Japanese Culture - Gattsu!

Still Recovering

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:49:49 +0000

Even after a massive stimulus package was proposed and launched by the new Japanese government, the country says it is not completely ready to stop the spending just yet. If you do not remember or know little about what happened, their exports basically collapsed in 2008 due to their very weak financial market. Japan is now claiming they really have no exit plan for the stimulus deal, which is a sign that things may continue on the same for some time. Like many economies right now, including the US, they are struggling to get their heads above water. The government continues to see the need to interfere and has thrown tons of money into their economy. This has now caused their national debt to skyrocket, as well as put fear into many of the residents there. At some point the government cannot spend what they literally do not have. They hope soon to have an exit plan as their economy shows signs of strengthening. It is amazing to see how their economy is like ours. Although they export much more than they import, we seem to struggle in many of the same areas that they do as well.

No Gold In Japan

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:11:57 +0000

Now that the 2010 Winter Olympics are closing up, Japan has struggled to win gold. Their big hope, Mao Asada fell very short when Kim Yuna put up a record breaking long program to ensure her of the gold medal. It can be tough for some athletes in some countries to go home with less than the gold. Many people expect them to win gold, and if they do not, it can be as if they did not win a medal at all. Nonetheless, Kim Yuna was the heavy favorite to win and she virtually skated two nearly error free programs. Her long program is already being dubbed as the best long program in the history of the Winter Olympics. Japan will more than likely end these Olympic Games with a huge disappointment when it comes to the overall medal count. Japan, with only a day or two left in the games have won two silver medals and two bronze. They have had no gold medals in these games. This can be tough in a country that prides themselves on putting their top athletes in the games and through tough training schedules. It seems like they will have to wait four more years for their gold medal.

Japanese Whaling

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:08:15 +0000

If you pay any attention to the news at all, you may have seen that Japan has really been struggling with anti-whaling activists at their presence in the waters near Antarctica and beyond. Under agreement from the international community and governing bodies, Japan is apparently allowing 6 whaling vessels to bring in whales caught and killed at sea. This type of fishing is big for the Japan economy and has been a part of their culture for some time. But anti-whaling ships do not like their presence and are always trying to divert their ships from killing a single whale. They make claims that Japan does some illegal whaling as well. Recently one anti-whaling ship was allegedly rammed and sunk by a Japanese whaling ship. Both parties denied being the one responsible, but at the same time, neither side seemed to get along one bit.

Clashes between the two sides have been going on for a long time and do not seem to be letting up one bit. Both sides feel that they are in the right, causing bitter clashes at times. It seems that they are a long way away from figuring out a mutual agreement to keep the two sides at peace as well. Only time will tell how this one will play out.

Japan And Toyota

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:50:27 +0000

Japan relies heavily on how well the manufacturers in their country perform. Just like many places, if they fail to meet quality standards expected around the world, then there would be very few who would trust them to produce goods for them. With Toyota struggling to answer the call in getting the gas pedals fixed on millions of vehicles, the economy in Japan could see the ripple effects of this major issue soon. If it was not for Honda’s strong numbers this month, the effect may have already had been felt.

Just like the US where auto makers struggled to stay in business, Japan is dealing with their auto issues. These are nowhere near as bad as what is going on here, yet they are strong issues and unless Toyota rises to the occasion, it could hurt their business for many years. This could however steer car buyers in the direction of US auto makers, you just never know. Only time will tell how this issue will affect the US and Toyota auto industries as a whole.

So if you were going to buy a new vehicle today, do you think that you could trust Toyota, considering what has just occurred?

Consumer Confidence In Japan

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:18:37 +0000

What is consumer confidence? Well basically it is that buyers of goods are confident that if they purchase certain items from certain companies that they will be confident that the product they are receiving will be a good one. It means you trust certain brands and feel more comfortable buying them if you can.

Most Japanese companies and the government want these levels to be huge. They pride themselves it seems on making sure that people love the quality of the products that come from and originate in this country. Toyota has recently had a huge set back with a massive recall on millions of newer vehicles with the gas pedal sticking.

The government in Japan has also gotten involved telling them to make sure they are putting the customer first here and winning their confidence back. Does this mean that they produce poor cars? No, history has shown they are top in quality. It could however shake some people’s confidence in them, but if handled properly they can achieve success.

So what does this mean to you, the new issues with a Japanese auto maker? Only time will tell how this latest flop will shake the consumer confidence indexes studies by the auto industry.

Japan And The U.S.

