Meow 'n' Fuji

How to Make Japanese Salmon Flakes at Home ― Perfect Onigiri Filling

No Asian supermarket nearby? You can make Japanese salmon flakes at home with just a salmon fillet, sake, and mirin. Perfect for onigiri, bento, fried rice, and more.

2026.05.07

Recipes

Nagoya Morning Culture: Free Breakfast with Your Coffee ― A Local’s Guide

In Nagoya, ordering a coffee comes with a free breakfast — locals even call it a culture. A guide from a local to Nagoya Morning, what to expect, and where to go.

2026.05.04

Travel

Homemade Anpan Recipe: Soft Japanese Sweet Red Bean Buns from Scratch

Soft, fluffy Japanese anpan made from scratch — sweet bread dough filled with homemade or store-bought anko. Easier than it looks, and worth every minute of proofing time.

2026.05.03

Recipes

Completely Useless Random Thoughts on English from Japanese Eyes

Talking about obsession, for me, a native Japanese speaker who learned English as a second language, English is pretty c...

2026.05.01

Thoughts

The Ninja Soy ― Japanese obsession

Soy sauce, miso, tofu, natto, edamame — soy is everywhere in Japanese food. A rambling love letter to soybeans from a Japanese local, and why Japan became so obsessed with them in the first place.

2026.04.29

Thoughts

Amami Oshima Travel Diary: Photos & Tips from My First Visit

A first visit to Amami Oshima — UNESCO World Natural Heritage island between Kyushu and Okinawa. Beaches, keihan, brown sugar, and the kind of slow travel that stays with you.

2026.04.25

Travel

Hanami Onigiri: Easy Japanese Rice Ball Recipe for Your Spring Picnic

A simple onigiri recipe made for spring — salmon flakes and edamame mixed into rice, shaped into triangles for your hanami picnic. No nori, no special skills needed.

2026.04.18

Recipes

Homemade Anko Recipe: Easy Japanese Red Bean Paste ― Better Than Store-Bought

A homemade anko recipe for first-timers — just azuki beans and sugar, no special skills needed. Plus how to use it the Nagoya way: ogura toast, anpan, and more.

2026.04.17

Recipes

Inuyama Castle Japan: Day trip from Nagoya

The oldest surviving wooden castle in Japan, just 30 minutes from Nagoya. A complete local guide to Inuyama Castle — access, tickets, highlights, and a recommended walking route through the castle town.

2026.04.14

Travel

Interval walking a.k.a. Japanese walking method

An honest account from a reluctant exerciser of building a walking habit — and how the Japanese interval walking method (3 min fast, 3 min slow) made it actually stick.

2026.04.12

Life

Only Now -Matcha Seasonal Sweets in Japan

In Japan, convenience store shelves change color every few weeks with the seasons. Sakura pink, then strawberry, then matcha green. Reflections from a local on ichigo ichie — and matcha donuts.

2026.04.05

Life

Yamazaki River Hanami: Nagoya’s Finest Cherry Blossom Walk

Yamazaki River is one of the Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan — 550 trees lining 2.5km along the river, just minutes from central Nagoya. A photo walk with a local.

2026.04.03

Travel