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Category Archives: Culture
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Anime Review
Better Than I Expected When I first started watching “Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai,” which I mentioned before in saying that “haganai” as a nickname had to do with reading “wa” as “ha” (though in this grammar role it is … Continue reading
Mouretsu Uchuu Kaizoku: Early Bird Review
“Bodacious Space Pirates” I’m not sure whose idea it was to translate the title as “Bodacious Space Pirates,” and perhaps it’s from the Japanese studio, but that’s OK. “Mouretsu” usually stands for something more like marauding, or at least that’s what … Continue reading
Tiger & Bunny: Anime Review & Opinions
An Impressive Show Long story short, Tiger & Bunny is an unlikely “bromance” anime viewed through the “Amerikomi” (American Comic Book) superhero genre. Superheroes capture crooks and save civilians live on HeroTV, all sponsored by major corporations. Yet a strong … Continue reading
Deshou as Interjection: Making a Statement
Two schoolgirls talking about Sean Penn. Schoolgirl #1: “Sean Penn is so cool!” Schoolgirl #2: “He sure is!” Two Japanese schoolgirls talking about Sean Penn. Schoolgirl #1: “Sean Penn wa kakkou ii yo ne!” Schoolgirl #2: “Deshou!” What Just Happened … Continue reading
Sakura Bloom Forecasts? Hanami Schedules?
桜と花見 The blog Surviving In Japan has posted a very interesting and potentially useful forecast for cherry blossom (sakura, 桜、さくら) blooming in Japan for 2012, divided by region and location. Watching blooming blossoms is known as hanami (花見、はなみ), or simply “flower viewing” … Continue reading
Ben-Tou Anime Review/ Impressions
Food Fight! Summary: Tasty, but pack your suspension of disbelief and a thick skin with your lunch box.
A Japan By Any Other Name
A Little History Japan has been known by various names throughout history, mainly corresponding to what we know as “The Land of the Rising Sun” (nihon is composed of “sun” and “origin”, for to China that is where the sun came from). … Continue reading
Even Gundams Get Snowed On
This is a life-sized, 1:1 model Gundam (making it going on 60 feet in height) that exists in real life in Japan. Gundam was Japan’s first “realistic” (that is, realistic style) leading robot in Japanese animation (i.e. anime). You can … Continue reading
Yes, They’re Americans. Get Used To It
I want to say, loud and clear for everyone to hear, that yes, it is appropriate and correct to refer to citizens of the United States of America, a.k.a. the United States, a.k.a. the U.S., a.k.a. America, as “Americans”. I … Continue reading
A Short Tale of a Novel
It had taken me many years, but I finally tracked down the first novel of the Record of Lodoss War novels. I’d seen the OVA years before and was a great fan of it for many reasons. It took a … Continue reading