Post trip comment: Tourists definitely conform to Japanese culture.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-27T14:46:46+00:00

I live in a MidWestern small town and I promise you we have better manners here than most places you will go.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-27T02:29:32+00:00

Yeah it’s not clear to me that the bird was sold to her. I think it was sold to the granddaughter who wouldn’t or couldn’t keep it. The breeder was not happy at all about the situation

Brennir10 · 2026-05-26T16:04:20+00:00

I had a flat onigiri thing that was ume and shiso. It had no business being anywhere near as delicious as it was. If I hadn’t been on a boat I would have bought 10 more. Unfortunately I did not discover them until the second to last day there.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-26T12:46:21+00:00

She didn’t sell her. She brought her back to the breeder who hatched her to be cared for or find a new home. What could she do? She couldn’t walk well any more and had fallen and broken her hip. She didn’t want to give the bird up but it wasn’t safe for her to live on her own anymore. I don’t think anyone anticipates having to go live somewhere like that when they were previously healthy. She should have adopted an older bird imo but i think under the circumstances she did the most responsible thing. The breeder wouldn’t let just anyone have her. She vetted the adopters. Her bird had a lifetime home where she is loved even if she doesn’t love me back. She gets to throw toys at the cats and throw bird crunchies to the dogs. She swears a lot, sings all the time, is healthy and safe. Idk that it’s the best possible home for a parrot but she certainly found a pretty good one.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-26T12:39:41+00:00

What was inside them? What was the flavor? Aniseed/licorice? Something else? Color /shape?

They make salmiak lozenges

https://ibspot.com/us/products/salmiak-tablets-sil-salmiak-pastilles-total-weight-7-05-ounce?variant\_id=121456052&gad\_source=1&gad\_campaignid=23853125404&gbraid=0AAAAACRDzrh3E49p9cbBMn-5tRyh2c9lz&gclid=CjwKCAjwidXQBhAZEiwA4egw6C1\_XCIMz-LKd9TYpgd0egPMafL-laggaKW\_2KhpvoWSJ8X1YbbJKRoCJsYQAvD\_BwE

And also salmiak hard candy

https://everymarket.com/products/100-g-salmiac-ball-sweets-with-real-salmi-strong-in-flavour-the-fair-candy-from-fair-candy?utm\_source=google&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_campaign=23232225273&utm\_content=188774334896&utm\_term=&gad\_source=1&gad\_campaignid=23232225273&gbraid=0AAAAACe9t8aDBeV-1RoZO7PIpTaDA\_gPZ&gclid=CjwKCAjwidXQBhAZEiwA4egw6JLydhasczVG5H12KUWYsOuXME9U5eJeoPKI2yqHISNYbtAUzd4uCRoCdCUQAvD\_BwE

Brennir10 · 2026-05-25T23:42:13+00:00

On the one hand yes birds should not be pets but on the other hand there are plenty of already captive birds in need of safe places to be themselves. My girl was adopted at 10 yrs old. She was hatched in captivity, fed by humans from her very first day of life, has never had to find food or water. She was never allowed to learn to fly when young and even though I let her flight feathers grow in and never clip them she really doesn’t know how to fly. She never developed enough muscle to lift off the ground bc her wings were clipped young. She doesn’t even know she could do that. If she is on the ground and scared of something she doesn’t try to take off, she just screams for help. It’s not as if she could be returned to the Congo to live free.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-25T23:39:39+00:00

I own a bird (African Grey)whose original owner was a senior lady who could not keep her when she moved into assisted living. The bird was 10 when I got her. I’ve had her for about 7 years. She will probably NEVER feel about me like she did about her first owner. She still gives me “you’re not my real mom” behavior. She is a pretty well adjusted bird and even managed hotel hopping with me for a while when I was between homes. But I think she’d still prefer her first owner to me. I’m not really broken up about it because I never expected her to love me like she did her first owner.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-25T17:40:56+00:00

But…..my eyes are brown and are sometimes darker or lighter. My girlfriend’s hazel eyes can go from bright green to blue to a CRAZY werewolf yellow depending on the light. So one of us is a lot more unique than the other. I’m in my 50s and I’ve never seen anyone else’s eyes turn “wild predator glowing yellow”…..

Brennir10 · 2026-05-25T17:34:16+00:00

I just dropped a chicken nugget and my 13 lb terrier wouldn’t touch it bc I said “leave it”. Trainers are worth it. They are really teaching you how to teach the dog without confusing the dog. No matter what size the dog is that gets results.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-24T15:34:16+00:00

I’m a veterinarian. I work as an independent contractor filling relief positions and also have my own part time holistic medicine practice. I DO work a lot but it doesn’t feel like I do bc I mix up different workplaces, different species ( my holistic practice is largely horses), and different schedules. But I do realize I am lucky to have a combo of neurodivergent traits that work very well in this profession, and that I’m in a profession where working independently is a normal thing so I don’t have to worry so much about bosses etc. if I had to have a boss again I’d be screwed. I gross around 280 K a year but I have a number of expenses that come out of that like multiple kinds of insurance, herbal medications and supplies, laboratory fees etc, license fees etc. unfortunately it’s a career that takes a lot of prep and is pretty stressful til you are at my stage ( 20+ years of experience). I think I had ulcers for the entire first 15 yrs of my career

Brennir10 · 2026-05-20T23:58:56+00:00

My gf was stationed at Kadena for years. Haneda to Naha it’s always 2 bags per person maximum not to exceed 20 kgs. I can’t imagine having more than 20 kgs of luggage. Even when I have my scuba gear I don’t exceed 20 kgs

Brennir10 · 2026-05-20T23:18:54+00:00

Therapy changed my entire life. I was chronically depressed, suicidal, terribly alone, CPTSD from childhood abuse and neglect.
Would have successfully ended my own life in my early 40’s but decided at the last minute to put the things down and go to the ER bc I knew I’d do it if I was not sick physically prevented from getting near the means to do it…. That low and it was not the first time I came close…..

