Japanese empathy towards boredom snacking — I was recently asked by a reader, “I once read this Japanese word, “Kuchisabishii” — would you mind sharing the meaning of it?” Ah, yes. Kuchisabishii. I’ve been hearing it a lot more these days in Japan, sometimes over Zoom calls and sometimes thrown around the house. When I catch…

Visit a McDonald’s in Japan and you’ll understand why — Whenever I talk to someone who has visited Japan, an ex-pat who has lived there or a tourist just passing by, they will more often than not mention something about the fast-food chains there. “If they tried to pull the same stunt…

For people stressed or intimidated by fitness culture — In the United States, I’m often bombarded with images and ads of fitness culture. Athleisure is the craze, and it seems that the majority of people are members of gyms like Anytime Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, or LA Fitness. Any decent hotel or typical college campus…

An important lesson from an unassuming place — I recently made the funny discovery that my dad likes to watch shiba-inu (a Japanese dog breed) Youtube videos before he goes to sleep. As he was showing me some, we came across a particularly cute video of a dog and his elderly owner. In the…

What makes living in Japan different? — I’ve lived in the US, and I’ve lived in Japan. I’ve lived in modest suburban communities, and I’ve lived in the biggest city in the world. The privilege of living in different parts of the world has shown me that the science between health, nutrition, and fitness doesn’t change no…

After years of managing to avoid covid, I finally got caught. Luckily, I had my family by my side to support my recovery. Here is their advice for you. When they tell you they tested positive for covid, immediately wear a mask. Communicate only via text. …

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the fear of not knowing. But you’re capable, and there’s proof. — This was originally shared with my email newsletter at the end of 2022, but felt it was worth sharing on Medium. Sign up for the newsletter if you want to connect with me! I’ve been reflecting on this past year, and wow. Things have changed. If I were to illustrate…

How to navigate mindful eating for beginners — The holidays used to be a very complicated time for me– it’s a confusing time where we are simultaneously encouraged to indulge in desserts and treats, but warned to watch what we eat.​ Enjoy pies (but watch your sugar!) Have some gravy (but tsk tsk, that’s a lot of…

A realist’s approach to a healthy lifestyle — When you think of Japanese bento boxes, what do you imagine? In western media, it’s common to think that Japanese bento boxes are these beautiful, intricate, well-balanced meals for children and spouses, made by the “can-do-everything” perfect parent. But if you were to meet one of these individuals and watch…