Pink on Dec 23 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Life
A friend of mine living here in Japan wrote this to me yesterday. Read it right to the end. It will chill you to the bone. You won’t be disappointed, and may even rethink a few things in your own life, or maybe make a different New Year’s resolution than the one you had in [...]
Beige on Dec 21 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
へべれけ (hebereke)
* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
It is December and on the social calendar that means bounenkai 忘年会. These end of year parties are often held for work groups, sports clubs or any gathering of friends who need another lame excuse for a few drinks. With so many of them it can [...]
Beige on Dec 20 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Life
Much has been said about the recent turn around in land prices in Japan over the last couple of years. Since the burst of the bubble land prices have been going down for 15 years but recently there has been an upswing in values in the major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka although values [...]
Grey on Dec 19 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Eating and Drinking
Walking through the main arcade from the west exit of Yokohama station in mid November, I chuckled to myself as I witnessed Don Quixote employees replacing the usual risqué コスプレ (cosplay) outfits from the store front displays and replacing them with Santa and reindeer outfits. As I looked to the other side of the street, [...]
Bone on Dec 18 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Culture
Japan has been hunting and eating whales for centuries. And continues to do so today. Despite the political guise of whaling for scientific purposes, much of the blood red whale meat ends up in Japan’s fish markets and supermarkets for public consumption. Is Japan justified in whale hunting and being unfairly attacked by crackpot greenies, [...]
Red on Dec 14 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Eating and Drinking
Ichiro: “So where are we meeting the boys tonight in Roppers?”
Kenta: “Not sure, but I think the plan is to meet up at Heartland for a few warm up beers and take it from there.”
～★～
Every gaijin who has been to Roppongi Hills has been to Heartland. Meeting someone at Heartland is the Roppongi equivalent [...]
Blue on Dec 11 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Culture
Sexless Japan - When interacting with others, sex and everything surrounding it is fair game for a topic of conversation in Japan and, it is certainly not frowned upon by religious groups or society at large as it is in the USA and other countries. When it comes to secreting sexual hormones and sexuality in general, almost nothing is taboo in Japan – until that is, the day one gets married, or so it seems.
The Purple Imo on Dec 09 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Eating and Drinking
Crab eating is taken seriously here in Japan, crabs are a delicacy and nothing is wasted not even the brain. Winter is well upon us and now is the best time of year to tuck into the tasty crustacean. Restaurants throughout the country are serving them up in all manor of fashion, and hordes of [...]
Murasaki on Dec 08 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Events
Saturday December 2nd saw the 2006 K1 Grand Prix at Tokyo Dome. The announcer claimed that 54,000 visitors had come to see the climax of what was another year of high tension action in the ring this year - and Stippy.com was there behind the scenes to bring you exclusive insights.
K-1 was first staged in [...]
Blue on Dec 01 2006 | Filed under: Japan: People and Society
If you have ever lived in Japan, you know this man. At just about any time of the day, you can flick a few channels on the TV and there he will be. “Mino Monta” (みのもんた, who’s real name is actually Norio Minorikawa, 御法川 法男) is everywhere in Japan. You cant escape [...]