October’s finally here;

the air’s cooler, oden has returned to konbini everywhere (hooray!), and we’ve a new issue of Connect for you to get your teeth into!

Got little ones at home? Our Family Spotlight series continues with a look into children’s dietary difficulties.

Impress colleagues with your political knowledge; our news section asks what will become of Japan’s monarchy as the Heisei era draws to a close.

Plenty of downtime? Our events calendar and October release schedule promise to keep boredom at bay!

Want more? Discover Osaka’s top five tourist hotspots, the original hometown of phenomenal rice paddy art, fan-organised doujinshi fairs, and more!

Read our personal recounts of the Somin Sai festival, a picturesque bike ride through Yabakei Gorge, and join us for a day of Shower Climbing (shampoo not a must!)

Last but not least, make sure to do it all whilst stuffing your face full of our tasty onigirazu recipes, and reading up on the latest in genderless fashion – happy autumn