June 2013

• 19: National Treasure Picture Scroll Illustrates Life of Ippen (一遍上人), the Founder of the Ji-Shu(時宗), the Ji-Sect of Pure Land Buddhism ( and a bit about the Ji-Sect Temples in Tsukuba)
• 19: The Japanese Language Is Unusually Rich in Words and Expressions Describing Different Kinds Of Rain
• 17: That Screwy Flower- the Nejibana (捩花)!
• 15: Thar She Glows! Fireflies (蛍) Make a Strong Comeback Not Far From Tsukuba Center – Soon (at the end of June) they will be at their best!
• 13: Tobacco- One of Ibaraki`s Most Important Traditional Crops ! The Tobacco Shrine on Mt Kaba ! And, why the Tokugawa Shogunate Tried to Ban Smoking!
• 12: Faces for Father`s Day- and a bit on the history of that special day as it is celebrated in Japan
• 11: Praying Mantis Egg Cases Seen Releasing Their Loads Today!
• 10: What`s IN SEASON (旬 , shoon) in Japan in Summer
• 09: Noise-Making Devices in Toilet Stalls Make COURTESY FLUSHING a Thing of the Past and Helps Save TONS of WATER in Japan
• 08: TACHI AOI (立葵) and why the Mito Hollyhock Soccer team is INCORRECTLY named ! ( Tsukublog exclusive)
• 06: In Japan, Summer is Autumn- for Wheat and Barley ! Enjoy the contrasting green and golden landscapes of BAKUSHU- (麦秋)
• 05: Wild Mulberry (kuwa no mi, 桑の実) Pickers Get Caught Red-Handed !
• 03: Japan`s Great (and surprising) Circus History- and the impact of Japanese artistes on the circus world
• 01: Enjoy the Moss, but Get Rid of the Mould and Mildew- During Japan`s Rainy Season

May 2013

• 31: Some Prefer Nettles- No-Azami (野薊), The First Thistles Of The Year- Beautiful AND (as most thistles are- ) Edible !
• 29: See the Amazing Variety of Objects on Display at the Grand Exhibition of Sacred Treasures from Shinto Shrines – at the National Museum in Ueno (thru Sunday June 2)
• 28: FROG CHORUS Is Nature`s Richest Orchestral Show- Take Some Time To Give It a Serious Listen
• 27: The 28th (and the evening of the 27th) of Each Month is the Time for Prayer Meetings at Tsukuba`s ( and the surrounding area`s) Fudo-Halls (不動尊)
• 26: DOKUDAMI- Traditional Herbal CURE-ALL that has long Flourished in Japan`s Damp Shadowy Places- has been coming out of the dark in recent years!
• 23: Take a Walk on Tsukuba`s Wild Side- with a nature and history walk- this coming Sunday May 26th
• 22: Okinagusa (翁草)- though no longer common in the wild in Japan, the OLD MAN GRASS still strives in gardens and yards
• 20: Japan`s Pretty little HEBI-ICHIGO (literally, snake strawberries) Are NOT Eaten By Snakes, NOT Poisonous and NOT Very Tasty, But Some Old-Timers Believe They Have Medicinal Powers
• 19: Moss Phlox (SHIBAZAKURA-芝桜)- used to create delightful spring carpets around Japan
• 17: Andrew Wyeth`s Olson House Paintings at the Ibaraki Museum of Modern Art in Mito (through May19)
• 15: Take In the Queen of Flowers ( which also happens to be Ibaraki`s Prefectural Flower!)- With Your Eyes AND Nose- at Japan`s Number One FREE Rose Garden: The Fujisawa Bara En (藤沢バラ園) in Furuku, Tsukuba
• 13: Yamaki Jinja (八巻神社)- Connected (according to legend) with the Great 11th Century Warrior HACHIMAN TARO YOSHIIE – is one of Tsukuba`s Most Interesting Shrines – but remains unrepaired one year after tornado
• 12: My Wild Garden Abloom With HARUJION (春紫苑), a Flower whose local nickname symbolizes my financial state!
• 11: Weeping Willows Exemplars Of Spring Greenery and Demarcators Of Boundaries Between Realms
• 09: Swallows (tsubame,燕) Have not Been Getting the Hospitality They Had Long Grown Accustomed to in Japan
• 06: Japan Becomes a WATERWORLD as the Rice Fields are Flooded in Preparation for TAUE (pronounced TA OO EH)- rice transplantation
• 05: Last Chance to See the Small, yet Haunting Exhibition: Artifacts related to Christianity: Jesuit Missionaries and Belief under Prohibition- at the National Museum in Ueno (Ends May 6th)
• 04: On May 5th (tomorrow)-A Fun-Filled Fertility Festival (with nothing left to the imagination)- HEISANBO – in Kasumigaura City`s Ushiwata
• 03: Up In Arms! Dressing Up in Samurai Armour in Sakura, Chiba- only on Children`s Day (May 5th)
• 02: A Deeper Look at the Fascinating Roots of Carp Streamers (Koi Nobori) and Other Children`s Day (KODOMO NO HI) Traditions
• 01: May Day in Japan (a short history and a report from Tsukuba on this year`s demonstrations)

April 2013

• 29: Tsuchiura City Museum Drawing Unusually Large Crowds For its Special Exhibition of BASARA- decorative battle armor worn by some of Japan`s most famous 16th Century Warriors (thru May 6th)
• 26: Report of Stabbing by FOREIGN-LIKE Man in Tsukuba Makes Big News- the discovery that the story was MADE UP, does not
• 25: Wisteria Hysteria- a PURPLE HAZE Over Tsukuba (and most of the rest of Japan)-this year (2013), much earlier than usual
• 22: Azalea (TSUTSUJI, 躑躅) Japan`s Late Spring and Early Summer Regalia
• 20: In Japan Money DOES Grow on Trees- the Mitsumata (ミツマタ) tree, to be specific- since 1879!
• 17: Digging for (and then eating!) Bamboo Shoots – Getting to the Root of the Matter! TAKEH NO KO HORI (竹の子堀)
• 16: Cercis Chinesis- HANAZUO (花蘇芳)- a unique ornamental flowering tree which is ubiquitous in Japan, but whose name is not very well known
• 15: YAEZAKURA (八重桜): DOUBLE-FLOWERED CHERRY BLOSSOMS provide a second chance for HANAMI
• 14: Japan Turns Yellow as NANOHANA (rapeseed blossoms) Take Over the Spring Landscape- revisited again
• 13: Little Cakes From Akita Prefecture`s Kakunodate Pack a Tasty Surprise- If you dont know they are called KINKAN MANJU ( 金柑まんじゅう)
• 12: Kansai Area`s Popular Rite of Passage For 13 Year Olds- Ju-San Mairi (十三参り)- Is Also Celebrated In Ibaraki, At Tokai-Mura`s Muramatsuyama Kokuzo-Do Temple
• 11: Camellias (tsubaki, 椿) Create Distinctive Groundscapes and Soundscapes- and this year (2012) seem to be more colorfull than ever!
• 08: With All The Attention On Cherry Blossoms and Hanami, HANA-MATSURI, The Japanese Celebration Of Buddha`s Birthday On April 8th, Is Often Overlooked These Days (revisited)
• 06: For Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Connoisseurs, a Pilgrimage to Iwase, in Sakuragawa City, is a MUST in Mid-Late April
• 02: How to Make (and Eat) Salted Cherry Blossoms- SAKURA NO HANA NO SHIOZUKE (桜の花の塩漬)- again

March 2013

• 31: April 1st (this coming Monday) is the Ozagawari ( 御座替り)- Mt. Tsukuba’s Most Important Traditional Rite
• 29: A Look at Japan`s Various HANAMI (Cherry Blossom Viewing) SWEETS
• 26: The RINRIN ROAD, a Defunct Railway-Line-Turned-Cycling-Path Has a Floral Canopy in the Cherry Blossom Season
• 25: The Connection Between the Sakura River (桜川) in Tsukuba and Sakura (Cherry Trees) Traced to its Source- the SOURCE OF THE RIVER ITSELF! (again)
• 22: Hanami – Japan’s UNIQUE Celebration of Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom – A DEEPER LOOK (revisited)
• 21: In Tsukuba, Spirits are Lifted a Bit by the Sweet Smell of Magnolias ( MOKUREN and KOBUSHI)
• 20: BOTAMOCHI or OHAGI- Special Snacks and Offerings for the Equinox Weeks ( O-Higan)- and the problem of what to call them
• 19: Tara No Me ( タラの芽), the King of Wild Vegetables, Growing Right Under My Nose All these Years!
• 17: Around the Time of the Spring Equinox, All Things Begin to Stir in Japan- EVEN THE GRAVEYARDS, as O-Higan begins
• 16: Open for Business- a true episode
• 14: Bitter Herb an Important Component of Traditional Japanese Spring Sweet- KUSA MOCHI (草餅)
• 11: Men Facing Tough Choices as WHITE DAY (March 14th) Draws Near
• 10: Setsubun-so (節分草)- eranthis pinnatifida- in fact blooms about one month after Setsubun ( the Bean Throwing Festival for which it is named)!
• 09: Ibaraki`s Famous Plum-Blossom-Season Sweets ( and some thoughts they elicit on Japanese culture)
• 07: Eating Uguisu Mochi (鶯餅) in Anticipation of Japan`s most Famous Sound of Spring- The cry of the bush warbler (uguisu)
• 05: Making Miso at Home- the Revival of a Once Ubiquitous Late Winter Rite
• 03: Celebrating HINA MATSURI ( The Doll Festival)- some Tsukubans will be taking their time in putting away their HINA DOLLS!
• 01: Tsukuba Dust Bowl- Instead of Comforting, this Year`s HARU ICHIBAN (春一番)- the First Warm Gusts of Spring – Darken the sky AND the Mood

February 2013

• 26: A Closer Look at the Evolution of Japan`s HINA DOLLS and the Hina Matsuri Festival (again)
• 24: Genitalia-Shaped Rice-Cakes at the Takasai Jinja Shrine`s (高道祖神社) SAYARIBO Festival (塞り棒祭）
• 22: PLUM crazy! Ibaraki`s Ume Trees in Bloom!
• 19: When the Sky Came Falling Down- Remembering the Tsukuba Meteorite (つくば隕石) of 1996
• 18: Iina Shrine`s Traditional Daruma Market- on the first DAY OF THE SNAKE of the year (according to the old, lunar calendar)
• 17: The Brown-Eared Bulbul ( HIYODORI,　ヒヨドリ)- Might Be An Everyday Bird Here In Japan, But You Wont Find It In Many Other Places (again)
• 15: The Belief in Myoken (妙見信仰), the Deified Polar Star (and Big Dipper) Thrives at Tsukuba`s Hokuto-Ji Temple (北斗寺) in Kurihara 　
• 14: Making a Mountain of Tsukuba’s Mole Hills – a look at moles (mogura) in Japan and Japanese culture- again
• 12: Valentines Day in Japan- the long road from Lupercalia to BARENTAIN (again)
• 11: Some Musings on the History of Japan`s National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinenbi, 建国記念日)
• 10: Tomorrow (Feb.11)- A Shower of Snacks at Tsukuba`s Venerable Izumi Kosodate Kannon Temple ( Keiryu-Ji)　- 泉子育観音　慶龍寺　の　年越大祭　( 豆まき)
• 09: Ibaraki and Tochigi Prefecture`s Unique HATSU UMA (初午) Celebrations- this year on the February 9th (2012)
• 08: All Doors are Open, as the Old Town of Makabe ( in Sakuragawa City) gets DOLLED UP for its annual HINA DOLL FESTIVAL (真壁の雛祭り) -until March 3rd)
• 05: The Bamboo Shade is Lifted Once a Year- Revealing the 12th Century Buddhist Cliff Carving in Oda, Tsukuba (小田の磨崖不動明王立像),
• 04: In Tsukuba`s Old Neighborhoods SETSUBUN can be just as lively as O-Shogatsu ( New Year`s) – or even MORE SO!
• 02: The Poisonous Flower with the Very Auspicious Sounding Name- FUKUJU-SO- (福寿草), is blooming late this year and can now be seen at Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden
• 01: Demon Masks, Soy Beans,Thick Sushi Rolls and Sardine Heads Posted on Doorways- Celebrating SETSUBUN ( the Eve of the First Day of Spring) in Japan

January 2013

• 31: Japanese Farmers Let Their Daikon Radish Chill Out in the Soil- the Colder, the Sweeter!
• 30: Negi (Welsh onion) helps keep Japan green and fragrant in winter
• 28: Convenience Stores And Supermarkets Promote Osaka Custom And Point Setsubun Celebrations In NEW DIRECTION (revisited)
• 26: The Smoke Clears Away at the HIRASAWA KANGA (平沢官衙遺跡)Revealing this year`s special word- KOKORO
• 22: Japanese White Wagtails (HAKUSEKIREI) Find Convenience Stores Quite Convenient
• 20: For the Year of the Snake- Snakes in　Japan and Japanese Culture
• 18: To Help Students Pass This Weekend`s Entrance Exams- Prayers, Amulets, and a Clever Array of LUCKY CHARMS (合格祈願)- again
• 17: In Early through Mid Winter it’s Sazanka 山茶花 (camellia sasanqua), not Tsubaki　椿 (Camellia)-again
• 16: Amazing Turn-Around ! Moxibustion Gets Fetus to Move Out Of The Breech Position and Thus, C-Section is Avoided!
• 14: Remembering Sho Nemoto ( 根本正)- the Father of Japan`s Drinking Age Laws ( and free universal education!)- on Coming-of-Age Day
• 13: The Ritual Firing of Arrows at the beginning of the year- For Driving Away Misfortune, Forecasting the Harvest, and　Occassionally for CURSING THE NEXT VILLAGE
• 12: The New Year`s Decorations Go Up In Smoke at DONDO-YAKI (どんど焼き) Bonfires on January 19th (at the ruins of Oda Castle) and a week earlier at the Sakura River in Tsuchiura)
• 11: In Japan, Semi-translucent Ro-bai 蝋梅 Blossoms ( Japanese allspice) are The New Year`s First Tree-based Flowers to Bloom and Fill The Winter Air With a Welcome Fragrance
• 10: KAGAMI BIRAKI (鏡開き)- Breaking Open the Mirrors – a closer look at how and why the Japanese break open and eat the New Year`s Kagami Mochi rice cakes on January 11th (again)
• 09: HANABIRAMOCHI ( 花びら餅 )- a Japanese sweet for January which has roots in an ancient court ceremony
• 07: On January 7th- LOOK at the BLUE HORSE – an ancient Chinese Custom lives on in Japan`s Ao Uma no Sechi E (白馬の節会)
• 07: On January the 7th -the Seven Herbs Of Spring (春の七草) in Rice Porridge (and the viewing of BLUE horses!)
• 06: A Perfect Day for OPENING THE HARBOUR ( ハーバー開き) at Tsuchiura`s Marina
• 05: Mall-ification Gone Too Far?- A Branch of the Mt. Tsukuba Shrine Opens (temporarilly) at Creo Square at Tsukuba Center
• 04: The O-Shogatsu Spirit Lingers While the PINES ARE UP- Matsu no Uchi (松の内)
• 03: Beate Sirota Gordon (who at age 22 helped write Japan`s constitution) Passes away
• 02: To Start the New Year-The Seven Gods of Good Fortune (七福神)- in Treasure Ships, under your pillow, or as part of a mini pilgrimage: SHICHIFUKUJIN MEGURI
• 02: Daruma Dolls- the Evolution of Japan`s Longest Selling CHARACTER ( and tomorrow`s DARUMA MARKET in Joso City)
• 01: Ozoni (お雑煮)- Japan`s New year`s Soup – What`s your family`s recipe and what shape are yor rice cakes?
• 01: Akemashite Omedeto! -(Happy New Year!)- a revealing look at the origin of the expression

