What’s Christmas in Japan like? 2015 Edition.
Very warm Merry Kurisumasu and happy holiday wishes to everyone! We hope you’re having a wonderful special day today, wherever ...
Tag: Japan
Star Wars, Japan, and goofy ideas for anime
Last time I talked about how the classic Japanese novel The Tale of Genji -- about the playboy son of ...
Things Japanese people don’t like: living next to North Korea
Though I enjoy living in Japan, there are some downsides, too. Being cold in the winter because houses here lack ...
Viewing Japan through Pop Culture
We hope you're enjoying the all-new J-List website. Just a reminder: certain products like magazine and snack subscriptions, iTunes cards ...
The history of Ecchi, and Yakuza in Japan.
It's part of the nature of the Japanese people to prefer substituting euphemisms for words that are embarrassing to use ...
Do Japanese hate hugs? And other random observations.
I've always done my best to observe the Japanese people during my time here, so I can pass those observations ...
The cutest anime in the world, and a sad Sukiyaki Song.
One of the most popular series this season is Himouto! Umaru-chan, the story of a smart and attractive high school ...
Japan’s love of cats, and the cutest government program ever.
The English language is often simplified or made "cute-sounding" when used in Japanese. A good example of this is the ...
What is it to be “Japanese”? And other eternal questions.
Is Japan a racist nation? This is a very delicate question, but I wouldn't be worth much as a Japan ...
The Year of Evangelion, and all about silence in Japanese.
One of the fun things about science-fiction stories involving the future is comparing the predictions they make about events that ...
Defining Japan’s morality, and who are those ninjas on stage?
Hello again from Japan! We're in the middle of the Golden Week holidays, so it's quiet around here. We hope ...
A new Kyoani series, and getting ‘senpai’ to notice you.
As the new anime season progresses, I've been doing my best to keep up with the major series, and mostly ...
Serious stories in anime, and the social facade that protects fandom.
In addition to trying to revive the Japanese economy through his "Abenomics" reforms (which have had the effect of making ...
Comparing obsessions, and the season of the sakura in Japan.
It’s sakura time in Japan right now, as cherry blossoms around the country explode in beautiful fireworks of pink. Being ...
A day for celebrating Shrine Maidens, plus exploring Japanese culture through language.
I love to look at the ways language and culture are intertwined, allowing us to learn about one as we ...
How Japanese names work, and is J-List located in a ‘Power Spot’?
When I came to Japan in 1991, one of my first impressions was that the country must be a dangerous ...
Cute gestures Japanese people make, and breaking through cultural distance.
As with other countries, communication in Japan goes beyond simple words, and people say as much with body language as ...
Learning about Japanese Culture through H Games, and a Trip to an Edo-era Service Area.
Last Friday several members of the J-List staff and I drove down to Tokyo Big Sight, the sprawling convention center ...
Random questions about Japan answered: cats, blonde hair and more.
I was having trouble deciding what to write for today's post, so I decided to ask J-List's Facebook and Twitter ...
A dramatic and sad week for Japan, and the Japanese art of bowing.
One theme I write about a lot is how Japan is a peaceful country where you'll almost never encounter violence ...
Wacky Japanese TV, and celebrating the randomness of Japanese artists.
Happy New Year to everyone from your friend in Japan! We wish you a healthy and prosperous year, with lots ...
Exploring Japan’s idol culture, and some limitations of Japanese society.
The holiday season continues, and people are eager to receive wonderful gifts, including one that Hatsune Miku (?) has for ...
Japan’s interest in foreigners like us, and a surprising new Sailor Moon product line.
One theme I write about a lot is how Japan is "the only country in the world that cares what ...
Some firsts in Japanese history, plus not being sure if I’m in the USA or Japan.
My family has always been very cross-cultural, with my kids equally at home watching Pokemon or the films of Hayao ...
