Tag: Studio Ghibli
On speaking a language without using sentence subjects, the joy of funny English all around me, and a golden “Santa-san”?
One thing you don't hear very often when speaking English is someone saying, "Wait, what's the subject of your sentence? ...
Thoughts on biculturalism and Halloween, types of ramen you should try, and my fascination with Japanese females
Happy Halloween from J-List. Halloween is one of those "American" holidays (although originally Irish and Scottish) that has a way ...
On the evolution of language into new forms, thoughts on internationally famous Japanese, and my connection with New Zealand
Every language is constantly evolving, and while the English major in me isn't always happy about the LOLification of my ...
You’ve been in Japan too long when you ‘teach’ someone your phone number, all about the history of Panasonic, and fun with English phrases in Japan
"You've been in Japan too long when you 'teach' someone your phone number." Of course, we all use different words ...
Thoughts on how the Japanese define “family,” confusion over English lyrics in Japanese songs, and how to tell a Korean from a Japanese
We've got a bit of a running joke in our family. South Korean television dramas are popular in Japan, and ...
More about “standing out in a crowd,” what Steven Spielberg has to do with learning Japanese, and ways that Japanese people save space
I talked last time about how the dynamic of "standing out in a crowd" can work a little differently when ...
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 ...
Otakon wrap up, Japanese election results, and various thoughts about the “Founding Fathers” of modern Japan
Well, Otakon is over, and it was a real blast. As the premier anime convention on the East Coast, it's ...
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 ...
Observations on the Japanese and music culture, things you learn as an ESL teacher, and comparing San Diego to Japan
One observation I've made about Japan in the 15+ years I've spent there is, they pay a little more attention ...
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 ...
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 ...
Jet Lagging in the USA, ways that Japanese reflect total social harmony, and would you save your baby’s umbilical cord?
Well, once again I've made the hop from Japan to San Diego, which takes about 24 hours from door to ...
Being fixated on Japanese, bittersweet themes in anime, and my recent culture shock
When you spend many hours focusing on something, whether it's building a model train set or learning a foreign language, ...
Frustrations common in Japan, and the current state of Pachinko, the national gambling game of Japan
Anyone who's ever worked in a Japanese organization for any length of time probably knows the frustration of having a ...
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 ...
Elections in Japan, a run-down of what politics are like here, and using Japanese “honorific” markers for fun and profit
It's my least favorite time of year in Japan right now: election season, when dozens of politicians drive around in ...
How Cup Ramen became a part of our food culture, a new trend in vending machines, and my thoughts on the enigma of the “Japanese Female”
You may have seen that Momofuku Ando, the Father of Instant Ramen, died recently. Momofuku, whose name meant "one hundred ...
Japan as the land of safety, small conveniences of living in Japan, and the reason for that wacky “Engrish”
I've written before about how Japan is a very safe place -- so safe it might just kill you with ...
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 ...
All about Japan’s most enigmatic food natto, how reading your Hemingway can help you under modern otaku culture, and a happy day for a town in Japan
The fermented soybeans known as natto (NAT-toh) are one of the most famous foods in Japan, enjoyed throughout the country, ...
Thoughts on raising bilingual kids, comparing of names between Japan and the West, and what Carl Sagan has taught me
It's hard raising bilingual children in a country where English isn't used on a daily basis, except on signs that ...
Thoughts on ordering “peanuts butter,” a tasty Japanese treat in the winter, and a friend who can’t receive New Year’s Cards
You know you've been in Japan too long when your mother sends you a bottle of nutmeg spice for Christmas, ...