December 2012

• 31: Greeting the New Year the Traditional Way, at a Temple or a Shrine Can Be a FROSTY EXPERIENCE at Midnight- Make sure to Bundle Up!- or stay home and watch tv like most Japanese!
• 31: Watching the First Sunrise of the Year ( HATSU HINODE, 初日の出) From the Seashore or High Up on a Mountain
• 30: Ending the Year With Buckwheat Noodles- A Deeper Look at Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば)- again
• 29: Ringing Out the Old Year, Ringing In The New- Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘) – Japan`s New Year Bells (again)
• 28: Kado-Matsu (門松) in their Purest Form- and at their most extravagant ( Japanese New Year Season Doorway Decorations Explained- again)
• 28: A New Year`s Card Game- Hyakunin Isshu Karuta (百人一首かるた) is a Gateway to the Sublime World of Classical Japanese Poetry
• 27: Another fruit which grows wild in Tsukuba (and other parts of Japan)- MUBE (moo beh むべ)
• 26: Getting Deeper Into O-Shogatsu Preparations
• 25: Getting Ready for O-Shogatsu ( お正月)- The Japanese New Year Festival (once again)
• 22: Japanese Christmas- A look at the history of Japan`s celebration of Western Culture- KURISUMASU (yet again)
• 21: In Winter, JOBITAKI (ジョウビタキ)- Daurian Redstarts- Bring Color to Japanese Home Gardens- but mostly to those which already have some
• 19: For the Winter Solstice (冬至)- Yuzu Baths, Pumpkin, and Fire-Walking (火渡り)- again!
• 18: Toshi no Ichi (年の市) – Japan`s Traditional End-of-The Year Markets- The Asakusa Hagoita Market ( with easy access from Tsukuba by TX) is on till Wed. the 19th
• 17: More on Tsukuba`s Ubiquitous Winter Citrus Fruit- The YUZU ( 柚子)
• 16: Know the Local Lingo- In the Ibaraki-Dialect (茨城弁): HIYASU (冷やす) means both to chill (as it does in Standard Japanese) AND to soak
• 14: Nandian ( NANTEN, 南天) Berries Provide Seasonal Color, Relief to Sore Throats- AND Protection from MISFORTUNE
• 12: Hearing Another Side of the Famous Story (The CHUSHINGURA, 忠臣蔵) at the remains of KIRA KOZUKUNOSUKE‘s manor house (吉良上野介義央の邸跡) in Ryogoku, Tokyo
• 11: Bonenkai (忘年会)- a Deeper Look at Japan`s Year-End Parties ( yet again)
• 10: Tsukuba`s LIVING FOSSILS- it`s Dawn Redwoods (metasequoia, メタセコイア)- Turn Brick-Red Before They Lose Their Leaves
• 10: Party Crashing Red-Billed Leiothrix (ソウシチョウ) Stunned, but Apparently Unharmed (again)
• 08: Remembering Pearl Harbor- while on a bus near Lake Kasumigaura- where the Japanese navy trained for the attack
• 06: KARIN (Japanese quince) Trees Affect Tsukuba`s Winter Groundscapes as they drop their fruit (KARIN`s place in Japanese history and culture)
• 04: Japan`s Great Winter Delicacy-FUGU (河豚): Now Safe and Reasonably Priced- but still TO DIE FOR! (again)
• 03: The Unique Tsukuba Roadside Tree Planting Method (つくば方式)- also known as the 3.8 Method
• 02: The Wooden Memorial Boards -TOHBA (塔婆), Found at Cemeteries Have Notches on Top…… well, most of the time ! Some thoughts elicited by a walk on Mt. Tsukuba

November 2012

• 30: With Japan`s Abundant Spider-life, Do Not Forget WEB-SEARCH before you near your front door
• 29: Fallen Gingko Leaves (銀杏落葉) Give Tsukuba ( and much of Japan) Glimmering, Golden Groundscapes
• 28: Jichinsai (地鎮祭) – a closer look at Japan`s traditional GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY held before construction of any sort
• 27: Autumn Leaves Fall Away- Sometimes Revealing the Shrikes`Macabre Handiwork- MOZU NO NIE (鵙の贄)- Tsukuba`s ( and Japan`s) Shrikes- birds with a very curious habit!
• 24: The Opening of the Asahi Tunnel (朝日トンネル) Makes Tsukuba and Yasato Feel That much Closer
• 23: In November, Meiji Shrine is THE Place to Visit in Tokyo
• 21: Friday November 23rd, is the Autumn Festival (and traditional potted-plant market) at the RAIJIN-SAMA SHRINE (雷神様)in Kamigo, Tsukuba
• 20: Locusts (INAGO 稲子)- Once very popular as a food in Japan, can still be found at stores- and occassionally at the table!
• 19: Tsukuba`s Sweetgums（紅葉葉楓）and other Roadside Trees ABLAZE with Autumn Color
• 17: Chinese Cabbage (Hakusai, 白菜) Dominates the November Landscape in Some Parts of Tsukuba ( and the surprising history of that vegetable in Japan)
• 15: In the Tsukuba Area, THE Place to Live 5,000 Years Ago- was along the HANAMURO RIVER
• 14: EBISU KO (えびす講)- Alive (but not very well) in Tsukuba
• 13: Enjoy the Night View from the Top of Mt. Tsukuba, as rope-way (aerial lift line) services are extended up to 9 PM on weekends and holidays (through January) and the Cable Car (tramway) to 8 PM (on the same days) till Dec. 2nd
• 11: In November Shichi-Go-San Celebrations are held Throughout Japan- and but they are especially extravagant in our very own Ibaraki Prefecture! A deeper look!
• 10: The Site of the Ancient Rokusho Jinja (六所神社) Shrine Comes to Life One Day a Year During the Autumn Festival at the Foot of Mt Tsukuba (Tsukuba-Sanroku no Aki Matsuri)
• 09: Watch the Procession of 100 Warriors at the Masakado Matsuri (将門まつり)- as Bando City Celebrates the Fearsome Rebel Taira no Masakado (Sunday Nov. 11th)
• 08: Mums the Word! Chrysanthemums ( KIKU, 菊) in Japanese Culture and History (yet again!)
• 06: Tori no Ichi (酉の市)- Japan`s November Rooster Day Fairs- this year (2012) there are two- on Thursday the 8th and then again on the 20th ! A comprehensive look
• 06: Kaki (persimon) is the Color (and Flavor) of Fall in Rural Japan ( yet again)
• 03: Another Distinctive Tsukuba Area Folk Custom- Straw Sandals, Sticky Rice and Sweet Bean Paste to Help the Spirits of the Dead Make the Journey to the Other Side
• 03: What is now the Japanese National Holiday- Culture Day (November 3rd), was long celebrated as the Birthday of the Emperor Meiji
• 02: On Location- at Tsukuba Center ( filming another kids`program and the new GATCHAMAN movie!)
• 01: The Shrub with the Clusters of Lustrous Purple Berries and the Grand, Literary Name- MURASAKI SHIKIKBU (ムラサキシキブ)

October 2012

• 29: Ghost(s) in the Machine: a true story for Halloween
• 27: Put On Your Gloves and Get Out Your Chopsticks! There are still GINGKO NUTS to be gathered!
• 27: Complete your MOON-VIEWING this year tonight (October 27th 2012) with a unique Japanese tradition- JU-SAN YA (十三夜)- appreciating the beauty of the NEARLY full moon
• 25: Inu safuran (イヌサフラン) or Autumn Crocus- both Misleading Names !
• 24: Clear Skies Over Tsukuba and the Rest of Japan- Nippon Ba-reh ( 日本晴れ) !
• 23: Picking Wild MUKAGO or NUKAGO (零余子)- again
• 20: Mushroom Mania at Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden (through Oct. 28th)
• 19: Foraging for Wild Fruit in Tsukuba- Akebi　(あけび)
• 15: Autumn is the Time for Tsukuba`s Farmers to Dry Out the GOMA (SESAME)
• 15: Religious Symbols Used To Discourage Littering (and Urinating in Public)-again
• 12: The Sawara Festival in Chiba Prefecture- One of the Kanto Region`s Greatest- this weekend (Oct. 12th- 14th 2012)
• 10: HIGANBANA ( SPIDER LILIES) are SPECTACULAR FLowers- but don`t give them as gifts in Japan!
• 08: Enjoy Japan`s Aromatic Autumn Delicacy- MATSUTAKE MUSHROOMS (松茸)- you dont always have to pay through the nose for them! (Again)
• 07: Sports Day (Tai iku no Hi, 体育の日). this year on Monday the 8th, Commemorates the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Why is this holiday in October? AND a little about this weekend`s festival at Tsukuba University (again)
• 06: Kinmokusei (金木犀) Blossoms Give a Sweet Accent to the Autumn Air- reminding many Japanese of……..freshened-up restrooms!
• 05: Rude Awakenings! Early Morning Explosions Explained ( once again, for the School Sports Festival season)
• 03: One of Japan`s GREATEST Fireworks Events- The Tsuchiura Hanabi Taikai- Will Be Held This Coming Saturday Night- Here is it`s surprising history
• 01: Japan`s Prehistoric Staple Food – The Chestnut ( KURI, 栗), Is One of Tsukuba`s Most Outstanding (and dangerous!) Features- revisited

September 2012

• 28: A Look at Moon-Viewing ( O-Tsukimi, お月見) in Japan- in anticipation of the Full Moon of this coming Sunday night (Sept. 30, 2012)
• 25: An Icon of Autumn- Hagi (萩, bush clover) Often Goes Unnoticed- look for it !
• 21: In Line with The Far Side- the Equinox Days and the 3 days before and after are O-Higan in Japan- a time to visit ancestral graves
• 19: Tiny Offerings are a Poignant and Disturbing Reminder of this Month`s (Sept. 2012) Tragic COIN LOCKER BABY Incident in Tsukuba
• 15: Recipe for a Delicious and Very Easy to Make Okra Dish with a Japanese Accent
• 12: Fiery (and noisy) Fun at The Tabanka Festival (タバンカ祭) Held at The Venerable Daiho Hachimangu Shrine in Shimotsuma- on September 12th (TONIGHT!) and then AGAIN on the 14th!
• 10: A Magical, Old-Fashioned Fireworks Event- the RYU-SUI MANDO HANABI in HAKKE, Tsukuba ( 百家の竜水万灯祭)
• 06: Making Shiso Juice (紫蘇ジュース)- a zesty beverage made from the leaves of the beefsteak plant
• 04: Plenty of Excitement for the Kids ( and lots of catching up on the latest trends in paleontology for parents) at the DINO KINGDOM Exhibition in Makurihari Mese (until Sept. 23rd)
• 01: Extinction of the Japanese River Otter (KAWA USO, 川獺) is Now Official- and a local folktale which attests to that animal`s former presence in the Tsukuba Area

August 2012

• 30: At the Kattate Matsuri Help Set Sakuragawa City`s Mt. Gongen Aglow ( and keep typhoons at bay) on Aug. 31st
• 22: KO-RI (氷) – Spells Relief During Japanese Summer – and delicious fun the rest of the year
• 18: SARUSUBERI (not Salisbury) Trees, Provide Long-Lasting Color During Japan`s Dog Days
• 16: Images of Japanese Summer- UCHIMIZU (打ち水) and other forms of sprinkled water
• 16: Bon Odori (盆踊り)- Dancing for (and with) the Dead
• 14: Thinking about visiting the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 (tomorrow)?
• 13: Ancestral Spirits Guided Back Home For the O-Bon Festival in a Variety of Interesting Ways ( which can be seen in Tsukuba)
• 11: Lotus Blossoms- some of Asia`s most significant (and beautiful) flowers – are now blooming in abundance (especially in Ibaraki Prefecture)
• 07: Remembering August 1945 (again)
• 06: Cold MUGI CHA (barley tea)- a Staple of Japanese Summer – keeps you hydrated, cool, healthy AND slim
• 03: Hand-Held Fireworks ( SENKO HANABI) Make Japanese Summer Nights SPARKLE!

July 2012

• 30: The Nemu no Ki (silk tree) and Aomori`s Nebuta Matsuri Festival- a connection between one of Japan`s spectacular blossoming trees and its GREATEST summer festival ( which begins Aug. 1st)
• 28: The Shimodate Matsuri (and the entire Gion Matsuri Festival Season) Ends with a SPLASH ! (and the reason why O-Mikoshi are often carried into or splashed with water)
• 25: Why is Eel Eaten in Japan in July- especially on days called the DOYO NO USHI ?- this year on July 27th ( a more comprehensive look!)
• 22: Watch or Join in on Your Neighborhood Festival as The Gion Matsuri Season Goes into Full Swing!
• 20: Before and After 3 /11 : An Exhibition of Works by Motohashi Seiichi and Suzuki Koji- at the Tsukuba Art Museum (until July 22) and other related events
• 20: No-zenkazura　凌霄花　(Chinese trumpet creepers) Give Tsukuba`s Old Neighborhoods a Tropical Glow　(again)
• 19: Kids Hair Design CHOKKINS- a Great Place to Have Kids` Hair Cut- but NOT if you are trying to cut costs!
• 14: In the Empty Lots Where Hojo`s Tornando-Damaged Houses Once Stood- Only Uji Gami (氏神) are Left Behind – but just what exactly are these UJIGAMI?
• 14: One of Japan`s Representative Summer Vegetables – NASU (eggplant)- is Tasty, Culturally Significant, AND Has Beautiful Flowers
• 12: The Japanese Language is Rich in Words and Expressions Describing Different Types of Rain
• 09: A Different Way of Encountering Japan`s Most Elegant of Everyday Birds- the SHIRASAGI (白鷺)- Egret
• 07: Japan`s Mid-Summer Gifts: O-Chugen – Why they are given, and why you should probably give them, too!
• 05: MAKE A WISH UPON TWO STARS AT A TANABATA DECORATION NEAR YOU – and a look at the history of the Tanabata Festival in Japan
• 03: July First Was YAMIBARAKI on Mt. Fuji – which means the climbimg season has begun!

