Tofugu News: A New Series, Guest Writers, and Chat Stuff

by 24 Comments

The Obake Series: An Introduction

Tofugu Ghostie

Later this month, we will be posting the first of a series of articles on Japanese monsters and ghosts, or obake (お化け). Obake, also known as bakemono (化け物) are a motley bunch, with unique backgrounds and personalities. They are portrayed widely in Japanese folklore and art; some have even been popularized in anime and manga. As for the Tofugu Team, we have no real reason for undertaking this project, other than the fact that we find the obake to be quirky and interesting, and hope that you will, too.

Guest Writers: Status Update & Clarification

Guest Writing

Thanks to all of you who have submitted articles so far! We’ve discussed what we’re going to do with the guest articles, and we’ve decided to tweak our earlier post about them, so follow this link to see what’s new. The main thing to keep in mind is to write about things you think your peers would be interested in or have an opinion about. Don’t worry if you think your writing style doesn’t mesh with ours—just make sure you write coherently and with a point of view. A little humor doesn’t hurt, either.


Contacting the Tofugu Team: Feeling Chatty?

Gojira and Kitty Koichi: koichiben@hotmail.com

Erin: tofugu_girl@hotmail. com

Viet: vi3thoang@hotmail.com

We’re not always online, but feel free to add us if you like. We don’t bite. Except, Godzilla, sometimes.

  • http://www.koichiben.com koichi

    ooh, i like your bakedofu – it’s cute and yet…terrifyingly vegetarian.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Bakedofu, huh? I was thinking of bakefugu, but that works, too.

  • http://www.vietamins.com Viet

    The iChat image is awesome.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Ah, thanks you guys. I love Photoshopping. Almost as much as real shopping.

  • Mathias

    Great News! I read about Obake in a book about Shinto, and it is often refered to them in Japanese movies, like in もののけ姫. However, if you’re not Japanese you usually have no clue about them. (Like me ^^)

    [img]http://junktown.bunkernetz.de/upload/mononoke_hime.jpg[/img]

    I can’t wait for the Obake series. :D

    P.S.

    What means “TLA”?

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Mathias:

    Hehe, I took the “TLA” part out because it would cause confusion, and it didn’t really mean what I thought it meant, haha. I’m glad you’re excited about the series!

  • http://www.koichiben.com koichi

    ooh, i like your bakedofu – it’s cute and yet…terrifyingly vegetarian.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Bakedofu, huh? I was thinking of bakefugu, but that works, too.

  • http://www.vietamins.com Viet

    The iChat image is awesome.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Ah, thanks you guys. I love Photoshopping. Almost as much as real shopping.

  • Mathias

    Great News! I read about Obake in a book about Shinto, and it is often refered to them in Japanese movies, like in もののけ姫. However, if you’re not Japanese you usually have no clue about them. (Like me ^^)

    [img]http://junktown.bunkernetz.de/upload/mononoke_hime.jpg[/img]

    I can’t wait for the Obake series. :D

    P.S.

    What means “TLA”?

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Mathias:

    Hehe, I took the “TLA” part out because it would cause confusion, and it didn’t really mean what I thought it meant, haha. I’m glad you’re excited about the series!

  • Onimusha Nosferatu

    ooo this series sounds fun. yuki onna is my favorite story. it’s cool to see the diff. interpretations of it and to see where it pops up. kwaidan is a good movie for ppl to watch. it has a couple stories ppl might find entertaining.

  • Onimusha Nosferatu

    ooo this series sounds fun. yuki onna is my favorite story. it’s cool to see the diff. interpretations of it and to see where it pops up. kwaidan is a good movie for ppl to watch. it has a couple stories ppl might find entertaining.

  • http://rizkypuji.livejournal.com miya

    hehe~ i’m looking forward to the series :3
    i always love japanese ghost (d classic one though, coz d bew ones like in The Ring scares me when i try to imagine things :3)
    hehehe :3

  • http://rizkypuji.livejournal.com miya

    hehe~ i’m looking forward to the series :3
    i always love japanese ghost (d classic one though, coz d bew ones like in The Ring scares me when i try to imagine things :3)
    hehehe :3

  • Be

    ^^;
    Looking forward for bakamono!

  • Be

    ^^;
    Looking forward for bakamono!

  • http://www.freewebs.com/kaitonakamura Brian

    Boku wa bakemono ga daisuki!

  • http://www.freewebs.com/kaitonakamura Brian

    Boku wa bakemono ga daisuki!

  • Sakuragts

    I’m looking forward to the bakemono serie! One of my favorite j-rock group have a concept where they are a type of monster and one of them is a kyoncie O.o I wonder if it’s some kind of monster in japanese folklore or something

  • Sakuragts

    I’m looking forward to the bakemono serie! One of my favorite j-rock group have a concept where they are a type of monster and one of them is a kyoncie O.o I wonder if it’s some kind of monster in japanese folklore or something

  • haihai

    My favorite bakemono is the tengu. Go bird people!

  • haihai

    My favorite bakemono is the tengu. Go bird people!