Ikebana (生け花), literally “live flowers,” is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Its deceptively simple name hides years of history and cultural upheaval that began during the Meiji Restoration. … [Read more...]
Even though we still don't know a whole lot about how the human body works, we're still doing a lot better than we used to. Throughout history, in various cultures, humans have held some pretty weird claims about the human … [Read more...]
The internet has really helped a lot of people unleash their creativity on the world. It's easier than ever to create something by yourself and share it with an audience of billions. It's also created art forms that … [Read more...]
Even though Japan has a reputation as a peaceful country, don't be fooled: it's a nation full of sharpshooters. If you're not careful, you could find yourself hit square in the face by a rubber band. Even though … [Read more...]
In the 60s, a Japanese song became incredibly popular not only in Japan but across the world. In Japan, it was called 上を向いて歩こう or roughly, “I Will Walk Looking Up.” It was an emotional song about the defeat of … [Read more...]
Told you they'd be back. It's been a little while since the last Baka Gaijin post, but today I'd like to explore the world of Japanese tea ceremonies. For such a simple little ceremony, they can be pretty intimidating … [Read more...]