My Scary Yakuza Experience in Kyoto
I'll tell you about the scariest thing to happen to be since coming to Japan. I'm a big fan of ...
Tag: bathing
On Traditional “Sento” (Public Baths) and Street Fighter II
If you ever come to Japan, you really should be sure to sample the bathing culture here. Although onsen (natural ...
Thinking about elections in Japan vs. the USA, a mechanism for sexual equality, and information you can get from the Japanese news
There are two things that are really strange to watch in Japanese: sportscasters giving the play-by-play of an American football ...
Foreigners’ relationship with Japanese slippers, International Pocky Day, and reading my wife’s English homework from 20 years ago
I'm often asked how I can come with so many observations about Japan, to which I usually respond that it's ...
Funny moments in Japan, Tokyo’s famous Asakusa district, and limitations of Japanese “humility”
(It looks like we were experiencing some problems with the site due to heavy server load, although it's fixed now. ...
Thoughts on how English loan words are used in Japanese, public affection in the English classroom, and the “V” sign
Sometimes it can seem that the Japanese use of creative English is totally random. I mean, how can you quantify ...
The next Prime Minister of Japan is decided, more thoughts on how the Japanese keep their politics peaceful, and things to do in Tokyo
Well, the race for the leadership of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is over, and the calm, moderate Yasuo Fukuda has ...
A big typhoon pummels Japan, thoughts on the concept of “standing out” and a fun word of Japanese for you
September is storm season in Japan, as we were reminded when Typhoon Fitow -- designated boringly as Typhoon No. 9 ...
On psychology and jealousy of gaijin living in Japan, thinking about Japanese grammar while in the bath, and using the Far Side in English class
I've written before about the psychology of ex-pats living in Japan, such as the the Three Stages of Eye Aversion ...
Japanese High school baseball update, things I’ve learned from teaching ESL, and the next “boom” to hit Japan — Vinegar Beer?
You never know where the next interesting "boom" will come from in Japan. Maybe it'll be a strange new fashion ...
Japan as a “Matrix of Strange English,” on the strong-willed (and unattractive?) women of our prefecture, and language error “best hits”
Japan is, of course, the home of funny English. It's everywhere, like a bizarre Matrix of Strangeness that pervades the ...
More on the language of men and women, the Jerusalem of Otakuism, and all about sex and nudity in Japan (cool!)
There are subtle nuances in how we use language, and the speech we choose to use says something about all ...
Anime Expo update, advice on traveling in Japan, on the idea of Japan as “#81” and two words every pop Japanologist must know
We're still here at Anime Expo in Long Beach, and it's been a real blast. Monday is the last day ...
More fun at Star Wars Celebration IV, all about Japanese bathing, and some interesting ways you can study Japanese (or anything)
The Star Wars Celebration IV convention continues, and we're having lots of fun. Highlights have included Carrie Fisher coming by ...
Japan and its interesting top-down society, a trip to the park, and all about Japan and conveyor-belt sushi
One of the more interesting aspects of Japan is the top-down nature of its society, how it's ostensibly structured in ...
Buying a new car in Japan, roundup of new 2006 features, and an anime fan’s first trip to Tokyo
We've been in "buy a car" mode for the past few weeks, driving around to various dealers to see their ...
Our love of Japanese hot springs, thoughts on government and the private sector, and the most beautiful Pocky box ever
As part of my son's homework, he keeps a diary about the past day's events, alternating entries between Japanese and ...
Funny English in Japan, teaching about America through Easter Eggs, and confusing Japanese company names explained
Japan can be such a funny place. You could be going along, minding your own business when suddenly, bam, the ...
Thoughts on television in Japan, April and “newly harvested rice,” and that cultural question, what color is the sun?
Television (which turns 80 today) in Japan can be quite entertaining, and sometimes its fun to sit back on the ...
How to sub-divide Japanese groups into “zoku” (tribes), all about Japanese rice, and what’s that blue spot on Taro’s butt?
Words always reflect the people that use them, and vice-versa. In American English our notions about individualism and not going ...
All about Mt. Fuji, how taking responsibility can lead to cleaner bathrooms, and thoughts on bathing and how the brain works
You can't think of Japan without also thinking of the country's tallest and most famous mountain, Mt. Fuji. An active ...
The history of Valentine’s Day in Japan, thoughts on why the Japanese are so harmonious, and a really cute picture of the Yamato
You probably know that they do Valentine's Day a little differently in Japan than in the West. Here, Feb. 14th ...
Shrinking the Earth and watching Football, all about the word “sumimasen” and the four islands of Japan
That old planet Earth, she just keeps on getting smaller and smaller, and it's a lot of fun to sit ...