June 2012

• 20: Hydrangea ( AJISAI, 紫陽花) in Japanese History and Culture (again)
• 17: Chestnut Trees Give Tsukuba its Distinctive Summer Smell (re-revisited)
• 07: A Showing of Japanese Masterpieces- from Boston ( at the National Museum in Ueno until June 10)
• 05: Take Some Time To Observe Tomorrow`s TRANSIT OF VENUS- you won`t get another chance to do so until December 11th………2117
• 03: Unique Trompe l`eoil Scaffold Covering at the Ueno Toshogu Shrine Creates a Potemkin Shrine and Has Me going to get my eyes checked
• 01: The Iris Festival (Ayame Matsuri) in Sawara, Chiba- and other places to see this beautiful flower of summer

May 2012

• 29: Lightning ! Hide Your bellybuttons!- Thunder and Lightning in Japanese History and Culture (again)
• 27: Pheasant Surprises! Japan`s National Bird- the Kiji (pheasant) – is a major component of Tsukuba`s Soundscape
• 22: Some Thoughts on Eclipses, Japanese Mythology, Princess Himiko, and the Location of the Ancient Land of Yamatai
• 20: Getting Excited (and stressed out) about Tomorrow`s Rare Annular Eclipse
• 18: Revisiting the Life and Work of Minakata Kumagusu (南方熊楠)- on the occassion of his 145th birthday!- He IS more relevant today than ever
• 14: Plains, Place-names, Tornadoes and Dragons- why the Japanese call twisters TATSUMAKI ( Dragons Swirls) and other post-storm thoughts
• 11: While Tsukuba`s Tornado Stricken Hojo is the Focus of Media and Volunteer Attention, Other Badly Affected Areas Suffer and Clean Up Out of the Spotlight
• 07: My Neighborhood in Hojo Tsukuba (つくば市北条), Devastated by Killer Tornado
• 03: Urashima-so (arisaema urashima)-Japanese cobra lilies on Tsukuba`s wooded hills

April 2012

• 30: FUKANBO ( The Bottomless Paddy Field)- a Bone-Chilling Folktale From One of Tsukuba`s Old Villages
• 24: Do the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Temple (O-Henro) Pilgrimage Circuit- Right Here in Tsukuba!
• 23: High Fidelity in the Tsukuba Countryside at the Jazz Cafe Omega- and a little on the history of Jazz Kisa (Jazz Cafes) in Japan
• 14: YUKI-YANAGI ( literally Snowy Willows) Are Allowed to GROW OUT and Whiten Up the Town in Spring

March 2012

• 26: Ancient Ritual For Silkworms at Kokage-San Jinja- hanging on to life (by a fine silk) thread- on March 28th
• 24: Ju-San Mairi (十三参り), a Coming-of-Age Ceremony held for 13 Year Olds- is celebrated mostly in Kyoto AND Ibaraki Prefecture ( at the Matsumurayama KOKU-ZO-DO Temple in Tokai Mura Village)
• 21: Enjoying the Beauty, Fragrance, and Cultural Significance of Japan`s Plum Blossoms
• 13: Men in Japan Face Tough Choices (and lots of pressure!) as White Day Approaches!
• 11: Some Thoughts on the Occassion of the First Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake
• 10: The Great Tokyo Air-Raid of March 10th 1945 Remembered- and a visit to the Peace Monument in Tsukuba Mirai City at a spot where one of the attacking B-29 bombers crashed
• 03: The Legacy of the SAKIMORI (防人)-Japan`s Ancient Frontier Guard Conscripts- is their timeless poetry of LONGING

February 2012

• 29: The Pattern Formed By Old Foundation Stones Suggests that a Temple Modelled After the Great Phoenix Hall in Uji Once Stood In What Is Now Hojo, Tsukuba
• 26: Hotoke no Za (仏の座)- a harbinger of spring which can also cause some confusion for those interested in Japanese nature and culture
• 22: Tiny Wildflowers With An Embarrassing-to-say Name In Japanese: O-Inu No Fuguri ( Large Dog Testicles!)
• 21: Japan`s Hina Dolls- IN ALL THEIR VARIETY- are Out of the Closet!
• 20: YAKI IMO ( 焼き芋ーroasted sweet potatoes)- provide iconic tastes, textures, colors, and SOUNDS of Japanese autumn and winter
• 16: GASSUISEKI JINJA (月水石神社)- A Shrine with an Egg for Conceiving Children and Preventing Gynecological Ailments
• 15: The Largest of Tsukuba`s Ancient Burial Mounds- The Hachimanzuka Kofun (八幡塚古墳)
• 09: An Original Recipe for Sugar-Coated Ginger Chews ( and a bit on GINGER in Japanese Culture)
• 01: Convenience Stores and Suprmarkets Promote an Osaka Custom Pointing Kanto Area Setsubun Celebrations in a NEW DIRECTION! (again)
• 01: Locally Made Fabric Sent to Nara as a Tax Payment 1,260 Years Ago is Back Home For a Short Stay at the Tsuchiura City Museum

January 2012

• 25: Dragons in Japanese History and Culture- Strongly Connected to Water, Rainfall and Fire Prevention- among other things
• 24: In the Tsukuba Area MISOPI ( roasted peanuts in miso paste) is NOT Just a Snack!
• 18: HANABIRAMOCHI ( 花びら餅 )- a Japanese sweet for January ( especially for HATSUGAMA- the First Tea Ceremony of the Year) which has roots in an ancient court ceremony- again
• 16: One of Tsukuba`s Local Legends- The Rock Throwing Jizo Stupa ( Ishinage Jizo 石投げ地蔵)
• 13: On January 15th, some will eat AZUKI-GAYU　(小豆粥) while others will wait for next month`s FULL MOON (Feb. 6th) to celebrate Koshogatsu (小正月)- Most, however, will do　nothing at all ! – again
• 08: Japan`s Firefighters Show Their Stuff in January DEZOME SHIKI (出初式) Parades, Ceremonies, and Performances
• 03: The Daruma Goma (ダルマ護摩) at the (Gansan-Daishi) Anraku Ji Temple in Mitsukaido (Joso City)
• 01: Why Are Coins (rudely) DROPPED, TOSSED, or THROWN into Offerings Boxes at Japanese Shrines and Temples
• 01: A Deeper Look at O-Sechi (お節)- Japan`s Special New Year`s Dishes (which are served cold)

December 2011

• 30: Daikon Radish Rolls- a traditional New Year`s Treat from the foot of Mt. Tsukuba
• 25: In One of Tsukuba`s Old Hamlets- OMONOI (面野井) – the Birth of a Child is Celebrated by the Neighbors on the Third Day- with Boxes full of Uncooked Rice and a Sprig of Nandian (nanten,南天)
• 22: An Old Recipe for Yuzu Jam from the Foot of Mt. Tsukuba
• 16: The Man Behind Ibaraki Prefecture`s Mascot- Tokugawa Mitsukuni- AKA Mito Komon
• 08: More Traditional Functions of Seasonal Bon-Fires: Roasting Potatoes and Toasting Buns
• 07: Nearly Intact 3,000 Year-Old DOGU (土偶) Clay Figurine Unearthed at Tsukuba`s Asahidai Kaizuka Shell Mound (旭台貝塚)
• 03: Gangyu-Ji (願牛寺), said to be THE FIRST Temple SHINRAN Founded in The Kanto Area- just a 30 minute drive from Tsukuba University!
• 01: At Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden You Don`t Need a Special Exhibit to Enjoy Japan`s ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES

November 2011

• 29: Another of the 25 MANYOSHU Poems Which Refer to Mt. Tsukuba- translated into English and discussed
• 24: USEFUL TREES OF JAPAN: A COLOR GUIDE , is a very USEFUL book indeed- for anyone interested in Japanese nature and culture
• 22: Have a Close Look at a Little of What Has Been DUG UP at Some of Archaeological Excavations Which have been Carried out in Tsukuba
• 21: New TENGOOZ Song Evokes Mood in Tsukuba Right after the Big Earthquake- in Bass and Vocals
• 19: Their Long Hard Run Is Over – Ibaraki`s Salmon ( and salmon in Japanese culture)
• 18: A Lesson to be Learned from the Popular Japanese God Of Good Fortune- EBISU (恵比須)
• 12: Shinichi Ebihara`s Photo Exhibitions Paint a Broad Portrait Of Eastern Japan`s Birdlife- and it isnt always a PRETTY PICTURE
• 08: A Deeper Look at Japan`s Shichi-Go-San Celebrations ( which are especially extravagant in Ibaraki Prefecture!)
• 08: Coming Across the PERFECT ZAKUMATA- Embedded in Stone! A beautiful example of a very localized living folk custom
• 06: See the Iwasaki-Ya (岩崎屋) an Extant Meiji Period Shop, from the INSIDE, as it serves its last weeks as Hojo`s Tourist information Office　(until Nov. 20th)
• 03: Changing of the Gods- Mt. Tsukuba`s Ozagawari Ritual(御座替祭)- on November 1st and April 1st of each year (revisited)

October 2011

• 28: The Old Miyamoto Residence ( Once a Soy Sauce Brewery and Shop) in Hojo, Tsukuba (北条の宮本家の店蔵)- visit it as part of the Autumn Festival at the Foot of Mt Tsukuba ( Oct. 29th, 30th, Nov. 3rd, 5th and 6th)
• 25: Check Out the Blossoms on Japan`s Tea Trees (Camellia sinensis)- the Cha no Hana, which are in bloom now- though not popular among flower lovers in Japan- they just might be YOUR cup of tea!
• 21: Take a Walk on Tsukuba`s WILD SIDE- a nature and history tour of some of the city`s old neighborhoods- Sunday morning October 23rd
• 16: The Story of the URABORI (裏堀), the Irrigation Canal ( and alleged defensive moat) which runs through my neighborhood in Hojo, Tsukuba
• 13: Their Amazing Blossoms Are Gone, But The Fruit Of the KARASU-URI (烏瓜) Have Started To Glow Deep Orange (yet again)
• 10: Shoes That Fit (Each Foot) Perfectly- Have Custom-Fitted Foot-Wear Made at the Sutou Shoestore in Hojo, Tsukuba
• 04: Taking in the Autumn Leaves- LITERALLY! – with Momiji no Tempura ( もみじの天ぷら, maple leaves deep-fried in batter) Snacks
• 03: Higano-Ya, One of Tsukuba`s Old Country Stores- and Onogawa`s Kashima Shrine
• 02: Celebrating Soba again this year- this time at my place! Making Noodles, Dumplings and Cakes- all out of Ibaraki`s famed buckwheat!

September 2011

• 27: One of Japan`s GREATEST Fireworks Events- The Tsuchiura Hanabi Taikai- Will Be Held This Coming Saturday Night- Here is it`s surprising history
• 24: Ryogoku is Sumo- and so much more!
• 20: In Line with The Far Side- Three days before the equinox days, O-Higan (お彼岸) begins in Japan
• 19: In Many Japanese Neighborhoods, the Increasing Number of Eldery Residents Plus Tighter Budgets Means Cutting Costs On Respect-For-The-Aged Day Gifts
• 19: On Respect For The Aged Day ( Keiro-no-Hi), a Look at Japan`s OTHER Traditional Celebrations of Longevity
• 17: Garagara Sendo (ガラガラ千度)- an Annual Ritual in Which the Local Kids Have Been RAPPING for Centuries
• 16: Henjo-In (遍照院)- A Buddhist Temple which long served as the Teshirogi Elementary School and in the 1960`s was a base for locals who opposed the creation of the Tsukuba Science City
• 14: Getting Ready For The Big One- The Great Ishioka Festival (Ishioka no Omatsuri, 石岡のおまつり) which will be held this coming Saturday, Sunday and Monday- and some pics of the event from last year!
• 13: Cascade Fireworks (立花) at Teshirogi`s Mysterious Old O-Washi Jinja Shrine (手代木の大鷲神社)- tonight, September 13th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
• 12: A Look at Moon-Viewing ( O-Tsukimi, お月見) in Japan- Tonight (Sept. 12th, 2011)
• 08: Yanaka no Mori (矢中の杜)- an Interesting Old Residence Designed with an Imperial Visit in Mind- now open to the public twice a month
• 04: Autumn is SANMA-TIME, as Japan`s Favorite Fish of the Common-Man, Sanma (秋刀魚)- is at its JUICY best
• 02: At Last, a Visit to Onozaki`s Suwa Jinja- to learn its name and ask about its annual prayer meeting- NOT to rob the offerings box!
• 01: Though Still Dealing With the Effects of the Recent Earthquake and Tsunami, on Disaster Prevention Day We Take Time Out To Remember Past Tragedies AND Consider Ways of Being Better Prepared For The Future

August 2011

• 30: At The Kattate Matsuri (かったて祭り) Help Set Sakuragawa-City`s Mt Gongen-Yama Aglow! (and hopefully keep typhoons at bay!) every year on Aug. 31st
• 29: Kitsune no Kamisori ( 狐の剃刀) Bloom around O-Bon Time ( mid-August) near Temples and Shrines ( and an introduction to Mt Tsukuba`s Iina Jinja )
• 27: At This Weekend`s Matsuri Tsukuba Festival- A Giant Beetle Robot makes its Debut – Come out For the Crowds, LOTS of Food, Entertainment, and Tsukuba`s Very Own (??) Nebuta Parade!
• 25: Feeding Hungry Ghosts- Late August is the season for SEGAKI (施餓鬼) Services in Tsukuba (and the rest of Japan)
• 24: What is a MANDO-E (万灯会) or MANDO-SAI (万灯祭)? There are some more in Tsukuba Tonight ( Aug.24th 2011) as there have been all through the month
• 23: Farmer Causes a BIG STINK Near Tsukuba Center- by accidently dropping a load of PIG MANURE at a major intersection!
• 22: TSUNABI (綱火), Ina-Machi`s Fire-and-Smoke Spewing Puppets on a String- This year on August 23rd and 24th in Tsukubamirai-City! Once Again!
• 21: Sagiso (鷺草)- Flying Egret Orchids- now rare, and thus even more delightful to chance upon
• 19: A Magical Night on Mt Tsukuba at the Omido Temple`s Mando-Sai (大御堂万灯祭)
• 17: Lotus Flowers in Bloom at Hojo`s Oike Pond (北条大池) and Lake Kasumigaura- AND the Role of these Beautiful Plants in Japanese Culture and History
• 15: Karakasa Mando Event TONIGHT (Aug.15th) near Tsukuba
• 14: Bon Odori (盆踊り)- O-Bon Dancing and Traditional Music THIS EVENING (Aug.14th) in Hojo, Tsukuba
• 14: Thinking about visiting Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th?
• 14: Ancestral Spirits Guided Back Home For the O-Bon Festival in a variety interesting ways here in Tsukuba`s old neighborhoods
• 12: For Getting a Look At One of Japan`s MOST AMAZING FLOWERS (the karasu-uri no hana) a Flashlight comes in handy- again
• 10: On the Evening of August 11th, Kakuo-Ji Temple (覚王寺) in Tsukuba`s Hanamuro is a SITE FOR SORE EYES- with the Yakushi Mando Ceremony
• 10: O-Bon Lanterns Hung Out and Lit Early in August Shows Excited Anticipation Of Return of Ancestral Spirits
• 06: Come On Out To Hojo (北条), My New Neighborhood at The Foot of Mt Tsukuba for this Weekends Events
• 04: Tsukuba`s Indefatiguable Bird-Chasers are Back Again! This Time in Force ! Come Watch ( and hear) Them in Action, as they help keep our groundscapes clean! (this season every evening from 6:30-7:30 at Tsukuba Center)
• 01: What`s the Buzz About ( yet again!)?- The Cicadas (semi) of Japanese Summer

July 2011

• 29: Perform The Ancient Chinowa-Kuguri Ritual ( by walking through a straw circle) tomorrow night ( July 30th) at Tsukuba`s Tanaka Hie Shrine!
• 22: Enjoy a Gion Festival (祇園際) in or around Tsukuba, at a neighborhood near you (or beyond!)
• 18: A closer look at why eel (unagi) is commonly eaten in Japan in July- especially on certain days called DOYO-NO-USHI (this year July 21st)- again
• 15: Gone With The Dew- The tiny, blue blossoms of TSUYUGUSA (露草) Appear Before Dawn and Vanish by the Afternoon (again)
• 12: O-Bon in July? That is when many in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture do celebrate it. Why the difference from the rest of Japan?
• 10: NO-ZENKAZURA 凌霄花 (trumpet creepers) Give Tsukuba`s Old Neighborhoods a Tropical Glow
• 08: Its Raining Yamamomo 山桃　(yumberries) in Tsukuba yet again!
• 07: The Hozuki Ichi (ground cherry market) in Asakusa- 46,000 visits to the Asakusa Kannon at one shot – This Weekend
• 04: The Gion Festival Season Gets Underway This Week- with the unique Garlic Festival (Niniku Matsuri),on July 7th, as one of the highlights!
• 02: Make a Wish Upon 2 Stars at a Tanabata Decoration Near You! (again) The Tanabata Festival Today and in History- a deeper look

