Tofugu.com – Wonky Japanese Language and Culture

Yep, that’s the same exact reaction I’d have if Akebono pulled that crazy stunt on me. WTF, Akebono-san? I’m just a kid (though I think Segata Sanshiro still wins in the unnecessary child-beating category). And is it just me, or does the “So Fun, So Fox” sound like something else? Now, you’ll have to forgive me, because I’ve really only seen part of one episode of Glee, so I don’t really know what it’s all about (they did well at the Golden Globes, right?), but I do know that they’re using one of my favorite people, Akebono Tarō, who is the first non-Japanese wrestler to make it to the top sumo rank of Yokozuna. That and he is a very large human. Read more…

When you think of Japan, you think of serene temples… succulent sushi… and horribly fluorescent light wrestling matches? Apparently now you can.

I think that we can all agree that doing battle with fluorescent lighting is a bad idea, but that certainly didn’t stop the Japanese. I think Neatorama says it best: “It’s like WWF meets WTF” … with extra emphasis on the WTF part.

I don’t even know what to say about this, so instead of saying anything at all, I’m just going to post pictures. It’s up to you to tell the world what you think, because I don’t think I can think anymore. Read more…

I came across this story on Flickr while looking for something completely different, which forced me to do some more searching on my own. Of course, the curse is in Wikipedia, as well as in Shane’s atypicallife, but you can read it right here as well. Possibly with a little more snarkiness. Maybe.

What/Who does the Colonel curse?

The Curse of Colonel Sanders is a curse brought down on the Japanese baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. Starting in 1985 until now, the Hanshin Tigers have never won the Japanese baseball equivalent of the World Series (The Japan Series). Supposedly, evil Mr. Sanders is the one preventing it. Read more…

Somehow, thanks to the power of the Internets, I received an email from a pro fighter currently working in Japan. The email went something like this: “Hey, I love Tofugu! Don’t mess with me or I’ll break your head off and spit down your neck” (well, maybe not the second part). I thought it would be interesting to interview a pro fighter in Japan. I mean, how often do you bump into one (and survive)? I mean, come on, think Segata Sanshiro. Here’s a picture of her (on the left), and right after, the interview!

Q. What is your name and where are you originally from?
My name is Roxanne Modafferi. I was born in Delaware, and grew up in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Read more…