One of the things I’ve always loved about Japan – apart from the polite people, super-efficient trains, and vending machines that sell everything short of life insurance – are the gigantic  electronics stores. These are not just shops. They are cathedrals of consumer technology, temples where you can lose yourself for hours among the latest gadgets, futuristic household appliances, and mysterious contraptions you didn’t even know existed but suddenly can’t live without. The u

Last month, I once again did my civic duty (or privilege, as I prefer to view it) as a Swiss citizen: I voted in a national referendum....

Living in Japan as a Western foreigner can be rather interesting. People spot you, freeze, and then quietly decide not to engage unless...

On 30 September, I will be celebrating my 29th Japaniversary – that's right, 29 years since I started a new life in the Land of the...

Last week I made the bold decision that our loyal, 8-year-old car had earned its pension. Time for a shiny new replacement, I thought. A...

It’s official: The Japan Meteorological Agency has confirmed that Japan just survived (barely) its hottest summer on record. The national...

🗻 Mountains: A Matter of Ownership and Space Sure, the Swiss Alps are world-famous, but here's a surprising fact: Switzerland only owns...

So, here's a fun fact: around 11% of Swiss citizens live abroad. That's right – roughly one in ten people born in the land of cheese,...

Last week, I talked about the British "apology reflex" – th at charming Olympic sport where two strangers bump into each other and then...

Last week, I reflected on how different cultures handle small talk. Just a day later, I was reminded of this in the most unexpectedly...

I’ve just returned from a two-week holiday trip to Switzerland and the UK, and once again, I'm left marvelling at the wildly different...

Summer has kicked off in earnest, temperatures are soaring, and hydration has become a competitive sport. Health experts are telling us...

🌿 Obsession with Botanical Beauty Swiss and Japanese homeowners treat gardens like tiny works of art, but the expectations come with...

The other day, I made what I believed to be a casual, innocent comment to my wife. You know, one of those soft suggestions disguised as...

Earlier this week, the Japanese Meteorological Agency cautiously announced that the Tokyo region had "likely entered the rainy season."...

Last week, my wife and I went to the opera – expecting culture, drama, and, inevitably, an overpriced glass of champagne (but that's part...

At first glance, Switzerland and Japan seem like long-lost cousins –  both obsessively clean, absurdly punctual, and so devoted to their...

Switzerland’s flag is basically the peak of minimalist design - sleek, square, and effortlessly stylish. While other countries went wild...

Japanese sports fans have earned global admiration for their magical ability to clean up after themselves before leaving stadiums. They...

Japan is shrinking. Well, not geographically, but demographically. It turns out, people just aren't making enough more people. Over the...