June 2011

• 24: What`s IN SEASON in Summer in Japan (again)
• 18: Hydrangea (AJISAI-紫陽花) in Japanese History and Culture (revisited)
• 15: Chestnut Trees Give Tsukuba Its Distinctive Summer Smell (once again)
• 10: FROG CHORUS is Nature`s Richest Orchestral Show- Take Some Time To Give It a Serious Listen – REVISITED
• 05: Enjoy the Moss- Get Rid of the Mould and Mildew (yet again)
• 03: DOKUDAMI- Traditional Herbal CURE-ALL Flourishes In Japan`s Damp and Shadowy Places

May 2011

• 31: The Iris Festival (Ayame Matsuri) in Sawara (佐原), Chiba Prefecture- Every June!
• 22: Fragrance- an EYE-OPENING Exhibition at The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts -in Ueno- until May 29th
• 16: A late-night encounter with O-Demari (大手毬) – Japanese Snowballs!
• 14: Japan`s Pretty little HEBI-ICHIGO ( literally, snake strawberries) are NOT Eaten By Snakes, NOT Poisonous and NOT Very Tasty, But Some Old-Timers Believe They Have Medicinal Powers
• 13: Curry Shop SRI LANKA Still Spicing Up Life In Tsukuba
• 11: Contemplate a Great Art History Mystery While Enjoying Some Iconic Japanallia at The Tokyo National Museum`s Comprehensive SHARAKU Exhibition
• 08: NEGI BO-ZU (葱坊主)- Welsh Onion Flowers Look Like Bald Heads ( either those of monks or those with crew cuts) To The Japanese
• 08: Using Ki no Me (木の芽), the young leaves of the SANSHO ( Japanese Pepper) Tree to Make Distinctively Savory and Aromatic pastes (木の芽和え)
• 07: How to Make (and eat) Salted Cherry Blossoms- Sakura no Hana no Shiozuke (桜の花の塩漬)
• 06: Peonies (BOTAN,牡丹), The Kings of Oriental Flowers- in Spectacular Bloom at Tsukuba`s Botan-En (つくば牡丹園),
• 05: There are asparagus, and then there are ASPARAGUS- like those on Ryuichi Someya`s farm ! They are IN SEASON now!
• 04: Foreigners NOT WELCOMED in Minami Nagareyama! Non-Japanese are Stopped on the street, Questioned and Asked to Provide ID and Phone Number by Local Police
• 02: The Fascinating Evolution of Childrens Day ( Kodomo no Hi, 子どもの日)- in a year (2011) in which few carp streamers can be seen flying in this region

April 2011

• 29: Exposure to Asbestos and Harmful Mold in Tsukuba`s Earthquake Cracked Old Houses Might Pose a More Serious Health Threat Around Here Than the Radiation
• 26: Camellias (tsubaki,椿) Create Distinctive Japanese Spring Soundscapes And Groundscapes (again)
• 24: Japan Becomes a WATERWORLD, as TAUE (田植え), Rice Transplantation, Is About to Get Underway ( revisited)
• 19: Japan Turns Yellow, as NANOHANA (Rapeseed Flowers) Take Over The Spring Landscape ( revisited )
• 12: Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom, but Few Revellers in the Aftermath of the Great Quake and Tsunami
• 11: To Eat the Leaf or Not to Eat the Leaf ?- That is the Question (when eating traditional Japanese sweets)
• 02: Is it time yet to go back to life as usual at 3 weeks after the quake?

March 2011

• 28: In the Quake`s Aftermath- a Visit to Some Farms, Shrines, and Temples in Tsukuba
• 24: A fast ( and natural ) way to alleviate DIZZINESS brought on by earthquake aftershocks
• 14: New Website for Tsukuba Residents in Quake Aftermath
• 13: Earthquake Aftermath – Information for Tsukuba Residents
• 11: Tsukuba ( and everyone in it) Greatly SHAKEN UP by Strongest Earthquake Ever Recorded in This Area
• 09: SETSUBUN-SO (節分草) -Eranthis Pinnatifida- Blooms a Few Weeks After SETSUBUN ( the Bean Throwing Festival)
• 06: DESTONED at last! Having Emergency Gall Bladder Surgery in Tsukuba, Japan!
• 04: Mito`s Special UME-FLAVORED Sweets Greatly Enhance Plum Blossom Viewing- and are great any time of year!
• 02: Where are all the REAL PEACH BLOSSOMS (momo no hana, 桃の花) around the time of the PEACH FESTIVAL (momo no sekku, 桃の節句)- or The Hina Doll Festival

February 2011

• 23: Masked Nation- The History of the Wearing of Medical Masks (by the general public) in Japan
• 22: Face to Face with the Noguchi Family Masks (野口家の能面)
• 20: A late winter walk leads to the UBAYURI (姥ユリ) a type of wild lily, which is more beautiful AFTER its flower has fallen off- AND was an important food source for Japan`s early inhabitants
• 18: The Evolution of Japan`s Hina Dolls (雛人形)- a deeper look
• 16: What to do if you find a sick or injured raptor ( or other wild bird )- for those of you who GIVE A HOOT
• 13: A Fine Day to Try The Segue Human Transporter (and for Cosplay) near Tsukuba Center
• 12: Valentines Day in Japan- A Deeper Look at the Long Road from Lupercalia to BARENTINE
• 10: Some musings on Japan`s National Foundation Day (建国記念日, kenkoku kinenbi)
• 08: The Poisonous Flower with the Very Auspicious Name- FUKUJUSO (福寿草), The GOOD FORTUNE- LONG LIFE FLOWER
• 06: Getting Ready For Ibaraki`s Unique Hatsu-Uma (初午) Celebrations- By Cleaning up Inari Shrines, and making SUMITSUKARI (スミツカリ)
• 05: UMEMI (梅見)- Plum Blossom Viewing- and smelling!
• 04: All Doors are Open, as the Old Town of Makabe ( in Sakuragawa City) gets Dolled Up for its Hina Doll Festival (真壁の雛祭り）from Feb.4th-March 3rd
• 03: Japan`s Eye-Grabbing HINA DOLLS (雛人形)- Coming Out of the Closet – in all their variety!
• 02: DANGO-BURUMAI (団子振る舞い)- In Some Parts of Ibaraki Prefecture, 42-Year-Old Men are Presented Rice Dumplings (dango) AND Some New Underwear!
• 01: To Help Students Pass Entrance Exams- Prayers, Amulets, and a Clever Array of LUCKY CHARMS (合格祈願)

January 2011

• 30: Spotting HOTOKE-NO-ZA (仏の座) for the first time in the year can bring on EXCITEMENT and CONFUSION!
• 27: For SETSUBUN (節分), Convenience Stores and Supermarkets Promote Kansai-Style Custom: EHO MAKI (恵方巻)
• 26: A Road Runs Through it- right through the ruins of Tsukuba`s old Hanamuro-Jo (花室城) Fortress, that is!
• 23: “Miracle Working” Stone -(a Rare Remnant of Tsukuba`s Old Hanamuro-Jo Fortress) – Still Has Devotees in Tsukuba and Beyond ! A Look at the HANAMURO MIGAWARI AMIDA-ZON (花室の身替り阿弥陀尊)
• 22: MORIJIO Salt Piles (盛塩)- A Deeper Look
• 19: For The Year of The Rabbit- some musings on RABBITS and HARES in Japanese Culture and History
• 16: Savoring Tsukuba`s Fleeting Snowscapes, once again!
• 14: On January 15th, some will eat AZUKI-GAYU　(小豆粥) while others will wait for next month`s FULL MOON to celebrate Koshogatsu (小正月)- Most, however, will do　nothing at all !
• 12: Japanese Farmers Let Their DAIKON RADISH (大根) Chill Out in The Soil- the colder, the sweeter!
• 11: An Encounter with Japan`s Traditional Hunters: the hawkers and falconers
• 10: KAGAMI BIRAKI (鏡開き)- Breaking Open the Mirrors- a closer look at how and why the Japanese break open and eat the New Year`s Kagami Mochi rice cakes on January 11th
• 09: Coming-of-Age Ceremonies (Seijin Shiki, 成人式) to be held around Japan this holiday weekend (Jan.10th in Tsukuba)- A closer look at the evolution of SEIJIN NO HI ( Coming-of-Age-Day)
• 07: Heads or Tails? The Tai-Yaki ( 鯛焼き)-Eaters Dillema: A closer look at one of Japan`s favorite snacks

December 2010

• 31: Ending the Year With Buckwheat Noodles- A Deeper Look at Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば)
• 30: Kado-Matsu (門松) in their Purest Form- and at their most extravaggant
• 28: Ringing Out the Old Year, Ringing In The New- Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘) – Japan`s New Year Bells
• 28: In winter its usually Clear Skies in Tsukuba- but there is no more view of Mt Fuji from the top of the Mitsui Building
• 26: Getting Deeper Into O-Shogatsu (Japanese New Year) Preparations- yet again
• 22: Japanese Christmas- A look at the history of Japan`s celebration of Western Culture- KURISUMASU (again)
• 19: Tsukuba`s Popular Mascot- The Owl – does not get much love in REAL LIFE ( Owls in Japanese history and culture )
• 15: Getting Ready for O-Shogatsu ( お正月)- The Japanese New Year Festival (yet again)
• 13: All-Natural Traditional Japanese Skin Lotion Made from Yuzu (citron) Seeds- how to make it yourself!
• 12: Tsukuba U. Archaeologists Made HAIRY Discovery in Niihari – an intact MIZURA (みずら) side-lock!
• 10: Misleading Displays of an Advertisement-Article Placed in the November Issue of NATURE (The Schizophrenia Issue) a Revealing Symptom of Tsukuba`s TWO-SIDED Nature
• 08: Tsukuba`s Venerable HIMACHI STONES　(つくば市の日待供養塔)-again
• 08: HARDCORE Discovery ! Giant Stone Phallus is Possible Evidence of Hyakudayu Worship in Yatabe, Tsukuba!
• 04: Rainbows In Japanese Culture- their connection to bridges – and Mt. Tsukuba
• 03: Maybe Your Bicycle WASN`T Stolen- it might merely have been RELOCATED nearby by Tsukuba`s INDEFATIGUABLE early morning BIKE-MOVERS!

November 2010

• 24: Autumn is SANMA-TIME, as Japan`s Favorite Fish of the Common-Man, Sanma (秋刀魚)- is at its JUICY best
• 23: Tsukuba`s Smokey Autumn Air (The Gomi-Moshi Problem)
• 22: Daikon Radish hung out to Dry mark the beginning of the TAKUAN making season
• 20: Encountering Home-Made Mie (Prefecture)-Style Oden, Right Here in Tsukuba
• 17: A Most Tsukuba-like Racing Event- on November 18th and 19th- The Tsukuba Challenge 2010
• 13: Ibaraki`s Winter Delicacy-Anko Nabe- あんこう鍋 (monkfish stew)
• 10: The Tori no Ichi (酉の市) Rooster Day Fairs- A closer look at one of the Kanto Regions most exciting events of November! This year on the 7th and 19th of the month.
• 04: Celebrating a First Birthday the Traditional Japanese Way- with ISSHO MOCHI (一升餅), 2 kilograms of pounded rice, strapped to the child`s back!
• 03: Monument and Small Shrine Dedicated To Tsukuba Residents Who Fell in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905

October 2010

• 31: In Japan, it doesn`t have to be Halloween for a good GHOST EXPERIENCE!
• 30: Myoga (茗荷)- One of Japan`s Distinctive Flavors, from summer through autumn
• 29: Zakuro (pomegranates) in Japanese Culture- and on Tsukuba`s trees in this season
• 25: Riding the Tsukuba Express (TX) on a weekday- a True Story
• 23: Encountering PHALLUS IMPUDICUS (stinkhorns or SUPPON-TAKE) in Tsukuba`s Bamboo Forests
• 23: Annual Memorial Service (Ireisai,慰霊祭) For Animals Sacrificed At Tsukuba University`s Medical School (again)
• 20: Complete this year`s Moon-Viewing (お月見, O-Tsukimi) TONIGHT ( Oct. 20th, 2010) with the JU-SANYA (十三夜)- 13th night moon
• 18: Ibaraki`s Rolling Fields of Buckwheat ( 蕎麦畑) Almost Ready For Harvesting (again)
• 16: In Autumn MUMS THE WORD, as Japan`s Chrysanthemum Cultivators Dislay their Creations! The Chrysanthemum in Japanese History and Culture
• 13: Red Feathers ( AKAI HANE , 赤い羽根) Symbolize Japan`s Most Famous Annual Charity Drive, and the season, as well
• 10: Sports Day in Japan Commemorates the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games- Why is it in October? ( and a bit about the Tsukuba University Festival)
• 08: Enjoy Japan`s Aromatic Autumn Delicacy- MATSUTAKE MUSHROOMS (松茸)- you dont always have to pay through the nose for them!
• 05: Pin-Wheels Set Up Around Tsukuba Center Make For a Quaint Art Installation and a Great (inadvertant) Political Satire
• 04: More wild fruit picking in Japan- YAMABOSHI (山法師)- the fruit of the kousa dogwood tree!
• 03: Once Again, Nearly Perfect Conditions For the Tsuchiura Fireworks Competition (2010)

September 2010

• 25: The Japanese Custom of O-Higan- Remembering Ancestors Are On and Around The Equinox Days (O-Higan)- Revisited
• 22: A Look at Moon-Viewing ( O-Tsukimi, お月見) in Japan- Tonight (Sept. 22nd) is the Ju-Go-Ya, while tomorrow night, September 23rd, will be the night of the full moon
• 22: Japan`s Prehistoric Staple Food – The Chestnut ( KURI, 栗), Is One of Tsukuba`s Most Outstanding (and dangerous!) Features- revisited
• 19: Making Cloth Zori ( nuno-zori, 布草履)- a perfect gift for Respect for the Aged Day, or for anyone who appreciates fine traditional foot-wear!
• 17: Getting Ready For The Big One- The Great Ishioka Festival (Ishioka no Omatsuri, 石岡のおまつり) which will be held this coming Saturday, Sunday and Monday- and some pics of the event!
• 15: Teshirogi`s O-Washi Jinja (手代木の大鷲神社)- Its Tachibana（立花) Fireworks Festival and its Mysterious Straw Snake (大蛇)
• 11: Rude Awakenings! Today`s Early Morning Explosions Explained- Tsukuba`s AIZU NO HANABI (合図の花火)
• 08: Solemn OPEN HOUSE Event at the Old Nogi Residence (next to the Nogi shrine in Tokyo) on September 12th and 13th- the Anniversary of the General`s ( and his wife`s) Ritual Suicide (s)
• 05: Praying For Good Tobacco Harvests at Mt. Kabasan`s Kiseru Matsuri (きせる祭)- The Giant Tobacco Pipe Festival !
• 05: Extremely Hot Summer In 2010 Leads to Slightly Disappointing Rice Harvest

