How much does your culture play in your day-to-day life? That’s BlogHer’s Find Your Roots prompt today. Well … I don’t eat sushi every day or sing enka at the karaoke bar, and I certainly don’t think like a traditional Japanese person. I am, however, surrounded by a lot of Japanese things. From kimono in the closet to cute kokeshi dolls in the dining room to decorations in the living room to loads of Japanese dishware in the cupboards, visitors would know I have a thing for Japan. I also write haiku, paint etegami, and watch Japanese movies with English subtitles. If visitors looked in my fridge, they’d see takuan (that yellow Japanese pickled radish), and the freezer holds containers of natto. Natto is for real Japanese people! Okay, well some of them hate natto. It’s good for you, though, filled with protein and vitamin K, and extra good with furikake (seaweed sprinkles).

I have embraced my “hafu-ness.” Hands down, I got culture. What about you?

Natto – just ignore the slime

kokeshi dolls – kawaii!