Here I’ve collected some of my favourite rants (negative) and raves (positive) about living in Japan. You’ll notice I’ve put the rants first; I guess that makes me a glass-half-empty kind of guy.

Rants

First of all, I’ve written a few pieces about the March 2011 earthquake here. (Not sure if these constitute ranting or raving exactly, but I suppose it’s a negative kind of thing to talk about so I’ve classified it as ranting.)

Japanese coffee is pretty bad. Oh for a decent coffee out here in the countryside…

How do Japanese kids get by on so little sleep? I just don’t get it.

At primary school level, the school days are incredibly long with very little free time for playing.

Junior high school, meanwhile, is ridiculously authoritarian and overbearing. The whole three years is spent studying for entrance exams to senior high school and the kids get no free time to be themselves, let alone any proper holidays to just hang out.

Japanese schools are also surprisingly backward when it comes to technology.

Japanese homes on the other hand are crammed full of technology. Sometimes it gets a bit too much. And sometimes it gets a bit scary.

Raves

The cheap ‘n’ cheerful savoury pancake known as okonimiyaki is possibly my favourite food in the world in space.

Japan has some crazy places to get your sushi fix.

Just when you thought toe socks were an outdated fad… here they’re just another type of sock. And they’re good for you too!

You can dress up as a geisha in Kyoto, and act like an ancient traditional cultural rock star for the afternoon.

I used to be a sceptic but now I’ve converted: cherry blossoms are great!

You can buy or do almost anything at a Japanese convenience store.

I do love a good festival, especially one involving semi-naked men in the middle of winter. The local Yassa Matsuri was interesting, if only for the wacky decorated cars, but our all-time favourite thus far has been the Pirate ‘n’ Fire Festival on the island of Innoshima.

I still love you too Mr Donuts, even though I hardly visit you any more.

Japanese kids are pretty tough and independent. Whether by accident or by design I’m not sure.

Ruby offered to do the washing up the other night! (Not strictly about Japan, but definitely a rave from my point of view).

And finally, if you’re prepared to put up with endless family snaps, you can read about our many and varied adventures in Japan here.