June 5, 2016

This blog...

I've been thinking a lot about this blog lately.  I don't post much these days. 

Before I moved to Japan, this blog was J*Style which was about Japan mostly Japanese fashion something I tried to emulate.  After I moved to Japan, it became Lost in Japan which was about me navigating the confusing landscape of a country I had dreamed about from afar, visited, but never lived.  I tried to impart my wisdom via experience about the culture and travels through Japan.  This blog was never very popular and as much as I want to say that doesn't matter we all want what we write to be read (at least I'd say we do if it's published on the internet).

I feel like I have little new knowledge to impart to anyone on the subject of Japan.  Writing this blog feels more like a chore to me than something I actually enjoy doing.  I feel like I could change the format of this blog to general whinging about life but then that's pretty much what I do on FB and Twitter, so why do I need another site to do something I already do somewhere else?

I also feel like Blogger has gone the way of the dodo.  I think that many people have WordPress instead or used alternate blogging sites like Tumblr or microblogging sites like Twitter and Facebook.  Technology has left no time for people to read blogs.

I can't bring myself to remove this blog.  I don't have much interest in keeping it running or changing the format though I may occasionally post about Kit Kats or Lipton Tea.  Meanwhile, I think I'll just leave it here.

February 5, 2016

Kit Kat Time! SPECIAL EDITION!

The internet has gone crazy for Kit Kat's newest creation.  See here, here, and here for just a few examples.

Why I didn't rush out an immediately buy these, I did pick some up yesterday while I was at the コンビニ but they're not exactly flying off the shelf.

Here's some information about the 日本酒 Kit Kats:
  • They are white chocolate.
  • They have actual alcohol powder in them (0.8%).
  • They are not recommended for children (it says this on the package).
  • 日本酒 is what you might call sake.


First, I was overwhelmed by the smell.  These smell like actual sake (or that odd guy on the train at 2:15 in the afternoon).  They taste like it too (albeit a sweet version of it).  So congrats Kit Kat, you did what you set out to do, alcohol chocolate.

Here's a disclaimer.  I don't like sake.  I ate this for the blog (actually choked down is more like it).  I'm not a fan of these.  Maybe if you like sake, you'll like these.

(I'm a bit sad that this wasn't #50 on the list.)

Here's the list:
  1. Cheese
  2. Bitter Almond
  3. Ramune 
  4. Berry Pomegranate
  5. Apple Vinegar
  6. Peach
  7. Green Tea
  8. Tiramisu
  9. Wasabi
  10. Vanilla
  11. Sakura Matcha
  12. Strawberry
  13. Raspberry
  14. Vanilla Ice 
  15. Caramel
  16. Pumpkin Pudding
  17. White
  18. Cinnamon
  19. Citrus
  20. Japanese Chili
  21. Blueberry Cheesecake
  22. Purple Sweet Potato
  23. Rum Raisin
  24. Brown Sugar Syrup
  25. Orange
  26. Hazelnut
  27. Condensed Milk Strawberry
  28. Passion Fruit 
  29. Strawberry Cheesecake
  30. Baked Kit Kats 
  31. Hokkaido Red Bean
  32. Orange Peel
  33. Kobe Pudding
  34. Dark
  35. Apple
  36. Red Bean Sandwich
  37. Cheesecake 
  38. Cookies & Cream
  39. Chocolate Mint Ice
  40. Sweet Potato
  41. Premium Hazelnut 
  42. Butter
  43. Orange Cocktail Noir
  44. Green Tea & Kinako
  45. Pistachio & Raspberry 
  46. Chili & Passion Fruit
  47. Strawberry Maple 
  48. 日本酒 (or Sake)

January 5, 2016

Kit Kat time!

I'm getting on a plane soon to head back to my home in the Land of the Rising Sun so I thought what better time than now to review the last of the Chocolatory Kit Kats.  Also, I'm taking a break after shoving a good chunk of America into my suitcases.

These are the final two purchased from the Chocolatory.


The top one is Chili and Passion Fruit.  Nestled in dark chocolate, the chili flavor provides a slight kick, and it's not too overpowering and pairs nicely with the sweetness of passion fruit.  I really liked this one.

The bottom one is Strawberry Maple.  The chocolate is strawberry flavored and to be honest I couldn't taste the maple at all.  It just tasted like strawberry to me.

That's it for me.  See you next time from Japan!

Here's the list:

  1. Cheese
  2. Bitter Almond
  3. Ramune 
  4. Berry Pomegranate
  5. Apple Vinegar
  6. Peach
  7. Green Tea
  8. Tiramisu
  9. Wasabi
  10. Vanilla
  11. Sakura Matcha
  12. Strawberry
  13. Raspberry
  14. Vanilla Ice 
  15. Caramel
  16. Pumpkin Pudding
  17. White
  18. Cinnamon
  19. Citrus
  20. Japanese Chili
  21. Blueberry Cheesecake
  22. Purple Sweet Potato
  23. Rum Raisin
  24. Brown Sugar Syrup
  25. Orange
  26. Hazelnut
  27. Condensed Milk Strawberry
  28. Passion Fruit 
  29. Strawberry Cheesecake
  30. Baked Kit Kats 
  31. Hokkaido Red Bean
  32. Orange Peel
  33. Kobe Pudding
  34. Dark
  35. Apple
  36. Red Bean Sandwich
  37. Cheesecake 
  38. Cookies & Cream
  39. Chocolate Mint Ice 
  40. Sweet Potato
  41. Premium Hazelnut 
  42. Butter
  43. Orange Cocktail Noir
  44. Green Tea & Kinako
  45. Pistachio & Raspberry 
  46. Chili & Passion Fruit
  47. Strawberry Maple

January 1, 2016

Kit Kat time!

Greetings!  Today I'm talking Kit Kats.  The husband and I made a special trip to the Kit Kat Chocolatory in Ikebukuro.  There we picked up some unheard of Kit Kat flavors that I'm happy to review for you today.


First pictured is Green Tea & Kinako.  I really liked this one.  I'm a big fan of kinako and this shone through and complimented the green tea flavor nicely.

Next pictured is Pistachio & Raspberry.  Unfortunately, I couldn't taste the pistachio flavor at all.  The raspberry is very overpowering.  It wasn't bad.  I was just disappointed.

Stay tuned for two new Chocolatory flavors!

Here's the list:
  1. Cheese
  2. Bitter Almond
  3. Ramune 
  4. Berry Pomegranate
  5. Apple Vinegar
  6. Peach
  7. Green Tea
  8. Tiramisu
  9. Wasabi
  10. Vanilla
  11. Sakura Matcha
  12. Strawberry
  13. Raspberry
  14. Vanilla Ice 
  15. Caramel
  16. Pumpkin Pudding
  17. White
  18. Cinnamon
  19. Citrus
  20. Japanese Chili
  21. Blueberry Cheesecake
  22. Purple Sweet Potato
  23. Rum Raisin
  24. Brown Sugar Syrup
  25. Orange
  26. Hazelnut
  27. Condensed Milk Strawberry
  28. Passion Fruit 
  29. Strawberry Cheesecake
  30. Baked Kit Kats 
  31. Hokkaido Red Bean
  32. Orange Peel
  33. Kobe Pudding
  34. Dark
  35. Apple
  36. Red Bean Sandwich
  37. Cheesecake 
  38. Cookies & Cream
  39. Chocolate Mint Ice 
  40. Sweet Potato
  41. Premium Hazelnut 
  42. Butter
  43. Orange Cocktail Noir
  44. Green Tea & Kinako
  45. Pistachio & Raspberry