Decoding My Dog

Alexa Fukuoka
Nov 6 · 8 min read

Learning that storm grates are evil and tatami is off-limits.

A Shiba dog standing on grass in front of a sign that reads “Ikutopia”
A Shiba dog standing on grass in front of a sign that reads “Ikutopia”
Standing outside of the shelter after one week in his new home.

When my husband accepted a two-year contract at a restaurant in Niigata, Japan, I had one thing to say, “We’re getting a dog.”

Every time I mentioned my move from sunny Fukuoka up north to Niigata, I was met with the same response, “Have you heard about the snow?” Now I grew up in Pittsburgh, so I’ve seen my fair share of snow. Still, I knew I’d be…

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Alexa Fukuoka

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American expat in Japan living with vision loss.

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