Rambling Ramsbothams

It's been peak cherry blossom week here in the Kanazawa area, and this week we're talking about hanami and enjoying the sakura blossoms on bike rides around town! We also talk about going to the new Ishikawa Prefectural Library, how you sort things in a language without an alphabet, our new car lease, and JET Programme results. Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese &quo...

We rented a car, drove to Shizuoka Prefecture, and had our first Japan cycling road race experience! It was Zeb's first race with the Japan Bicyclist Club Federation (JBCF) - how did the races go? How is road racing in Japan different? How do you do a cycling road trip without a bike rack? We also talk about riding through tea fields in Shizuoka (this area is the leading producer of tea in th...

We're recording this on Shubun no Hi (春分の日), or the Spring Equinox, which is also a public holiday in Japan! This week we talk about the arrival of cherry blossoms, sports day at school, and mask-wearing guidance being eased. We also got to try some new foods at an izakaya this week, including firefly squid, ochazuke (tea over rice), and bai-gai shellfish.  Listen to the end of every epis...

It's finally spring, and this past weekend we got out the bike bags again for another cycling trip through the Japanese countryside! This time we were heading to Fukui Prefecture, to the city of Ono. We rode by Hakusan National Park, along the Tedori River, on the Tedori Canyon Cycle Path, and hiked up to see the view of the Ono Castle. We'll talk about why we chose this location, how we...

If you listened to last week, we have an update on Zeb's Japan Pro Cycling opportunity! We're looking forward to traveling to some races - hopefully starting at the end of this month! We also talk about the high school graduation ceremony at Zeb's school, and what getting a haircut is like in Japan. Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week,&quo...

Zeb got a new road bike, and he might have a new team soon! This week we're talking more about bike racing in Japan, importing bikes & fees, and his potential opportunity with a Japan Pro Tour cycling team. We're also  talking about holidays in Japan! Last week was the emperor's birthday (天皇誕生日, Tenno tanjobi ) so we had a free day to explore Kanazawa and try a new coffee s...

Did you know that Japan discovered 7,000 new islands this week? What's the person to vending machine ratio here? When did the first Japanese cyclist participate in a Grand Tour? How was Pocari Sweat invented?  Why is there a train station famous for dancing cats?  This week we're doing something a bit different with a "fun facts" format, where we share some interesting things a...

We're talking about the Snow Festival in today's part 2 episode about our trip to Sapporo. Which snow sculpture won "best in show"? What did we eat in Hokkaido? What's Noguchi's Play Mountain?  Plus, we talk about how you celebrate Valentine's Day in Japan (who gives chocolate, and why?), and Zeb gets to ride his bike with some new friends. Listen to the end of e...

This week we talk about our trip up to Hokkaido for the 2023 Sapporo Snow Festival (held again for the first time in 3 years!) In part 1, we're talking about our first stop in the nearby town of Jozenkei for the Yukitouro (雪灯路 - Snow Candle Way) Event. Thousands of candles were lit around the snowy shrine to illuminate the winter atmosphere ( 定山渓神社 - Jozenkei Shrine). We also talk abo...

We're coming to you from our newly cozy Japanese apartment, thanks to a second layer of curtains to protect us in Ishikawa's latest winter storm! This week we have an update on bike racing and cycling licenses in Japan, pro tips on buying prescription glasses when you visit, then end of the school year for graduating high school students, and getting ready for our Sapporo trip this week!...

This week we talk about staying warm by eating Nabe (hot pot) dishes, finding a Totoro-like shrine with Shinboku, and the very unique screams of the brown-eared Bulbul bird. We also talk about bike racing in Japan, and Zeb's research on how to register for a cycling road race.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsboth...

This week we were served some foods we've never tried before while at an Izakaya with friends, but not all of them were dishes we'd choose to eat again... We also talk about the nationwide University entrance exams which happened this week, and the very friendly feature of Zeb on the front page of his high school's website.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese &q...

This week we had Coming of Age Day (成人の日, Seijin no Hi ),  felt our first earthquake,  learned how to prepare matcha, tried Oshiruko  (sweet bean soup with mochi) at our Japanese class party, and bought some Kutaniyaki.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos. Have a qu...

