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276 results, page 1 of 6
Building the Gundam HG GQuuuuuuX 1/144 Gunpla Kit (A More Difficult Kit)
Last year, I picked up the model kits for the Gundam GQuuuuuX and the Aerial. I'm going to call GQuuuuuX Gux from now on as I still can't…
Peyoung Super Large Tenkasu MAX Yakisoba Review
I got this Peyoung Super Large Tenkasu MAX Yakisoba last year on sale for the price of regular sized instant yakisoba noodles. They were large portions of noodles…
Baixiang Spicy Beef Flavour Coriander Stir Fry Noodle Bowl (It's Green!) Review
This is a review of an instant bowl noodle that has GREEN noodles and lots of cilantro and coriander. This is the Baixiang Spicy Beef Flavour Coriander Stir Fry…
Maruchan Beef Yakiniku Yakisoba Noodle Bowl Review
This nifty yakisoba style beef yakiniku noodle bowl from Maruchan was a great little find at T&T. I actually cannot find it right now on the Toyo Suisan…
Modern Military Portal Fantasy Novels and Kumotawa Confluence
Modern military portal fantasy is a subgenre of speculative fiction where contemporary armed forces—soldiers, vehicles, tactics, and technology—are transported through a portal or dimensional rift into a fantastical…
Magical Girls and Tactical Military Anime and Manga Development
I never thought all that deeply about the history of "girls with guns," "magical girls," "mecha-musume," and "magical girl tactical" developments. One of the first shows I watched…
Sailor Moon, Strike Witches, Girls und Panzer, Gunslinger Girl, KanColle
Nissin Muteppou Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen Cup Review
Nissin collaborated with Muteppou, to create this tonkotsu shoyu cup noodle. Muteppou is famous for its exceptionally rich and thick tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen that is considered to…
Significant Japanese High Fantasy Novels With English Translations
I started researching this topic thinking that it would be simple, but it turns out I underestimated the complexity. I wanted high fantasy novels written by Japanese authors that have…
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Overlord, Spice and Wolf, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Fairy Tail
Nissin AFURI Yuzu Shio Bowl Noodle Review
I picked up this bowl of instant noodles last time I was in Japan. I've never eaten at AFURI in Tokyo, but I've had some citrusy yuzu ramen…
Building the 1/144 HG Gundam Aerial Kit from Bandai
It's been a long time since I assembled a Gunpla (Gundam plastic model kit). I keep buying the darn things, but never sit down long enough to crack…
Gundam Gunpla Kits For Aerial, GQuuuuuuX and Amate Yuzuriha Figure Haul
When I was in Tokyo in May of this year, I went to Gundam Base in Odaiba to take a look at all of the model kits and…
Nissin Kanzen (Complete Meal) Soupless Cup Noodle Review
The Kanzen line of products started with curry rice years ago and I reviewed it back then. On my last trip to Japan I picked up the Kanzen…
Fall 2025 Japanese Figure Haul For Gundam Witch From Mercury and Frieren
I had a small shipment come in from Japan just before Canada Post went on strike again (October 2025). I picked up three figures from two of my…
Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage in Meguro - Buddhism and Shinto in Historic Tokyo
Tokyo is a ton of fun to visit. There's high tech wonders, plenty of shopping, and great dining. It is an old city that rapidly grew in the…
Major Art and Anime Exhibits in Tokyo for October, November, December 2025
The major exhibitions are easy, but the small rotating exhibits are often announced only shortly before they are on. I have compiled a list of exhibits for both…
Neon Genesis Evangelion, SPY x FAMILY, Digimon: Digital Monsters, Ensemble Stars!, Ghost in the Shell
Catching Wigglet at Edmonton’s Accidental Beach
I finally went and caught Wigglet in Tokyo during May of this year (2025), years after it was introduced. It was a bit of an adventure to get…
Doing A Book Signing For Kumotawa Confluence and Tokyo Intro at Indigo
Hi everyone,For those folks in Canada's northernmost large city, Edmonton. I will be doing a book signing this Sunday at the big Chapters/Indigo bookstore on 170 ST, north…
Myojo Seasoned Bamboo Shoot Yakisoba Review
This is a bit of an unusual instant yakisoba noodle bowl. Yakisoba is a fried noodle dish which instant noodles simulate well after rehydrating and draining away all…
2025 Summer Figure Haul From Japan - Guild Receptionish, Sakamoto Days, and Golden Kamuy
Sometimes you see a figure that is beautiful or so well crafted that you really want it. These days, I can't bring myself to spend to bucks for…
I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time, Macross, Macross Frontier, The Elusive Samurai, Golden Kamuy
7-11 Gold Premium Sumire Sapporo Miso Instant Ramen Review
I'm trying out 7-11's premium gold Sumire ramen today, one of two instant ramen bowls I picked up on my last trip to Japan in 2025. While 7-11…
Cats and Coffee and Books Means It's Japanese Cozy Fiction or Fantasy
In the land of vending machines and seasonal KitKats, Japanese literature was known for its deep philosophical musings, existential dread, and the occasional ghost who just wanted to…
My May 2025 Tokyo Travelogue - Part 7 Artizon Musem, Shinjuku, and Godzilla
The weather was not that great this Saturday. It rained all morning and stopped at around noon. Probably put a bit of a damper on the Sanja Matsuri…
My May 2025 Tokyo Travelogue - Part 6 Asakusa and Ueno National Museum
We're down to the last few days of our holiday. It's been a whirlwind of sights and experiences. These last two full days will have us visiting Asakusa,…
Kumotawa Confluence at the Edmonton Local Authors Book Sale!
