Category Archives: Outside Kyushu

Top Ten Japanese Character Mascots 2013

Posted on November 23, 2013 by findingfukuoka

The time has come to announce Finding Fukuoka’s top ten yuru-kyara (character mascots for PR purposes) for 2013. The intense proliferation of these characters in every aspect of Japanese life has presented a plethora of amazing candidates for this list, and it … Continue reading →

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Top Ten Japanese Character Mascots 2012

Posted on November 27, 2012 by findingfukuoka

I published my first top-ten Japanese yuru-kyara list almost one year ago, and thanks to enthusiastic responses from readers I have decided to make an updated list with a view of 2012 as a whole. You will recognize some of … Continue reading →

Posted in History/Culture, Kyushu, Outside Kyushu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Debut of the Osaka Insider Guidebook–and My First Published Work!

Posted on January 21, 2012 by findingfukuoka

Some of you may remember my Osaka Insider blog, and ongoing project that eventually led me to start writing a guidebook. After much hard work, I have finally released my first published work, Osaka Insider: A Travel Guide for Osaka Prefecture!! … Continue reading →

Posted in Outside Kyushu, Published Works | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Top Ten Japanese Character Mascots

Posted on January 13, 2012 by findingfukuoka

Click here for the most recent 2013 character mascot rankings!! In Japan, yuru-kyara (character mascots for PR purposes) are designed for just about anything you can think of–cities, prefectures, companies, brands, projects, events, sports teams, products and more. This list is a … Continue reading →

Posted in History/Culture, Kyushu, Outside Kyushu | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Konpirasan

Posted on October 6, 2011 by findingfukuoka

This blog’s primary focus is Fukuoka and Kyushu, but the underlying theme has always been “travel.” I would be doing the rest of Japan a great injustice if I limited my travels and/or writing to Kyushu alone, so I will … Continue reading →

Posted in On Travel, Outside Kyushu, Sightseeing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sakai: Kansai’s Lost City

Posted on June 17, 2011 by findingfukuoka

Let’s leave Kyushu for a moment: I had the privilege to visit Sakai during my recent trip to Osaka, and it really made me think. What most people see as an unattractive, polluted city is actually one of the most … Continue reading →

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