iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 23/09/2026

Potentially the last 30 degree day of the year in Osaka?

A ten day weather forecast for Joto-ki, Osaka showing only today with a high of 30C.

Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 15/09/2026

Pretty ramshackle clothing offerings at 711. Feels like a desperate attempt to out-Famima Famima. “Whoops” feels like the appropriate brand name for this accidental smorgasbord.

Random ass clothes for sale at 711 in Osaka.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 05/09/2026

At the IMAX in Expo City to see the Odyssey. My first IMAX since the last Dark Knight movie, I think.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 08/08/2026

The 1,000-yen lunch set is undefeated in Osaka. Does it still exist in Tokyo? Got the kinoko bacon risotto today.

A kinoko bacon risotto lunch set from a cafe in Osaka.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 08/08/2026

Kimchi cold Cup Noodle not quite as good as the lemon but refreshing today. I added ice cubes this time.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 01/08/2026

Yet one more thing I never knew I needed in my life...

A bag of "Salty Vanilla Nuts" from 7-11 in Japan.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 31/07/2026

Why bother with は or が when you can go straight to ありません！ Seen at a cafe in my neighborhood over the weekend. Too hot for cake, sadly.

A handwritten sign at a cafe that reads 本日、猛暑て怖いため、ベイクドチーズケーキありません。

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 26/07/2026

I overdid it with the Cup Noodles after getting back to Japan in 2022 and basically haven't been able to stomach them for the past year or so, but this new one calls for refrigerated water and is really light and refreshing. There's a kimchi flavor too.

Nisshin's lemon chicken cold Cup Noodle.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 12/07/2026

Also I platinumed Elden Ring on PS5 last night. What a game. My first ever platinum. My next closest is Baldur's Gate 3 at 41% complete.

The "I am the eldest boy" meme from Succession but with "I am the Elden Boy" text.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 10/07/2026

We might have one more 29C day, but that rainy season reprieve is over. The hot weather is here.

A 10-day Osaka forecast showing highs of 31-32C with one 29C day next week.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 04/07/2026

Nearing the end of sub-30C weather here in Osaka. We've been lucky this year so far. Last year it got hotter faster.

10 day weather report for Osaka showing highs starting to creep up above 30C.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 03/07/2026

Well, the new Murakami novel is out and it doesn't look like he added anything new to the short stories. At least nothing substantially new. Definitely not to the ending. I anticipate finding some superficial revisions here and there but not much else. What a disappointment.

Murakami Haruki's latest novel "The Tale of Kaho" with an anteater on the cover.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 01/07/2026

Apparently I have earned some rainy season karma for my commute this morning. The skies have literally parted.

A map of Osaka showing a patch of rain moving to the east.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 26/06/2026

The five ethnicities: Italian, Mexican, curry, goma dressing, canned fruit.

A display of ethnic food at a Japanese grocery store.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 18/06/2026

I passed JLPT 一級 20 years ago in December 2026. I got curious about how the tests and testing have changed, so I decided to try something that makes no sense at all at take the tests again starting with N5 this July.

The bottom half of a JLPT test voucher for July 2026.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 04/05/2026

If you come through Kagoshima, Hatoya no pan is a must visit. Easily one of my top 10 bakeries in Japan. Everything looked incredible. No stinkers in the place. Also, amazing value. Most items were 200-350 yen.

Hatoya no pan bakery in Kagoshima Station with blue walls and a white dove on either side with はとやのぱん written in hiragana over the top.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 27/04/2026

When you turn around in a drug store or department store or konbini and Shohei is there.

Dwight from The Office being surprised by Angela and saying "Fuck."

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 25/04/2026

Two Zwanze beers this year. A Blanche and a Rouge, lambics blended with dry and sweet vermouth. Pretty remarkable beers! Zwanze beers can sometimes be hit or miss, but they're great this year.

Zwanze Day beers in Nara. One white and one red in small glasses with a small bento in the foreground.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 23/04/2026

They're also advertising it as the first full-length novel with a female protagonist. I guess 1Q84 only half counts because Aomame was just one of the perspectives?

An image from Murakami's website stating that his new novel is "his first full-length novel with a female protagonist."

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 23/04/2026

Murakami announces his latest novel. It appears to be a compilation of the stories/novellas in the "Kaho series" he's been publishing in Shincho over the past couple years. I'm reading the most recent one right now. They are not very good, so I'm curious if he will polish them at all.

The announcement of Murakami's new novel "The Tale of Kaho" to be published on July 3.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 27/03/2026

I'm catching up on the Murakami novella from last fall and it's 100% trash. Characters just waiting around, talking about weird shit that happened, fantastical things that are just assumed, questions that aren't asked of other characters to prevent puncturing the bad logic fueling the story.

The cover of the November 2025 issue of Shincho with a Murakami novella.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 20/03/2026

This is the most remarkable beer in Japan at the moment. (Please ignore the cleaning supplies in the background.)

A can of Asahi The Bitter-ist poured into a Nomcraft glass.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 12/03/2026

Really interesting Asahi brew on offer right now: the "One Third." It's one part Asahi Kuronama (a great beer) and two parts Maru-eff (an OK beer). The result is pretty solid!

