Hi everyone!
Another glorious spring day is unfolding here in the Japanese countryside. With our beds back in the main part of the house, I’ve reclaimed my desk in the sitting area just off the kitchen.
My workspace view right now is so beautiful – those freshly flooded rice paddies are shimmering like a silver sea below my window. Honestly, I could just stare out the window all day.
A lot of drywalling for our house renovation
Speaking of work, episode seven of our Japanese house renovation is now on YouTube. This one was a true test of endurance, a full-on drywall marathon. We had a visitor coming all the way from the city, and Jesse and I were determined to at least get the ceiling drywalled before she arrived.
The thought of her waking up to a Tyvek-covered ceiling just didn’t sit right with me, and those beautiful old beams deserved to be the first thing she saw.
What followed were five frantic days, pushing ourselves every day to get that drywall up, and we successfully got it up. Sometimes, all you need is the motivation of an impending guest to kick your butt into gear and get things done.
I had my second sponsored video
I’m also thrilled to share that this is my second sponsored video on YouTube! I wanted to give a massive thank you to Surfshark, the first brand to take a chance on me and my (still-developing) ad skills. I know that crafting a compelling pitch is an art, and I’m continually learning about it.
Building this channel into a sustainable way to live and work independently in Japan is a constant learning curve, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.
One of the things I love about Surfshark is that you can bypass the region-locking restrictions on streaming platforms like Netflix and unlock a world of content – think those Studio Ghibli films only available in the UK, Canadian “The Office” episodes, and all the great Japanese shows on Netflix.
Beyond unlocking entertainment, Surfshark’s security features are a game-changer. I consistently use their Alternative ID tool (featured in the video), which lets me create a whole new online persona with a email, name, and even birthday, which is perfect for those newsletters or new online services where I’m wary of spam or want to keep my real info private.
Surfshark also masks your IP address, keeping you safe from trackers, especially on vulnerable public Wi-Fi networks, and has anti-virus tools incorporated into one subscription.
If you’re curious about trying Surfshark, head to Surfshark.com/MaigoMika and use code MAIGOMIKA for four extra months off your subscription.
(Just to be clear, this part isn’t sponsored – I genuinely use and recommend Surfshark for my own online security and access.)
Pancake’s Big Two
Amidst the drywall dust and the frantic pace, we also celebrated a significant milestone: Pancake’s second birthday! Of course, no birthday is complete without a stack of those ridiculously fluffy Japanese pancakes.
Afterwards, it was time for his official birthday walk, where he made his usual rounds, greeting (and occasionally side-eyeing) all the familiar faces in our little community, including a rather intense stare-down with a few of the local felines.
Playing Tourist with My Tokyo Friend, Kristina
As promised in my last post, I wanted to tell you more about my friend Kristina’s visit from Tokyo. She’s a fantastic content creator herself, with a real knack for discovering those incredible, less-trodden paths in Japan (seriously, check out her website, inner-japan.com, or find her on Instagram @sugalenin for amazing off-beat travel inspiration in Japan).
We went full-on tourist mode and did things I’d never done before, like a scenic boat ride along the Shimanto River. While you can appreciate this famous river from one of its submergible bridges, nothing truly immerses you in its beauty like gliding along its surface on a traditional yakatabune, those wonderfully low-riding sightseeing boats that let you feel almost part of the water itself.
Kristina’s travel guide to Shimanto, Kochi.
You can hop on one that’s running throughout the day, or you can do what we did and reserve ahead for one of their set meals. We opted for the mid-priced option, which included local delicacies like freshwater river shrimp, unagi (eel) – both specialties of this region – and fresh spring vegetables.
Cruising down the river on that low boat, with the water practically at your fingertips, while enjoying such a lovely meal, was truly special.
We also visited a Kissa Watcha 喫茶ウオッチ, a café I had been eyeing. It was a music lover’s dream, with a vintage speaker system playing smooth jazz, and a separate glass room showcasing a collection of retro stereos.
We had fluffy pancakes and soufflé cakes, all washed down with a rich, black cup of Japanese coffee. I think I’ve found a new favorite hangout.
We also went swimming in some local swimming holes, but in April, it sure was cold!
Kristina’s visit was such a wonderful reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in our daily routines here in the countryside. Sometimes, you just need a good friend to pull you out of your little bubble and help you see the beauty and fun right in your own backyard.
What’s Next for the House?
With the ceiling finally drywalled, the next big step in the house renovation is prepping the walls for their transformation with shikkui (traditional Japanese plaster). That means lots of masking off edges and filling holes.
Jesse and I have been deep-diving into the world of plaster, researching different types and settling on a few pre-mixed options from a specialized company.
I’ve even been experimenting with Photoshop, creating color swatches and receiving feedback from my amazing Patreon and Ko-fi community.
Thanks so much for reading along, and lots more exciting updates are coming soon.
-Mika
