Contributor

Kyle Von Lanken

Kyle Von Lanken was born and raised in a peaceful Chicago suburb. His Japanese studies took him from universities in Hawaii to Japan, eventually settling in rural Niikappu, where he continues to be fascinated by Japanese culture from a Hokkaido perspective.

Articles

Live

The Perks of Having Pleasant Japanese In-Laws

For good or bad, when you marry your Japanese spouse you marry their family as well.

By 3 min read 21

Explore

Hokkaido’s 3 Sensational Sweets

The sweet taste of Japan's northern island.

By 3 min read

Learn

Tips for Overcoming Your Language Study Rut

We all get stuck when studying a language, but it's how you get going again that is key to success.

By 3 min read 12

Explore

Cuisine from Hokkaido: The Big Three

A sample of delicious meals from Hokkaido.

By 4 min read 3

Learn

Bad (and Hilarious) Translations and Why They Happen

Why is Engrish so different from English?

By 4 min read 10

Explore

Hokkaido: Sapporo’s Bustle, Agriculture’s Abundance and Winter’s Charm

Famous for it's winter weather, there is so much more to Hokkaido that is waiting to be discovered.

By 5 min read 4