Hi everyone!I'm going to be participating in the Local Authors Book Sale being hosted by the Edmonton Public Library at the Stanley A. Milner (Downtown). It will take place…
Maruchan Curry, Fried Tofu Buckwheat Soba Bowl Review
It's Maruchan time again. I came across an interesting bowl noodle at the supermarket that combines curry and your regular kitsune soba bowl...
Major Art Exhibits on for May 2025 in Tokyo
Part of my upcoming trip to Tokyo is visiting museums. I have compiled a list of exhibitions that are on for May 2025 for my reference and a...
The Rice Stuff - Fried Style Rice (Costco Box of 6) Review
Things happen by coincidence sometimes. I originally saw this brand at Walmart and bought a couple of varieties, but then I went to Costco, ...
A Short Book Trailer For Kumotawa Confluence
Kumotawa Confluence An urban / portal fantasy set in modern Japan If you want episodic adventure that starts more slowly with action in most...
Shoo Loong Kan Hotpot Instant Noodle Bowl Review (Spicy Oil Flavour)
Today, I'm reviewing the Shoo Loong Kan Hotpot instant noodle bowl. What did I get myself into? I should have known from looking at the lid ...
Costco A-Sha Dan Dan Taiwanese Noodles Case Review
When you buy a case of noodles, you had better like them! I wasn't too worried when I picked up a case of A-Sha's Dan Dan noodles from…
Hi A'Kuan Sesame Broad Noodles Review (Chinese Noodles)
This is the first of a number of Chinese instant noodle products I'll be reviewing in the upcoming months. A'Kuan noodles have a pretty wid...
Sanyo Cup Star Sundubu Jjigae Spicy Ramen Review
Sundubu Jjigae is a traditional Korean soup that features soft tofu in a spicy broth. This version from Cup Star is a spicy version with cla...
Urban Fantasy Novels, Anime, Games Set In Japan
Urban fantasy is very common in Japanese pop culture. There are popular literary novels, light novels, manga, anime, and video games, all fe...
Nextool Flagship Max and Dakoyu Shadow (23 in 1) Review
I ordered the Nextool Flagship Max and the Dakoyu Shadow on AliExpress last month as they were not available in Canada yet. These nifty mult...
Kumotawa Confluence - Yuriko, Convenience Store, and Map
While I wrote Kumotawa Confluence, my urban fantasy novel set in modern Japan. I also tried out various ways to visualize the environment an...
Kumotawa Confluence, A Unique Urban Fantasy Set in Modern Japan
More than Tokyo travel tips. Anime and figures, noodle reviews, and speculative fiction. 2024 edition of Tokyo guidebook available and new novel coming.
Cover Designs For Kumotawa Confluence, A Japanese Urban Fantasy Novel
Sword Princess battles evil forces in a magical modern Japan! That would be a headline tag for my novel, but it stars an ensemble cast that ...
Kumotawa Confluence, My Urban Fantasy Set In Modern Japan Is Finished!
Wow! It has been a long haul to finish this novel, but it is done. This is my second completed novel and third completed book (I have a…
Nissin Craftsman Yuzu Shio Ramen Review
Sometimes, I'm surprised to find some varieties of Japanese noodles on the supermarket shelf over here in Canada. Finding these Nissin Noodl...
Nissin Craftsman Shoyu Ramen Bowl Review
Sometimes, I'm surprised to find some varieties of Japanese noodles on the supermarket shelf over here in Canada. Finding these Nissin Noodl...
Nissin Noodle Craftsman Miso Ramen Bowl Review
Sometimes, I'm surprised to find some varieties of Japanese noodles on the supermarket shelf over here in Canada. Finding these Nissin Noodl...
Dragon Ball Kai North American Tour at WEM
I was at West Edmonton Mall playing Pokemon Go and ran across the Dragon Ball Kai Travelling Exhibit at the Ice Palace. It was a pretty busy...
Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Dragon Ball Z
Winter 2025 Anime and The Elusive Samurai + Bunny Girl Sempai February 2025 Figure Haul
The 2025 winter anime season has been kind of underwhelming. I think the isekai genre (where the protagonist from our world is transported t...
The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World, Aquarion, Shangri-La, Shangri-La Frontier, The Apothecary Diaries
Nissin Premium Seafood Cup Noodle with Uni and Butter Oil Review
This is the second of three reviews about the premium Cup Noodles released by Nissin in the summer of 2024 for a limited run that went into ...
Nissin Premium Curry Cup Noodle with Truffle Oil Review
This is the third of three reviews about the premium Cup Noodles released by Nissin in the summer of 2024 for a limited run that went into t...
Nissin Premium Shoyu Cup Noodle with Matsutake Mushroom Oil Review
This is the first of three reviews about the premium Cup Noodles released by Nissin in the summer of 2024 for a limited run that went into t...
Ippudo Instant Ramen Kit Regular (Mild Heat) Review
I saw these packages of Ippudo Ramen Kits at T&T Market. I'm pretty sure they were brought in a part of the build-up to Asian/Chinese New Ye...
DotGraphic Nintendo and Namco 8-bit Style 3D Dioramas with Sound From 2006
Almost 20 years ago, as I'm writing this article, I picked up two sets of these DotGraphic dioramas with sound. There was a set for Namco a...
Yamadai New Touch Yokohama Tonkotsuya Bowl Review
This is the sixth and final review of a ramen from the Yamadai New Touch Amazing Noodles Summer Fukubako Eastern Japan Ramen Box 2024 . I ...
Costco Pulmuone Tonkotsu Miso Refrigerated Ramen Kit Review
I saw a Pulmuone Tonkotsu Miso Ramen kit at Costco Canada the other day and bought it of course. They were in the refrigerated foods section...