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monster-bait · 4 years

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Monster Match: Sebastien the Werecat; M Werecat x F Human, NSFW

Monster Match for @de-couleur: I'm 23, quite independent (I moved from the US to Korea and regularly do solo trips), I LOVE cats (there are cats in the park near my apartment that I made friends with cause I can't have a pet cat), I'm a romantic and I love the "old fashion" romance stuff: bringing a girl flowers, writing love letters, etc. I'd love a guy who has a significant size difference from me (5'3) and loves to cuddle.

The airport was crowded for a Monday

You shifted on the hard bench, breath catching when a fresh wave of arrivals began to flood down the escalator, heading to baggage claim. The conveyor belt before you jerked into motion, luggage making a slow parade before the eager travelers. You watched harried businessmen snatch up sleek black cases, barking into cell phones as they headed to the doors, couples gathering up bags together, and families reuniting.

A young woman came down the escalator, gripping the handle of her carry-on, scouring the crowd with an anxious expression. The moment she found the object of her search was evident by the smile that split her face, the way she bounced lightly on her toes as she waited for the escalator to deliver her to the baggage claim area.

Your insides seemed to swoop and curl as she rushed forward, throwing herself into the outstretched arm of a laughing man, feeling like a voyeur to their happy reunion, an anonymous witness to their clasped hands and their long kiss.

You wondered how Sebastien would greet you.

You had met him two years earlier, shortly after your move, when sakura season had been upon the land. It was the first spring spent in your new home, and you wanted to take a day trip, to get away and experience a leisurely hanami, the viewing of the flowers, when one was meant to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms and reflect on the transient nature of beauty.

After some brief online research, the castle ruins in Maizura park in Fukuoka called to you, the ideal place to enjoy the fleeting beauty of the flowers, and reflect on life. The ferry from Busan to Fukuoka left several times a day, the perfect plan.

He had been there, taking pictures of the ruins.

It had been immediately clear that he was not the average tourist. Compared to the clusters of people taking pictures, his equipment was expensive, and his pace languid and unhurried. You'd admired his striking silhouette in the late-afternoon sun: broad shoulders that tapered to narrow hips and long, graceful limbs. A group of chattering Dutch tourists moved between where you stood and where the handsome man slowly rose from where he’d crouched, regrettably obscuring your view of his nicely rounded backside as he stood.

Your eyes met once they’d passed, as if he’d been waiting, and his smile—sharp and confident—gave you an instant case of the butterflies. He turned back to the ruins a moment later, and you'd continued your stroll, feeling your cheeks warm.

“A karaage chicken and a beer, please.”

The food stalls have been busy, unsurprising considering how crowded the park was that day, and you’d been waiting online for nearly fifteen minutes, mindlessly scrolling your social media until it was your turn to stand before the harried-looking woman taking orders.

“Make that two of each,” a deep voice sounded behind you, his long arm handing over payment before you could blink. The man from the ruins grinned down, his dark eyes crinkled with his smile as your food was passed over the small partition, and you’d found yourself returning the smile with one of your own, the butterflies making themselves known once more.

His name was Sebastien, and his accent was oddly continental, giving you very little clue on where it was he called home. “I’ve lived all over,” he shrugged with another easy smile. “France, Germany, Philippines, the States...we never stayed in one spot for very long when I was growing up.”

“Military brat?”

“Something like that,” he murmured, cocking a dark eyebrow with another grin. “Yours is definitely not a local accent.”

He’d seemed delighted by your confession that you’d picked up and moved to Korea on your own, just for the adventure of it, asking your opinion of the restaurants in your neighborhood, and how you’d assimilated to the cultural differences since your move.

He was a photographer, you’d learned, and might start his week on the Mississippi delta and end it staring up at the stars above the Serengheti. He’d been knowledgeable about the castle ruins, telling you the history of the sight, and when a man passed, selling small hand-ties of flowers in a basket, he bought one for you, declaring that you needed something physical for your hanami experience.

If your cheeks had grown any hotter, you might have combusted.

As you sat together, a cat had come winding through the ruins to stare down your lunch. Strays were plentiful in tourist areas such as this, but you’d never seen one act in such an overtly friendly manner, as the cat rubbed its head against your companion’s shin, mewing plaintively. Even the cats who lived in the park near your apartment had taken a while to warm up to you, although you considered several of them to be your away-from-home pets.

When the sun began to set, a violet sky providing a stunning backdrop to the pink clouds of sakura blossoms on the trees, you’d realized that it was time to leave, to catch your ferry, and say goodbye to him. Handsome, smart, well-traveled...you’d mentally checked off the traits you found the most appealing, finding he possessed an abundance of them. You’d exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, and he’d promised to stay in touch, before he’d kissed you.

There was something different in his kiss, you’d known immediately. Something primal and unfamiliar, but not at all unpleasant. You’d briefly dated a werewolf back home, before you’d moved away, and his kiss had possessed the same sort of animal heat that you’d tasted then.

You hadn’t expected to actually hear from him again. The fleeting beauty of flowers, you’d thought on your train ride home, raising the small bouquet he’d given you to your nose, like the fleeting blush of flirtation.

