Matthew Coslett
After his 6 month stay got extended to 6 years, Matthew decided just to stay. As well as writing about his beloved Kansai, he spends hours in the middle of nowhere looking for wildlife and searching for the parts of the city most people ignore.
Articles
Animal Symbolism of Shrines and Temples in Japan
Learn why a cat is lucky, why pregnant women want to have a dog's day and why you should never mess with crabs.
5 More Cool Studio Ghibli Locations You Can Visit in Japan
What were some of the real-life locations that inspired our favorite anime films?
GaijinPot on Location: A Quest for Kurosawa
Discover the real-life locations seen in some of the acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa's most iconic movies.
GaijinPot on Location: ‘The Karate Kid’ and ‘Cobra Kai’ in Okinawa
Okinawa is a big part of the Karate Kid franchise, but where are the real-life locations that inspired it?
A Survival Guide to Japan’s Winter Monsters
Guaranteed to chill your blood more than the cold weather, let’s look at Japan’s wicked side of winter.
The Convenience of Casting Curses and Charms in Japan
From its ancient origins to its modern face, Japan has a world of hexes, malevolent magic and spells waiting to be discovered.
How Difficult is the JLPT N1 for Japanese People?
We tested native speakers to see if they would struggle with the infamous highest level of the Japanese proficiency test.
Japanese Vocabulary for Buying a Home in Japan
How to properly purchase property.
Kanji Cheat Sheet: Filling in the Work History Section of Your Japanese Resume
Make applying for a job in Japanese less intimidating with this guide.
Kanji Cheat Sheet: Getting a Commuter Pass in Japan
Get a shiny new commuter pass all by yourself with this kanji guide.
Kanji Cheat Sheet: Buying Cleaning Products in Japan
Get things spick and span as quick as you can.
You Should Learn These Basic Japanese Job Interview Questions
Don’t get caught off guard at the interview. Prepare, practice, perform!
