September 2011 Japan Blog Matsuri: Call for Submissions!
Wow, I can’t believe it’s already September! This month, I am proud to host the Japan Blog Matsuri, a monthly blogging showcase that has been around since February 2007. Each month, the designated host comes up with a Japan-related theme, and invites anyone and everyone to participate by writing a relevant blog post. At the end of the month, the host collects all of the submissions and features them in a single post, showcasing the creativity and diversity of the bloggers involved. It’s a great way to share your blog with new people. Last month’s matsuri was hosted by Super Happy Awesome on the topic of “Summer Lovin’.”
Anyone is welcome to participate, and the guidelines are very simple, so keep reading!
This Month’s Theme: “Reasons to Visit Japan”
This month’s theme is “Reasons to Visit Japan.” This year has been particularly challenging for Japan due to the March 11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Although much work still needs to be done in terms of reconstruction and policy reform, the country and its people have persevered and provided constant reminders of the things that make Japan such a special place. So, this month the theme is very broad. Places, people, food, sports, events, customs, seasons, abstract concepts or feelings—you name it, it’s fair game. What makes Japan a place worth experiencing? You tell us!
At the end of the month, I’m hoping to have a collection of your posts that will help me convince all of my friends to come visit me—maybe even Japan’s tourism officials will pick up a thing or two. ;)
Rules & Guidelines
Participating is easy! Everyone is encouraged to contribute. You don’t need to be living in Japan to take part, nor does your blog have to be about Japan. Your post doesn’t even have to be very long—you can just share a picture and a few words (or you can write a novel!). There are a few simple rules:
- Your submission should abide by the Japan Blog Matsuri Rules and Guidelines(this page also has some helpful hints for writing your post, as well as some banner images for the Japan Blog Matsuri, if you’d like to use them)
- It should be relevant to this month’s theme: “Reasons to Visit Japan”
- It must contain at least one picture related to the topic
- It should contain a link back to this website
- It should be received by the deadline: Saturday, Sept 24 at midnight, Tokyo time
How to Submit an Article
Just leave a comment on this post with a link to your article!
Deadline
Saturday, September 24 at midnight (Tokyo time)
I hope that many people will contribute to this month’s Japan Blog Matsuri. Tell your friends and advertise your own posts through Twitter (tagged #jbmatsuri), Facebook, Google+, or whatever you use. Let’s make this the biggest edition yet!
Some Past Editions of the Japan Blog Matsuri
July 2011: Japanese Drinks @ NihongoUp
May 2011: I Can-Ji @ Nippon The Bus
April 2011: Education in Japan @ NihongoUp
March 2011: Faces of Japan @ Haikugirl’s Japan
February 2011: Famous Japanese Events @ loneleeplanet
Note: The results of the September 2011 Japan Blog Matsuri were posted on September 30, 2011. Click here to read 23 incredibly diverse submissions by a group of talented bloggers!
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Great topic! I’m looking forward to the responses :)
Travelling on a Shinkansen :)
http://travelsbyuni.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/super-fast-travel-with-shinkansen-japan/
Thanks so much for contributing!
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I will definitely be making a post for this! Must not forget!!!
I’m getting a not found when I click on the link for the Matsuri Rules. Is there another link?
Try it now.
Works. Thanks^^
Hi. I found you when looking for an appropriate blog to post by brief story and video. This event sounds just like the right place. Here`s a link to my video on my youtube channel. Do you need anything else from me to submit? I could put a mention of your website in the comments…
http://www.youtube.com/user/mwblodgett?feature=mhee
Yes, please add a link to the matsuri announcement (this post). Thanks!
Thanks for the reply. I have added the link for Japan Blog Matsuir to my video. Thanks for including me in your project!
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My reason to visit Japan: shopping in Omicho Market: http://illmakeitmyself.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/a-love-letter-to-omicho-market/
Great entry–thanks so much for contributing!
I often see these kinds of things and want to participate, but never seem to have a good post “waiting in the wings” as it were. I’ll have to come up with something…. Thanks for such a good topic, and for organizing this whole thing, helping us find one another’s blogs, find good posts, etc.
I’ve now come up with something! Hope you like my post, “Exploring Japan by Bike.”
Looks fabulous–thanks so much for entering!