It had been a surprise then, when your phone chimed with a text that same night.

Just making sure you got home alright

Had a lot of fun today!

It had been the start of daily messages. Texts from him would come at all hours, and despite the fact that you were often continents apart, your conversations would continue unabated for days, easy and effortless. His name on your phone screen would often be the last thing you’d see at night, and the messages that he’d sent overnight while you slept gave you a reason to smile, catching up during your daily commute.

Did you see that news story about the werewolf tribe in Malaysia?

You'd bitten your lip, quickly typing the message as your train hurtled through the tunnel one morning. He’d never come out and said that he was something other than human, and you’d never made mention of your suspicions, but you thought it was time to let him know that it didn’t matter to you in the slightest.

The Malay tribe in question had been profiled on a popular world news station, their history and customs discussed openly for the first time.

I did, it’s incredible that they’ve managed to stay so insular all this time

Here goes nothing, you thought, tapping out your reply.

It talked about how painful the change is, especially for young people

Bones breaking and stuff

Is it really like that? Was it that bad for you?

You waited, wedged between other commuters, counting the seconds as your phone remained silent.

You’d walked into work with your heart in your throat, forcing a smile as your co-workers greeted you. You ruined everything. Checking your phone a final time before stashing away your belongings, the black cloud of dread that had gripped you the entirety of the four block walk from the train dissolved, a wave of relief washing up your spine.

Not really, but cats are better than dogs ;)

I wonder if it has much to do with diet?

I’d be curious to see the stats on bone density and childhood malnutrition

I need your address please

Several weeks later you'd received a lovely, hand-painted parasol, along with the first letter.

He couldn't possibly have known that you had a weakness for handwritten notes and letters, you often thought with heated cheeks, couldn't have known how many times you read it, giving it a place of honor upon your desk. When a second came, then a third, you'd picked up a decorative box at a street market to keep them in safely.

He told you about the city skyline, if there was a city wherever he was. Otherwise you received a narration of the wide open sky, the waves on the ocean, of the slope of mountains and the color of wheat. He pondered if you’d prefer the heat of the tropics over the chilly rain and fog of the Scottish highlands, fields of farmland or waves crashing on miles of uninhabited beach.

It was impossible to write him back with the way he traveled. You had to settle for emailing him your responses, long letters full of your ambitions and insecurities, wondering what scared him, what his secret passion were, where he'd like to call home.

You never discussed your letters in your daily text messages, nor in the weekly video calls you tried to make room for. The things you wrote to each other felt too intimate to be discussed in such a pedestrian way, so they were kept to his handwritten missives and the responses you wrote in the glow of your laptop’s screen.

Now he was almost here, back in the flesh, for the first time in two years.

Hello, I'd like to inquire into the sofa for rent in your apartment? Does it come with turn down service?

Two weeks. You'd have him to yourself for two weeks. Truly to yourself, for your roommate had decided not to extend her teaching contract and had flown home just a few days earlier.

You straightened as the next wave of people descended from the upper level, crowding onto the escalator. Your heart began to thump as you considered what kind of visit it would be. You had to consider that your feelings for him might be one-sided. Sebastien's letters, while wildly intimate, were never sexually or romantically charged. He might want to sleep on the sofa after all...

Closing your eyes, you imagined running your fingers through his silky dark hair, his arms strong around you...the scrape of his five o'clock shadow against your skin as the fingers in his hair tightened, your breath catching as he kissed you, covering your body with his own…

When your eyes opened, he was there.

You'd forgotten how tall he was, you realized. He towered over the throng of people moving down the escalator. Tall and slender with broad shoulders and an unhurried air; his face splitting into a smile when he caught sight of you.

The next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion, as if you were under water. Rising from the bench, your arms opened, mirroring his, in anticipation of his hug.

Sebastien dropped his bag, exclaiming in excitement as he engulfed you, lifting you easily into the air as you squeaked. You weren’t expecting to be scooped up and twirled, weren’t expecting his warm lips to press to yours, his unfamiliar animal heat to send sparks up your veins.

You had hoped for it, but hadn't allowed yourself to expect it.

When your fingers slid into his dark, nails scraping his scalp, he growled against your lips, and you wondered why you had been worried about the nature of his visit at all. Of course this isn't one-sided.

"Look at how gorgeous you are," he sighed once you were back on the ground. Beaming up, you gripped the front of his shirt pulling him down to you. You were buoyed by his words, by the nerves and excitement of seeing him again, by the uniqueness of your relationship, the old-fashioned romance of his missives and how special he made you feel. The kiss you shared this time was slower, with more heat, and your lips tingled when he finally pulled away.

“We should go,” he murmured. “Places like this usually have decency laws, and you’re tempting me to break all of them.”

You trembled the entire way back to your apartment. He had insisted on getting a cab, not wanting to wrestle his roller bag on the train. “Besides, I’m not letting go of your hand,” he announced cheerfully, pulling you into another light kiss before hailing a cab at the taxi queue.

“Are you sure you’re not going to get in trouble having me here?”

