Pocky Day 2011

November 11th (11-11) is Pocky Day. The event is held on November 11th as the date (11-11) resembles four sticks of Pocky. Some of you are asking what is Pocky. Pocky is a Japanese biscuit stick usually coated in chocolate. There are many different flavours of Pocky in Japan including almond, strawberry, milk, chocolate mousse, green tea, honey and banana. You can read more about Pocky here

What happens on Pocky Day?

Japanese Song of the Week Kaze wa Fuiteiru by AKB48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Kaze wa Fuiteiru by AKB48.

You can read more about AKB48 here

Kaze wa Fuiteiru (風は吹いている) which translates as “The Wind is Blowing” is AKB48’s 23rd single and was released on October 26, 2011.

Japan Australia Featured on The Japan Blog Directory

Japan Australia is the latest blog to feature on the wonderful The Japan Blog Directory. This is a wonderful new site that lists blogs related to Japan. Each new blog is categorized, reviewed and introduced to the directories readers with a small summary. Blogs are also featured with a more detailed review from time to time.

The Japan Blog Directory is a fantastic site to check out all the latest Japan Blogs related to Life in Japan, Japan News, Travel, Japanese Language Culture.

Winter in Takayama

Takayama (高山市) located in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture in Japan is famous for its beautifully preserved old town. Takayama has managed to retain its traditional charm with its traditional inns, shops and sake breweries.

Takayama in Winter is a white wonderland with snow and ice dominating its landscape. It is my favourite time of year to visit the city. I love staying at a traditional Japanese ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) soaking in one of the many onsens (hot springs) in the mountains above Takayama and feasting on the world famous Hida beef from the region.

Koala’s March Strawberry Milk

Koala’s March Strawberry Milk is the second in the series of special edition Koala’s March Halloween. You can read about the Koala’s March Chocolate edition here

The Strawberry Milk edition also includes cute koalas in Halloween costumes. The Strawberry Milk Koala’s March is very good and inside the cookie is a sweet Strawberry Milk filling.

Japanese Song of the Week Oh My God! by NMB48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Oh My God! by NMB48.

NMB48 is an all-girl Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. They were formed as a sister group of AKB48 based in Namba, Osaka. The group performs at NMB48 Theatre in Namba, Osaka with the name of the group “NMB” coming from “Namba” in the Minami district in Osaka.

NMB48 debuted on October 9, 2010 and originally consisted of 26 members.

Japan Picture of the Week Kurashiki Ivy Square

Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture, Japan is one of the best places to take a stroll in all of Japan. It has the famous Bikan Historical area, which you can read about here with its canal framed with weeping willows and filled with koi.