August 2010

• 30: The Anniversary of The Great Kanto Earthquake (Sept. 1st) is Disaster Prevention Day in Japan- and- the connection between earthquake prevention and the Kashima Grand Shrine
• 26: Tsukuba`s Very Own (?) Nebuta Parade- At this weekend`s Matsuri Tsukuba Festival
• 24: Last Night`s Full-Moon was the Bon-Moon (Bon no Tsuki, 盆の月), for those who still celebrate the ancient O-Bon Festival in its MOST AUTHENTIC way
• 20: TSUNABI (綱火), Ina-Machi`s Fire-and-Smoke Spewing Puppets on a String- This year on August 23rd and 24th in Tsukubamirai-City!
• 19: Tsukuba`s Indefatiguable Bird-Chasers are Back Again! This Time in Force ! Come Watch ( and hear) Them in Action, as they help keep our groundscapes clean!
• 18: The POWER SPOT Boom Has Thousands of Women ( and a fair share of men, as well) Flocking To Meiji Shrine`s Gyoen Garden- But Unfortunately, the Presence of All These Ladies Has Driven Away the Tits- the Varied Tits ( the Japanese song bird- the yamagara), that is!
• 16: Around Yasukuni Shrine, New Regulations and Police Tactics Keep Noise and Violence Down During August 15th Demonstrations
• 13: The Last Straw? Yoshiro Yaguchi Keeps Unique O-Bon Traditions Alive in Tsukuba`s Kami-Hiro-Oka Neighborhood
• 12: Kakuo-Ji Temple in Tsukuba is a SITE FOR SORE EYES each year on August 11th, with the Yakushi Mando Ceremony
• 11: The Kakuoji Temple ( 覚王寺) in Tsukuba`s Hanamuro Will Be Lit Up ( by candles) Tonight For the Beautiful and Solemn Yakushi-Mando Ceremony
• 05: Pearl Harbor and Kamikaze Pilots Have Strong Connection to Lake Kasumigaura- Visiting The Yokaren Museum (again)
• 04: Imperial Visits Have Almost Become A Regular Part Of Life In Tsukuba
• 02: For Getting a Look At One of Japan`s MOST AMAZING FLOWERS (the karasu-uri no hana) a Flashlight comes in handy- again

July 2010

• 31: The Summer Hanabi (fireworks) Season in Tokyo Swings Into Full Gear Tonight with the Great Sumida River Hanabi Festival
• 26: Whats The Deal With All This Eating Of Eel (UNAGI)- A More Comprehensive Look at Japan`s DOYO NO USHI (土用の丑) -again
• 25: Lightning ! Hide Your Bellybuttons! (Thunder and Lightning in Japanese Culture)- again
• 23: Closer Examination Of My Local Yasaka Jinja (Yasaka Shrine) Reveals Beautiful Carvings Detailing The Yamata no Orochi (八岐の大蛇) Myth
• 22: Skies Are Bright And Clear But Outlook Gloomy for Worlds Oceans On Japan`s Sea Day ( Umi no Hi) 2010- and a brief history of this national holiday
• 20: A Whole Lotta Lotus- Ibaraki`s Beautiful Lotus Blossoms and the Role of These Plants in Japanese Culture And History (revisited)
• 16: Rude Awakenings! Early Morning Explosions Explained ( once again, for the Gion Festival season)
• 16: The Gion Festival Season Has Begun! Its Gion Galore- and not only in Kyoto! (again)
• 07: Godzilla (1954) Roots Can Be Traced Back to Short Animated Superman Film- The Arctic Giant (1942)- Tsukublog Exclusive!
• 01: My Wild (and buggy!) Garden the Perfect Place to Rehabilitate an Injured Swallow

June 2010

• 29: Thar She Glows! Wild Fireflies Making a Comeback Not Far From Tsukuba Center (revisited)
• 25: What’s SHUN (旬) in Summer?
• 20: Make the Summer Solstice Meaningful (revisited)
• 18: Faces For Fathers Day ( revisited)- and a bit on the history of that special day as it is celebrated in Japan!
• 14: Enjoy the Moss, Get Rid of the Mould! (again)
• 01: There is asparagus, and then there is ASAPARAGUS- like those lovingly grown in Tsukuba at Ryuichi Someya`s Farm

May 2010

• 24: The Japanese, In General, Are Surprisingly Talkative When it Comes to the Subject of WHALING- but, unfortunately they miss the Key Point- Whales Need To Be Protected from Whalers of ALL NATIONS, or they will hunted to extinction
• 19: FROG CHORUS Is Nature`s Richest Orchestral Show- Take Some Time To Give It a Serious Listen – REVISITED
• 13: Another, Less Pleasant Fertilizer, Gives New Meaning to the Expression KUNPU (薫風, Fragrant Breezes of May)- in my neighborhood
• 11: Renge So ( Chinese milk vetch), Probably the Most Beautiful of Japan`s Commonly Used FERTILIZERS!
• 04: Pheasant Surprises in Tsukuba- Japan`s National Bird is an important component of Tsukuba`s soundscape
• 02: Getting to the Root of the Matter- Digging Up Bamboo Shoots (Take no Ko Hori)
• 01: In Miharu 〔三春）, Reverent Crowds Gather Round The Greatest Sakura Tree Of Them All- the Taki-Zakura (滝桜)- the Cascading Cherry
• 01: Accessing Your Money During Golden Week

April 2010

• 29: The Fascinating Evolution of Children`s Day ( Kodomo no Hi) in a year (2010) in which the rain has kept Ibaraki`s awesome CARP STREAMERS ( koi nobori) mostly out of sight
• 25: Kanto Plain Is Transformed Into The Mongolian Steppes (again) For Festival
• 21: Japan Turns Yellow, As Nanohana (Rapeseed Flowers) Take Over The Spring Landscape ( revisited )
• 20: Tiny Spring Wildflowers With An Embarrassing-to-say Name In Japanese: O-Inu No Fuguri ( Large Dog Testicles!)
• 19: Among the Brocade Of Spring Flowers Dont Overlook the Daikon Radish Blossoms (daikon no hanan 大根の花)
• 17: Tsukuba`s Unusual Mid-April Groundscapes of 2010
• 13: HIGH PROFILE Tsukuba Landmark To Be Dismantled !
• 11: A Look At Japan`s Various Hanami Confections
• 09: Wintery Weather Has Hanami Revelers All Bundled Up
• 02: Look at the Etymology of the Word SAKURA For a Deeper Understanding of Japan’s UNIQUE Celebration of Cherry Blossoms: O-HANAMI (お花見)- Revisited

March 2010

• 23: OHAGI- special snacks and offerings for the Equinox weeks (and the question of what to call them)
• 16: Ibaraki`s Famous Plum ( Ume) Season Sweets, and some thoughts they elicit on Japanese culture
• 14: A Lesser Seen Japanese Rite of Passage: O-KUIZOME ( お食い初め), in which, besides the baby, A ROCK is the STAR!
• 14: Trench Warfare Declared on Woods, Hikers and Wildlife in Tsukuba`s Nakane Konda ( 中根金田台)
• 13: A History of WHITE DAY in Japan
• 09: Zakumata, Y-shaped sticks placed at cross-roads are a unique way of praying for EASY DELIVERY!

February 2010

• 28: Celebrating Soba ! Making Noodles, Dumplings and Cakes- all out of Ibaraki`s famed buckwheat!
• 23: More Tree Fellings In Tsukuba Leave Local Activists and Forest STUMPED
• 19: Tsukuba Farmers Still No.1 at Growing Grass ! A closer look at our turf-lawn heritage ( revisited)
• 16: The Tiger in Japanese History and Culture ( a brief look)
• 06: FUGU (pufferfish)- safe and reasonably priced- but still TO DIE FOR!

January 2010

• 26: Kit Kats and other Lucky SOUNDING Charms for Japan`s Entrance Exam Season
• 24: Early Plum Blossoms, So-Bai (早梅), Reassure Us That Spring Is Not Far Off
• 23: Destruction of Woods in Tsukuba`s Nakane Konda-dai ( 中根金田台の自然破壊が始まりました) Is Now Underway. Its NOT a pretty picture.
• 09: Negi 葱 ( welsh onions)- Keeping Tsukuba`s fields Green and fragrant through the winter
• 05: O-Sechi (御節)- A Deeper Look at Japan`s Traditional New Year`s Dishes

December 2009

• 29: Toshikoshi-Soba (年越しそば)- Why?
• 27: Getting Ready For O-Shogatsu ( The Japanese New Year Festival)-once again!
• 20: Report on a Visit to Tsukuba Space Center, JAXA
• 19: More on Tsukuba`s Ubiquitous Winter Citrus Fruit- The YUZU ( 柚子)
• 10: Daikon Radish Hung Out To Dry Mark The Beginning of the TAKUAN Making Process
• 02: JALT-Ibaraki Chapter December Meeting

November 2009

• 25: CAPEDS presents Sudan Café in Tsukuba vol.2 – What we found in “Real” Sudan-
• 09: In autumn MUMS THE WORD, as Japans Chrysanthemum Cultivators Display their Creations
• 05: This Year, HATSUSHIMO (初霜), the First Frost, Comes Early and Suddenly to Tsukuba- Lets Hope Its a Fluke

October 2009

• 30: Complete Your Moon-Viewing ( O-Tsukimi) For This Year- Tonight With The Ju-Sanya ( 13th night) Moon
• 29: David Sanborn Group Performance at Tsukuba Capio
• 23: TABS Boarding Schools Fair in Tokyo
• 23: Tsukuba Science Information Center Now Open on Weekends
• 21: Saiki`s Old Fudo-Hall and its Traditional Monthly Women`s Prayer Meetings (妻木の不動尊)
• 19: THINKING Green Grass Group
• 17: TODAY: Showing of Hana Makhmalbaf Film
• 16: Dancers, Musicians and Artists Converge On Rustic Chestnut Farm for Unique HAPPENING inspired by Fashion Designer`s Latest Works
• 15: Tsukuba Gakuen Church Bazaar 2009
• 12: Twenty-Third Night Stones ( 二十三夜塔) in Tsukuba are Evidence of How MOON WAITING (月待) Prayer Meetings Once Thrived in This Area
• 09: Their Amazing Blossoms Are Gone, But The Fruit Of the KARASU-URI (烏瓜) Have Started To Glow Deep Orange
• 08: Ibaraki`s Rolling Fields of Buckwheat ( 蕎麦畑) Almost Ready For Harvesting
• 04: A Look at Moon-Viewing ( O-Tsukimi, お月見) in Japan
• 03: Volunteer Festa 2009 at Oho Kouminkan This Sunday
• 02: Zen Priest Baiho`s Idea Proves to be a Long-Lasting HIT as the Tsuchiura Fireworks Competition Grows More Popular By the Year

September 2009

• 30: China Week at Fureai Plaza
• 30: For the Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana Victims in the Philippines
• 28: A Showing Of Provocative New Works by Thomas Mayers
• 26: Once Again, Goshawks Not Given a Fair Trial- This Time in Nakane Konda-Dai (中根 金田台)
• 20: Scribblings on the Occassion of Shiki-Ki （子規忌）, the Memorial Day for Poet and Man of Letters- Masaoka Shiki
• 15: Cool Days in Early August Mean 2009`s Rice Crop Will Not Match Up to Last Year`s BUMPER HARVEST
• 14: Big Black Heart: Photography and the Aboriginal
• 12: Japan`s Prehistoric Staple Food – The Chestnut ( KURI, 栗), Is One of Tsukuba`s Most Outstanding (and dangerous!) Features
• 08: Traces of Tsukuba`s Mammals- Past and Present
• 04: Its the Turn of the YABURAN (ヤブラン)- Liriope platyphylla – to be the Highlight of Tsukuba`s Dark and Shadowy Spaces

August 2009

• 31: Discovering Tsukuba’s Animal Welfare Activists ( at last! )
• 29: Tsukuba`s Very Own (?) Nebuta Parade! (revisited)
• 26: In Tsukuba, Fancier Than Usual Offerings to Roadside DOSOJIN ( 道祖神) Sacred Stones, Probably Mean Someone Is Having Bad Back Or Leg Pain
• 20: Striking up a Debate with The Right-Wing Activists Outside The Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th Might Not Be a Very Good Idea After All
• 17: For Getting a Look At One of Japan`s MOST AMAZING FLOWERS (the karasu-uri no hana) a Flashlight comes in handy
• 16: New and Improved Tsukuba City Hall
• 15: Tsukuba Express Update
• 13: Taiko at iias on August 15 and 16, 2009
• 09: In Japan, August is a month of REMEMBERANCE
• 07: Around Mitsukaido Station, Its Not Arigato- Its OBRIGADO !
• 01: Emperor and Empress to Visit Tsukuba

July 2009

• 29: What`s the Buzz About (again)?- The Cicadas (semi) of Japanese Summer
• 27: Tomorrow is Tsukuba`s MOST DISTINCTIVE (and aromatic!) Gion Matsuri- Ichinoya Shrines Garlic Festival !
• 25: Gion Galore !
• 25: The Possible Connection Between The Myth of The Sun Goddess (Amaterasu), Himiko, Ruler of The Ancient Kingdom of Yamatai and a Solar Eclipse (or two)!
• 23: In Japan, Those Who Did Not Give Up Despite Overcast Skies, Were Rewarded With Unforgetable Naked-Eye Views Of Partial Solar Eclipse
• 16: One of Japanese Summer`s Representative Veggies, NASU (eggplant) Is Versatile,Tasty, Culturally Significant, AND Has Beautiful Flowers
• 06: Make a Wish Upon Two Stars (Japan`s Tanabata Festival)
• 04: The Etymology of DOKKOISHO, a word uttered by the Japanese at the onset or completion of certain acts of EXERTION

June 2009

• 30: Locals Still Taking in The KOWASHIMIZU Spring Waters At the Foot of The Konda Castle Ruins
• 27: In Late June Its Raining YAMAMOMO (under Tsukuba`s YAMAMOMO trees)
• 19: Contemporary Japanese food culture documentary “eatrip”
• 17: TCF’s Special Japanese Course　for Beginners
• 12: In Japan, Summer Is Autumn- for MUGI (wheat and barley)
• 12: The 15th ARTwave Tsukuba Exhibition
• 11: A Climb To The Top Of Tsukuba`s Little Mt. Fuji (23 steps high) Sheds Light On Local Edo Period Dispute Resolution Processes, Folk Beliefs, And The Origin Of The Place Name SENGEN (千現 )
• 11: YMCA Ibaraki 2009 Summer Programs
• 07: Chestnut Trees Give Tsukuba Its Distinctive Summer Smell
• 05: Hebi Ichigo – The Movie – a Well-Written, Well-Acted and Thought-Provoking Look at a TYPICAL Japanese Family that you might want to watch more than just once
• 03: Quilt Show at Tsukuba Museum of Art
• 01: Wild Mulberry (kuwa no mi, 桑の実) Pickers Get Caught Red-Handed !