A can of Asahi "One Third" beer with a glass filled with the beer in the background and a nabe cooking on the stove.

The back of the One Third can showing that it's one part Kuronama and two parts Maru-eff.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 03/03/2026

The Suntory nama cans look refreshing af with their new colors.

A photo of beer cans on a convenience store shelf in Japan with a focus on the blue Suntory cans.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 01/03/2026

My latest read was a page by page 読み比べ of Tsushima Yuko's 寵児, Child of Fortune. Very interesting book.

Copies of Tsushima Yuko's novel Child of Fortune in Japanese and English translation being held in a hand.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 01/03/2026

Lieutenant Loaf arrived yesterday and I immediately fired her up and made a loaf of 100% whole wheat. It's so good I could cry. For $50 USD or less you can get a used machine in really good condition. Taking submissions for alternate names. Pain Producer? Crumb Captain? Old Crusty?

A Panasonic SD-BH106 home bakery bread machine on a kitchen counter with some kitchenware in the background.

A loaf of whole wheat bread in a "bread case" from a Panasonic home bakery bread machine.

Two pieces of homemade whole wheat toast on light blue plates.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 07/02/2026

Got hyperfixated on black and white cookies and had to make some.

A homemade black and white cookie on a white plate being held up in a Japanese kitchen.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 02/02/2026

Opened our last pack of Lebkuchen from Gyomu Super today. This feeling will need to last me until December... Might have to learn to make these they're so good.

An opened pack of iced Lebkuchen from Gyomu Super in a Ziploc bag.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 17/01/2026

Planet brain: Cheetos Solar system brain: Flamin'Hot Cheetos Galaxy brain: Kansai dashi shoyu Cheetos

A bowl full of Kansai dashi shoyu Cheetos, slightly lighter in color than regular Cheetos.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 16/01/2026

One of my favorites is back in stores.

A pink Ghana strawberry ice cream butter cookie sandwich.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 14/01/2026

Hey, Apple, I'd pay $500 to never see this fucking pop up ever again.

Apple's annoying pop up notification that displays when you play Apple Music on another device and have the app open on your laptop.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 04/01/2026

Constantly having to explain the dumbest stuff to the world is exhausting.

An image of a Japanese news broadcast explaining the fake and illegal "Donroe Doctrine" and the Monroe Doctrine.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 31/12/2025

I've been off my Japanese TV game lately but caught the 探偵ナイトスクープ marathon today. I love when the show gives you a slice of life by visiting someone's house. Like this house with a fax machine (that appears to be in active use) and Minion plush over in the corner.

An image from the show 探偵ナイトスクープ showing a fax machine that appears to be in active use in the corner with a Minion plush and other toys.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 30/12/2025

Accountability for November and December. I took December completely to prep for my daughter's birth (12/22 at 21:22!). Overall, happy with my output for the year. I already have a good bit of material prepped for next year. Disappointed with the time I spent writing. 2026 goal: Sit at the computer.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 29/12/2025

Also, is there anything better than a Japanese supermarket? 240 yen for an ebikatsu burger feels like highway robbery.

An ebikatsu burger from a Japanese grocery store.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 29/12/2025

Big Danish is conspiring to be your afternoon snack.

A big Danish at a Japanese grocery store.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 27/12/2025

Wow. Finally finished Slay the Spire on A20 with The Defect. Maybe the most difficult game I've ever played. Can't wait for the sequel. I think I'll put it down for a bit now (he says after playing 210 hours this year lol).

An A20 Slay the Spire run with The Defect including a full list of cards.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 26/12/2025

Breaking news: 勉強, I'm sad to report, is 迷惑.

A sign at a cafe in an Osaka supermarket that asks patrons not to study because it would be a nuisance.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 24/12/2025

I was indecisive so went with this bento that had a nibble of everything. May go tomorrow for chicken of some sort.

A bento box from a Japanese supermarket with nine little items including gyudon, omuraisu, korokke, subuta and other items.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 16/12/2025

They finally made sexy Lafcadio Hearn.

A banner from the NHK website for the show "Bakebake" about Lafcadio Hearn.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 10/12/2025

Damn. I'm seriously impressed. Asahi just rolled out an A+ jalapeño beer. Could use maybe a touch more pepper aroma but the spice level is perfect. Not too much but also very noticeable. Great food beer. Pulling this off on a commercial scale is a feat.

Asahi's new "Spice Beer" jalapeño beer poured into a glass.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 07/12/2025

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 29/11/2025

Trying the new Yebisu Creative Brew. These are usually pretty good but this one isn't stellar. Difficult to tell what they're going for. Not really an amber. Somewhat hoppy but not distinct. At least it's fresh.

A can of Yebisu's "Jazzy" Creative Brew poured into a glass. A slightly amber beer with white foam on top.

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Daniel Morales @howtojapanese.com · 22/11/2025

If you're not checking the packaging dates of your beer in Japan, you're doing it wrong. You could get a super fresh Super Dry packaged in the last few weeks or you might end up with a beer packaged seven months ago. I saw Suntory Master's Dream from April on the shelf today.

A beer in a glass on a kitchen counter in the background and in the foreground the bottom of a can of Super Dry showing it was packaged in November 2025.

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