Being a baka gaijin is not always easy. Being just a baka, or just a gaijin isn’t always that hard, but being both at the same time? Now that’s an achievement. Because I want all of you to achieve your goals and be the best baka gaijin you can be, I’ve put together this short [...]
As of late it seems like there’ve been a lot more all-girl bands popping up in Japan. No, I’m not talking about the happy-go-lucky pop groups such as AKB48 and the like, I’m talking about the all-female hardcore metal bands. Okay, well maybe they’re not that hardcore, but they’re at least a little hardcore (I [...]
Culture always seems to grow legs of its own. Regardless of how specific and niche you might think a culture is, it always finds a way to go where you least expect it. Except “Where you least expect it” always seems to be Japan. For such a supposedly homogenous culture, Japanese people seem to wholly [...]
A lot of people who are visiting Japan for the first time have no idea where to go. I understand! There’s a lot to see and do. While I personally tend to get off the beaten track, I do have a recommended “first-timers” trip for people who are heading to Japan for a week or [...]
There exist stereotypes for every kind of people and the Japanese are no exception. As with many misconceptions, some of them are based on some truth that has been exaggerated to the extreme, but some of the misconceptions about Japan are downright outlandish. Like many people, I thought that there was at least some truth [...]
Japan’s Emperor Akihito is the man. Not only because he and the Empress look like the most friendly, adorable old people to ever walk the planet, but also because he’s a bit of a trailblazer. You might not believe it from his harmless appearance, but during his lifetime Emperor Akihito has done a ton of [...]
Japanese sparkling water beer is the medicine that helps the salaryman endure their boss’ off pitch karaoke during the frequent work parties. It is the refreshing, crisp drink that gets the common Japanese red-faced in only half a pint. Those who have had the pleasure of drinking the more popular “dry” variety can probably describe them as [...]