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Ok! Here’s my post on “Reasons to Visit Japan”: http://organizationasg.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/japan-blog-matsuri-this-geniuss-reasons-for-visiting-japan/
Looks great! Thanks so much for submitting!
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Here’s my submission for September’s blog matsuri:http://thesoulofjapan.blogspot.com/2011/09/niigata-minami-uonuma.html
Great entry! I used to live in Niigata, so I found it particularly interesting.
Reason to visit Japan? Because once you’ve been living there you don’t want to come back home! http://www.kankei.fr/sexpatrier-au-japon-cest-courir-le-risque-de-ne-plus-vouloir-en-repartir/
It’s so true!
Could you provide a translation? The matsuri guidelines ask that entries be primarily in English.
I live in Japan too and I really would like to participate in this matsuri ^^
But there are so many reasons why I want and like living in Japan.^^
Anyway, I change the subject but I would like to know if you or readers of this blog are interested in writing about the way you have personnally experienced the Northeastern Japan Earthquake (if haven’t but you know people who have experienced the earthquake in Japan, it’d be great if you coud let him/her know about this).
Tokyo Room Finder Short Essay Contest is an online project to gather heart-warming experiences following the earthquake in Japan. We strongly believe that sharing those experiences will give people hope and revitalize Japan.
We also offer 2 tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort to each of the winners.
For more details : http://tokyoroomfinder.blogspot.com/
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I wrote something a bit different than the usual touristy stuff, but I think it still meets all the rules.
http://nopybot.com/2011/09/13/japan-blog-matsuri-reasons-to-visit-japan/
Love it! Thanks so much for entering!
Here’s my submission for September’s blog matsuri: Reasons to Visit Japan
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011/08/reasons-to-visit-japan_29.html
Very nice! Would you mind adding a link back to this matsuri announcement? Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t think I saw one in your post.
It has already been done :)
Hope you enjoy the post
Japan Australia
I have a new post about Japan, and it’s all about temples and shrines! :) http://travelsbyuni.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/japanese-temples-and-shrines/
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This is my entry for the Japan Blog Matsuri – http://yamaguchihoshiko.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/japan-blog-matsuri-hoshikos-reasons-for-visiting-japan/
I have one too! Thanks for the theme, it was great to think about.
http://enkuuki.blogspot.com/2011/09/japan-blog-matsuri-reasons-to-visit.html
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Great theme this month!! :)
Here’s my submission for the Japan Blog Matsuri. I got really hungry while making this post… (。・ω・。)ノ
http://mmm-fruit.com/2011/09/why-i-came-to-japan-and-why-you-should-too/
It made me hungry, too! Great post, thanks so much for participating!
Here is mine!!!
http://www.kaleyinjapan.com/2011/09/reasons-why-i-love-japan-2-mountains.html
Here is my submission, thanks for hosting!
http://www.loneleeplanet.com/2011/09/keirin-in-japan/
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Hi,
I just finished my post for the matsuri. Maybe my reasons for visiting Japan are a bit between the lines but I hope it’s okay. Let me know what you think ;)
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Just in time – here’s my submission: http://haikugirl.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/5-reasons-to-visit-japan/ (*^^)v
Hello. I joined this theme.I don’t know whether my post will be subscribed or not…
http://cocomino.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/reasons-to-visit-japan/
Thanks for the invite to join the Matsuri!
Here’s my contribution, hope I’ve followed the procedure all correct and the like. ^^
http://ichigoichielove.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-japan.html
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Some general musings on why to visit Japan:
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Here is my submission for the theme “reasons to visit Japan”. Thanks for hosting!!
http://www.jmarket.com/blog/index.php/2011/09/22/reason-to-visit-japan-shopping/
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Whew, made it in time! Here’s my post:
Hi, I’m sorry that I haven’t had time to put together a post, even though I really wanted to. Thanks a lot for inviting me – I hope I can participate another month…!
I hope I’m not too late: it is still before midnight in Tokyo but just barely! Here’s my post: http://tennterakoya.blogspot.com/2011/09/japan-i-want-to-see-nakasendo-post.html
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Thanks a ton for taking a few minutes to line this all out for people. This write-up ended up being quite helpful if you ask me.
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