












Until Next Time~

More Yokai!

Since a few people really seemed to like the yokai that were presented in the last post, I decided to write another post dedicated solely to yokai and obake. Also, it's Sunday and I am in some back pain so have little to do but laze around on painkillers. And I love folkloric beings.

So here are a few more yokai from Japanese folklore!

1. Kappa -

Koopa Troopa
Property of Nintendo

These guys are really well-known. In pottery, I made one and everyone was very surprised/excited that I knew about the Kappa. What are they? They are little duck, watery beings that supposedly inspired the famous Bowser and Koopa Troopas from the Mario universe (the more I read about Kappa the less I think so, but ... Koopas, I understand I guess). Their coloring can range from yellow to blue to green. It is said that they have the stench of fish, have webbed hands and feet, a duck-like bill, and a small indent on the top of their head that holds water. Some of them have hair or leaves that surround the water spot. Even though they like to hang out in ponds and rivers, creeping out Japanese people, it is said that they will go up to the mountains and live it up as a mountain deity occasionally. There are still many shrines dedicated to the Kappa, and sometimes festivals are held during the spring and fall, times when the Kappa would be making their trips to and from the mountains.

Like many of the faerie-like beings of European folklore, the Kappa are highly curious of our human ways and are knowledgeable in the Japanese language. In exchange for things like eggplant, soba (noodles), natto

1836 painting. Not the prettiest little guy.

(fermented soybeans usually eaten for breakfast), kabocha (a type of squash), or cucumbers they will become your BFF. They adore the shit out of cucumbers. But beware, there is one food that they love even more than cucumbers and that is your children. Back in the day, when families wanted to bathe in the waters, parents would get out some cucumbers and write their names and their kids' names on them, throwing them into the bathing area in order to subdue the Kappa and bathe in peace. Because of this, there is a superstition where one should eat cucumbers before swimming. Though, if you have gained BFFdom with a Kappa, they will help you with your farm and other things. It is also believed that they taught humans how to set bones and other medicine-related topics. So, while they're really intelligent and will become BFFs with normal-sized humans, keep your kids away from them. But with the high amount of infanticide in ancient Japan, maybe the Kappa were really just used as an excuse ... though they did other asshole things such as farting in people's faces, looking up ladies' kimono, and stealing your hard-earned crops that you and your other BFF Kappa made together. The part they liked most about children was their blood and livers and taking your shirikodama. Shirikodama is basically your physical, glowy ball-shaped soul that is in your anus (I wish I made this shit up).

Picture Courtesy of ME. I made this little guy myself.
Ceramic Clay.

The water that it holds on its head is like the soft spot on a baby's head; it is its sensitive spot. Unlike a baby (or maybe still like a baby? I don't know much about babies really) the water is the source of its powers and abilities. Depending on the legend, if the water spills, they will become unable to move or perish. Since they were obsessed with being polite (except in farting in people's faces and looking up people's kimono situations I guess), if you bowed, they would bow back, having their water spill. If one were to refill them with water from their home-pond, they would become your eternal BFF. They had one other weakness, and that was their arms. You could literally rip their arm off and slap them with it and it would take little effort to do so. So if you wanted to be a real jerk, you could take their arms and taunt them into giving you stuff in return for their really shitty arms. How did they lift things if their arms came off so easily? Like me, they hate ginger, and unlike me are repelled by iron and sesame.

These guys have seriously a lot of information on them, and there are a lot of pictures if you type into Google images. Those are the basics though.

2. Tanuki -

A Tanuki in Namba. Picture courtesy of moi.

So the Tanuki is an actual animal (raccoon dog in English) and one of the abilities Mario can get in certain games. The real one is kind of like a badger/dog/raccoon/thing. They are really adorable. Like the Kappa, there is a lot of information on these guys so I will try to keep it short. So there is the real Tanuki (raccoon dog) and then there is its mythical, yokai version. They are shape-shifters and can be troublemakers. More modern depictions give them a round belly that they will drum on, a bottle of sake in their hands, and a pair of giant testicles. I am sure you can guess which attribute is the most important to this yokai's folklore.

Edo period painting.
How artistic.

They used to be a lot less benevolent, but over time the Tanuki became a fun-loving creature instead of smothering people to death with their giant, magical ball sacks. Actually, I think even modern folklore still has them doing that. Back in the day, they were much more likely to use mystifying magic to trick unwary travellers and to enchant people with their belly-drum music. In today's world, you can go into most Japanese businesses and will find a small or giant ceramic Tanuki sitting around. I've taken several pictures of them actually. Some of them retain their giant scrotum while others have been hacked of it, probably thanks to the prudish Western culture that has infiltrated Japan.

