Interesting foods Japanese eat in the summer, a Japanese gadget that washes your butt for you, and why Japan might need more lawyers
Japan is a country that's definitely in touch with its seasons, and they celebrate each time of year with many ...
Tag: family
The end of an era in driving convenience, Japan’s Obon Buddhist holidays, and everything you wanted to know about what a kimono is
The end of an era for this particular gaijin has come. In the past, foreigners were permitted to drive in ...
Peter’s rant about “baka-gaijin” (with apologies to Chris Rock), thoughts on Japanese having an “American accent” and getting ready for Comicon!
Like every nation, Japan has a segment of people from other countries living there, although at just 1.5% of the ...
Ways that America steals ideas from Japan, the Japanese language as “most difficult in the world” and what color are your eyes?
I've written about how Japan's society often seems to follow behind the U.S. in many areas, usually running about a ...
The lack of patriotic songs in Japan, what happened in our prefecture during WWII, and a useful word for Atari fans
The Fourth of July celebration was a lot of fun, a rare treat for me since Anime Expo usually falls ...
Being sick in Japan and America, the concept of “political correctness” in Japanese, and all about Japan’s famous alcoholic drink, sake
Japan is a fun place -- the people are nice, the sights are beautiful, and you get to have wacky ...
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 ...
Japan’s latest “boom” is Tae Bo, all about the Three Great Unifiers of Japan, and managing by studying Japanese history
Japan is the land of the boom, and you never know what will be popular next. Right now the country ...
Our plan to “reform” our home in Japan, the joys of getting citizenship, and times when Japan just throws you for a loop
Our plan to "reform" (remodel) our house in Japan is continuing apace, as we prepare to redo our bath area, ...
All about “castle towns,” the use of euphsmisms in daily life in Japan, and funny English you can try at home
As with Europe, Japan has had a long history which has left its mark on cities and towns today. Most ...
The Japanese fascination with movies about New York and Audrey Hepburn, thoughts on home-owning in Japan, and the Japanese take on “Kamikaze”
The Japanese are fascinated with the enigma of New York City, and there are hundreds of books written about the ...
The challenge of raising kids in a foreign country, more on the shrine China and Korea love to hate, and a Shinto ceremony in my living room
First of all, a minor computer problem here in Japan caused some delays in processing orders on Friday. We're very ...
Understanding group culture through photography, all about Social Security in Japan, and would you like “lice” with your bento?
The Japanese are a very group-oriented people, and one of the worst things a person can be is nakama-hazure (nah-kah-mah ...
The history of family names in Japanese, why there are so many last names in use here, and the Japanese connection with Auld Lang Syne
Names in Japanese are quite different from what we're usually used to in the West. Right off the bat, the ...
The Japanese social engine that is “obligation,” words that are the same between English and Japanese, and stupid transliteration tricks.
One social engine at work in Japan is that of "obligation," essentially the knowing of what's expected of you and ...
Japan’s amazing adaptions of “black culture,” all about gestures used by the Japanese, and what’s the currency of Japan?
The Japanese are very good at taking outside culture and adapting it to fit their own needs, and they have ...
Happy news at Torino, things foreigners find odd when they come to Japan, and all about Japanese heaters
The Torino Olympics have been going on for two weeks, and Japanese fans have been eagerly watching all the events ...
Shinto funerals vs. Buddhist ones, what to wear to a funeral, and the three ages of anime
I attended a Japanese funeral over the weekend, after when the father of a friend passed away at the age ...
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 ...
Japan’s shock over Virginia Tech, how Japanese names work, and on the psychology of foreigners in Japan
Japan is numbly watching the aftermath of the sad events at Virginia Tech as they unfold. Much like Europe, it's ...
Differences in “maid culture” between Japan and Malaysia, thoughts on technology, and what makes a jar a jar?
First of all, we experienced some server trouble Sunday night for about an hour or so. I'd think of some ...
The most-quoted phrase by pop Japanologists, the reason for Japanese innovation, and stupid Japanese money tricks
No consideration of Japan is complete without the often-quoted-by-gaijin- who-are-experts-on-Japan phrase deru kui wa utareru (DE-ru KOO-ee wa oo-TAH-reh-ru), which ...
A magic Japanese phrase for you, home ownership Japan-style, and Japan as “producer heaven”
Last time I mentioned the magic words that may be responsible for much of the wa or harmony that Japan ...
What we can learn about culture and Star Wars from Japanese comedians, some reverse sexual discrimination, and all about “What is your Hobby?”
"What is your hobby?" This is one of the first phrases of English conversation that Japanese students learn, along with ...
