Tags on Igor Kulman

The Omega Seamaster Professional 300M that surprised me

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0100

I have liked the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M for a long time. Not exactly because James Bond wore one, although it is hard to avoid that connection with this model. More because the watch has a design of its own and does not try to be just another variation on the Rolex Submariner. The wave dial, prominent bezel, skeletonized hands, helium escape valve at ten o’clock and distinctive five-link bracelet make it a watch you recognize immediately.

Ollee Watch: giving a 30-year-old Casio A158W a new life

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0100

Last year, I came across a project called Ollee Watch. It is a replacement module for classic Casio digital watches that adds a few modern features while preserving their original look and character.

I found it interesting but did not take it any further. Ordering from outside the EU means exactly the sort of hassle I did not want to deal with: customs duties, VAT and long waits. Besides, I did not own a suitable watch where a module like this would make sense, even though watches have been one of my favourite hobbies for years, ever since I switched from the Apple Watch back to traditional watches.

How I built a tool for reading Japanese 🇯🇵

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:01:49 +0100

I have been learning Japanese for several years now. I have also written about my experiences learning the language and using Japanese in practice. It is a language that demands patience and a great deal of time—there are no shortcuts to becoming fluent in a year.

While preparing for the JLPT, this time at N4 level, I began reading more authentic Japanese texts and ran into a problem that will be familiar to almost every self-taught learner: furigana.

How to generate furigana for Japanese text 🇯🇵

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:01:49 +0100

Furigana are small hiragana characters added above or beside kanji to show their pronunciation. They are very useful for Japanese learners because they make texts containing unfamiliar kanji easier to read.

I recently wrote an essay for my Japanese class and wanted to print it so I could bring it to the lesson and read it more easily. For that, I needed to add furigana to some of the kanji I had not yet learned.

How I created a zen garden at home

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:01:49 +0100

Zen gardens in Japan have always fascinated me. During my travels there, I was drawn to their simplicity, tranquillity and ability to encourage focus. That is why I decided to create a small, quiet corner in my apartment—a place where I could switch off for a moment and find some balance during an ordinary day.

I began with a ready-made Esschert Design 30 × 22 cm zen garden kit. It felt cheap and poorly made, but it gave me a starting point. In the end, the only parts I kept were the concrete tray, the concrete plant pot and the rake, even though it is slightly crooked.

How I explored Tokyo and found peace there 🇯🇵

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:01:49 +0100

My second trip to Japan was quite different from the first. I had different goals and different expectations. After my first trip, I could say that I had seen a lot. This time, I wanted to feel that I had experienced a lot.

That is why I did things such as visit a maid café in Akihabara and take the Tokyo Cyberpunk Streets night photography course.

Morning journeys through the city

Every morning, I stopped at a konbini on my way to the station and bought a half-litre bottle of warm roasted green tea, or hōjicha. It is my favourite drink in colder weather.

Tokyo at sunrise 🇯🇵

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:01:49 +0100

I had trouble sleeping throughout my second stay in Japan. When I could not get back to sleep after five one Saturday morning, I decided to go out and see what Tokyo looked like at sunrise. Perhaps I would find Sensō-ji completely empty, without the crowds of tourists.

And so, at six in the morning, I left the hotel and headed for Asakusa. The streets on the way to the station were almost empty.

My experience using Japanese in Japan 🇯🇵

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:01:49 +0100

During my first trip through Japan a year ago, I had only a very basic knowledge of Japanese after studying for around a year and a half. I could understand some signs and catch a little spoken Japanese, but it was not enough for basic communication. The Japanese people I initially tried speaking to knew that too.

Things were better on my second trip. My Japanese had improved considerably in the meantime, and I had passed the JLPT N5 exam. Even so, I continued to encounter language barriers in some situations.

Nagano Snow Monkey Park: visiting the bathing monkeys 🇯🇵

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:01:49 +0100

During my second trip to Japan, I decided to visit the bathing monkeys in Nagano Prefecture. It was an exceptional experience.

The best time to visit

The greatest number of monkeys can be seen in the hot springs between December and March. They use the warm water most often during winter, creating the famous scenes.

Visiting in the morning is recommended, when the monkeys are most active.

Learning to photograph Tokyo at night with just an iPhone 🇯🇵

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:01:49 +0100

During my second trip to Japan, one of my goals was to improve my photography. I may only be an amateur, but I really enjoy taking photos when I travel. I decided to look for an interesting photography course in Tokyo.

Choosing a course

Since I now shoot exclusively with an iPhone and believe that the best camera is the one you always have with you, I looked for a course where an iPhone would be enough. It also had to be in English because my Japanese was not good enough for something like this.

What it is actually like to visit a maid café in Akihabara 🇯🇵

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:01:49 +0100

During my second trip to Japan, as an anime fan I naturally had to return to Akihabara and visit a maid café.

A maid café is a type of café where waitresses dressed in maid uniforms serve the customers. They treat guests with exaggerated respect, address them as “master” or “princess” and try to create a playful, slightly theatrical atmosphere. The experience includes making gestures together when food is served, having pictures drawn on an omelette and taking a photo with your favourite maid. Maid cafés are popular with anime and manga fans, but anyone looking for an unusual experience can visit one.

Returning to Japan after a year 🇯🇵

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:01:49 +0100

Almost as soon as I returned from my two-week trip through Japan a year ago, I began thinking that I had to go back.

The main reason was that many things had not gone as I hoped and I had made some mistakes. I wanted to visit Japan again and do everything better.