May 2009

• 28: Upcoming bazaars and flea markets
• 22: FROG CHORUS Is Nature`s Richest Orchestral Show- Take Some Time To Give It a Serious Listen
• 20: YMCA Ibaraki 2009 Spring Day Camp
• 15: A Hard Fact To Swallow- Swallows Not Getting The Respect That They Have Been Long Used To In Japan
• 11: Lecture on Japanese etiquette for women
• 08: Aigasa Masayoshi`s Striking Works Capture The Numbing Sense Of Alienation Brought On By Modernization And Urbanization
• 04: The Fascinating Evolution of Children`s Day (KODOMO NO HI)
• 02: Tsukuba Becomes A WATERWORLD As Rice Transplantation ( Taue) Gets Underway
• 01: Fuji Flowers Create a PURPLE HAZE Overhead, but For some real WISTERIA HYSTERIA Head Out For Ashikaga

April 2009

• 27: Do The Shikoku 88 Temple Circuit Pilgrimage Right Here In Tsukuba At The Nichirinji Temple
• 23: The Legend Returns to the Place of Origin
• 22: Kanto Plain Is Transformed Into The Mongolian Steppes During 2 Day Festival
• 20: Japan Turns Yellow As Nanohana (Rapeseed Flowers) Take Over The Spring Landscape
• 17: “Tsukuba Havriin Bayar” Mongolian Festival
• 14: Pedeon,The First Tsukuba Open Air Music Festival
• 11: Kasumigaura Bird Rescue Needs Your Help More Than Ever As Migrators Pass Through En Masse And Tsuchiura City Approves Funding For MORE Deadly Nets
• 10: The Connection Between Tsukuba`s Sakuragawa River and Sakura (cherry) Trees Traced To Its Source- THE ACTUAL SOURCE OF THE RIVER ITSELF
• 07: With All The Attention On Cherry Blossoms and Hanami, HANA-MATSURI, The Japanese Celebration Of Buddha`s Birthday, Is Often Overlooked These Days
• 04: Look at the Etymology of the Word SAKURA For a Deeper Understanding of Japan’s UNIQUE Celebration of Cherry Blossoms: O-HANAMI (お花見)
• 03: Map of Tsukuba With Points of Interest Marked
• 02: To ACCS Customers: Nickelodeon’s Airtime has Changed

March 2009

• 31: Adventures in Jamblini
• 28: The Destruction of Rare Woods and Covering Up Of Ancient Ruins For Suburban Chicago-Style Development in Tsukuba`s Nakane Konda-Dai (中根金田台) Is Bizarrely Hailed As green development By Officially Sponsored Groups
• 24: Everything Is Peachy Keen At Koga`s Momo Matsuri
• 23: Japanese Fencing (Kendo) and Archery (Kyudo) Lessons
• 23: Translations of Letters from Japanese Elementary Schools
• 21: Cries of- SAKURA might be mistaken, but dont let that discourage you from savoring the beauty of Tsukuba`s anzu (apricot) blossoms
• 17: Masked Nation
• 16: Annual Azabu Juban Open Air Ceramic Exhibition
• 15: The Brown-Eared Bulbul (Hiyodori) Might Be An Everyday Bird Here In Japan, But You Wont Find It In Many Other Places
• 10: The 34th Japanese Conversation Course
• 10: Japanese Classes at Tsukuba Gakuin University
• 09: I’ve Discovered One In Tsukuba at Last! A Horse-Headed Kannon Sacred Stone with an Actual Horse-Headed Image!
• 07: St. Patrick’s Day in Tsukuba
• 06: Tengooz Releases New Album
• 06: English Service for NTT Customers
• 05: African Restaurant in Tsukuba: The Hub
• 04: Tsukuba’s Fleeting Snowscapes
• 04: Where to See the Cherry Blossoms in Tsukuba
• 01: Drop Everything And Go See The Dazzling Kayama Matazo Retrospective — You’ve Only Got Till March 2nd!

February 2009

• 27: Makabe All Dolled-Up Until March 3rd
• 18: Eating UGUISU MOCHI In Anticipation of Japan’s Most Famous Sound of Spring
• 16: Choco LOCO — The Legacy of Lupercalia in Contemporary Japan
• 10: Come Away From Mt. Tsukuba Shrine’s Toshikoshi-Sai Festival With Plenty Of Booty!
• 06: Getting Ready For Ibaraki’s Unique Hatsu Uma (初午) Celebrations, At Home And At Inari Shrines
• 05: A Glimpse (and Whiff) of Things to Come
• 03: A Page Out of History
• 02: Computer Course for Foreign Residents of Tsukuba
• 02: Extra Traffic Accident Insurance
• 01: Convenience Stores And Supermarkets Promote Osaka Custom And Point Setsubun Celebrations In NEW DIRECTION
• 01: Alien Scientist 53: Universal Darwinism

January 2009

• 30: Japanese Tree Pruning by the Book
• 29: Gardeners or Butchers? Tsukuba’s Tree Trimmers Go About Their Annual Winter Hack Job
• 27: In Real Life, Tsukuba’s Official Bird and Ubiquitous Mascot Gets Little Love These Days
• 27: New Year’s Postcard Lottery
• 26: City Chat Cafe: February 2009
• 19: Rankin’ By Palanquin
• 17: Tunisian Ishwiya
• 16: Kit Kats and Other Lucky Sounding Charms for the Entrance Exam Season
• 15: Tsukuba’s Central Park Pond Gets A Scrubbing (And its Carp Get Sucked Away)
• 14: Tsukuba’s Coming of Age Ceremony (Seijin Shiki) Proceeds Without Incident — Well, Almost…
• 11: Who Came Up With This Name?
• 10: Tsukuba’s Traditional Hunters: Hawkers and Falconers
• 09: Leonard Fujita Exhibit Shows Newly Found Works But Fails to Give the Whole Picture
• 06: The Seven Herbs Of Spring (七草) In Rice Porridge On Jan. 7th
• 06: Don’t Get Bitten by the Winter Bug
• 05: Traps are Back Up as Three Day New Year’s Moratorium On Mouse Catching Ends
• 05: City Chat Cafe: January 2009
• 03: The Daruma Doll – The Evolution Of Japan’s Longest Selling CHARACTER
• 01: Alien Scientist 52: Ever-Speculative Extraterrestrials

December 2008

• 31: Ringing out the Old Year, Ringing in the New
• 28: Closed for the Holidays
• 28: Getting Deeper Into O-Shogatsu (New Year’s) Preparations
• 28: Getting to Tokyo Disneyland from Tsukuba
• 26: Adopting a Dog or Cat in Japan
• 26: Events in January 2009
• 24: A Day for the Birds
• 22: A Fine day For Fire-Walking at Mt Kabasan (加波山) !
• 21: One Coin Horse Riding
• 18: Still Caught Up In Kasumigaura Bird Rescue
• 16: Register with your Embassy
• 14: TV Show about Cats
• 14: From the Deep Waters Off Ibaraki, a Winter Delicacy: ANKO NABE
• 12: Nihonglish
• 11: Party Crashing Red-Billed Leiothrix (ソウシチョウ) Stunned, But Apparently Unharmed
• 10: A Celestial Bridge for the Gods of Mt Tsukuba
• 06: Parent Care When You Can’t Be There
• 01: City Chat Cafe: December 2008
• 01: Alien Scientist 51: Google-Brained Aliens

November 2008

• 30: Taiko at iias on January 1, 2, and 3, 2009
• 30: Tsukuba Marathon 2008
• 30: Alien Times Fundraising Week 2008
• 28: ACCS Improves Payment Options
• 28: Guest Room in Tsukuba
• 28: Vet Recommendation: Tsukuba Gakuen Pet Clinic
• 28: Tsukuba Walking and Mountaineering Club: Upcoming Walks
• 26: December 2008 Tsukuba Cultural Schedule
• 26: Getting to Narita from Tsukuba in the Early Morning
• 23: Report on Autumn Festival at Raijinsama
• 22: Autumn Festival at Raijinsama
• 18: Tsukuba’s Sweetgums Ablaze
• 17: New Ikea Store to Open on Nov 19 in Misato
• 15: Plenty of BLUE BLOOD passing through Tsukuba’s Main Arteries
• 14: Symposium in Celebration of 150 Years of Japan-France Relations
• 13: Sending Money Between Banks and Postal Bank Accounts
• 08: AgESD Symposium 2008
• 07: The Man Behind Ibaraki`s Mascot
• 06: History Rewrites Itself…
• 04: Encountering Phallus Impudicus In Tsukuba’s Bamboo Forests
• 03: What Is Now Culture Day Was Long Celebrated As The Emperor Meiji’s Birthday
• 02: Tsukuba’s Smokey Autumn Air – The Gomi Moshi Problem
• 01: Alien Scientist 50: Alien Fossil Possibilities

October 2008

• 29: Annual Memorial Service (Ireisai) For Animals Sacrificed At Medical School
• 29: Bus from Tsukuba to Narita Airport
• 28: And Still More Food For Autumn Foraging In Tsukuba: MUKAGO (or NUKAGO)
• 28: Jon’s Stunning Victory
• 27: City Chat Cafe: November 2008
• 25: TsukuPod: A Podcast about Life in Tsukuba
• 25: For The Delicate Aroma Of Japan’s Matsutake Mushrooms You Have To Pay Through The Nose
• 25: Japan’s Traditional Celebrations of Longevity
• 21: Mysterious (and Creepy) Roadside Markers Explained
• 18: Fair Weather Friends: Tsukuba’s Solar Cooking Enthusiasts Enjoy The Taste Of Nature While Promoting GREEN Lifestyle
• 17: Still More Fall Foraging In Tsukuba — Akebi
• 15: Tsukuba Catholic Church Bazaar
• 15: Jon Heese Running for City Council
• 15: Daily Victuals – Online German Bread Shop
• 13: Glorious Weather For Sports Day and University Festival 2008
• 12: Tune in to Radio Tsukuba at 84.2 FM
• 11: Religious Symbols Used To Discourage Littering (and Urinating in Public)
• 09: Ideas about Improving Tsukuba
• 09: Mother and Young Children Cafe
• 07: Tsukuba’s Non-Turning Windmills-Turned Objets D’Art – Gone With The Wind
• 05: Best Tsuchiura Fireworks Ever!
• 02: Baiho’s Idea a BIG HIT in Tsuchiura
• 01: Tsukuba City Hall Newsletter: Oct 2008
• 01: Tsuchiura Fireworks Festival 2008
• 01: Alien Scientist 49: Cosmic Crossroads and Carousels

September 2008

• 26: AT Server Down on Saturday
• 24: Fruit Picking and Mysterious Rock Carvings Near Tsukuba (Chiyoda Town)
• 23: MORE Food for Autumn Foragers in Tsukuba
• 21: Ancestors Remembered Around the Autumnal Equinox
• 19: Register Now for Tsukuba Marathon
• 18: Vegetable Ice Cream: Worth Driving Out For!
• 14: Solemn OPEN HOUSE Event at the Old Nogi Residence
• 11: Tsukuba Farmers Give This Year’s Rice Crop a Big Thumbs Up!
• 08: Lots o’ Lotus!
• 08: New Type of Japanese Language Class for Parents and Kids
• 06: Running with Tsukuba Center’s Tireless Bird-Chasers
• 05: The River with No Bridge (Hashi No Nai Kawa), New Arrival at ARS Library
• 03: Disaster & Emergency Drill in Tsukuba
• 03: Study in Canada Fairs
• 02: Are you ready for the BIG ONE?
• 02: TIS Open School Days

August 2008

• 30: Lightning! Hide Your Bellybuttons!
• 28: Why The Area On Which the Science City was Built Remained Undeveloped Until Recent Years
• 26: City Chat Cafe – Let’s meet at LALA Garden
• 25: Margarine-Free Bakery
• 25: Tsukuba’s Very Own (?) Nebuta Parade!
• 21: What’s That BUZZ About?
• 19: SOUNDSCAPES and GROUNDSCAPES Shift as Starlings are Chased from One Roosting Place to the Next
• 17: A Day At Yasukuni Shrine
• 17: Trouble Explaining Your Condition to Doctors in Japan?
• 16: Win a Free Subscription to Being a Broad Magazine
• 16: No More Free Bags in Tsukuba
• 15: BON Jour!
• 13: They’re Coming Home — on Serpents of Straw, Cucumber Horses, and Eggplant Oxen
• 10: Pearl Harbor and Kamikaze Pilots Have Strong Connection to Lake Kasumigaura
• 07: More on Dogs and a Dog’s Life in Japan
• 07: Fido-Friendly, Alfresco Dining at Cafe Plus 1
• 06: Know the Local Lingo- Ibaraki-ben, 茨城弁 (2): Sha-Meh-Nah
• 04: Joso brings back SOIL OF KOSHIEN after disappointing early exit
• 02: The Shape Of Watermelons to Come

July 2008

• 31: Very Cute Illustrations
• 28: Higashioka’s Fudo-Ko: A Meeting With The Unmoveable One
• 26: Dazzling Works From The Red Center- An Emily Kame Kngwarreyey Exhibition
• 25: Birds Of a Feather Flock Together
• 24: Changes to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
• 23: Loss of Traditional Respect Hard Fact to Swallow for Swallows
• 20: Gion Galore!
• 19: Lunar or Solar?
• 18: Tsukuba Bus Terminal Building Closed!
• 16: A Gathering Of Blues
• 16: New Indian Restaurant in the Middle of Tsukuba
• 15: Fake Police Phishing for Bank Details
• 12: Ichinoya’s Garlic Festival Kicks Off Gion Season in Ibaraki
• 10: 46,000 Visits at One Shot! Asakusa Kannon’s Hozuki-Ichi
• 04: The Mito Hollyhock Soccer Team Incorrectly Named! (TsukuBlog Exclusive)
• 01: A Brief History of Buraku Discrimination in Japan

June 2008

• 30: Romanization of Asian Language Writing Systems
• 30: Star Wars Celebration Japan
• 29: Enjoy the Moss, Get Rid of the Mould!
• 26: Where did all the butter go?
• 26: Time To Go Through The Wringer Again!
• 26: Youth Ending Hunger Charity Concert
• 23: Fighting To Protect Tsukuba’s Remaining Wilds in Nakane Kondadai (中根 金田台)
• 22: Thar She Glows! Wild Fireflies Spotted Not Far From Tsukuba Center
• 19: What’s SHUN (旬) in June?
• 16: Tsukuba’s Distinctive Summer Smell
• 15: Faces for Father’s Day
• 14: Know the Local Lingo – Ibaraki Dialect (Ibaraki-ben, 茨城弁)
• 13: Communication SNAFU Leads to Great Musical Find
• 05: Art fair and festival in Kasama this weekend
• 03: No Place Like Home
• 03: A Look from Behind: The Yakushi-Ji Treasures In Ueno
• 03: Lock Your Car Doors
• 01: Where Have All The Flowers Gone?! Problem POPS up at Shimotsuma Poppy Festival!
• 01: Alien Scientist 48: Globes and Bagels

May 2008

• 30: Temporary Closing: Tsukuba Expo Center
• 29: Stop and Smell the Roses (and Other Flower Royalty)
• 28: Science Day Events at Ibaraki Nature Museum
• 27: Argentina Day at University of Tsukuba
• 26: Egret Rookery Threatened!
• 26: Lectures by a German Prof. Dr. Werner Gitt
• 26: Have you picked up The Alien Times lately?
• 25: Tsukuba International Forum
• 24: Tsukuba U Students Let Their Hair Down (or Put Their Wigs On!)
• 24: Changes to Traffic Laws
• 20: With TX, Toned-Down Sanja Matsuri Still Well Worth The Trip
• 20: Harvard Krokodiloes and Cymbeline
• 19: Take Me Out To Za Ballgame: Kin-Chan’s Baseball Team
• 18: Borrowing Jumper Cables
• 15: Donations to China for Earthquake Fund
• 15: You can help Myanmar Cyclone and Sichuan Earthquake Victims!
• 14: Earth Festa Kanagawa 2008
• 13: Bone Marrow Bank in Tsukuba
• 12: Ibaraki Golden Golds Tsukuba Series
• 11: Buying Tickets to Dispose of Large Items
• 10: Tsukuba Statistics
• 09: Free Scoop Night @ Baskin Robbins tonight
• 09: Fruit Gardens in Tsukuba
• 08: Mind the Gap: April 2008
• 08: Tsukuba Walking and Mountaineering Club Schedule
• 08: Tsukuba dancers to perform in a dance event
• 08: Tsukuba Park Street Walk
• 07: Where Did the Name “Tsukuba” Come From?
• 06: Doudou N’Diaye Rose Percussion Orchestra
• 05: 2008 Classes at the Community Centers
• 05: Blomster Anna
• 04: Pink Ribbon Festival
• 04: Nagareyama Green Festival
• 04: Azalea Festival
• 01: Alien Scientist 47: Almost Impossible Alien Creations