The hallway was quiet as the elevator dinged open, and you shushed him, pulling him quickly to your door. The company-provided apartments were small but comfortable, particularly now that your roommate was gone, but he wasn't wrong—it would be frowned upon for you, a young, unmarried woman, to have a male houseguest. You didn't care. Your replacement roommate was not due to arrive until the end of the month, giving you the unexpected boon of privacy during his stay, and you had no intention of letting him stay in a hotel.

“I really was going to get a hotel room, you know,” he laughed, as you tugged him inside.

“Well, now you don’t need to. And we have the place to ourselves the whole time you’re here,” you announced. “Bathroom is here, the kitchen is miniature, but its functional...I got some of that electrolyte water you like. Living room, the advertised sofa, turndown service is an extra fee...the second bedroom, the new girl won’t be here for a few weeks...and here’s my room.”

You swallowed hard, opening the door and ducking your head, lest he see your blush.

“Hmmm...very nice,” he mused, poking his head into your small bedroom. “How much is an upgrade in accommodations?” he asked, with a devilish smile. “This looks a lot more comfortable than the sofa.”

You pretended to ponder, looking him over as you gripped your chin. “Hmmm...I’m sure negotiations could be made.”

You squealed again when he lifted you, bouncing you down on the bed. “I’m a freelancer, miss. Negotiations are what I’m good at.”

Fashion mores in South Korea dictated that women were to remain modestly covered in high necklines...but short, school girl-style skirts were completely acceptable. You might have complained occasionally about the absurdity of the micro-mini lengths, but you were glad for your own short skirt just then.

Sebastien kissed up your legs, finding you ticklish behind the knees, knowledge you knew he’d exploit eventually. Your breath hitched as his lips rose, coming out in shallow pants when he reached your thighs.

“Are the negotiations satisfactory so far?”

Wide hands covered your knees, his long, slender fingers darting out to tease your ticklish skin before pushing up your legs, warming the skin he’d just kissed, flipping up your skirt and opening your legs before his seeking mouth. By the time his lips landed on the edge of your panties, you were panting.

“I-I think you’ve made a compelling opening statement,” you wheezed, earning a deep chuckle that buzzed against your skin.

A trail of kisses, followed by the heat of his tongue, dampening the outside of the thin fabric. When he pushed the material aside, his tongue lightly traced the very edge of your slickened folds. Back and forth, a teasing pressure until your hips bucked reflexively.

You watched as your panties went sailing across the room, after Sebastien tugged them down your hips in one fast motion. His tongue was unnaturally hot, like a plume of lava licking at your most sensitive parts, but the heat was secondary to the pleasure. The tip of his tongue traced lightly, followed by a long, slow lick with a flattened tongue, exploring your silky walls and teasing around that pearl of nerves until you were arching into his mouth.

When he finally began to lick you in earnest, you mewled. Back and forth, back and forth, punctuated by sucking kisses, his lips pulling on your clit until you gasped, his tongue lashing it as soon as it was released. When you came against his tongue, Sebastien hummed, lapping at your release until you gripped his hair, too sensitised for him to continue.

He was incredibly pleased with himself.

His body completely covered yours as he climbed over you as you melted into the mattress, his smile wide and his chin glistening. Your fingers were uncoordinated as you fumbled with his belt buckle, distracted over the press of his erection, until he gripped your hand, squeezing gently before pushing it aside, opening his faded jeans himself.

You gasped as he pressed into you, his overwhelming heat all consuming. The moon would be full by the end of the week, you realized, just before arching beneath him; the thick, burning heat of him pressing into your inner walls and making your breath hitch. It was too much: too much heat, too full, to thick, and in what seemed like no time at all, you were clenching around him, the world a spinning ball of fire, raking your nails down his back, until the molten heat of him filled you and you combusted into blackness.

The sun had not yet risen when you stirred in your bed several days later. You were alone.

He’d left you two days earlier, kissing your nose as he readied himself for the turn, citing a fellow photographer, an american werewolf who had given him leads on several safe spots.

You did not want to sit in your bed alone another moment, you decided, raising with a stretch. There was a food stall that began making their kkwabaegi at dawn. You would get up and procure some, bringing some home for him, if he returned today. The little park was empty, as you’d known it would be. The dough of your fried pastry was hot, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and the enticing aroma drew out several of your feline friends as you lowered yourself to a bench.

The sun was just beginning to warm the city in a golden glow, peeking between the buildings. He didn't have a reason to rush off, he’d murmured into your hair as you laid against him one night; he could stay longer than the two weeks he’d originally planned. He’d need to move out of your apartment, of course...but that didn't mean he couldn’t form a new base of operations. The sunlight winked off the trickling water feature as you broke off tiny pieces of dough for the cats.

There was something there in the shadows you realized, though you curiously felt no fear. The sun was shining, the morning was quiet, and you were in love. Maybe he would stay.

A sleek black panther slunk from the shrubbery, smaller cats flanking him with hungry mewls, and you laughed, holding out a piece of the kkwabaegi. Shining, golden eyes, long and muscular. Cats are better than dogs. Maybe he would stay.

You beckoned the felines closer, flipping open the box of treats. After all, you’d bought one for him anyways.

#Exophilia #monster boyfriend #monster lover #werecat #werecat boyfriend #werepanther #monster match #Monsterbait writes #monster x reader #monster x human

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artsistory · 5 years

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Mall and Noodle Time! (9.27.19)

Konichiwa! It’s Beezle!

