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Tag Archives: Japan
Identity: The Group and the Self
A Difference In Perspective Culturally and linguistically, Japan and the West come from different starting points, even though the people on both sides often talk about the exact same things. In the West, when you are selfish, you prioritize yourself … Continue reading
Noren: Japanese Fabric Dividers
暖簾 (のれん) The kanji for “noren” are 暖, which is used for “atatakai” (warm), and 簾, which is used for screen/ blind in the furnishing sense. Perhaps we should therefore understand the original intent as warmth blinds, blinds intended to … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Culture, Japan
Tagged art, blind, culture, divider, fabric, furnishing, hot spring, Japan, noren, screen
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Kaze: The Wind
風 (かぜ) The wind (kaze) is all around us. It can be gentle (yasashii) or violent (hageshii).
No Street Names In Japan?
Here’s a fun post I was linked to. The post is by a certain Derek Silvers. It explains that in Japan, streets don’t have the names, but blocks do. Details – and visuals – at the link. I hadn’t thought … Continue reading
Mecha in Gaming: The Virgola / Setsuko Ohara
Not In An Anime Near You The Virgola is a fictional machine designed as a video game original for the crossover mecha game Super Robot Taisen Z (Super Robot Wars Z). By “original,” we mean that it does not appear … Continue reading
Posted in Gundam, Japan, video games
Tagged gaming, Gundam, Japan, mecha, Setsuko, SRW, suparobo, super robot, video games, Virgola
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Culture Gap: Students Cleaning Toilets
Different Strokes I was reading this story about an American teacher placed on administrative leave for having an unwritten rule requiring students to clean the classroom toilet with paper towels and bleach. Well, there’s definitely a serious culture gap here.
Posted in Culture, Japan
Tagged cleaning, controversy, culture, culture gap, Japan, schools, students, toilets
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Japanese Gaming: Half-Breaking the World
A Recurring Cultural Theme One issue continually revisited by Japanese video games, and the writing and storytelling culture that infuses it, is the idea that the world is corrupt in many ways, and it must be changed – but breaking … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Japan, video games
Tagged change, culture, fantasy, final fantasy, heroes, Japan, RPG, storytelling, Tales of Vesperia, video games, villains, writing
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Sensei’s Corner, May 22 2011
Just My Opinion The biggest dilemma for a blog like this is trying to say something useful without trying to come off as an absolute authority, which seems to be the cause of most flame wars. I know a few … Continue reading
Posted in Blog News, Sensei's Corner
Tagged blog, blogging, corner, culture, Japan, Jeremiah Bourque, opinion, particles, sensei
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Cool Japan: Amphibious Snake Robot
This One Won’t Bite You’ll want to click on the video above and see this amazing robot in action. It’s meant to emulate how a snake moves on ground – and in water, the latter being quite remarkable as a … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Weird Stuff
Tagged amphibious, cool stuff, Diginfo, Japan, robot, snake
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