A while back I wrote a post about Keanu Reeves and the new 47 Ronin movie he was in. Over Christmas break I saw this movie, filled with high hopes but very low expectations. It had some of my favorite actors, and the … [Read more...]
Like many second-language students, I am less than happy with my level of Japanese. After years of work, I would consider myself fluent, but still nowhere near the fabled “native level”. Although it seems impressive to my … [Read more...]
What does Keanu Reeves have to do with the famous Japanese legend of the 47 Ronin? Everything. He has everything to do with it. Hitting the big screens Christmas day 2013, a movie by the title of "47 Ronin" promises to … [Read more...]
Certain clichés permeate different films. Parodies like Scary Movie (and the other, awful franchises that followed) couldn't exist if movies didn't draw upon these stereotypes. Japanese samurai films are unquestionably … [Read more...]
Everybody knows about Japan and their samurai. But did you know men weren't the only ones being trained to kill, lead, and fight with deadly weapons back in feudal Japan? Lesser known than their male counterparts, the onna … [Read more...]
Some historical figures become more than just names in history books; some become the stuff of legend. In Japan, most of those historical legends were brave samurai warriors, whose bravery and skill on the battlefield are … [Read more...]