So after waking up at 4am, we were finally alive and ready to do some existing. We decided to go back to the mall since we could actually register what we were looking at. And we needed some essentials like umbrellas because it’s hella rainy season in Japan right now.

We quickly found out that the mall is waaaay bigger than we saw yesterday. There is a movie theater, hotel, and theater here. I still don’t think we’ve seen the whole thing. We did some browsing and spotted some truly excellent products. Like this Chip n Dale ensemb at the H&M!

Why does our H&M not have this!?!?!

When we got hungry, we decided to hit up a little conveyor belt sushi spot. It probably wasn’t the best place for sushi in Japan, but it was still really good!

This was before we found out there was a new KIRBY CAFE in the mall. We shall be going back! I swear it!

There was a plethora of other great finds. An instant ramen store, a sticker store, Sanrio, and an entire Ghibli place! So cuuuuuute!

After our mall adventure, we headed home to chill out a bit. Waking up at 4am really makes you tired in the afternoon lol. BUT I SHAN’T GET JETLAGGED! I don’t know about Danni but I am desperately trying to go to sleep and wake up at normal times.

Fukuoka is also famous for it’s food, specifically food stalls called yatai! They are little restaurants that sell only one kind of food and usually have 10 seats tops. Imagine tired salarymen walking home from work and having a quick ramen and beer at a tiny stall before crashing at his tiny empty apartment. Like that! But more touristy and less anime-y.

Unfortunately, when we got there, it immediately started raining and everyone was rushing around to keep the rain from getting into their soups. Also, all the menus (if they had them) were in japanese and I was feeling a bit intimidated by the whole situation. It’s definitely past tourist season in Fukuoka and this makes it a bit harder to do things as a fool who only speaks english. We decided rather than trying to figure it out in the rain, that we go to another famous Fukuoka food: the flagship shop for Ichiran Ramen!

And I say shop, but it’s more like a skyscraper of noodles!

The whole thing is a restaurant! They have Ichirans all over the world but this is the first one. They make the famous Hakata style thin noodles and serve you in you’re own personal cubby so you don’t have to look or talk to anyone. Even the waiter was behind a little curtain. You never saw his face, even when he bowed to us!

Once we finished our ramen, we headed outside to find them putting on a dope dance show in the windows of the restaurant! What! Japan is awesome!

And that was it for the night!

#everything is so cute here #if only any clothes would actually fit #ichiran ramen

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tundrafoot · 5 years

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An ‘Actual’ Guide to Western Kyushu Pt. 2

So my first (or technically second) guide was about Kyushu as a whole, and I’m so glad folks found it useful!

This time around, I wanted to focus on my home prefecture, Nagasaki! So put on your reading caps and let’s がんばらんば！

What’s Nagasaki at a glance?

Hills.

Water.

Islands.

That’s about it.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

But in all seriousness, Nagasaki (translating to long cape in English) is a prefecture filled with beautiful hills, sparkling sea, and plenty of islands. Although I don’t use Nagasaki’s airport often, the first time I flew in, the view was stunning. You see this gorgeous bay below you, and it feels like you’re about to land on water.

(courtesy of the Nagasaki airport website)

Hills

The reason I joke about hills is because I both love and hate them. You can get in a lot of hiking and exploring, and you can always count on getting the most picture-perfect landscape photo. I mean, Mt. Inasa in Nagasaki city has one of the top night views in Japan. And then there is Mt. Unzen, a dormant volcano that is also home to a few onsen towns.

However, during let’s say… peak summer, those hills and slopes aren’t so enjoyable to climb up on your way to your apartment or school. And when you’re driving, some of those mountain paths can be so narrow that can’t help but curse under your breath while simultaneously praying that your car doesn’t stall or fall of the ledge.

But it’s a worth it.

Water

On one side of the prefecture is mountains and hills, but the other side is water. Ocean. Sea as far as the eye can… see. And that’s what makes Nagasaki so beautiful. How can you not feel your heart pitter-patter a bit when you’re driving (or taking the train) along the coastline? I’m a water kid. As long as there is a body of water within reasonable distance, I’m as happy as a clam.

Although I beaches might not compare to Okinawa, there are still some real treasures. And the water is the perfect temperature. I will admit though, if you’re a freshwater kid like me, the sea creatures you encounter might take some getting used to. For example, I learned that I am afraid of being stung by a jellyfish. And stepping on sea urchins. I have yet to do either, but I still fear it. On the plus side, this also means some of the freshest seafood around. During one of our ensokus (school hikes), one of the teachers brought his fishing gear for the students to use. One of the kids managed to catch a fish and could bring it home to cook! So, the sea might be scary, but it’s also tasty.

Islands

Nagasaki not only has the most islands in comparison to any other prefecture, but we also have the most inhabited islands. So much so that many teachers are expected to do a stint on an island at one point during their career. Which also means that as an ALT, your placement might be on an island as well. But don’t take that as a bad thing. The islands have the prefecture’s most beautiful beaches and some incredibly unique history.

So I’ve given you a pretty decent look at the topography and climate of Nagasaki, but obviously it’s so much more than just that.

