Pretty in vivid pink. — Some people used to freak out on Instagram when they saw me post photos of sakura in February. Followers commented the following. “WHAT?! They’re blooming already?” “So fast this year.” “They won’t last by the time I visit in April.” And, every time I would have to explain that these…

Take a walk with me at Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Eastern Tokyo — Imagine you’ve stopped at the entrance of a red torii gate. You’re present, but you can get over the past and cross over to the future. Symbolically, you can do this at Kameido Tenjin Shrine, tucked away in the eastern outskirts of Tokyo. A torii is a traditional Japanese gate…

Reversing societal conditioning at a Japanese hair salon. There’s shampoo, cut, color, perm — and peace — on the dropdown menu. — Salons. They’re a hub of energetic exchange, a place for you to dish the dirt on your neighbor’s affair or rant about your job. That includes manicurists, too. Picture Elle Woods and Paulette in Legally Blonde. They were each other’s confidants. They were each other’s cheerleaders. …

Or, why you should never make fun of one — I don’t play games, but Wordle stands out. There’s no commitment required, no button to press for payments, and no becoming addicted. Well, you might develop a mild addiction if you’re competing with others — especially if you’re tied with an ESL student like my husband. Let me explain if…

Covid restrictions in a collectivist society spell harmony — Ah, February. Love — and Covid — is in the frigid air. This conversation won’t blot out like erasing past mistakes. Does that stop people from going to Tokyo Disneyland? No. You may be thinking, geez, now Tracy? Couldn’t you wait? Well, not really. Every day has been varying degrees…

When the skies are in shades of joy — I took these photos last month. Since, we have moved swiftly, right smack in the middle of winter. Snowfall is rare in Tokyo, so seeing it is both precious and pathetic because it’s never enough to last beyond a day or two. …

I bet Marie Kondo didn’t see this coming. — Have you ever tried making money off of old clothes? If you have loads, selling items one by one online can be a hassle, and it’s either a hit or miss or not worth all the effort. That’s why Facebook Groups come in handy. Where I live in Tokyo, there’s…

Why her imagination meant more to me than the metaphysical — My introduction to crystals began as I opened a package my friend had ordered for my birthday three days after Christmas. It was the end of the year, a year my father had died too soon, and my dog was dying young. A note sat on top of tissue paper…

Take a rap battle as an example — are you channeling anger the wrong way? — When I think of bullies, I think of wounded children who don’t know any better. I think of high school. I think of Regina George and keyboard warriors. But many people nowadays who write impassioned passages of vitriol online are old enough to know better. Sure, we’re not rays of…