Computer on Wheels?Red on Sep 20 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Tech
I’m not much of an auto guy, but I’m a real sucker for gadgets and the new Lexus has me excited. Toyota released their latest Lexus in Japan at the start of this week and it is amazingly different from any car that has come before. Japanese autos are becoming more and more high-tech and [...]
Why do the Japanese Work so Hard?Blue on Sep 20 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Business & Work
There remains this enormous and wicked sociocultural myth. It is this: Hard work is all there is.
Work hard and the world respects you. Work hard and you can have anything you want. Work really extra super hard and do nothing else but work and ignore your family and spend 14 hours a day at the [...]
Bone on Sep 18 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Books
“Mao- The Unknown Story” (Click here to view the book on Amazon.co.jp)
We should be glad that the Chinese funded communist movements in Japan never gained momentum.
This book by Jung Chang (also know for Wild Swans), is apparently the first time anyone has taken a really deep look into Mao Tse-tung’s reign over China, from [...]
Enough for breakfast?Bone on Sep 18 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Life
One of the cultural differences I have never been able to overcome in all my time in Japan, is that of eating a Japanese style breakfast, ie fish, rice and miso soup. Lunch or dinner, no problem, but not breakfast. This leaves me with two options, go without, or look for toast or cereal or [...]
Red on Sep 17 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Books
“Barbarians at the Gate” (Click to view the book on Amazon.co.jp)
* Advice for a busy gaijin: If you are in a rush start reading from chapter seven.
When the Portuguese first approached Japan by sea in 1542, they were not at all welcome. As far as the Japanese were concerned, they were happy in their quiet [...]
Blue on Sep 15 2006 | Filed under: Japan: News and Media
Japan’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal against the death sentence for Asahara Shōkō (麻原 彰晃), the former leader of the doomsday cult, “AUM Shinri Kyo” (Supreme Truth Sect, now known as Aleph). The decision clears the way for 51 year old Asahara Shoko to be hanged for his role in masterminding the 1995 [...]
Akihabara NewsBlue on Sep 10 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Tech
Akihabara News is the only (English) website that I know of the continuously covers new developments in the Japanese electronic/gadget market.
If you are thinking of visiting Japan, or already live in Tokyo, then check them out. There are some really amazing bargains, and some just plain bizzare stories about “gadgets in Japan”… And who [...]
Blue on Sep 09 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Language
Jgram is an interesting page for people learning Japanese and are struggling with the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT - 日本語能力試験). Its goal is to tackle how to learn Japanese grammar, which is one thing that online dictionaries, textbooks, and even many Japanese teachers never go in to to any level of complexity.
J-WOTD: 波瀾万丈Blue on Sep 08 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
はらんばんじょう (haranbanjyou)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“Full of ups and downs” This pharse basically means that something has been eventful, but in a negative way.
Examples: 彼女の波瀾万丈な生活にずっとつきあってきたよ。 “I have put up with her rollercoaster of a life for so long”
It can be used for almost anything, even for more formal usages, 波瀾万丈な経歴 means a [...]
J-WOTD: 物別れBlue on Sep 07 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ものわかれ (monowakare)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
I thought this was a cool phrase, and I was surprised that I had never heard anyone use it before yesterday..
Basically points out a situation or a confrontation, or even just a discussion between two parties that did not go well, and ended with no conclusion. [...]