Real Tanuki. Picture Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Thanks Wikipedia.
Damn these guys are adorable.

Even though it seems like it would be good for us if they were terribly dimwitted and absentminded, they are instead kind of like a bunch of drunk little douchebags. They enjoy transforming into things, which you can reveal as a Tanuki by smacking it in the face with a leaf or bone (whoa, now it makes so much sense why Mario becomes Tanuki Mario with a leaf). They stumble around drunk, their tails wrapping around people's legs. Since they can be invisible, this allows for a good scare while being called mean names and feeling soft fuzziness around your legs when nothing can be seen. Since they are massive jerks, sometimes they will roll boulders down mountains to make loud noises and confuse villagers, or transform into a bundle of sticks. I don't understand why they do that last thing. They can inflate their scrotum to be the size of eight tatami mats (tatami mats are ... well ... floor mats that can be up to 1+ m in length so 3.3+ ft ... meaning that eight of them could probably be used as a form of hyperbole). There is a fun story about how a bunch of people got together on a tatami mat during a rain storm. One guy dropped his cigarette, a Tanuki crying out in pain and everyone realizing they had mistaken its balls for a mat. Sometimes they will use their own scrotum as an umbrella, covering themselves up in the rain.

3. Futakuchi-onna -

Imagine you are the Japanese wife of a poor man in the Edo period (1600's to 1800's about). You don't have a lot to eat and since you're a woman your hair is super important and must be taken care of obsessively. So you do your lady thing, taking care of your beautiful and very long hair, since cutting it was usually only done in shame or in the form of an extreme apology. One day, you begin to hear mean, spiteful things being muttered from behind you, but when you look, there is nothing there. The little food you do have mysteriously begins to go missing and your stomach feels a little bit fuller than usual.

If you looked at this picture you
already knew what was going to happen.
Edo period woodblock painting.

Little do you know, a second mouth has grown on the back of your head and your hair has become sentient, able to move on its own to fill that second mouth. It is two times more ravenous than your regular mouth and when it screams it causes you tremendous pain. The words that come out of it are usually spiteful, cruel, demanding, and obscene. 

Other legends say that this happens when a man is chopping wood and "accidentally" hits his stingy wife in the back of her head, the wound never healing and becoming the contraption mentioned above. A third way suggests that a selfish mother who starved a stepchild to death while feeding only her beloved children would feel its vengeance when its spirit becomes the talking, ravenous mouth on the back of her head. 

4. Harionago/Harionna -

There is some interesting cultural ideas regarding hair, especially women's hair, in many parts of Asia. Japan is no different. This monster, as it is specifically said not to be a ghost or a human, takes the form of a women with very long hair. She is extremely beautiful, men easily falling and chasing after her. Luckily, she is just from the western prefecture of Ehime on the island of Shikoku (one of the major islands of Japan, not too far from Osaka, actually). She wanders around, waiting for a man to approach her. When she laughs at him, she will wait to see if he laughs back, and if he does, her hair will come to life. Her hair is in the shape of razors that are at her complete beck and call. One story tells of how a man got away, running home and closing his door. When he woke in the morning, the entrance was covered in hair.

One shouldn't get too comfortable if they get away from her, she'll wait for you outside your door the next night anyway.

*I can't find any public domain pictures of her, only modern artist representations and it makes me nervous to post any since sometimes artists can be ... weird ... about people reposting their art, even if the sources are cited. So I'm just going to avoid it. There are a lot of pictures of this creature if you type Harionago into Google Images if you really want to know.

5. Bakezori -

Do you remember the Tsukumogami from last entry? Well, if you don't, basically an item that becomes 100 years old and gets its own soul.

This guy is a zori sandal (traditional straw sandal). If you treat your sandal like shit, it will come to life after being 100 years old and run around your house at night screaming. That's all it does, so I'm not sure if there's a real lesson to learn from here. 

*Same issue as with the Harionago. Just type Bakezori into Google Images if you want to know.

6. Kami-Kiri -

What a jerk ... or is he?
1737.

Back to the topic of hair, this guy is a strange, black bear creature that goes around cutting people's hair. Modern depictions turn it into a humanoid with a crow head. Even though he sounds like a huge asshole, he actually is doing you a favor if he chops your hair off. Sometimes, since most yokai can shape-shift, or at least look decently human during the daytime, they like to trick humans into marrying them. If your hair gets chopped off by one of these creatures, chances are, you may want to get to know your fiance(e) a bit better. Since hair was so important, if your hair was cut before a marriage ceremony, the ceremony would be postponed. Marriage between otherworldly beings and humans usually ended kind of shittily, especially for the human, so really he was just performing public services.