Okay, so what else is so cool about it?

Nagasaki is unique in a lot of ways because of it’s history as being the gateway to Japan. A lot of what we consider to be ‘Nagasaki culture’ comes from our trade with the Dutch, Chinese, and Portuguese. Our local foods include castella, a sponge cake brought over from Portugal in the 16th century, and champon, a noodle dish made by a Chinese restaurant owner during the Meiji era.

If you’re into Christian history, then Nagasaki has several of the oldest churches in Japan and many of them became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. This is all a part of the ‘Hidden Christians’, who were persecuted during the 16th century. Even if you’re not particularly religious, they’re still cool buildings to visit and learn about. And if you are religious (and specifically Christian), then chances are you’ll be able to find a church where you can attend services.

Of course, one of the biggest historical events (and most tragic), would be the Atomic Bombing during WWII, which we hold a memorial every year at the Peace Park in August. Other things I learned about living here was that there were also several air raids around the prefecture. My city of Sasebo has a moment of silence every year right before the summer holiday. One of my schools also has a historical site right beside it; a secret cave that was used as both a hospital and school after the school in the area was bombed.

While this isn’t specific to Nagasaki prefecture, if you like Taisho era architecture, you’ll also get a chance to see some impressive tunnels and buildings. Some of my favorites are the Hario radio transmitters and the old Hyuga Tunnel.

This is just a glance at what is fascinating about the area as a whole. Once you get here, you’ll start to get a feel for the even finer details. Honestly, it feels like every town has their own little bit of history, so I urge you to talk to the locals in your area to learn even more.

Okay, now that you have an overview of the prefecture, I’ll try to give you a bit of a taste of what to expect in your city!

I’m moving to Nagasaki City

Capital of the prefecture and the biggest city with the most ALTs in the prefecture. When I complain about hilly drives and narrow streets, Nagasaki City takes the gold. But obviously, there is more to this port city than just that. Nagasaki City is great if you’re interested in history. They have a number of historical buildings, museums and monuments scattered around the city that are open to the public. They are trying harder to make the area more to make the information more accessible to foreigners as well, translating many things into English, Korean and Chinese.

Two of my favorite festivals in Nagasaki City are Okunchi, which is held in the fall, and the Lantern Festival, which is held around Chinese New Year.

Getting around the city is fairly easy, and it’s one of the places in the prefecture that you don’t need a car. You can grab the train, bus, or tram which are all very reliable. You can also get pretty much everything that you need, shopping wise. There is a large arcade, as well as two shopping centers; Amu Plaza and Cocowalk.

It’s also very easy to pick up a hobby in this city. I go to Nagasaki once a week for naginata practice, but I also know other folks who practice iaido, hanga, rock climbing, and lots of other fun things.

I’m moving to the Sasebo Area

Oh hey! This is where I currently live, so expect this entry to be even more biased than everything else.

Sasebo is the second biggest city in the prefecture, and home to both the Japanese and American naval bases. It’s also home to a very peculiar but super enjoyable Dutch-themed theme park; Huis Ten Bosch. It’s an homage of sorts to Nagasaki’s old ties with the Netherlands.

We also have some great views, such as the 99 islands (featured in the movie the Last Samurai), and we are apparently the birthplace of Japanese style spinning tops (Beyblade style). Our ‘local delicacies’ are the Sasebo burger and lemon steak. If you’re a bar person, than we more than our fair share, being a port town and all. We actually hold a Bar Hop every year during the fall/winter time.

I love Sasebo. It’s incredibly comfortable to live here. You get a nice balance of small city life with the rural nature only a stone’s throw away. Some people get a little disappointed that they’re stationed near an American base because they’re worried they won’t get an authentic ‘Japanese’ experience. To be honest, I was one of those people when I first found out that I would be moving here. I’ll tell you now to do away with that attitude, because every experience in Japan is a Japanese experience. I’ve had a chance to meet all sorts of people living here both born and raised here and also from abroad.

I’m moving to an island

If you got an island, chances are you’re going to Goto, Tsushima, Iki, or Ojika. They are incredibly beautiful, but this is coming from a visitor rather than someone who is actually living on one

From what I’ve been told, island life is what you imagine it to be; slow paced, an older population, beautiful beaches and lots of fresh seafood. You also get some of the best beach parties, marathons, and sunsets. The islands in Nagasaki are accessible either by ferry or plane and are usually connected to either Fukuoka, Nagasaki, or Sasebo ports.

If you are an outdoorsy and small-town person, then these placements are perfect for you. If this is your first time away from ‘civilization’, you might feel a little isolated at times, but if you try to join the local community, it’ll help a lot!

I’m moving to Omura/Isahaya

I actually feel really bad because Omura and Isahaya are two of the places I’ve been to the least, but I know that there are a lot of cool people there. So I’m sorry that this post will not be doing it justice. Here is a great video though that city recently made that a lot of Omura acquaintances and friends of mine said really encompass how they feel.

youtube

Omura is the fourth largest city in the prefecture and home to Nagasaki Airport! So, while the rest of us still have another hour or so drive, you guys are very lucky.

