Bilingual Bento

14/05/2025

Mongrel by Hanako Footman 🎻

The feelings of integrating into a society which is alien to you, the pain and suffering of battling with your identity, who you are, what you are and where you belong. All of these emotions are central to the stories of Meiko, Haruka and Yuki.

Each story shows us what it’s like not to fit in, not to meet the expectations that society deems we must adhere to, the power that men have over the lives of women, and the suffering they must endure.

Through cycles of self-sabotage and self-abusive behaviour, these characters work through complex emotions, sometimes ending up in difficult and dangerous situations. To which they come out and learn why these feelings and events seemed to have been drawn to them.

Without spoiling anything, I can honestly say that Mongrel has really opened my eyes to a lot of things. I can relate but only in an indirect sense, taking race out of the picture but replacing it with sexuality and gender identity. The feelings of being lost, abandoned and seeking out answers really resonated with me.

I highly recommend Mongrel if you’ve not read it. You’ll not be disappointed.

Tags: #文学 #日本文学 #ハーフ

10/05/2025

Finally finished “Abroad in Japan: Ten Years in the Land of the Rising Sun” by Chris Broad

Overall it was a wonderful read and listen, I read along with the audiobook as an accompaniment (which helps a lot with my dyslexia) and Chris’s voice was a great addition to the experience. It felt like I was sat with him as he regaled stories of his time in Japan, some funny, some embarrassing, some touching and some deeply emotional.

It was also nice to see Chris talk casually about some of the uncomfortable experiences regarding his anxiety, which I feel he steers away from in his videos and on the Abroad in Japan podcast. I believe this often gets covered up with his “grumpy British” persona, whereas in fact, he’s a lot more than that, in the book he comes across as humble and very human.

As a former teacher I can relate to some of his experiences from being asked awkward questions from your learners, to having interesting exchanges with your colleagues. It took me back to a time where I felt like I was making a difference. Very nostalgic!

I highly recommend reading “Abroad in Japan: Ten Years in the Land of the Rising Sun” if you’re interested in the personal exploits of a young, naive English lad trying to find his way in the world. To then watch him emerge as a skilled and talented filmmaker in the beautiful country of Japan.

29/04/2025

Happy 1st Birthday to Bilingual Bento! 🎂

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I started my podcast, it’s been so much fun chatting about life, Japan and everything else!

Thank you so much for your support over the last year. You don’t know how much it means to me 🥲

14/04/2025

Make your vote count! Voting in the Anime Awards by Crunchyroll ends TODAY - https://www.crunchyroll.com/animeawards/vote

05/04/2025

It's been a while and in episode 16 of Bilingual Bento I give you all the gossip as to what I've been up to, some really exciting upcoming anime and manga as well as a few ancedotes about crazy French kids and drunkenly ordering theatre tickets...

Episode 16 is out NOW! - linktr.ee/bilingualbento

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View bilingualbento’s Linktree. Listen to their music on Spotify here.

20/03/2025

🎉🎉🎉

19/01/2025

Can you BELIEVE it? It’s Bilingual Bento once again, bringing you episode 15 filled with lots of anecdotes and chinwags all along the way. We’re talking the winter holidays, how 2025 is shaping up for anime, the Game Awards and so much more!

Episode 15 is out NOW! - linktr.ee/bilingualbento

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02/12/2024

It’s been a good year 💪🇯🇵

01/12/2024

Just finished Like A Dragon: Yakuza series on Amazon Video. The series was fun, though a little different to what I was expecting. I think if you go into it not expecting scene-for-scene accuracy to the video games, it’s really enjoyable.

My only major gripe was the serious issues with subtitles vanishing mid-episode. It really ruined the immersion and considering how much money Amazon make, I can’t help but get annoyed. It’s basic accessibility….

7/10 - Definitely recommend 🙂

01/12/2024

I can't believe how long it's been since I've recorded! I hope you're all doing well and thanks for sticking with me. In this weeks episode I talk about where I've been, what I've been up to over the last 2 and a bit months!

Episode 14 is out NOW! - https://linktr.ee/bilingualbento

15/09/2024

Friendship with summer has ended, now autumn is my new best friend. I am back with all of the gossip and tidbids you love, enjoy 50 minutes of me talking your ear off in this weeks episode of Bilingual Bento.

Tune in now to Bilingual Bento Episode 13: http://linktr.ee/bilingualbento

06/08/2024

The sun is out and the skies are clear, the world is our oyster! - Tune in now to Bilingual Bento Episode 12: linktr.ee/bilingualbento

On this weeks podcast:
🚘Car trouble
🐝 Megacon Manchester
🚔Is Nekokurage going to jail?!
📣Your questions

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