SOFTWARE, JAPAN, SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND

So I stopped by this Okinawa style bar / restaurant (called “izakaya” in Japanese) to try something different. I have never eaten Okinawan food before so this was an interesting experience for me

First up, a photo of the menu.

Here was the main course: Goyachampuru, ゴーヤチャンプル. It had bitter green melon called “goya” stir-fried […]

Akihabara has one of the largest… perhaps largest… electronics store I have ever been in. 8 Floors of electronics, computers, games, home electronics, and various other sundries. It is located at the Akiba exit, which is opposite of the most popular street in Akihabara.

Here it is, big as a football field, or multiple ones.
Also, in […]

Yesterday I ran to a 7-11 convenience store that isn’t far from my apartment to buy a drink. I ended up getting this Pepsi that was some African flavor (not bad at all).

I also bought that sweet snack, dango, at a local mom-and-pop shop that I discovered on my way there (will have to write […]

So today I journeyed to the office, leaving my apartment shortly after 7AM. The 1 hour commute wasn’t bad this morning, I spent the time reading the Slam Dunk manga as part of my Japanese study regiment. I’m currently on number 15 out of 31 and I still enjoy it (and will probably read it […]

Here is a photo of some coworkers at a nomikai 飲み会 (”after-work dinner and drinks”). We ate at this really good Nagoya style chicken place, I highly recommend it!

I actually planned the event, although poorly I might add. I made two reservations initially (with Ayako’s help), and later canceled one. Using my set phrases […]

Usually I make picture posts on Friday, but today (suiyoubi) will be a picture post instead.

Somewhere in Gunma was this temple where you push the spokes of a horizontal wheel while you walk around in a big circle. I call it the merry-go-round temple.

We also went to Suwa (諏訪） in Nagano（長野） prefecture on the […]

When we moved into our new apartment I was quite happy with the 12 minute walk to the train station, and the extremely convenient 99yen store less than a half-block away. The location was great this time last year, until around August when the 99 store closed up and deprived me of my daily cheap […]

So my blog has “self-actualization” in the title, but I rarely talk about it, and haven’t defined it anywhere that I am aware.
Self-actualization is a term popularized by Herbert Maslow’s research into what are the driving forces of life. If you’ve taken some general studies at a University then you’ve almost certainly reviewed his “Hierarchy […]

Last week I traveled to see Matsumoto castle, so what was my impression? Well, you won’t be able to tell from the number of photos I took, because somehow I managed to take very few photos on my camera (Ayako’s father took plenty, but I don’t have his camera).
So, you will have to do […]

Last weekend was a 5 day weekend known as “golden week” in Japan. There are 4 specific holidays that are celebrated back to back across those days. During “golden week” there is a mass exodus from the cities as people travel to their “furusato”, hometown, to visit with family and friends. Much like everyone […]