When you hear "Fondue", you probably think of the Swiss classic: cheese fondue – dipping bread into a pot of melted Gruyere and Emmenthal, with a splash (or two) of white wine and Kirsch liquor, all bubbling away at your table. But come Christmas and New Year’s, the Swiss swap their cheese for meat, diving into the world of meat fondue, a tradition now as Swiss as yodeling. But while cheese fondue’s history is well-documented, dating back to the 17th century, the origin of me

It's winter, and the question I hear more than anything else is: "Aren't you cold?" You see, Tokyo winters are like a lukewarm cup of tea compared to Switzerland's icy blast. Temperatures rarely drop below freezing, and snow is a rare guest. Though when it does snow, Tokyo turns into a scene from a disaster movie. Road traffic grinds to a halt, and pedestrians shuffle along the pavement as if they’re auditioning for a role in a slapstick comedy on ice. I vividly recall a bliz

How Japan has changed! Back when I first landed in Japan 28 years ago, I felt like a rare Pokémon in a sea of Pikachus — an oddity, a curiosity! People would look at me with a mix of fascination and fear, like I was about to unleash a fire-breathing dragon. They hesitated to speak Japanese, probably thinking, “This poor soul wouldn’t understand a word!” And at least in my first couple of years here, they would have been right. Whenever I did spot another one of the rare speci

Japanese efficiency is practically an art form! Imagine a world where everything runs like clockwork, with the precision of a synchronised swimming team. From the seamless precision of trains to the meticulous attention to detail in production lines, it's all about minimising waste and maximising productivity. After all, this is the birthplace of " kaizen ". Sushi chefs turn fish into masterpieces in no time, and even the simple act of pouring tea becomes a masterclass in pre

Living in or near Tokyo for over 20 years, you tend to get used to the neon lights, towering skyscrapers, and the breakneck speed of urban life. It's all too easy to assume this is the norm and that Tokyo is just another big city like any other. But every now and then, something happens that seemingly catapults you back in time, reminding you of the unique traditions that make Japan special. Take last week, for instance. Less than 100 meters from our house, there’s a Shinto s

As a long and hot summer has finally come to an end and the air is - slowly - getting cooler, our air conditioners finally get to chill (pun absolutely intended).   And although it's still much warmer here than in my home country at this time of year, the dreaded heating season is almost upon us.   As a Swiss expat, your instincts kick in: Time to fire up the central heating! Simple, right? Just ensure your gigantic oil tank in the cellar is full, your gas connection is alive

Ah, the delight of retail therapy, enjoyed by many the world over! So, let’s explore the contrasting shopping aisles of Japan and Switzerland, shall we?   I have always found the shopping experience in Japan a very special one, and very different from what you get in Switzerland, where it tends to be a no-frills experience, whereas in Japan it’s taken to an entirely different level.   One reason is the incredible attention to detail here. The Japanese take precision to a leve

This month marks 28 years since I crash-landed in Japan with my shiny new Japanese wife, ready to start a new life. I had no clue what to expect from a country on the opposite side of the globe, where my only experience was a few weeks of holidaying. All I really knew was that it was a powerhouse in the manufacture of cars and electronic gadgets, and the origin of my favourite childhood cartoon, “Heidi, Girl of the Alps”.   Was it a risk? Absolutely. An adventure? You bet! Bu

The first time I came across a sign indicating that a shop was open until 25:00 or 25:30, I thought, “Wait, did Japan invent its own time system? Last I checked, an earthly day had only 24 hours. But they, maybe Japan is just that special!”   At first, the idea of an extra hour didn’t seem so bad. More time to hang out with friends or catch up on sleep, right? It’s like the day of turning back the clock one hour in Europe or America at the end of Daylight Savings - but 365 da

People from abroad, well aware of Japan’s reputation for being a seismic hotspot, often ask me if I’m not afraid of earthquakes.   The reality? If you choose to live here, it just comes with the territory (pun absolutely intended).   Honestly, we don’t think about it much. Only when the earth decides to do a little dance - which, let’s be real, happens quite frequently. So if you put it that way, we probably do think about it quite often…   Case in point: Just the other day,

