Hello, this is Mog.
If you've been reading this blog regularly, you may have noticed a big change in the design. You might be wondering what happened!
Actually, I broke my leg and I'm currently in the hospital. (I'll be sharing more about hospital life in Japan next week, so stay tuned!)
This blog is usually updated every Friday at 11:00 PM Japan time. Since I normally work full-time, I write articles during my commute or on my days off. I always had things I wanted to change about the design, but simply keeping up with writing articles took everything I had. But now, I suddenly have plenty of time on my hands!!! So I decided to finally do what I'd always wanted to do, and gave the blog a complete redesign.
About the Logo
For the new logo, I chose "mizuhiki," a traditional Japanese decorative cord, as the motif. Mizuhiki is a cord made from twisted washi paper (Japanese traditional paper) hardened with glue, and it's used to tie special envelopes for gifts and celebratory occasions. The color red is traditionally used for celebrations (I'll share more about that another time). Mizuhiki carries meanings of warding off evil spirits and symbolizing the bond between people.
This blog is dedicated to sharing Japanese culture with you. I wanted the logo to reflect this wish: "May we come to understand each other's cultures and ways of thinking, and build relationships of mutual respect that last for years to come."
Newsletter Sign-Up
I had always wanted to start a newsletter.
For example, the other day I happened to ride the Anpanman train. Coincidentally, I had just published an article introducing Anpanman, a character beloved by children all across Japan.
When we arrived at the final stop, Okayama Station, the announcement was made in Anpanman's voice. There were Anpanman illustrations inside the train, and beautiful countryside scenery visible through the windows. I wanted so badly to share all of this with you, my readers!!
Moments like these actually happen quite often. Finding an interesting vending machine, noticing something that's just starting to trend in Japan… Every time, I would think, "If only I had a newsletter."
And now, finally, that wish has come true.
I'll be sending out a newsletter once a week, so please sign up if you're interested.
👉 Sign up for the newsletter here
You're welcome to reply to the newsletter anytime. I'd love to hear if something in my articles left you curious, or if you'd like to share how things are different in your own culture. Hearing your thoughts is what motivates me to keep this blog going.
I’m working on a little special event just for our newsletter subscribers!
As for my leg, I'm recovering well with no pain after the surgery. I've been doing my rehabilitation while imagining how I'll write about hospital life in Japan, so please look forward to next Friday's post.
If you'd like to learn more about how this blog got started and about me, I'd love for you to check out the page below.
Wishing you a wonderful day.
