Dallen Nakamura

Dallen Archive

A young Asian girl is standing while holding a book that she is reading. A bookshelf full of books is behind her.

Best Japanese Books for Absolute Beginners

May 8, 2016 • Dallen Nakamura • 9 Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Beginning your journey to learn Japanese can be overwhelming. Japanese seems like such a difficult language, that you …

2 Japanese style of teishoku (set meal) boxes. In each section of the box (6 in total, 3 in each box) there is a different food item or sauce in it). A saucer of soy sauce and a cup of green tea is next to the boxes, and a pair of disposable chopsticks at the opposite corner.

21 Must-Try Foods in Japan – The Ultimate Food Guide

May 3, 2016 • Dallen Nakamura • 1 Comment • Food Adventures

The Best Foods That You Can Find Easily Anywhere in Japan Japan has some of the best food …

How to Order Food in Japanese

September 12, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 2 Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Dining Out in Japan: How to Order Food in Japanese like a Pro Japan has some of the …

Miyajima Floating Torii Gate with a sunrise/sunset in the background.

Miyajima Island Japan

July 14, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Places to Visit

Miyajima – the Sacred Island Filled with History, Good Food, and Friendly Deer Itsukushima, or more commonly known …

Working for The JET Program – A Typical Day

July 14, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 6 Comments • Living in Japan

If you got accepted to the JET Program as an ALT, congratulations! All of your hard work and …

6 pieces of nigiri Sushi displayed in a line. (Fish, imitation crab, cucumber, salmon, shrimp, and unagi sushi).

The Best Sushi in Japan

July 13, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Food Adventures

The Best Sushi in the World…Is Not Where You Think It Is If you have seen the documentary, …

Nagano Japan Yudanaka Valley in winter. The buildings and ground is covered in a light blanket of snow.

Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen

July 9, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Places to Visit

There are many places in Japan that I absolutely love, and the Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen area are …

Jigokudani Monkey Park Japan

July 9, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 1 Comment • Places to Visit

If you have ever seen a picture of a monkey bathing in an outdoor hot spring surrounded by …

A folded pair of grey pants with a black belt on top, a pair of black dress shoes, three folded button up shirts, a pair of glasses, a smartphone, a wallet, a longer pocket wallet, a electronic tablet and cash on a white surface.

JET Program Packing Guide

July 8, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan

Things to Bring on JET Getting ready to move to Japan with the JET Program is both exciting …

A red suit case with travel stickers on it. A pair of sunglasses, a hat, a map, green slippers, a beach ball, a small model airplane, a yellow bottle, thumb tacks and a blue passport book with two tickets inside are also shown.

Working for the JET Program – Pre-Departure

July 6, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan

Working for the JET Program – 7 Things You Need to Do before Coming to Japan 1. …

A young white male wearing a grey suit with a red tie and black glasses is opening his shirt to reveal a blue shirt underneath. Random mathematical symbols are show behind and around him.

JET Program Advice – How to Be a Great ALT

July 6, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan

7 Essential Tips on How to Be a Great ALT – JET Program 1. Be Super Chill and Go …

A group of 5 people of all different ethnicities dressed in business suits. There are 2 males and 3 females. They are all sitting down at a long table, looking like they are evaluating something. 4 of them have a clipboard and a pen. The woman on the left end has a laptop open in front of her.

The JET Program Interview – Tips and Sample Questions

June 29, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan

Congratulations! You made it past the first round! Honestly, completing the application and essay is by far the …

3 pieces of Pitan, or Chinese Century Eggs. On is unshelled, one is in its shell, and the other is covered in some kind of brown material.

Chinese Century Eggs – Don’t Do It!

June 28, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 7 Comments • Food Adventures

I have tried many weird and crazy foods in Japan. Some of them were absolutely delicious, while …

A woman with black hair is soaking in a Japanese Rotenburo (open air bath) while looking at the snow and trees all around her.

Japanese Onsen Etiquette

June 24, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Living in Japan

In addition to the amazing food, wonderful culture, and helpful people, onsen, or hot spring baths, are another …

An Old Man with white hair is in a bathtub, and is completely covered in soap bubbles. He is looking off to the side. The background is blue tile with a sponge and long blue scrubbing brush next to the man.

My Japanese Onsen Experience – A Not So Subtle Stalker

June 22, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 4 Comments • Living in Japan

I love Japanese onsen. Soaking in a hot, natural bath takes away all of my stress and fills …

Close up of a pen on top of a Job Application

The JET Program Application – Tips and Advice to Make You Succeed

June 21, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 22 Comments • Living in Japan

If you want to get accepted into the JET program, you’ve come to the right place. I was accepted …

Is Tokyo Disneyland Worth It?

June 18, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Places to Visit

Disneyland. The place where dreams come true and magic is made. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park …

A young woman lying down on the ground holding a black pencil in her right hand. Her elbows are on the ground, her hands cupping her face. Stacks of books surround her, and a light brown teddy bear is also seen in the background.

Best JLPT N2 Books

June 16, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 37 Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Best Books for the JLPT N2 (Or Any Level) If you’re planning to take the JLPT N1 or …

A scantron test answer sheet with the bubbles filled in. There is an "A+" that is circled, written in red on the test answer sheet. A yellow pencil is on top on the sheet as well.

How to Pass the JLPT N2 on Your First Try

June 7, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 99 Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

*Updated November 15th, 2020 Is it possible to pass the JLPT N2 on your first try? You bet …

Japanese Counting System Kanji Chart (numbers 1 - 10)

How to Count in Japanese – Numbers You’ll Actually Use

May 24, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Normal Counting – Sino-Japanese Number Japanese Romaji Kanji Hiragana Katakana 0 rei, zero 零れい、ぜろレイ、ゼロ 1 ichi …

A display of various types of seafood in Styrofoam containers at a Japanese market.

10 Weird Japanese Foods You Should Try

May 23, 2015 • Dallen Nakamura • 3 Comments • Food Adventures

1. Natto (Fermented Soybeans) This lovely treat made from fermented soybeans is packed full of nutrients…if you can …

Grilled Shirako, or Fish Sperm on a plate with a sudachi citrus fruit cut in half next to it on the plate. The shirako is on top of a piece of konbu, or seaweed.

Fish Sperm in Japan – Put It in Your Mouth, Swallow, and Gag

July 24, 2008 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Food Adventures

Here’s another adventure from Japan. Grab some popcorn, a cold one, and let’s start reminiscing about my times …

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