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Pink Tentacle put a lot of effort into compiling this list of words and expressions from 2008. It's a wonderful recap ride back through the past 12 months of pop culture in Japan. Check it out and see how many you knew, and learn the ones you didn't!
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The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters recently took on the saying "You can't polish a [poop]." (Networks don't like the T-word, it seems. Got me.) They had trouble working up a methodology until they were introduced to the Japanese art of making high-gloss mud-balls, or doro-dango.
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I'm slightly at a loss for words with this one. I'm not quite sure what the use of a portable wooden room designed for use inside your room is. It is interesting nevertheless.
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A short example of how even simple words can be difficult to translate from Japanese to English: 生活する.
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Will the Japanese language disappear under the pressure from globalization and the growth of English as a global lingua franca? A recent book entitled The Fall of the Japanese Language in the Age of English by Japanese author Minae Mizumura has sparked debates on the topic in the Japanese bl
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It's slightly off the regular path, but I really do think my neighbour is a ninja. Nobody has been able to sneak up on me in years, yet this person can consistently escape my notice until it's too late.
Where did he learn to be a ninja and, more importantly, can I learn, too? read more »
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Where did he learn to be a ninja and, more importantly, can I learn, too? read more »
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Kagura is a traditional Shinto theatrical dance that is exceedingly rare in Japan. The Gaijin Guide recently went to a 5 hour performance and edited it down to a 5 minute video that captures the myth and essence of kagura. It is a rare and delightful video of a dance form with roots predating tho
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By definition, the Japanese economy, the world's second largest, is now in recession. I often wonder if such things actually hurt the pockets of your average person?
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Respect, table manners, tipping, etc. Pretty good cheat sheet of things to be acquainted with.
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A look at how a small town's residents live alongside the yakuza from NY Times.
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A photo gallery featuring various autumn scenes in Shinjuku Gyoen, including leaves being tossed up into the air, shoeless napping, acorns and a rose.
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Does the term "Westernization" really apply to the changes we're seeing in Japan and other Asian countries? I argue that it doesn't.
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Green Eyed Geisha's take on the Times article entitled "Japanese say good bye to Western playboys".
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Debito reports on Kouno Taro's proposal to allow children with parents of different nationalities to hold dual citizenship. This is definitely a positive step forward for Japan and international couples!
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