Most people know that Japanese culture generally frowns upon tattoos. Historically, tattoos have been a sign of the yakuza in Japan, so if you whip off your clothes to jump into an onsen and an “I ♥ Mom” tattoo is on your … [Read more...]
Writing a letter in Japanese is quite the epic topic. It's sadly not as easy as writing something, stuffing it in an envelope, stamping it, and sending it. Japanese letters require you to think about certain formalities, … [Read more...]
Enka is a form of Japanese ballad. Its lyrics present a romanticized and nostalgic look at the past, tragedy, and love and loss, like a Japanese form of blues. The instruments are a mixture of modern Western instruments … [Read more...]
For some people, Western and Japanese animation are like night and day—two completely different artforms that vary in countless different ways and are more or less incompatible with each other. And while it's true that … [Read more...]
People ask me all the time what websites I recommend—what blogs that I read as somebody who writes about Japan. I figure that I'll answer this question once and for all; or at least until people forget that I wrote this … [Read more...]
Chances are, if you’ve ever been to a Japanese or Chinese restaurant, you’ve probably seen one. Their happy looking eyes. Their little paws that beckon you towards them. That cute mouth that just seems to say “Hey you! Buy … [Read more...]