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Manga-style illustration for the Hokkaido-ben (北海道弁) article in Simple Gaijin's The Many Voices of Japan series, featuring snowy Sapporo scenery, two anime characters, a map of Hokkaido, and regional expressions including なまら, したっけ, しばれる, and めんこい.

Hokkaido-ben (北海道弁): How Japan's Northernmost Prefecture Speaks Japanese

What makes Japanese spoken in Hokkaido different from standard Japanese? Explore regional expressions, distinctive grammar, historical influences, and the linguistic diversity of Japan's northernmost prefecture.

Mike Viscusi

46 minutes ago11 min read

Illustration of a former JET Programme Assistant Language Teacher standing outside a Japanese school in snowy Akkeshi, Hokkaido, with Japanese students. The graphic highlights teaching English in Japan, rural life, salary, the advantages and disadvantages of JET, and career opportunities after the program.

What Is the JET Programme Really Like? An Honest Look from a Former ALT

What is working for the JET Programme really like? Drawing on my experience as an ALT in Akkeshi, Hokkaido, I explore the rewards, frustrations, realities of rural Japan, and whether JET is worth pursuing.

Mike Viscusi

4 hours ago13 min read

Comic-style illustration of Japanese singer Yoshi Ikuzō performing “Ora Tokyo Sa Iguda” in a snowy rural Japanese village, with a cow, countryside scenery, and a thought bubble showing Tokyo’s neon skyline. Bold text asks whether the 1984 song was Japan’s first rap song.

俺ら東京さ行ぐだ (Ora Tokyo Sa Iguda): Japan's First Rap Song?

Was 俺ら東京さ行ぐだ (Ora Tokyo Sa Iguda) Japan's first rap song? Discover how Yoshi Ikuzō's hilarious 1984 hit combined Tsugaru dialect, rural frustration, and hip-hop influences. Plus, learn why its tale of escaping the Japanese countryside hits particularly close to home for a former ALT who left Hokkaido for Tokyo.

Mike Viscusi

Aug 7, 202011 min read

My JET Program Experience - A Year of Tomfoolery and Fun

Featured image for “Why I Left the JET Programme After One Year in Japan,” featuring a young American man in winter clothing overlooking a snow-covered Hokkaido fishing town at sunset, with a map highlighting Hokkaido.

Mike Viscusi

Aug 26, 201716 min read