All posts by Julie Wilson

  • If ‘Mrs.’ stands for Missus, why the heck do we spell Mrs. with an ‘r’?

    In the 18th century, a man was addressed as ‘master’ or Mr. and a woman of the household as ‘mistress’ or Mrs. Cambridge University historian Dr. Amy Erickson suggests that the title “Mrs.” (pronounced ‘mistress’) used for...

    • Posted April 12, 2017
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  • The ADHD controversy

    A controversial comment made by leading Harvard Child Psychologist Jerome Kagan in Spiegel Online became the subject of heavy discussions between academia and pharmaceuticals. Kagan claims ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is an invented health condition rather...

    • Posted April 7, 2017
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  • Wife In Search Of A Woman To Marry Her Husband

    Amy Krouse Rosenthal is no stranger to those who love her writing style. Not only is she one of America’s most prolific writers of adult and children’s books, a filmmaker and ex radio show host, Amy, like...

    • Posted March 4, 2017
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  • Father and son’s sinfully scrumptious cheese tart creates a stir in Japan and Abroad

    Many of Japan’s successful companies are due in part to family businesses. Kinotoya is no different. When 24-year old Shintaro Naganuma joined his father Akio Naganuna at Kinotoya, the family’s long-running cheese tart business (based in Hokkaido),...

    • Posted February 21, 2017
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  • Want to get your child started on a pedal bike? These Tokyo parks teach children for free.

    It’s a milestone for any child to be able to learn how to ride a bicycle especially in bike-mad Tokyo. However, despite tons of tutorials on YouTube, teaching kids how to pedal is probably one that’s best...

    • Posted February 19, 2017
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  • Babies with big heads are intelligent, study reveals

    For a long time, you might wonder why people  called someone as a form of insult, a ‘bird brain’.  Well, science has the answer. A study by Edinburgh University (headed by Professor Ian Deary), on the link...

    • Posted February 9, 2017
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  • Competition is a good thing. We saved money on Fiber Optic service by 50%.

    In May 2016, the Japanese government revised the Telecommunications Business Law to protect consumers prompting service providers to: 1. issue an advance notice of renewal to subscribers tied up to a two-year contract; 2. create a breakdown...

    • Posted February 7, 2017
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  • Baby・Kid Friendly Movie Theatres in Tokyo

    Would you take your baby to a movie in Tokyo?  The answer to that is ‘no.’ Babies cry, pee and poo that can make others uncomfortable. It’s just isn’t fair to everyone else in the movie house....

    • Posted December 20, 2016
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  • Late night shopping at Platinum Don Quijote

    I must admit running the household and taking care of twins and a toddler can be too challenging at times. Thanks to this place called Platinum Don Quijote right down our alley, we are able to manage...

    • Posted December 19, 2016
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  • Japanese scientist claims eating ice cream for breakfast boosts mental alertness

    The idea of people eating ice cream for breakfast might strike you as odd but an intriguing study made by Tokyo Kyorin University professor and psychophysiology expert, Yoshihiko Koga, will change your mind. In collaboration with a...

    • Posted November 23, 2016
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  • Daytrippers – ’tis the season for Mikans!

    From early October until late November is the best time of the year to eat fresh mikans (or easy-peeling Japanese oranges) straight off the tree. Pack up on vitamin C in readiness for the coming chilly months....

    • Posted October 19, 2016
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  • Danseur and Teacher James Amar gives ballet lessons to children.

      Tokyo families catches up with James.   What brought you to Japan? The wish to always come back! I came to Japan for the first time in 1981 (at age 11) with the Paris Opera Ballet...

    • Posted August 17, 2016
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  • How can you lose weight without having to give up rice? Japanese doctor has the answer.

    Summer is when we all resolve to be healthier and shapelier. But let’s face it – giving up rice or pasta can be difficult. Dr. Toshiro Ikeya’s newfound theory shows weight watchers don’t have to give up...

    • Posted August 10, 2016
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  • Melon mint summer salad

    We all have an aunt who cooks. Mine did and one of her most requested summer recipes is this irresistible melon salad. Although we’ve lost her, her spirit lives on through her recipes. Her refreshing, fruity, citrusy...

    • Posted August 8, 2016
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  • Tokyo couple brings an arts-centric British-style preschool to Japan

    When Ayahi Suda packed her bags to move to the U.K. to pursue her dream of studying Arts at the University of the Arts London, she left behind a highly successful preschool, kindergarten and grade school (in...

