Richard Simmonds

Originally from Sussex in the UK, Richard came to Japan for the first time in 2011 to teach English. Deciding that only one stint as a student wasn’t enough he returned to go to university in Osaka where he still lives, working slowly towards his inevitable destiny of being killed in an avalanche of manga and textbooks, surrounded by the discarded wrappers of assorted matcha-flavour sweets and biscuits. Whilst continuing his love-hate- hate relationship with the Japanese language he works as a translator, writer and sometime bar pet gaijin.

Posted by Richard Simmonds (Page 3)

More Japanese schoolgirls think themselves overweight than those in China, Korea or the U.S.

Japanese high school girls may be some of the thinnest in the world, but more than half think they’re fatties, and only a third are happy with their bodies.

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What’s funnier and more likely to make you study than poo? How about male pattern baldness?

Can comedians Takashi and Saito-san use their power of alopecia for good, and get kids studying kanji?

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Sushi gets a dessert makeover with beautiful sushi ice creams in NYC【Pics】

The (culinary) world goes topsy-turvy with mint chocolate chip sushi and fish-flavoured doughnuts.

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Japanese wife announces secret to a happy marriage, after being wed just three years

Hint: marriage might be more likely to go well if the sight of your beloved-to-be doesn’t make you throw up a little in your mouth.

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Beautiful recycled cardboard lampshades have us planning an office makeover

Bathe in the warm glow of owning something recycled, and a light bulb, with these magic cardboard lamps.

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Japanese government tells teachers not to be so strict, at least about some kanji radicals

Students rejoice and adults gripe as the government Agency for Cultural Affairs declares some writing “rules” undecided.

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Kagawa Prefecture holds ultra-udon marathon for those who love running, and noodles

Normally feel a bit peckish during an ultra-marathon? Then stop for some udon noodles, six times!

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Want to get into medical school? Learn how to dump someone in 600 characters or less

Japanese exam writers have a sense of humour, confound students who studied rather than pursued romance.

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Art on the cheap: Twitter user creates silver orb jewellery for around 100 yen 【Photos】

Feel like Vulcan in his forge and work metal with your bare hands with just a roll of cheap foil.

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Japan’s biggest, baddest piece of playground equipment set to close down

The slide in a children’s playground in Ehime, not suitable for children, will be no more after injuries and safety worries.

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Should saying thanks at a Japanese convenience store go without saying?

Manners maketh the man. Unless he’s at a convenience store, according to some Japanese social media users as debate over manners erupts.

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Japanese Twitter user may have discovered why they’re forever alone

According to one little sister, the key to getting a girlfriend or boyfriend? Loneliness, and not going to amusement arcades on your own.

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Japanese women warned about the dangers of dumping failed Valentine’s Day chocolate down the sink

As the old saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, not through sewage pipes.

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Poyo! A match made in Dreamland with a giant Kirby and manju cake set

The universe’s cutest Star Warrior, and star of Nintendo games, Kirby uses his Copy Ability to become huggable…that or it’s an adorably soft toy.

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Mismatched drain cover or real-life RPG puzzle to solve? One Japanese netizen investigates

Solve the puzzle to unlock a door, surely! …what do you mean “maybe we should take a break from gaming?”

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Japanese girls reveal who they really give most Valentine’s chocolates to, and it’s not boys

Who needs love, when you’ve got friends, and 15.2 people’s worth of chocolate? And we can at least help with the last one, with a yummy recipe!

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Japanese driver discovers why driving a car that has a massive snowfro isn’t the best idea【Video】

Clearing snow is hard work. Besides, you don’t need to see where you’re going when you’re driving, right?

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Viral Facebook post may see couple name their child after Dragon Ball character

Father-to-be from Arizona gets more than the one million Facebook likes needed to persuade his wife to call their newborn Son Goku.

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Foreign visitors rank their top Japanese experiences in new survey

Survey reveals foreign visitors of different nationalities have similar tastes when it comes to Japanese experiences, but not Japanese food.

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Royce’s special wine-filled chocolate isn’t just luxuriously decadent, it’s preciousss

Hokkaido-based chocolatier Royce‘s limited-edition Valentine’s Day chocolates will have you salivating, and dusting off your Gollum impression.

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