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When a window seat opens on a train, do you move?
A job-test asked “Do you move to the end seat when it opens?” I unpacked why the question is flawed—personal space, narrow long seats, temperature, crowding, and that awkward moment when pairs want to sit together.
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I read a stack of cleaning books to make our home comfortable
I tried to keep possessions down and ended up with a bare, slightly inconvenient home. I binge-read cleaning/organizing books—minimalist, “German style,” label-happy, pro tactics—and took notes on what might actually help.
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Looking for a better container for ground coffee
Bag clips on silver coffee pouches got annoying. I tried glass jars (heavy), cheap plastic (leaky), and ended up hunting proper canisters for ground coffee.
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Deepening my milk knowledge with Snow Brand Acady
Regular milk gave me stomach pain and the runs. Switching to Snow Brand Acady fixed it and sent me down a rabbit hole on lactose intolerance, gut bacteria, and even dental health.
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Flu outbreak checklist: what to do when it’s everywhere
When flu surges, I rely on the basics—handwashing, masks, humidity, and watching local outbreak maps. Here’s a quick roundup of official info and practical tips.
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Picking a cost-effective waterproof spray and using it right
My old waterproof spray looked ancient, so I checked what’s on the market, how fluorine vs. silicone differs, and which ones make sense for shoes, bags, and rainwear.
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Bananas kept falling off the banana stand
Hanging bananas looked neat until they kept slipping off the hook. Two stands that held on better.
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Replacing the ink sponge in a hanko case (and a way to “Shachihata-ize” it)
The ink in my hanko case dried up. I found 100-yen sponges to swap in, and even a holder that turns a regular hanko into a self-inking Shachihata-style stamp.
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How many days can you reheat bathwater?
I thought reheating meant I could carry bathwater over to the next day to save money. Day 2 was already slimy. Here’s what I learned about costs, bacteria, and humidifier risks (Legionella) from a Japanese household perspective.
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How I killed food waste odors for about ¥20k
Rotten sink smells drove me crazy. A countertop food waste dryer plus a local subsidy solved it better than baking soda or sprays—here’s exactly what worked in Japan.