Omura used to be a castle town, ruled by the Omura clan for a good 900 years. In fact, you can still explore some of the castle ruins as well as a gorgeous area to do sakura viewing during the spring.

There are always international events going on in the city thanks to their international center (where a lot of the programs are run by a former JET!), so you’ll get a chance to connect with the community pretty easily!

Isahaya is the third largest city and hometown of the Japanese gymnast (and Olympic gold medalist) Kohei Uchimura. It is also the city where the original Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge) is kept and preserved.

These are both fairly new events, but during the springtime there is a Gourmet Festival as well as a Yabusame event held in the city. Yabusame is a must see for anyone who is interested in traditional Japanese culture.

I’m moving to the Higashisonogi District

The Higashisonogi area is in-between Omura and Sasebo and includes three towns; Hasami, Kawatana, and Higashisonogi. While they are on the small side, each place has their own little specialty!

Hasami is right near the border of Saga and is part of the porcelain belt. That means it’s one of the towns that has a 400-year history with origin of Japanese porcelain, which was brought over from Korea and China. Their signature style is a white and blue underglaze. Hasami is a quaint and cute and I make trips there every now and then. Their biggest festival is the Hasami-yaki Matsuri, which takes place during Golden Week. As you can expect, it’s where you can buy tons of porcelain and pottery from around the area.

Kawatana is a party townnnn!

Or that’s what I like to jokingly call it because one of my schools often has staff parties in this town. It really does have a number of delicious restaurants, including my favorite hot pot place, つばさ. Kawatana is right by Omura Bay, making for an incredibly picturesque view. What it is probably best known for is it’s peacock park, which was a gift from India, as a symbol of friendship between the two cities.

Lastly is Higashi Soonogi (what the district is named after! Or is it vice versa?). Higashi Soonogi is best known for growing green tea and you can see several rows of the bushes around the town. According to a friend of mine, Higashi Soonogi is also one of the towns that has a decently large community of folks who have moved from Tokyo and Sendai not long after the earthquake. This is because Nagasaki prefecture is an area that has the least amount of natural disasters in Japan, and Higashisonogi is a good place to set up a business. I would also like to point out that this town has a lot of great off lovely ‘off the beaten track’ trails, where you feel as though you are walking right into a Ghibli movie. One of those places is Chiwata! I would recommend you talk to the local ALTs and Higashisonogijin more about it!

I’m moving to Hokubu Area

When we’re talking Hokubu, we usually mean Hirado, Matsuura and Saza! Hirado was known to be a port city where a lot of trade between Japan and Asian countries occurred. It’s also the burial site of William Adams, the first recorded Englishman to travel to Japan.

Matsuura’s name to fame is that it was the area of the Mongol invasion failed due to typhoons. There is a lot to discover in the area if you are a history buff, or you’re big on beaches, camping and hiking! The area is truly breathtaking. In fact it’s so beautiful, that many Japanese car commercials are filmed on the island of Ikitsuki.

Saza is one of the only towns within the Sasebo area to not actually merge with the city and it’s very proud of that! It also has a saltwater river that runs through the town, which is a very unique feature to the town.

The one thing about the area is that it can be a little hard to get around via public transportation, so it’s best to get a car if you can!

I’m moving to the Unzen/Shimabara

Or as most ALTs I know from the area lovingly call it ‘The Hanto’. Amakusa National park was actually one of the first national parks in Japan, so you can expect a lot of great hiking in this area, as well as onsen!

Mt. Unzen is actually an active volcano, that last erupted in 1996, but I wouldn’t about that happening anytime soon. The town has a bit of a Dutch feel to it, which is yet another nod to Nagasaki’s ties to the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Shimabara is a castle town, is known for the Shimabara Rebellion, which was during the Edo period when there was persecution of Christians as well as mismanagement in the government. You can also check out Obama, which is known for it’s cold onsens, and of course, having the same name as the former United States president. You can also expect the area to have a lot of off the beaten track restaurants.

I’m no expert of the area, but we do have another Tumblr JET @wandereranddreamer here to answer your questions!

I’m moving to Saikai/Nishi Sonogi

Do you love Capybara and beaches? Excellent, because this area has both! As you’ve probably guessed, Saikai is on the western part of Omura Bay. Saikai has Biopark, which is a zoo, but where the animals are actually able to run around and have their own space! You can feed and pet capybara, mara, monkeys, and so much more. There is also a lot of green spaces, such as the Nagasaki Forest Prefectural Park, a number of beaches, and a few islands accessible by bridges. It is a little bit inaka, so you’ll probably need a car to get around! But it’s well worth it. And if you get a little too tired of the countryside, you are perfectly situation right inbetween both Sasebo and Nagasaki.

I still want more information!!!

Oh wow, okay! Well, if you are really super curious, might I suggest reading up on the Nagazasshi? It’s a local (and free) English magazine, all about the prefecture. It’s a great magazine, and I’m not just saying that because I was a former editor for it, ahaha.

If you are into movies, anime, or manga then you can check out these titles that take place in Nagasaki Prefecture

Kids on the Slope (Manga, Anime, Movie) – A coming of age story that takes place during the 1960s, Sasebo.

Silence (Movie) – All about the spread and persecution of Christianity in Nagasaki.