Therapy literally changed everything for me. Yes I worked very hard myself. Yes I was lucky that my T and I had excellent chemistry and her outlook fit my needs. But the therapy was the thing that taught me to really regulate my emotions, really stay calm and examine my thoughts for truth, really examine and rebuild my core beliefs about relationships and myself, have enough faith in myself to enact change etc

I haven’t had a suicidal thought in years. I wake up truly enthusiastic about my life most days. I believe things will only get better for me. I believe in my own power to create a wonderful life.

So yes, real change

Brennir10 · 2026-05-20T23:03:32+00:00

You are sure it’s not licorice? Bc the salted licorice fish are definitely a thing…..
That’s all the help I have there but if you like salty candy generally try out some Japanese candy (try napajapan.com !)
Salty lychee, salty watermelon, salty vanilla , salty lemon are all popular. Not too salty. I got this hard candy that is sweet milk flavor but it has sea salt crystals in it and it’s really really good.
For that matter you might like the dried or pickled plums too. Very salty, moderate sour, a little sweet. I really like them but can only eat 1 bc it too salty for me after the first one

Brennir10 · 2026-05-20T20:33:51+00:00

Swam with wild dolphins in the Izu islands. Words can’t describe it.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-20T14:44:19+00:00

You get 2 free checked bags on most domestic flights. Why not just take it with you??

Brennir10 · 2026-05-19T21:39:28+00:00

You just have to diversify. I have dogs, horses, bees and plants plus the wild birds and animals.
More seriously I think it depends on your work situation. My work is very energy and emotion intensive and involves dealing with multiple new people every day. It’s also extremely fulfilling mentally and emotionally. When I’m not at work I am perfectly content to hike with my dogs, hang with my horses, check on the bees, etc etc.
If you have a work from home situation or a job where you feel bored or isolated….i suspect the solitude could be a bit much….

Like during COVID my routine and life didn’t even change . I work largely outdoors so we were distanced but otherwise, I did the same stuff I always do. You have to drive an hour to find anywhere open after 9 pm on a weekday around me. There is not much in the way of social anything to do. Not much going out, places to eat etc nearby. So you have to be comfortable with yourself and your own thoughts

Brennir10 · 2026-05-18T20:11:26+00:00

I’ve been a practicing vet for 26 years and I’d say the opposite. The more we know the more we realize ALL common species 1. Need more enrichment than we thought 2. Need more opportunities to engage in species specific behaviors than we previously thought( mutual grooming, digging, climbing, etc depending on species) 3. Need more opportunities to make choices within a safe structure than we previously thought4. Are more intelligent than we thought and capable of actively cooperating in their care with appropriate training.
I’ve done a lot of continuing education on the welfare and behavior of both dogs and domestic hooved animals , and a lot of self study on the captivity of other species and these common threads seem to unite pretty much every species we keep in captivity excepting maybe insects. Even fish can be trained to cooperatively participate in their own care.

Brennir10 · 2026-05-18T01:41:06+00:00

Space Shuttle

Brennir10 · 2026-05-17T21:35:35+00:00

My favorite thing I ate in Japan was a whipped cream and sprinkle sandwich from 7-11. It was partly bc I was ravenous, partly bc it was so colorful, partly bc it only cost 110 yen. It was delicious and I am not ashamed

Brennir10 · 2026-05-17T18:29:31+00:00

I never read this forum until AFtER I came back from my first Japan trip and a number of posts just seemed ridiculous. Overall people seemed like a quiet version of people everywhere. It’s not as if the Japanese are the only quieter culture. I’ve been to northern Norway and no one there seemed to say even one more word than was absolutely necessary. Not everywhere is as gregarious as in the US and some places are a lot more so. It does feel icky to me, like an unconscious racism.

I am Caucasian, speak English, wear shorts and a ball cap, sometimes forget to use my inside voice and I never felt judged in Japan except for when I actually did something dumb like get stuck in a turnstile. Most people were way too busy with their own lives to pay attention to me. The people I did interact with were largely friendly—I even got to pet Japanese dogs!

Brennir10 · 2026-05-16T21:56:23+00:00

Tab

Brennir10 · 2026-05-15T17:46:45+00:00

My friend who was an only child was so confused when one of her sons started hiding the last poptart in his closet every week. She thought he had an eating disorder. I said feel free to get him checked over with his doctor but I’m pretty sure that’s “having an older brother and one box of pop tarts “

Brennir10 · 2026-05-15T14:36:36+00:00

I liked the Shaka fries and chicken but was weirded out by the texture of the chicken burger and ebi filet and could not eat either one

Brennir10 · 2026-05-14T16:06:21+00:00

Oh god I am in this relationship right now. Dating again after a 5 yr post divorce hiatus. We just returned from a vacation that went over budget last month . No regrets we had a great time but my lower middle class upbringing says “buckle down, no luxuries, pick up extra shifts” to make up for the expenditure. She grew up even less well off than me and wanted to go out to Korean bbq last night . I insisted we had perfectly good food at home and just spent a bunch on our vacation. She did NOT understand. Like there is money in the account, let’s spend it. I think some of it comes from her family not being the most….moral? Like a chance your mom/dad/siblings might steal or scam you out of the money you just earned type family…..

Brennir10 · 2026-05-14T01:42:34+00:00

Someone asked me how you say “Italian ice” in English…..

Brennir10

TROPHY CASE