Bridging Japan and New York through Words and Culture
Is New York Safe to Visit Now in 2023 for Japanese Travelers? Meta Description:Discover the latest on New York City’s safety and subway situation as of September 2023. How much has the city recovered since the pandemic? A Japanese traveler’s honest take. The Pandemic’s Impact on New York City The pandemic that began in 2020…
Lost Items on the Shinkansen I left my e-book on the Shinkansen during my travels in Japan this summer while using the Japan Rail Pass. After a wonderful trip, I was carrying a lot of souvenirs, which made my hands full, and I must have forgotten the e-book on the train. I suspect that when…
Top Piano Competitions in New York for Kids: Perform at Carnegie Hall If you’re looking for a piano competition in New York that your child can participate in—from young beginners to teenagers—there are wonderful opportunities available. I have personally entered three students in New York competitions, and they received First Prize, Third Prize, and Honorable…
Best Pho in Queens: District Saigon in Astoria, New York I recently found another pho restaurant in New York that I absolutely loved, so I had to share it. Last month, I visited a spot in Queens, and it instantly became one of my new favorites. While most people think of Manhattan when searching for…
How to Move Forward If You Didn’t Secure an Artist Visa Hello, I’m Maegami from the blog “Goddess’ Bangs”. Today I want to talk about artist visas. If you obtain one, you could extend your U.S. career by three years—but these days, obtaining it has become increasingly difficult. The Reality of the Artist Visa and…
My Rental Experience with Steinway & Sons I chose a studio-type upright from the Boston brand, which is owned by Steinway & Sons. I selected it because the sound quality is close to that of a grand piano. At the time, I had no U.S. credit history, so I paid a cash deposit of about…
Air Pollution in New York | Lessons from the 2023 Canadian Wildfires In early June, massive wildfires broke out in Canada, sending thick smoke drifting into New York State — creating a surreal, orange-tinted sky across the city. For the first time in memory, the sun appeared as a red disc behind a smoky haze,…
New York City Safety Update: Phone Theft on the Subway & Risky Hours to Avoid Hello! This is Maegami from the blog Goddess’ Bangs. While New York City’s safety has improved compared to the past, crime still happens — especially in the subway. Just yesterday, I personally witnessed a phone theft incident. Phone Theft on…
What Is Sunrise Mart? A Look at New York’s Famous Japanese Grocery What Is Sunrise Mart in New York? When it comes to Japanese supermarkets in New York, Sunrise Mart is probably the most famous. Its first store opened in the East Village, though sadly that location has since closed. When I first came to…
How to Dispose of Hazardous Waste in New York City | NYC SAFE Disposal Event 2025 Every year, New York City holds special events to safely collect hazardous household waste—items that cannot be thrown away with regular trash. This article explains how to properly dispose of these materials through the NYC Sanitation SAFE Disposal Event,…