The other day I had dinner with a Swiss friend, who was visiting Japan for the very first time.   We settled down for a pre-dinner drink, and he started telling me about his day in Akihabara, Tokyo’s buzzing shopping hub packed with electronics stores, and a magnet for overseas visitors. The place is like Disneyland for tech geeks - you can find anything from a simple camera to a robot that will do your laundry, and maybe even your taxes.   My friend, however, was on a noble

Imagine yourself as both a human and a ship, navigating life’s unpredictable waters. One special day a year, you transform into a sleek, high-tech vessel - a floating marvel of health consciousness. Your mission? To reach the shores of optimal well-being and longevity.   Japan boasts one of the world’s highest life expectancies, and it’s not just due to sushi and matcha tea (although those certainly help!). Disease prevention plays a crucial role, and that’s where the annual

Stepping outside in Tokyo these days is like walking into a brick wall. The humid air clings to you like wrapping film around a sushi roll, and you wonder if Japan has secretly relocated to the equator overnight. However, Google Maps insists we’re still in the same spot. So, there can only be one explanation: Summer has arrived! 35 degrees Celsius for the last couple of days, and judging by the forecast, this is just the warm-up!   Technically we are supposed to be in the mid

I have just returned from a 3-week long trip to Europe, to visit family and friends. Apart from the observation that everything is jaw-droppingly expensive over there now, 'curtesy of' an ultra-weak yen, I came across something that is incredibly popular in Europe, yet is seemingly unknown in Japan: Aperol Spritz. For anyone not familiar with the drink: The Aperol Spritz is an Italian wine-based cocktail, commonly served as an apéritif and consisting of Prosecco, Aperol (a bo

It may come as a surprise to many outside of Japan that most streets here don't have a name. The notable exception are main streets, expressways and toll roads. But your ordinary residential street will always be nameless. Why is that? Japan uses a highly complex, area-based addressing system dating back to the Meiji era (1868 - 1912). Towns are typically subdivided into smaller areas with names, and then into smaller blocks with numbers, and finally into individual lots with

With days - and evenings - getting warmer, I feel myself drawn to restaurant terraces and street cafés - not that they can exactly be found in abundance in Japan, mind you! Since my other half is away for a few days and the weather is absolutely glorious at the moment, last night I decided to stroll to the nearby shopping area and have dinner at our favourite Italian-Spanish restaurant, the only one left within walking distance that offers outdoor dining. There used to be ano

A few months ago I mentioned that my old Swiss Driving Licence was going to lose its validity this year, as Swiss authorities will now only accept the new licence in credit card format. I appreciate that Switzerland is moving with the times. The conundrum is that the new licence is only issued to folks residing in Switzerland, essentially leaving Swiss nationals living abroad out in the cold. So in order to continue to drive legally in Switzerland, getting an international li

Japanese banks and credit card companies take security very, very seriously. Which would seem to be a good thing, right? Except, they often take it to such extremes that it can be super frustrating for the user. The thing is that I travel and shop overseas quite frequently, and ever so often when using an overseas website, my card is blocked because the purchase is flagged as potentially fraudulent. When I say overseas websites, I'm not talking about shady websites, but major

As I'm writing this, it's 3 degrees Celsius outside in the middle of the day, and the mercury is not expected to rise much further than that today... Hard to believe that barely 3 days ago I was having lunch on the terrace of a pizzeria in the centre of Tokyo, with a balmy 23 degrees, and with one specific type of cherry tree ( 'Kawazu Sakura' ) already in bloom nearby! This being February, I knew, of course, that the lovely pre-spring weather was not going to last, though th

Valentine's Day: A day when couples demonstrate their love for each other by giving each other cards and presents across the globe. Well, with one exception: Japan! Because as Christmas Eve in Japan has taken the top spot in the calendar as the favourite day for lovers and couples (if you wonder why, take a look at one of my previous posts: Christmas in Japan - KFC and Christmas Cake ), I guess they had to slightly re-purpose Valentine's Day. So in Japan, women - and only wom