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:07:11 +0000

It has been 50 years now in 2010 since the U.S. and Japan first reached their security alliance. This alliance was a huge deal considering the two were at war during World War II. On that anniversary both sides might want to look into ways that they can strengthen the alliance. Certainly both sides do not always agree on how to handle things together, but the key here is that they try and realize that they both should want each others interests to be important.

Strengthening that alliance could be really important as well considering both countries face tough times as each others economies stay troubled. Sure, in both the US and Japan things are starting to look up, but both countries are struggling with jobs. It’s been difficult to put the people that want to work to work that have been out of a job for quite some time, for example.

So you must understand that these alliances can be a very important to not only the nation’s security but to our economy as well. If we were to break apart from the relationship, our country could possibly struggle more economically. And at this point most people would probably agree that they do not want that.

Japan Hopes for Much In 2010

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:13:01 +0000

Japan has high hopes in the year 2010. First they hope to do well in the Winter Olympic Games coming up. They have a huge presence there and expect a lot out of their athletes. They have many top athletes in several events like women’s figure skating. It will be a tough go for them as teams from all over the world send their best to compete in the games at Vancouver. These athletes from Japan can sometimes have more pressure put on them by their country due to the celebrity like status they receive from the residents there. These pressures can often fuel athletes and at other times can cause them to choke during an event.

Like many countries, another hot topic will be the economy. Japan’s economy has struggled greatly the last few years. Sometimes these events can be tied to other countries and their struggling economies like the US. A top trade official in Japan just recently said that he expects the economy there to recover fully in 2010, yet things like unemployment and deflation may still be big problems.

So expect to see some big changes in Japan for the year 2010. Will they shine or will it be a lack luster year for this great nation.

Japanese Women Ice Skating

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:39:41 +0000

Ice skating in Japan, like many other countries including the US, is a really important Olympic sport to the country. Japan prides itself on their performance at the Olympic Games in all sports. But in ice skating the pressure can even be larger. The little girls that perform have pressure put on them that even many adults could never imagine. For the 2010 Winter Olympics, the country of Japan will be sending three ladies to compete in the Olympics. The United Sates this year will be only sending two. But the girl to beat this year will be the reigning world champ Kim Yu-na from Korea. Kim is an amazing skater; many countries will be trying to compete with her. The problem is that she can do many things that the rest of the competitors cannot. Japan feels they are ready to try for the gold though. With three solid skaters there this year, they have a chance to bring home a couple of medals in the ice skating event for sure. So if you are tuning into the Olympics this year, Kim Yu-na may be the girl to beat, but watch out for Japan. These young ladies have been training and are by far considered the world’s best at what they do.

Japan And Gadgets

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:57:51 +0000

When many people think electronic gadgets they think the US, and rightfully so. We in this country love our cell phones and video games. But in Japan things are no different. In fact there is a growing concern there about people that become totally obsessed with new technologies, especially video games. Video gaming has become very popular in Japan. Kids are even becoming addicted to the games that they play. In one instance a Japanese man died from heart failure after playing video games for 20 plus hours straight. Another man there married his PC game bride.

Also, for example with the I-phone, when it first came out, the Japanese were not that impressed. Well a couple of years and later and they are totally obsessed with it. Its increase in popularity there is the highest in the world. It rose almost 350% in the last year alone. The US was not second either, we were ranked 10th.

So you see we are not the only country that loves to play video games and that love to play on our phones. In some ways we are very similar to the Japanese people and their culture.

What Do You Know About Japan

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:43:26 +0000

So what is your first thought when you hear someone say Japan or Japanese. What comes into your head as the first representative thought on this country when someone mentions it? For many people they may simply think cars. Japan has been a world leader in automobile technologies. Toyota started there and they have been getting stronger every year they have been around.

Others, maybe from older generations, may think Pearl Harbor and World War II. Not so much as a negative thought towards the Japanese any longer, but the events of that time may have been burned into their memories forever. If you have ever been to war or lived through one, then you will probably be able to relate with these thoughts.

Baseball fans may think of some of the amazing players that come out of Japan. Baseball in Japan is huge and is only getting bigger. Japan is full of sports fans. Martial arts and sumo wrestling are not the most popular sports there any more. Golf, soccer and once again baseball round out the top 3 it seems now.

So what thoughts come to your head? Do any of these ring a bell or not?

What Happened At Pearl Harbor?