Though, it is said he is particularly fond of servant girls' hair. If one wanted to keep the little creeper away there was a spell that could be written on entrances or hair items. 

When they chop your hair off, they like to scream, "mogaaaa!" I don't think that really means anything; I like to think of it as a battle/victory cry. 

7. Nuppepo/Nuppefuho -

So, I have been compiling a bestiary for myself for the last two and a half years. It covers any folkloric being I can find on the internet. Undoubtedly, there are weird beings spread across every culture, but the Japanese seem to have more than others. I wouldn't say that makes them any more or less weird, but it is interesting.

1776 Japanese painting.

This creature is a 1.5 m in height (like 4 feet or something) pile of flesh. It comes with a terrible smell, as if it were decaying. It looks like a pancake made of fat with stubby hands and feet. Thanks to the way its flesh is shaped, it looks like it sort of has a face. It is almost like a giant, humanoid(?) version of blobfish (a real fish, go look it up). Strangely, it doesn't do anything but wander around by itself at night, smelling terrible and looking suspiciously like a giant lump of human skin. They are usually found in graveyards, abandoned temples, or other spooky places around the end of the year. Supposedly there have been sightings of them in groups, but it is rarer than seeing them solitary.

In case you somehow came to the conclusion that you wanted to know how it tasted, you would be granted eternal youth if you took a chomp from it. There are no accounts of what it tastes like, though.

My question is what did the Japanese people see for them to come up with this thing?

8. Nurikabe -

This guy belongs to Nintendo.

Do you like Mario? Since I already may have ruined your thoughts of Tanuki Mario and made Koopas more interesting, let's talk about this guy. This is whomp. He's most famously from Mario 64 and would squish you if you got in his way. Like many of the creatures from the Mario world, he is based off of the Nurikabe.

This creature is a wall. Or like a wall. Either way it acts like a wall. It especially enjoys messing up travellers, ruining their already exhausting day. It can extend itself forever, so no matter how long you travel to get around it, you will never find a way.

This picture is Public Domain. It's from the 1800's.
So technically I don't have to source it.

It's appearance is a bit unknown besides this old painting of one. One story says how a lost traveller watched as a mass of tar came from the ground and surrounded him. It is said that you can peacefully keep going if you knock on the lower left part, making the creature disappear. Like the Whomp, it can fall on and crush you. In one case, someone managed to get away, or so they thought, before it reappeared in front of them before falling onto the terrified traveller. 

Like many creatures from Japanese folklore, this one is sometimes blamed on the Tanuki being it's jerk self and using magic.

9. Onryo -

I was going to post a picture from The Grudge but then after looking at pictures I decided I didn't want to. If you've seen any of The Grudge films, The Ring films, or Scary Movie 3 (which parodies The Ring), you will know what this is. Or you have seen this creature before.

You know the deal, white dress (it is supposed to be a white burial kimono but some of the above listed movies just have them wearing a white dress), black and messy hair, white skin ... a thirst for vengeance that will never be quenched. There's our princess. They never had such a specific look, but they do now thanks to Kabuki theatre (traditional Japanese theatre that was heavily dramatized with dramatic make-up, dramatic poses, dramatic talking voices, dramatic clothes, dramatic weapons, dramatic everything. Seriously, go look it up. It will explain every manga you've read, every anime you've watched or any entertainment related to Japan).

Usually these unfortunate spirits would arise from being powerless or weak in their living life, murdered ruthless or beaten by a man in their life. After dying, they come back almost invincible with their soul purpose being vengeance. However, their vengeance is never satisfied as they will go on to kill entire villages or people who were not involved in her death, sometimes without actually killing the one who did her wrong. Her hair is said to be long and messy and a dark aura hovers over her. If you run into this ghost, it is said that at first she will appear as an unconscious woman, but as you get closer your chest and head will begin to hurt. She will move, usually by levitating while making strange sounds like sobbing or groaning. It is said that their vengeance can even create earthquakes, fires, storms, famine, pestilences, and other natural disasters.

10. Kitsune -

Picture found on Wikipedia. So cute. Much adorable.

Originally, I wasn't going to include the Kitsune, since it is an at-length creature like the Kappa and Tanuki. There's a lot to this thing. But since you made it this far, here we go. Also, it is a staple in Japanese folklore and is all over the place. Kitsune is the Japanese word for fox, but, like the Tanuki, there is a mythical version of the animal. The mystified fox is not special to Japan, Korea and China have their own versions, which is probably where Japan got its folklore from in the first place. The Korean Kumiho/Gumiho is a bit more viscous and sinister than its Japanese counterpart, but today we're focusing on the Japanese one. If you've ever heard of the nine-tailed fox, this is where it comes from.

