Categories
Recent Posts: M Thomas Apple Author Page
Artemis II, welcome home. Now let’s go again. And stay.
“The moon really is its own unique body in the universe. When we have that perspective and we compare it to our home of the Earth, it just reminds us how much we have in common. Everything we need, the Earth provides, and that, in and of itself, is somewhat of a miracle.” https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/10/artemis-ii-landing-return-moon-mission?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Should […]
You can probably sense a pattern here…
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why? If I could, I’d be Columbo. But if TV shows are out, then I’d be the Grandfather from The Princess Bride. I pretty much already act like both anyway 😆
Today’s Moan-day, so it seems like time to…
OK, so I have been pulling my hair out (what’s left of it) the past few days over trying to understand an email thread with “Draft2Digital.” (Note to self: this occurred in early 2024; evidently, forgot to post it! The first thing that goes is memory, and the second is…umm…) Let me sum up. (If […]
Top Posts & Pages
copyright disclaimer
© Matthew Apple and Taking Leave, 2009-2020. Duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. If you would like to post or copy brief excerpts from the blog, please provide a link to the original URL along with an author’s credit.
Category Archives: Japanese culture
Farewell, Nursery. Hello, Kindergarten
After turning five in January, our youngest daughter finally made to the end of nursery school (“nen-cho,” 年長). Or so we thought. We had heard rumors in previous years that the system might change. It turns out that in this … Continue reading
Posted in day care, education, Japan, Japanese, Japanese culture, Japanese society, nursery school, school
Tagged education, hoikuen, Japan, kindergarten, kodomoen, MEXT
Leave a comment
Who was that Masked Flu Avenger?
Looking back now, I can laugh. The first week of February was rough. My wife had to work both weekend days, at the end of an already exhausting end-of-semester work week. I had also had little sleep. The previous month, my … Continue reading
Posted in festivals, health care, Japan, Japanese, Japanese culture, Japanese society, parenting, school, sickness
Tagged children, customs, family, health, Japan, medicine, parents
Leave a comment
Kaiten Zushi Magic
Last week, my youngest daughter turned 5. Because three of us (both daughters and myself) were recovering from the mumps, we cancelled her birthday party and rescheduled it for the 14th. As a reward to both girls for their hard … Continue reading
Posted in eating, family outings, food, Japan, Japanese, Japanese culture, parenting, party
Tagged birthday, creativity, customs, magic, sushi
Leave a comment