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:56:31 +0000

Certainly unless you were there and you were involved in the attacks, how would you know? It most certainly would be very difficult. To many it seems that no doubt the Japanese attacked the US and thrust us into World War II. To many historians and many average Americans, this is what basically happened. But like some historic events there are others out there that tend to believe differently. These people spend tons of time collecting data and information to conclude other things. Are they right or wrong? Well, who really knows? This post is not about that at all; just basically it shows there are certainly other points of view. One is that the president knew the attack was coming and did nothing so that it would force us into the War. Wow, could you imagine that? Well some people do, sometimes they claim to base their theories on evidence, and others just speculate these things. No matter what, what history does show is that we were not allies with Japan, there was an attack and we went to war that cost the lives of thousands of people. This much we do know.

Japan’s Fragile Economy

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:15:21 +0000

The Japanese government and their new Prime Minister will have some very tough times ahead of them. Like our economy theirs is struggling also. The newly elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made some pretty steep promises during his election bid. This is no shock to us nor is it to their people that the people wanting to be elected would make big time promises. But can he really keep all of these promises. He basically is saying that he wants to put more money into the people’s hands rather than into the hands of businesses. Another promise was to do away with a surcharge on each gallon of gasoline. A promise like this would cost the government trillions of dollars. Yikes…

There were other promises as well, like helping people monetarily with kids and cutting our certain toll charges on some of their busy roads. Most of the promises made would really hurt the government financially. So can he do it? Or will he do it? If you are in Japan I am sure the economy is a big news maker.

Even here in the US we hear all about the money woes there.

Japan And Energy

admin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:04:14 +0000

The Japanese people do not live on a vast huge chunk of land similar to the US or China as an example. They live on an island chain, most of them on the main island. Being on a much smaller piece of land and having a large population means that they more than likely are going to be a lot more concerned with energy usage. Japan is by far a world leader when it comes to energy efficiency. Many of their huge factories and businesses try and conserve energy. They do not waste nor do they have the resources to do so. With energy costs really high all over the world, countries are now trying to do as much as possible when it comes to conserving energy.

Business leaders in different business sectors even travel to Japan to see how they do business using lower amounts of energy than many businesses or factories similar to what their companies do. By saving energy, businesses are also able to try and save money to help to keep the costs of goods as low as possible.

So the next time you are in Japan, you never know if you may see some of this energy saving technology in action.

Japan’s Tough Market

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:26:04 +0000

Certainly Japan’s economy is similar to ours in ways, but in some ways it is not. Here is an interesting article on Hyundai’s decision to pull out of the Japanese market. They are a very good car company and have grown in popularity over the years. But it is not always that easy to compete in Japan. Take Toyota for example, Japan’s leading automaker. They have been an industry leader there for so many years. It has definitely given them a strong foothold on the Japanese auto market.

For even a solid automaker to come in and want to survive here, the odds are more than likely against them. Of course there is opportunity, but there is a narrow door that will lead to getting sales away from the leading auto companies in this country. Others have also tried and failed.

So the next time you see someone enter the market to compete in Japan in other areas of business than automobiles, you may find another article on them later down the road discussing how things just did not work out. It can be a tough place to win over new business.

Other Sports In Japan

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:55:02 +0000

When you head to Japan for a visit, things may seem entirely different in one sense. In lots of ways though, things are not. For example you may see the same automakers there as you do here. You also may see lots of the same name brand foods there as well, like McDonalds and so on.

What you may not realize is that they can also have the same sports. For the sports enthusiast this may already be very well known. Of course baseball is a huge hit in Japan. The Japanese people love to watch baseball as well as other sports.

Many also may not know and be surprised to learn that horse racing is a huge sport. The Japanese people have long loved this sport and it has recently grown in popularity there. It can be a very prestigious thing to win the Japan’s Cup in this sport.

Boxing is also becoming another popular sport in Japan. It seems the people in Japan, just like we do, seek different sports to watch. Their thirst for entertainment seems to be about the same as ours.

So the next time you’re in Japan, maybe plan ahead to see if you can catch some sporting events there. You find them quite fun.

Japanese Quality

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:47:12 +0000

No matter what country you live in or buy from, you probably know what companies can produce good quality products and which ones may not do as well. In recent news, one of Japans most prominent businesses Toyota will be recalling over 3.8 million vehicles to fix a broken gas pedal that can stick. Apparently a crash of one of their vehicles was found to have been caused by the sticky gas pedal.