April 2008

• 29: Clematis Exhibit
• 22: Kabuki coming to Ibaraki
• 19: Come and see the works of local artist family!
• 17: Crash Tests at JARI this Weekend
• 15: Cafe Noir Opens Tomorrow
• 15: Philippine Fiesta 2008 in Ishioka
• 12: To Eat the Leaf or Not to Eat the Leaf, That is the Question
• 04: Free Admission Day at Potiron-no-Mori
• 02: April 2008 Ibaraki JALT Presentation
• 01: TWMC’s annual family hike
• 01: Alien Scientist 46: An Alien Kind of Order

March 2008

• 30: Recycle Cooking Oil at Ritz’n
• 28: Ancient Custom Hanging on by a (Silk) Thread at the Kokage-San Jinja Shrine
• 28: Job: Translator/Editor at Environmental Institute
• 25: Tsuchiura Sakura Festival 2008
• 21: In Line With the Far Side
• 18: Plum Crazy!
• 08: TsukuBlog Maintenance
• 08: Clothing Swap in Tokyo
• 05: Tsukuba Museum of Art Schedule (March 2008)
• 05: Nova Hall and Capio Schedule (March 2008)
• 05: Snowbird Ski School
• 04: March in March
• 04: Charity Auction: Hope International
• 01: Tsukuba Farmers Still Number One at Growing Grass
• 01: Alien Scientist 45: Seen Through by Alien Eyes

February 2008

• 28: Ask for Identification from Police Officers
• 26: Lecture by a Nobel Prize Winner
• 26: Kasumigaura Bird Rescue Meeting: Feb 28
• 26: Salsa in Tsukuba: March 2008
• 25: Register your Bone Marrow to Help a Fellow Foreigner
• 24: Hina Matsuri Event: Tea and Ikebana
• 21: Special Lecture by Former Chairman of Sony
• 20: Updates on free Japanese lessons at TGU
• 18: Bird Rescue Stuck in the Mud
• 15: Japanese Chatting Time
• 14: Lecture on Italian Culture
• 12: Free Japanese lessons at TGU
• 10: Help the Victims of the Snowstorm in China
• 09: Tsukuba Square Dance Club: Beginner’s Class 2008
• 07: Morning Snow in Tsukuba
• 07: German Bakery in Tsukuba: Backerei Brõtzeit
• 06: Ballads in Wood – This Friday
• 05: Beware: Earthquake Early Warning System Scam
• 04: Volunteer to Interpret at a Triathlon
• 03: Are Trains and Buses Running?
• 03: Did You Win This Year?
• 02: Something Smells Fishy: It’s Setsubun!
• 02: Nova Hall and Capio Schedule (February 2008)
• 01: Alien Scientist 44: Divining the Sun
• 01: Hotel Bestland Offers Discounted Rates

January 2008

• 31: TAIRA Server Down
• 30: JALT Meeting: Joe Tomei
• 29: YMCA Day Care Accepting Kids
• 29: Cello and Piano Recitals at Nova Hall
• 28: Pollen Count for 2008
• 25: Notice to Users of Panasonic Let’s Note Laptops
• 24: Cleaning Up a Computer
• 23: Tunisian Day
• 23: Tsukuba’s Famous Architect
• 21: Last Chance For Kumagusu’s Forest
• 15: Tsukuba Environmental Walk Festival: Ushiku-numa
• 13: Kasumigaura Bird Rescue
• 01: Alien Scientist 43: Nature’s Design and Alien Artifice

December 2007

• 28: Children’s Club After School
• 26: Bird Rescue Underway! Six saved, thousands to go…..
• 25: Tantric Fire Ritual on New Year’s Eve
• 23: Concert at Epochal tomorrow
• 21: Area museum and park’s winter holiday schedules 2007
• 18: Sound Gazette Charity Concert
• 17: Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) Telephone Counselor Training Program
• 16: Documenting Autumn in Tsukuba
• 14: Wild Orchid Across Korean Peninsula
• 14: New Rules for Lost and Found Items
• 13: Second Harvest Japan Charity Concert
• 12: Namiki Internal Medicine Department Clinic
• 11: Shipping Companies
• 11: Tokyo YMCA Bazaar
• 10: Spare Flat Screen Monitor?
• 07: Hula Girls
• 06: Women in Positions of Power
• 06: Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) Seeks Volunteers
• 05: Ibaraki Police Report: Accidents in November
• 05: Children’s Home Needs Computers
• 04: Save the Birds
• 04: Excellent Site for Tsukuba Moms
• 01: Salsa Party
• 01: Alien Scientist 42: Alien Science Paradigms

November 2007

• 30: Ibaraki Tumbler at Starbucks
• 29: Be Aware of Hunters!
• 28: Watch the Terrorism Drill Live Online
• 28: Ibaraki Police Report: Elderly in Accidents
• 27: Ladies Beware
• 27: Chemical Terrorism Drill to be Held in Tsukuba
• 27: Tsukuba Musician: Avi Landau
• 26: The Police
• 26: KITA Japanese Dining
• 26: Parking at Narita
• 23: Tsukuba Oroshi
• 22: Stranger Alert – Nov.21
• 22: Make-Your-Own Solar Heater
• 21: Restaurant Review: MaMaYa
• 21: Tsuchiura Curry Festival
• 21: Japanese Buzzwords for 2007
• 20: Welcome to Japan
• 19: Day Trip from Tsukuba: Glass Blowing In Kita Ibaraki
• 17: Car Thefts in Tsukuba
• 16: Car Owners, Be on Alert!
• 15: Second Nature: Tsukuba Photography Exhibit by John Tran
• 09: Residents’ Day and “Nenrin-pic”
• 09: Make your own replica of a teeth fossil
• 09: Contemporary Japanese Art With A View (of the City)
• 07: Soccer Balls to Mozambique
• 06: Getting a Japanese Drivers License from Scratch
• 05: Ikebana Class Party
• 04: Bike Light Education at Tsukuba University
• 03: Respect for Tsukuba’s Aged
• 02: More on Sweet Potatoes
• 02: Sweet Potatoes on Hand?
• 02: Tsukuba Recycle Festival
• 02: Tokyo-quality Italian food, right here in Tsukuba!
• 02: Clean Tsukuba By-Law
• 01: Alien Scientist 41: Mind Made Up by the Cognitive Committee
• 01: Mikan Picking on Mt. Tsukuba

October 2007

• 31: Petition to Abolish Mandatory Fingerprinting in Japan
• 30: No Age Restrictions on Job Ads
• 29: New Wonder Goo in Tsukuba
• 28: Roots of Manga
• 25: Mailing List Recommendations for People in Tsukuba
• 24: China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe to perform in Ibaraki
• 23: Christian Preschool Bazaar
• 21: Upgrading WordPress Software
• 17: Trojan Horse in Certain Buffalo Flash Memory Sticks
• 15: Plans for the New City Hall Building
• 14: KVA Festival: Japanese Education Exhibition
• 14: What is your mother tongue?
• 13: Tsukuba News Archive
• 12: Tsukuba Heliport Open House tomorrow
• 12: Global Communication Movie Party
• 11: Tsukuba Japanese Speech Contest 2007
• 10: The 100th Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival Starts This Saturday
• 10: Underground: an exhibition in Tokyo
• 10: City to issue “English” license plates starting Nov 30
• 09: Tsukuba teen wins third place at the Rubik’s Cube Championship
• 07: Feeling Homesick?
• 06: Tsukuba Catholic Church Bazaar
• 05: Famous Environmentalists Come to Tsukuba
• 05: Tsukuba Machikado Music Festival 2007
• 05: Foreign = Criminal Suspect?
• 04: Tsuchiura Fireworks Festival 2007
• 04: The World of Historical Maps, an exhibit at University Library
• 03: Three cars stolen in Tsukuba since yesterday!
• 03: Police Warn People About Recent Chainmail
• 02: A TV drama filmed in Tsukuba to be aired tonight
• 02: Autumn mackerel (fresh, juicy and tasty!)
• 02: Okonomiyaki shop review
• 02: Any passionfruit lovers out there?
• 02: Restaurant Review: Ali’s Kebab

September 2007

• 30: Tengu Natural Foods hiring a full-time worker
• 30: Buying a Motorcycle or Scooter in Tsukuba: Motoshop Wildcats
• 29: Free Beer in Moriya
• 28: The 19th Urban Greening Festival tomorrow
• 28: Kitchen Supplies in Tsukuba
• 27: World Partnership Forum in Ibaraki
• 27: Tsukuba Schools Information Sessions in October
• 27: Tsukuba Botanical Gardens
• 26: Japanese Classes at Tsukuba Information Center
• 26: Alien Times Makes the News
• 26: Women’s Varsity Basketball Championships in Tsukuba
• 25: New Immigration Procedures
• 22: Mango for Learning Japanese
• 21: Search for Books in Tsukuba Public Library through Amazon.co.jp
• 21: Cost of Waste Management in Tsukuba
• 20: JALT September 2007 Event
• 20: Ikebana Classes in Tsukuba
• 20: Desmostylus Exhibit in Tsukuba
• 19: Fall Event at Hirasawa Kanga
• 14: Tsukuba museums Fall temporary closing dates
• 14: Special deals for seniors!
• 13: Tsukuba’s Vegetarian Restaurant Ritz’n Celebrates 7th Anniversary
• 13: Ishioka Festival this weekend
• 13: Tsukuba Recycle Market
• 12: Inter-Library Loans in Tsukuba
• 11: Hotline for Police Counselling in Tsukuba
• 11: Air Conditioners Being Stolen in Tsukuba
• 08: Where are you from? [Fall '07]
• 08: Tsukuba Wadaiko Festa in Nova Hall
• 07: Tsuchiura Takigi Noh
• 06: Maria Elizabeth Robles Exhibition this week
• 05: Typhoon Warning
• 05: Earthquake Early Warning System to be introduced in October
• 05: An Introduction to Amazon.co.jp
• 04: Having a Hard Time Reading Some Kanji?
• 04: Do You Have Good Chopstick Manners?
• 04: Contemporary dance performances today and tomorrow
• 03: Gakuen Minami Junkan, a new TsukuBus course
• 03: Determining Your Location in Case of Emergency
• 02: What a Pity!
• 01: Charming Family Bakery: David Pain

August 2007

• 31: Mokuzougan: Intricate Artwork Made of Wood
• 31: An evening with Indonesian Dance and Music
• 30: Finding a Place to Park Around Tsukuba Station
• 30: Medical Facilities at Namiki Shopping Center
• 29: KEK Open House 2007
• 29: Free guided tour of Akihabara!
• 28: Tunisian Cooking Class
• 27: Tsukuba on Google Maps
• 26: Momoko House
• 26: International Public Telephones in Tsukuba
• 26: Matsuri Tsukuba 2007
• 25: Come to the Festival and Support Zaya!
• 25: Disaster Drill in Tsukuba
• 25: Tokyo Eats
• 24: Bags, Bags, Everywhere…
• 24: Learn by Doing: Japanese Culture
• 23: TsukuBlog’s First Anniversary
• 23: Clean Up Tsukuba
• 22: Pension Payment Refunds for Returners
• 21: Preparing Your Family for Earthquakes
• 20: Photos from Yamanashi
• 20: Japanese Language Proficiency Test 2007
• 20: Changes to Traffic Laws in Japan
• 19: Request from Tepco to Conserve Electricity
• 18: Tsukuba Movie Marathon
• 18: Seshami Street at Matsuri Tsukuba 2007
• 17: Summer Events at the Geology Museum
• 17: New Zealand Day at Ibaraki Nature Museum
• 16: Hirasawa Kanga Illuminations
• 16: Reform your kitchin
• 15: One Person, One Day, One Kilogram Reduction in CO2
• 14: Kasama Area Summer Events
• 10: Potiron Festival and Fireworks Displays
• 10: MOJ Site for Immigration Procedures
• 09: Sunflower Maze at Mizuho no Mura
• 08: Do You Uchimizu?
• 08: Combat ‘Natsubate’
• 07: Protect Yourself from Sneaky Thieves
• 06: Annual Ibaraki Artifact Exhibit at Seibu
• 03: Foreign Bank Cards Accepted at 7-11 ATMs
• 03: Events for August 4-5 weekend
• 02: Watch Where you Park!
• 02: My Ami Festival 2007

July 2007

• 31: Long Way From Home
• 29: Another Gigantic Shopping Mall
• 28: Tsukuba Agriculture Research Gallery Open House – Today!
• 27: The 26th Ushiku Kappa Festival this weekend
• 26: Doho Park Cafe
• 26: Tune Up Your Warble…
• 24: Have you seen a ghost?
• 23: So you think you can “food fight”
• 20: Gion Matsuri Season is here!
• 20: Fireworks Display at Potiron
• 20: Open House Events at NIES and AIST
• 19: SUBWAY in Tsukuba!
• 17: AIST Open House 2007
• 15: A TV show filmed in Tsukuba to be aired on Tuesday
• 13: Anyone plays “Petanque” in Tsukuba?
• 12: A trip to Tohoku
• 11: Lectures on the nature of NZ and its conservation project
• 11: Events for Marine Day weekend
• 11: Natto, the hidden way
• 10: Where to Call in Case of Maritime Emergencies
• 08: Philippine Festival at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo
• 08: Sipahhs on sale at Mos Burger
• 06: 7th Anniversary events at You World
• 06: Parking at You World & Free Bus Service
• 06: Schedule for Shrek3 at Cineplex Tsukuba
• 05: Noh mask exhibit
• 04: Today is Pear Day!
• 03: Tsuchiura City Museum reopened
• 02: Free bamboo grass for Tanabata
• 01: A big preschool bazaar today
• 01: Alien Scientist 40: The Stuff of Life

June 2007

• 29: 11th Dragon Boat Race Competition in Kasumigaura City
• 29: NIES Summer Open House 2007
• 29: Jeff Nelson Worship Concert at Tsuchiura Megumi Church
• 28: Japanese People Recommend Japanese Movies
• 27: Read TsukuBlog Posts on Your Cellphone
• 26: Receive Area Crime Reports on Your Computer or Cellphone
• 26: Tap Dancing Classes in Tsukuba
• 25: Increase in Bike and Motorcycle Theft in Tsukuba
• 24: Portable Alien Site Launched
• 22: Turn Off the Lights, Take it Slow
• 21: New COSTCO Store to Open Soon in Kawasaki
• 20: Mt. Tsukuba, One of 100 Unique Geological Spots in Japan
• 19: Baking Ingredients
• 18: National Parks of Japan
• 16: Subscribe to Metropolis Magazine
• 14: YEH, Youth Ending Hunger Charity Concert
• 13: New Thai Restaurant in Tsukuba: Songfungmekon
• 12: World Refugee Day
• 12: Oh! La Vache
• 11: Individual Inhabitant Tax Increased
• 11: Explaining RSS in Plain English
• 10: University of Tsukuba Marching Band
• 09: Piano Recital in Tsukuba
• 09: Japanese Pancake!
• 09: The Blogger to WordPress Switcheroo
• 09: Musicafesta di Tsukuba 2007
• 08: Gospel Events in June
• 07: Caught in the political correctness argument
• 07: First Burger King Restaurant to Open in Shinjuku Tomorrow
• 06: Three-Months Rule When Getting a Japanese Drivers License
• 05: Tsukuba to Run Experimental TsukuBus Services
• 04: Need Vaccinations for Travel?
• 03: Frugal(ish) Option for Putting your Child on Your Car Insurance Policy
• 02: Buying an Electronic Dictionary
• 01: Free Rakugo shows at Seibu tomorrow
• 01: Alien Scientist 39: Elementary Planetary Chemistries