Aoi no Hana, Utsuwa no Mori (Manga)- A josei manga that is all about love and pottery in Hasami

Barakumon (Manga, Anime)- The story of a professional calligrapher who moves from the big city a tiny town on the islands of Goto

Irudoku: The World in Colors- Hitomi Tsukishiro is a teenage girl from a family of witches who loses her sense of colors. She travels back in time to the year 2018 and meets the 17-year-old version of her grandmother.

Phew, well. I think that’s about all I can offer for this post. If you’ve read through this all, awesome! I hope you’ve found it useful!

#kyushu #nagasaki #nagasaki prefecture #sasebo #jet programme #jet program

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nobu11051991 · 2 months

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thewanderingbritinjapan · 3 years

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Food stalls 🍜 #food #foodstall #japan #photo #photograph #photography #art #edit #people #travel #travelling #artphotography #fukuoka #kyushu #night #nightphotography #nature (at Fukuoka, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL3KE8dnx_K/?igshid=1fcg9u4leoygs

#food #foodstall #japan #photo #photograph #photography #art #edit #people #travel #travelling #artphotography #fukuoka #kyushu #night #nightphotography #nature

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dinacharya · 3 years

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a trip down memory lane - 1 year ago, a day in Fukuoka

woke in a blazing hot room (we will never know why they insisted on heating the room that extremely), started the morning with bagels at a quaint little second floor cafe, visited a muji bookstore & cafe and then another muji, a coco curry, the multi-floor arcades, a plant shop, subway station mall, daiso, a christmas festival complete with concert & food stalls, and pretty much anywhere our feet could take us. stumbled upon a surprise teamLab exhibit, and returned later at opening hour. drank vending machine tea bottles to warm up while waiting in line, then pranced around Fukuoka Castle grounds running into giant eggs & hugging lights. capped the night getting wine drunk at a little French bar by the canals, the first time i ever enjoyed wine enough to ask for another glass. then hitting 7/11 for late night snacks on the way home.

ty conor, for sending this photo & conjuring up the memory, and for bringing ichiko aoba back to me again this week.

#journal #12.2019

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umaburo · 4 years

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福岡県の屋台の聖地である天神で、全国的知名度がダントツの超人気の屋台「小金ちゃん」は、焼きラーメン発祥の店なんです。他にも絶品料理が沢山あり、若い女性客にも圧倒的に支持されています。夜中でも行列が出来る元祖焼きラーメンの味は格別です。

Kokinchan, a very popular food stall with a national name recognition in Tenjin, which is a sacred place for food stalls in Fukuoka Prefecture, is the origin of grilled ramen. There are many other excellent dishes, which are overwhelmingly supported by young female customers. The taste of the original grilled ramen that can be lined up even at night is exceptional.

続きはこちら(Click here for more)⇒http://fanblogs.jp/souguru/archive/503/0

#japan #fukuoka #hakata #ramen

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jtjlover · 4 years

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One of my first trips after settling in 久住 (Kuju), was to Fukuoka. I must say that when I visited it for the first time I wasn't immediately in love with this city, but after my second trip and now, looking at the photos, I feel some affection towards this place ❤ One of the highlights of my trip was visiting the bustling area with food stalls, called 屋台 (yatai). During the night the atmosphere there is really different, almost magical... People gather to enjoy Hakata Ramen, gyoza, yakitori or even French cuisine and of course drinks🍻🍶 Definitely recommend visiting such place at least once in your lifetime! Have you ever visited yatai? Can you recommend some good yatai spots in your city? Is it popular? Let me know in the comments! And don't forget to head to my stories for more highlights from Fukuoka🥰🙏 #日本 #福岡 #屋台 #japan #japanlife #japantravel #wheninjapan #japanguide #japanhighlights #japanbynight #japan_of_insta #japandaily #myjapan #ilovejapan #discoverjapan #attjapan #visitjapanjp #kyushuambassador #travel #travelove #travelinspiration #travelwoman #travels #travellovers #instatravel #travelgram #japonia #podróżemałeiduże #podróże #travelphotography (w: 福岡市) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEkpHqiBsao/?igshid=4g2n1yug82qg

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monster-bait · 4 years

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Repost — Monster Match: Sebastien the Werecat; M Werecat x F Human, NSFW

TUMBLR ATE THE FIRST POST, WTFFF

Sorry, @de-couleur!!

Monster Match for @de-couleur: Ok, let’s see here. I’m 23, quite independent (I moved from the US to Korea and regularly do solo trips), I LOVE cats (there are cats in the park near my apartment that I made friends with cause I can’t have a pet cat), I’m a romantic and I love the “old fashion” romance stuff: bringing a girl flowers, writing love letters, etc. I’d love a guy who has a significant size difference from me (5'3) and loves to cuddle.

The airport was crowded for a Monday

You wondered how Sebastien would greet you.

He had been there, taking pictures of the ruins.

“A karaage chicken and a beer, please.”

“Military brat?”

“Something like that,” he murmured, cocking a dark eyebrow with another grin. “Yours is definitely not a local accent.”