    • Posted July 19, 2016
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  • Eat YOUR way to good health with Mediterranean cuisine

    When you’re craving healthy foods with a little flavor, you can’t go wrong with Mediterranean food. Mediterranean cuisine is famous all over the world for taking humble ingredients and turning them into delectable dishes. Train your taste...

    • Posted June 16, 2016
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  • Tokyo eggs-perience – The best Eggs Benedict in Tokyo

    If you are on the hunt for a delicious Eggs Benedict in Tokyo, you are in the right place. Tokyo has a plethora of restaurants that serve high quality international cuisine.

    • Posted May 1, 2016
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  • Preschoolers should be learning these at school

    Economists acknowledge that high quality early education is one of the most important investment parents can make to empower their child to be a responsible part of society. Steve Barnett, director of the National Institute for Early...

    • Posted March 14, 2016
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  • Do you know how to say the different types of thermometer in Japanese?

    The fever season is upon us. Taking a squirmy child’s temperature with just any mercury thermometer can sometimes give inaccurate results. Before you make a trip to the pharmacy, here’s how to find the best medical thermometer...

    • Posted February 23, 2016
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  • Why sleeping in a stroller or child seat for extended hours could be fatal

    An 11-week old American baby, Shepard Dodd, was put to sleep in a car seat at a day care center where he was left.  A couple of hours later, the daycare staff checked on him. He was...

    • Posted November 2, 2015
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  • Parent review: Will A New Meal Tray Really Get Kids To Eat Their Greens?

    Getting kids to eat their greens is a constant battle at meal time. Back in the 60s, parents looked to Popeye’s power-boosting can of spinach to convince their children to eat vegetables. Rodrigo Gorosterrazu says, “Talking about...

    • Posted October 24, 2015
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  • What electronic devices do to toddlers

    Emil Protalinski of Next Web reports that global sales of tablets in the second quarter of 2013 reached 51.7 million units, a sharp rise of 43 percent from 35.1 million in the same quarter of 2012. This...

    • Posted October 3, 2015
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  • Are our kids in Tokyo safe from sexual predators? Statistics tell us.

    For many years, Japan has been a society where kids’ independence is supported. In Tokyo, most kids of elementary school age commute daily to and from school, alone, with a very small chance of being kidnapped or...

    • Posted June 14, 2015
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  • Quiche for the picky eater

    Meal dilemmas? To be honest, my children have a love and hate relationship with broccoli. At times, they won’t eat it but  occasionally  they would. Here’s a fantastic recipe that guarantees no mealtime battles with the kids....

    • Posted March 30, 2015
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  • Tokyo mum bakes fun, theme cakes sans egg for Tokyo’s vegetarian community

    Eggs can be one of the most common allergy-causing foods for children. Most strict vegetarians exclude it and all animal byproducts from their diet for health reasons. When birthdays and celebration come around, egg-intolerant children can somehow...

    • Posted March 11, 2015
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  • Tired of outdoor parks? Ditch the park and get your kids a job at Kandu!

    Kandu is an indoor theme park for kids (similar to Kidzania only twice smaller) with edu-tainment value. Let the kids pick their dream job and roleplay all day while you parents take a break at Kandu’s  inhouse...

    • Posted March 11, 2015
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  • Parenting tricks: Q How Do You Teach Your Child to Develop Friendships When You Yourself Are No Good at It?

    Q   How Do You Teach Your Child to Develop Friendships When You Yourself Are No Good at It?  My 9-year-old daughter is having a difficult time in school. She says she has no friends and cries before...

    • Posted February 16, 2015
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  • Who is most likely to cheat in a marriage?

    A team of British researchers gives us a clue. The difference in length between the index and ring fingers is a good predictor of marital infidelity according to the study by a team of British scientists. The...

    • Posted February 5, 2015
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  • Kiddie gourmet

    Ingredients 1 pumpkin, about 500 grams, peeled and cubed (you can also use butternut squash) 1tbsp oil 1 small onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed • 300 grams Koshihikari rice 1 litre hot vegetable stock 100 grams...

    • Posted January 22, 2015
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  • Are you a jealous, moody and anxious wife? Bad news!

    A 40-year Swedish research has identified that women who are,  have a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. A previous research centered on levels of education, cardiovascular, head injuries, and family history points to...

    • Posted December 4, 2014
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