May 2007

• 31: Measles in Japan
• 31: Science Day and Environment Day at Ibaraki Nature Museum
• 31: Michi no Ichi (arts and craft fair) in Kasama
• 30: Mongolia Exhibition
• 30: Map and Survey Festival
• 30: Tsukuba Festival Report on TV
• 30: Supporting Groups who Collect Resources for Recycling
• 30: Advance Tickets for Extra Dralion Shows
• 29: Namiki High School Festival
• 29: Yasato Pottery Festival
• 28: Nagaknow magazine now online
• 28: How about getting married… in a soccer stadium?
• 27: Blast!
• 26: Professional Sumo coming to Ibaraki!
• 25: Tsukublog, tsuku…blog, tsu..blog, tsublog…
• 25: Tsukuba Expo Center to be closed for 5 days
• 25: Traditional Korean and Japanese Music Concert in Tsukuba
• 25: Dormitory Festival “Yadokari-sai” will take place
• 24: AET positions open in Tsukuba
• 24: Advisory for smog was issued yesterday
• 24: Tsukuba Recycle Market
• 23: Namiki Kominkan Festival
• 23: Rent-a-Cycle Available at Mt. Tsukuba and Tsukuba Station
• 21: GERD KNÄPPER, a German artist to open his gallery in Daigo
• 17: Sri Lanka Festival 2007
• 17: Ways to kill time on a rainy day…
• 15: NAGAKNOW, the Nagano’s first English magazine
• 15: Japan With Kids website renewed
• 14: Meguro Parasitological Museum
• 12: Zeppelin in Tsukuba
• 12: Sen-Hime Festival on Sunday
• 12: Here’s the Kitty
• 11: Tsukuba Pink Ribbon Festival
• 09: Tsukuba Festival flyer
• 09: Miraikan Turns Six
• 09: Peacock at Amabiki Kannon
• 08: Amabiki Kannon
• 04: TV Drama “Tokkyu Tanaka 3 go”
• 03: Tsukuba on the Water
• 03: Cheaper Way to Get to Tokyo
• 02: Guess what this is
• 02: Tsukuba Festival page updated
• 01: Information about the Environment in Japan
• 01: Alien Scientist 38: Newton’s Alien Intuition

April 2007

• 28: Proud to be a Tsukuban
• 26: Oh, yeah, “that” festival!
• 26: Farmer’s Market in Namiki
• 25: What’s it Like in Japan?
• 25: Tsukuba Walk Rally
• 24: TV Drama “Seito-shokun!”
• 22: Have Your Treasures Appraised in Tsukuba
• 20: Azalea festivals in Tsukuba and Kasama
• 19: The Anpanman Museum to open in Yokohama tomorrow
• 19: Crash Testing
• 18: Kasama Pottery Fair
• 17: Big Names in Shamisen Coming to Tsukuba
• 16: Science & Technology Week 2007
• 16: Sixth Guitar Festival in Tsukuba
• 15: Retro-bus from Tsukuba Station
• 14: Late Blooming Sakura
• 13: Sakura-themed exhibit in Tsuchiura
• 12: Annual Pay Statements
• 10: Tokyo Scavenger Hunt
• 09: Hello Kitty-shaped vending machine in Moriya
• 08: Sold on Square Dancing
• 07: I’m Not Making This Up
• 06: Tsuchiura Nihon University Secondary School and a new school in Namiki
• 05: Free admission day at Potiron-no-Mori
• 05: Finding a Doctor in Ibaraki
• 04: The filming of an Indian movie taking place in Tsukuba!
• 03: Making Sour into Sweet
• 01: Is Rice a Drug?
• 01: Alien Scientist 37: Alien Body Language

March 2007

• 30: What do you gargle with?
• 30: Namiki SC’s grand opening today
• 30: Getting a Japanese Credit Card
• 29: Tsukuba Language Group Books Praised
• 29: TCI Japanese Classes
• 28: Tsukuba Scientist Comments on Quake
• 27: Tsukuba Square Dance Club
• 26: Densha-mo, Bus-mo, Pasmo
• 25: Tsukuba on the BBC
• 25: Quake Only Rumble in Tsukuba
• 23: All JR East Shinkansens Non Smoking
• 22: Get Ready for a Hot Summer
• 22: Two Private Research Institutes in Tsukuba to Close
• 22: Key Date for Car Tax: April 1
• 21: TsukuBlog Makeover
• 20: Free admission day @ Ibaraki Nature Museum
• 20: Local Produce
• 20: Meson Changes into its Anti-Particle
• 16: Adventure at an Undersea Station
• 16: Free Japanese Classes in Tsukuba
• 15: Canada Pavilion at Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007
• 14: Hydrogen Vehicle in Tsukuba
• 13: An empirically-determined faster route from Tsukuba to Narita
• 13: Photos from Mt. Tsukuba
• 13: Happy Tunnelversary
• 11: Photos of Tsukuba University by Mori
• 11: Superpowers Start in Tsukuba
• 11: Protect Your Bells
• 10: University of Tsukuba Grad wins Akutagawa Prize
• 09: Bargains at Masuda
• 09: Opening of “Ken-oh-dou” tomorrow
• 09: Wikia Seeking Japan Community Manager
• 09: Restaurant Review: Il Cuore
• 08: Tsukuba Recycle Market
• 08: Walking RinRin Road
• 07: Car Auction Tsukuba
• 06: Namiki Shopping Center getting ready for its reopening
• 05: Days with Fives and Zeros
• 05: A visit to the Umezono House
• 04: Goin’ Where the Wind Brows
• 04: Use the Radioactive Ooze
• 04: Tsukuba Places 53rd: Cities Offering Best Quality of Life
• 04: Which university’s lectures do you most want to see available as Open Course Ware?
• 03: Libraries in Tsukuba
• 02: Mt. Fuji, Seen from Tsukuba
• 02: Survey on Traffic Problems in Tsukuba
• 01: Costco’s new hours

February 2007

• 28: Good option for souvenirs for your home
• 28: Contribute to TsukuBlog
• 28: Tsukuba Orientation Seeking Volunteers
• 28: Flag Football
• 27: New University “Re-Use” System
• 27: The 6th Challenge Art Festival in Tsukuba
• 26: February 26 Incident
• 25: Protect Your Faucets
• 25: Mission Accomplished
• 23: Moving from Blogger to WordPress
• 23: Ecoshop System
• 23: KEK Communication Plaza
• 22: If You See Only One Show This Year…
• 21: Mount Tsukuba Plum Festival
• 19: Doll’s festival in Tsuchiura!
• 18: Ume in Umezono Park
• 17: Doll’s Festivals taking place in Tsukuba
• 16: Breakfast Restaurant
• 15: Current events at Aquaworld Ooarai
• 14: Tennis Tournament for Beginners
• 13: Ten Hours, One Piece of Paper
• 12: Okinawa Massage and Cuisine in Tsukuba!
• 12: Launch of “Tsukuba Number”
• 12: Old Tokyo maps online
• 10: Ushiku Science Festa today
• 10: Tsukuba Environmental Walking Festival
• 09: Restaurants in Tsukuba with Veggies on the Menu
• 08: Seishun 18 Kippu JR Ticket 20th Anniversary Discount
• 07: Special Showing of a film in Joso City
• 07: Kasumi Accepting Event Proposals
• 07: Manga Expert at University of Tsukuba
• 06: ALT Job in Tsukuba
• 06: Girl’s Festival in Makabe
• 04: Mint Exhibition in Tsukuba
• 04: New COSTCO Store Scheduled to Open in Saitama
• 03: How to Eat Sushi
• 01: New exhibit at the Ibaraki Nature Museum
• 01: Two “one of a kind” Doll Festivals taking place in Ibaraki
• 01: yougakusei~!

January 2007

• 31: Underground Garbage Collection System
• 31: Donate Your Used Things
• 30: Capture Go as Communication
• 29: Restaurant Review: La Vie Provencal
• 28: Seminar on Medical Translation Assistance in Tsukuba
• 26: Podcast by Tsukuba Blogger
• 26: Tsukuba Science Tour Stamp Rally
• 25: Movies in Tsukuba
• 23: Coffee Hour: International Relations in Tsukuba
• 22: Frugal Watch Newsletter
• 21: Research in Tsukuba
• 21: Akihabara: 5pm on Sunday
• 19: Noisy Helicopters
• 18: Cleaning Up the City
• 16: ID required for Bank Transfer of over 100,000yen
• 16: English TV Listings
• 14: Winning Lottery Numbers for New Year’s Cards
• 14: Computer Classes
• 13: Increase Your Kanji Power
• 13: Tsukuba in Television History
• 13: Research in Tsukuba
• 11: Research Positions in Japan
• 10: Lady’s Days in Tsukuba!
• 10: Tsukuba People (and Robots)
• 10: Volunteers for a User Evaluation
• 10: Ten Japanese Habits Worth Emulating
• 10: Social Network for Families in Japan
• 09: Maternity Mark
• 09: NIMS Hiring Functional Thin Films Specialist
• 07: AU Phone – call your friends for half price!
• 06: Tsukuba Research on Sleep Disorders
• 05: National Women’s Ekiden
• 05: Sirens — Do Not be Alarmed
• 04: Education Information for Foreign Residents
• 03: Alien Times Site Down
• 03: ESA and JAXA Satellites ‘Talk’ to Each Other
• 02: Tsukuba License Plate Numbers
• 01: Tsukuba During the Holidays
• 01: Tsukuba in the News

December 2006

• 30: Taiko Tricks
• 29: BlizzardBoy Talks about Dolls
• 28: Living in Tsukuba Guidebook
• 28: Good News for Pollen Allergy Sufferers in Tsukuba
• 26: Kanji Practice Made Fun
• 25: Jobs for Students at Tsukuba City Hall
• 25: Wish Upon the Moon
• 25: Season’s Greetings
• 24: Research Job in Tsukuba
• 22: Emperor’s Birthday
• 22: Yuzu Bath
• 21: Bloggers in Tsukuba
• 20: A New Understanding of かしら
• 19: NPOs Devise Business Model to Revitalize Lake Kasumigaura
• 19: Restaurant Review: Tsuruya
• 19: Mitsubishi Foundation Grants
• 18: Where in Tsukuba?
• 18: December 2006 Alien Times Online
• 18: Tricky Japanese: Kotowatte Kudasai
• 17: TsukuBlog Privacy Policy
• 17: Subscribing to TsukuBlog
• 16: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
• 16: Outdoor Daruma Market
• 15: Wanna Box?
• 14: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opens today
• 14: Forty Seven Samurai
• 13: Tis the Season to Use Daiko
• 12: New Store Opens in Hitachi no Ushiku
• 11: Finding the cheapest gas in your neighborhood
• 11: Cheaper Gasoline on the Expressways?
• 11: Kanji Day
• 10: Handle Keeper
• 10: Tsukuba City Hiring Assistant English Teachers
• 10: New Year’s Cards
• 09: Moving to Blogger Beta
• 08: Long Living Tsukubans
• 08: Holiday Garbage Schedule
• 08: Overnight Bus to Kyoto and Osaka
• 05: Mind The Gap: December 2006
• 04: Vertical Jousting
• 03: Gift Idea
• 01: Fighting Lanterns in Koga-shi
• 01: U2 in Saitama

November 2006

• 29: Free concerts at Seibu
• 29: Make Your Next Visa Extension Delicious
• 27: New Tsukuba Forum: Tsukuband
• 27: Christmas Lights and Merry-Go-Round!
• 27: Hiroo Santa Mail!
• 27: Casolea
• 27: Tsukuba Calendar
• 26: TsukuBlog Available by Email
• 25: Tsukuba Orientation
• 25: Volunteer in Vietnam with the Friendship Foundation
• 24: University of Tsukuba Today
• 24: Math Lesson
• 24: Low Ratio of Foreign Researchers
• 24: Getting a New Bankbook
• 24: IC-Chips in Licenses
• 24: Same Number, Different Phone
• 23: Tsukuba Marathon
• 23: TsukuBlog Updated
• 23: Quick Choose!
• 21: Charity Ballet Presentation for Kids
• 21: Thanksgiving at Cork Head’s
• 21: Recycling Telephone Books
• 21: Some Recent Articles About Tsukuba
• 21: New Laws about Transfering Money
• 20: A Way to Pass the Time
• 20: Special Thanks Week
• 19: Sunday at Tokyo National Museum
• 15: Brrrr!
• 13: Yukari no Mori
• 12: A Trip to Ibaraki Nature Museum
• 10: House of Garbage?
• 07: Tokyo Tourism: A Trip to Roppongi Hills
• 06: Experience Japanese Culture in Aizu Wakamatsu
• 05: Still There?
• 01: Alien Scientist 36: Alien Communication

October 2006

• 01: Posting Articles on Alien Times Site
• 01: Mind the Gap: October 2006
• 01: Alien Scientist 35: Cities Fit For Insects

September 2006

• 27: Tokyo Sesame Place to be closed
• 14: Halloween goods at Joyful Honda
• 01: Mind the Gap: September 2006

August 2006

• 13: summer woodstock
• 10: Ibaraki Artifact Exhibit at Seibu
• 10: Onegai
• 09: Lantern Festival at Ushiku Daibutsu
• 05: Fukuroda no Taki
• 04: Tsukuba Japenglish – 2
• 04: Mount Tsukuba Festivals
• 01: Take Advantage of Annual Passes!
• 01: Mind the Gap: August 2006

July 2006

• 30: summer pictures of Asakusa
• 28: Tsukuba Japenglish – 1
• 28: Words of Encouragement
• 27: Homemade Sausages and Ham
• 26: Gardening Plots for Sale
• 25: NIES Summer Open House
• 25: Pigeons
• 22: Sakura Technopark Revealed – 2
• 20: Moderating Comments
• 20: One Day of No Rain
• 18: Fun at NIES and AIST
• 18: Fireworks Festivals along Tx Line
• 18: Umezono House’s New Store Hours
• 16: Sakura Technopark Revealed – 1
• 16: Tx Summer Holiday Day Pass
• 15: Robots in Tsukuba
• 15: Tsukuba Wind Farm
• 15: Japanese Lessons Online
• 15: Tsutaya Sale
• 14: Restaurant: Yellow Leaf
• 14: What is TsukuBlog?
• 14: Welcome to TsukuBlog!
• 01: Mind the Gap: July 2006

June 2006

• 01: Mind the Gap: June 2006
• 01: Alien Scientist 34: Alien Family Trees

May 2006

• 01: Alien Scientist 33: Alien Vegetable Technologies

April 2006

• 01: Alien Scientist 32: Gaian Life

March 2006

• 01: Alien Scientist 31: Science Alien To Common Sense

February 2006

• 01: Alien Scientist 30: The Alien You And Me

January 2006

• 01: Alien Scientist 29: Anthropocentric Games

December 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 28: Alien Matters Of Mind

October 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 27: Alien Nature Of Life

September 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 26: The Conquest Of Life On Earth

July 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 25: An Alien Society Analogue

June 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 24: An Incredibly Alien Habitat

May 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 23: The Alien Within

April 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 22: Inter-planetary Smell Sensation

March 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 21: The Invisible Alien

January 2005

• 01: Alien Scientist 20: The 4-D Earthling