He was a photographer, you’d learned, and might start his week on the Mississippi delta and end it staring up at the stars above the Serengeti. He’d been knowledgeable about the castle ruins, telling you the history of the sight, and when a man passed, selling small hand-ties of flowers in a basket, he bought one for you, declaring that you needed something physical for your hanami experience.

If your cheeks had grown any hotter, you might have combusted.

It had been a surprise then, when your phone chimed with a text that same night.

Just making sure you got home alright

Had a lot of fun today!

Did you see that news story about the werewolf tribe in Malaysia?

The Malay tribe in question had been profiled on a popular world news station, their history and customs discussed openly for the first time.

I did, it’s incredible that they’ve managed to stay so insular all this time

Here goes nothing, you thought, tapping out your reply.

It talked about how painful the change is, especially for young people

Bones breaking and stuff

Is it really like that? Was it that bad for you?

You waited, wedged between other commuters, counting the seconds as your phone remained silent.

Not really, but cats are better than dogs ;)

I wonder if it has much to do with diet?

I’d be curious to see the stats on bone density and childhood malnutrition

I need your address please

Several weeks later you'd received a lovely, hand-painted parasol, along with the first letter.

It was impossible to write him back with the way he travelled. You had to settle for emailing him your responses, long letters full of your ambitions and insecurities, wondering what scared him, what his secret passion were, where he'd like to call home.

Now he was almost here, back in the flesh, for the first time in two years.

Hello, I'd like to inquire into the sofa for rent in your apartment? Does it come with turn down service?

Two weeks. You'd have him to yourself for two weeks. Truly to yourself, for your roommate had decided not to extend her teaching contract and had flown home just a few days earlier.

When your eyes opened, he was there.

You'd forgotten how tall he was, you realized. Sebastien towered over the throng of people moving down the escalator. Tall and slender with broad shoulders and an unhurried air; his face splitting into a smile when he caught sight of you.

The next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion, as if you were under water. Rising from the bench, your arms opened, mirroring his, in anticipation of his hug.

You had hoped for it, but hadn't allowed yourself to expect it.

When your fingers slid into his dark hair, nails scraping his scalp, he growled against your lips, and you wondered why you had been worried about the nature of his visit at all. Of course this isn't one-sided.

“We should go,” he murmured. “Places like this usually have decency laws, and you’re tempting me to break all of them.”

You trembled the entire way back to your apartment. Sebastien had insisted on getting a cab, not wanting to wrestle his roller bag on the train. “Besides, I’m not letting go of your hand,” he announced cheerfully, pulling you into another light kiss before hailing a cab at the taxi queue.

“Are you sure you’re not going to get in trouble having me here?”

The hallway was quiet as the elevator dinged open, and you shushed him, pulling him quickly to your door. The company-provided apartments were small but comfortable, particularly now that your roommate was gone, but he wasn't wrong—it would be frowned upon for you, a young, unmarried woman, to have a male houseguest. You didn't care. Your replacement roommate was not due to arrive until the end of the month, giving you the unexpected boon of privacy during Sebastien’s stay, and you had no intention of letting him stay in a hotel.

“I really was going to get a hotel room, you know,” he laughed, as you tugged him inside.

“Well, now you don’t need to. And we have the place to ourselves the whole time you’re here,” you announced. “Bathroom is here, the kitchen is miniature, but it's functional...I got some of that electrolyte water you like. Living room, the advertised sofa, turndown service is an extra fee...the second bedroom, the new girl won’t be here for a few weeks...and here’s my room.”

You swallowed hard, opening the door and ducking your head, lest he see your blush.

You pretended to ponder, looking him over as you gripped your chin. “Hmmm...I’m sure negotiations could be made.”

You squealed again when he lifted you, bouncing you down on the bed. “I’m a freelancer, miss. Negotiations are what I’m good at.”

“Are the negotiations satisfactory so far?”

“I-I think you’ve made a compelling opening statement,” you wheezed, earning a deep chuckle that buzzed against your skin.

He was incredibly pleased with himself.

His body completely covered yours as he climbed over you as you melted into the mattress, his smile wide and his chin glistening. Your fingers were uncoordinated as you fumbled with his belt buckle, distracted over the press of his erection, until Sebastien gripped your hand, squeezing gently before pushing it aside, opening his faded jeans himself.

The sun had not yet risen when you stirred in your bed. You were alone.

He’d left you two days earlier, kissing your nose as he readied himself for the turn, citing a fellow photographer, an american werewolf who had given him leads on several safe spots.

The little park was empty, as you’d known it would be. The dough of your fried pastry was hot, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and the enticing aroma drew out several of your feline friends as you lowered yourself to a bench.

There was something there in the shadows you realized, though you curiously felt no fear. The sun was shining, the morning was quiet, and you were in love. Maybe he would stay.

A huge black panther slunk from the shrubbery, smaller cats flanking him with hungry mewls, and you laughed, holding out a piece of the kkwabaegi. Shining, golden eyes, long and muscular. Cats are better than dogs. Maybe he would stay.

You beckoned the felines closer, flipping open the box of treats. After all, you’d bought one for him anyways.

#Exophilia #monster boyfriend #monster lover #werecat #werecat boyfriend #monsterbait writes #monster matchmaker #monster matches #monster match

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