This episode is all about New Years celebrations in Japan! We welcomed the year 2023 (and also Reiwa 5), talked about hanging Shime-kazari on front doors, mailing Nengajo, foods you eat to celebrate the New Year, and shrines for Hatsumode. Plus, Annie goes to a police station (or Koban) for the first time!  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and...

We've been feeling festive this week, and this episode is all about Christmas celebrations and winter storms! Zeb's winter break at school started with a proper snowstorm, where the Kanazawa area received nearly 3 feet of snow. Unfortunately that canceled Zeb's "bonenkai" or work party, but it made for a cozy holiday weekend at home! We also talk about our Christmas gift e...

We celebrated Zeb's birthday this past weekend and Annie made her first reservation over the phone in Japanese to have pizza dinner at a restaurant in Kanazawa! We also talk about kimono fitting and Annie's opportunity to wear an iro uchikake, enjoying a nomihouidai (all-you-can-drink) dinner with a friend,  a cozy wine bar in Kanazawa, upcoming Christmas plans, and the first snow of the...

This week, we attend a futomaki (maki sushi roll) cooking class, enjoy a huge wine pour, learn about international standard paper sizes, see a Kamoshika (serow deer) on a scenic bike ride, and start getting used to winter weather here in Ishikawa Prefecture.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see...

December has arrived, and so has the chilly weather! Zeb saw snow for the first time on his bike ride this week, and we started getting some hail here in Uchinada! Annie successfully finished her first half-marathon, and Zeb's students are in the middle of exams.  What was the half-marathon like in Kanazawa? What's new on our website? Listen to this week's episode to find out! Liste...

We were embarrassingly late about realizing that our Japanese microwave has a true "oven" function, something we've never seen on the microwaves back home! Luckily we learned this just in time for Thanksgiving, so we could make a good ole American pumpkin pie -  or a kabocha pie in this case. This week we also talk about Zeb's "report card" from his Principal, and our...

This week, we're talking about Annie's visit to one of the local elementary schools in Uchinada for the "Cultural Exchange Assembly", and joining a cooking class in Kanazawa! (Annie even somehow made it in the newspaper for one of the elementary school visits!) What did we cook in the class? What American song did the elementary school-ers sing? Who is big mama? Answers to all...

This past Saturday was unseasonably warm - the perfect weather to enjoy the Kenroku-en Garden and Kanazawa Castle! While Zeb went on his favorite ride route yet, Annie took her mamachari into town to admire the fall leaves in the famous garden. We met up for ramen dinner and walked around the castle for the beautiful lights festival and lantern event! Also...what are paper pants? Listen to the end...

This past weekend we had planned a fun stay at a guesthouse in the neighboring prefecture of Toyama. The fall foliage is nearing it's peak here in Japan and we wanted to admire it by bike! 55 miles into our 67 mile route though...we had to turn back home. Find out what went wrong on our latest cycling adventure! This week we also discuss the final day of the Uchinada high school festival, and...

This past week was filled with a lot of good bike riding and food (like black ramen!), but it was also Halloween time! Halloween has only recently begun to be celebrated in Japan, and we talk about getting to dress  up and volunteer at a festive party for local kids here in Uchinada. The dress-up fun continued with Zeb's high school festival, where he was asked to participate in their comedy...

This time last year, Zeb had submitted his application for the JET Programme and we began to anxiously await the results. Fast forward to today, where we've been lucky enough to have lived in Japan for 90 days already! Is Uchinada what we had hoped for? How's Japanese language study going? Did we just have rose-colored glasses thinking about Kanazawa from our honeymoon? What are our favo...

After three years, F1 racing has returned to Japan - and we got to witness it! In this episode (part 2 of our anniversary trip to Osaka), we talk about the F1 race at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, how NOT to use the trains in Japan, second hand shopping in Osaka, and the best okinomiyaki .  Didn't hear last week's episode yet? Go back to listen to part 1 about how we got to Osaka, th...