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 ...
Tag: Japanese language
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 ...
On watching Shrek 2 in Osaka Dialect, frustration at the correct way to pronounce “Appatomatox” and thoughts on returning home
The other day I went into the living room to see my kids glued to the TV even though it ...
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 ...
Dire straights for the Nova Bunny, Japanese test culture and manga artists, and all about Japanese democracy
The teaching of eikaiwa, or English conversation, is quite an industry in Japan, and there are many schools where people ...
Japan dealing with counterfeit products from China, understand society and economics through Bull-Dog Sauce, and
Like other developed nations, many of the products the Japanese use every day are manufactured in China, and recently the ...
More ways that Japanese group dynamics operate, linguistic land mines, and how to really appreciate Pop Tarts and Peanut Butter
I talked last time about some of the mechanisms that are in place to keep Japan's group-oriented society running smoothly, ...
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 ...
What a difference an elongated vowel makes, Jamestown vs. Sekigahara, and other cultural observations from a cunning linguist
What a difference an elongated vowel can make. Japanese is quite different from English, having had a totally unique developmental ...
Weird new products in the U.S., getting Japanese onomatopoeia on the brain, and what to the Japanese think of us?
Whenever I come back to the U.S., I like to cruise the grocery stores to see what new products have ...
Gaijin battling to be the “King of Akihabara,” silly thoughts on Japanese company names, and life sometimes being fair in your favor
One Japanese TV show that never fails to please is TV Champion, which pits exceptional people against each other in ...
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 ...
Bizarre urban legends of Japan, funny English words the Japanese invent, and where are all the pregnant women?
Urban legends are funny things, sometimes leading millions of people to believe something that just isn't true. When Gerber started ...
Living in Japan and changes in your native language, of Golden Week and flying carp, and a “Gaijin Battle” on Japanese TV
Living in Japan means adapting to many things, not the least of which is modifying your native language. When I ...
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 ...
Concepts like giri and ninjo, eating raw fish in Boston and Hokkaido, and fun with a Japanese ear pick
No study of pop Japanology can be complete without exploring the twin concepts of giri and ninjo (義理と人情）, which crop ...
Embarrassments of being a foreigner in Japan, Japan’s latest “rose boom” and words that feature a unique kanji
Hello again from Japan, where the zipper in your pants is known as the "window of society" (shakai no mado).As ...
Chinese New Year and Japan, what Japanese drivers’ put on their cars, and our faithful dog
Chinese New Year is going on right now, and throughout Asia people are celebrating the cultural holiday. Although Japan switched ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
The Japanese fear of making mistakes, the end of the Japanese blood type myth, and panty shots in anime you didn’t expect to see
Although the Japanese generally study six years of English (or up to ten if they take it in college), they're ...
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 ...
An expected bit of Irish in Japan, thoughts on Japan’s slow-changing educational system, and all about the concept of “kakko ii”
Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, a celebration of all things Irish in the U.S. and, presumeably, Ireland. As you might ...