Like many other Japanese folkloric beings, this one has a few age factors. At age 100, it will grow a new tail. The more tails, the stronger and more powerful the fox will be. Eventually, after it gains its ninth tail, the fox

A nine-tailed fox. Old Chinese text.
Public domain.

will become rather white or gold. Like the Tanuki, it can shape-shift. It especially likes to shape-shift into humans. If you think you might actually be hanging out with a fox, never fear, for their shadows and reflections will still show their true form. Also, their tails will hang around, so if your friend seems obsessed with hiding their ass, you could be a little suspicious. Get them nice and drunk and they'll get careless, showing off their tails. I guess age doesn't always grant wisdom.

The god/goddess (it's hard to tell with Japanese gods since they like to take both forms, we'll go with female for now, though) Inari is often accompanied with kitsune. She is the goddess of foxes, rice, fertility, and a whole bunch more. Often times she is portrayed as a kitsune. But we aren't really here to talk about her specifically, she just deserved to be mentioned. We're here to talk about kitsune. The kitsune who followed her were white, a good omen. Though black foxes and nine-tailed foxes were also considered so. There are two types of kitsune, the zenko who were of celestial origin, and the yako ... more mischievous, trickster-like kitsune. Foxes tend to achieve godhood and there are many shrines in Japan dedicated to them. Inari's kitsune are thought to keep away bad/evil spirits and omens.

The kitsune are supernatural beings. They can use powerful magic, often taking up abandoned homes or occasionally attaching themselves to someone else's house. Since, like most folkloric beings, they do not think the same way we do, they may not help us in ways we find moral. If a kitsune hangs out at your house and brings you money, you should probably be suspicious of where that money came from. But the good side of having a kitsune around is that they will never lie to you. If you do them a favor, they will loyally do whatever they can to pay you back. Though, they tend to pay you back in twigs and leaves disguised as money through illusion (or they stole it as mentioned above). I guess it's not something your BFF Kappa would do, but it's the thought that counts, right? But hey, you know what your BFF Kappa probably wouldn't do (since I couldn't find anywhere that suggested they would)? Offer you eternal protection, impart valuable wisdom, or the gift of longevity. You see, the kitsune don't really do the whole material thing.

Woodblock painting, late 1700's.
Her shadow gives it away as a kitsune.

If the hair cutter mentioned above doesn't get to you before your wedding (though it seems like it only chops off women hair, so if you're a dude, this entry is for you), there is a chance you could end up with a kitsune bride. However, she usually ends up being very devoted and loyal to her husband, so maybe it's not such a bad deal. If caught, she will run away, or the husband will wake up disillusioned, far away from home, dirty, and full of shame. In some cases, your fox wife will have little half fox-human babies, all sporting mystical kitsune powers. If it rains while the sky is clear, it means that a wedding between kitsune is happening. Though, they aren't really fond of uninvited guests and you might end up with a vengeful kitsune couple after you.

They are portrayed as intelligent beings, and as mentioned before, their powers and wisdom increase with age. Specific legends have specific ages, but either way, there are certain ages where the kitsune will gain special powers such as omniscience (usually 900 or some other high age), shape-shifting (100 or 50), flight,

Wood block. Late 1700's.
Inari with a kitsune appear to a warrior.

invisibility, possession, controlling fire or lightning, going into people's dreams, and creating illusions. Similar to the Tanuki, or more like the opposite of the Tanuki, before they can transform, they must place a leaf, reeds, or a skull on their head. They usually prefer to take on the form of a beautiful women, young girls, or elderly men. In some cases, the kitsune can become powerful enough to warp reality, time, and space. They may drive people to insanity or gain the ability to transform into giant trees or a second moon. However, the kitsune has retained a little bit of the sinister aspects of its Korean version. The more trickster-like kitsune prefer to mess with egotistical samurai or greedy merchants instead. Crueler, asshole versions will abuse monks or farmers, their victims usually men since they greatly prefer to possess women instead of just messing with them (explaining their possession of women deserves its own entry really so I won't go into it here). Some kitsune, ones who are a little bit more malevolent, seek out human life sources, dining on human blood or taking their life through sexual contact akin to a succubus. They also can control balls of fire, or will o' the wisps, in order to confuse travellers or create illusions.

And that's the end of it! Maybe I will do more yokai segments in the future, but these ten sum up some of the more important yokai in Japanese folklore.

I hope you enjoyed my list!

~Until Next Time