So does this make this company or the country a poor quality place to buy from? Not necessarily so. Companies, just like individuals, make mistakes. Some times when products are tested they may not initially show problems. That is why companies go through tons of tests. Car companies put their vehicles through so many tests. There are government standards to meet and so on. Not to mention the suppliers of the parts do their own product testing before the vehicle is built.

So it seems that this issue is important enough to correct yet not the one that most people will say shows how poorly the Japanese make vehicles. Toyota is usually very highly rated. So if you’re considering a big purchase on a product made anywhere, do your research before buying.

Keeping Good Relations

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:58:46 +0000

Many of us do not even realize the struggles that occur between countries. Take the US and Japan for example. Now that the World Wars are over, the two countries have learned to get along at least externally and have both benefited from each of their own economies booming thanks to the others help. After the US won the war over Japan, the US did help some to rebuild the war torn region.

Internally however, ties are just as volatile as they have ever been. We have people that travel to Japan; ambassadors if you will, that try and keep up relations with the country. They try and make peace where there may be issues and they also try and work out issues if there are any.

The US has bases in Japan, one in Okinawa for example. It seems recently a US soldier was accused of running over and killing a man. An incident such as this can really be tough when the two sides were already having issues with the relocation of that base.

So just because relations seem good at times, it does not mean there is not a whole lot of turmoil going on behind the scenes.

Japan Wants A Ban

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:34:10 +0000

Here come the Olympics. Japan is apparently having some issues though. It seems during FIFA matches fans can bring in a small trumpet like instrument known as a vuvuzela. Japan wants it to be banned from being blown during game play. According to this article, the Japanese coaches say you can’t even hear yourself talk. Imagine a stand full of thousands of people, with a pretty good percentage of them blowing on this instrument at the same time. The noise must be really overwhelming.

In many sporting events instruments like this are banned from being brought to the stadiums. The problem may be with a couple of people blowing on one, but imagine if tons of people did it. Basically that is their complaint. Fans know that these things are a huge distraction to the players and the teams.

In American football, fans will try and yell as loud as they can so the players on the field cannot hear audible to the plays. This can actually make quite a huge difference. It can distract players and the wide outs may not even hear the play change at all.

So whatever the rules are, teams may just have to deal with these distractions. It may not be pleasant, but those are the rules.

Japanese Testing

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:11:03 +0000

So why is Japan a good test market for new products? Here in this article you will see that Coca-Cola will roll out its new plant based bottle to the global market very soon. Japan will of course be on the list to get the new bottles right after it’s rolled out here. So why is Japan a good market to test products in? Well, like things here in the US, their market is a very consumer driven market.

They have similar tendencies as we do, buying and upgrading to newer technologies soon after they come out. It seems that now-a-days it’s not really the thing to do to buy a cell phone for example and keep it for several years. For one, they really seem to wear out quickly. They also are constantly upgrading and offering new features with the newer phones that come on the market. Once a new feature launches, lots of people have the tendency to want to buy these because of the new features.

Japan consumers like newer technologies. Although there have economical issues like we do right now, there is still a high demand there for the latest and greatest products which can make them a perfect test market.

Debt In Japan

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:31:40 +0000

Apparently in Japan the government is having trouble convincing its people that the debt they are in is OK. Japan, unlike lots of other countries, is a nation of people that tend to like and save quite a bit of what they earn. The government like other nations including ours is having trouble dealing with the troubled economy. Our government has not had trouble it seems at all with putting itself further in debt. This used to not be the case back in our history. Back then leaders thought nothing could be worse for the country than being in debt. For example, the latest stimulus package only added to our debt. The money has to come from somewhere.

In Japan they face a deal where their people seem more concerned about their government and how it deals with the nations finances. These people must know the dangers involved with being in so much debt.

No matter what, Japan is facing some tough economic times just like we are. Their people, as well as ours are facing new challenges. Some of us have never really experienced tough times. But now we are. We all hope that our leaders know what they are doing.

Japanese Decor

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:43:13 +0000

Japanese style decorations and furniture have become much more popular all over the world in recent years. With so many Asian Americans living all over the US now, and in other countries, sometimes they bring their style and tastes with them. -And why not? Would you not want to feel comfortable no matter where you live? You may end up living in a typical style home in that country, but inside is the place that really feels like your home. It is there that we have most of our comforts like our favorite chair or sofa.

The same goes with the Japanese. If you visit Japan you will more than likely find some similarities between how they live and how we live. You also may see some differences. For example, sometimes they sit down to eat on Tatami floor mats. Actually they squat or kneel on them. Basically it is a kind of pillow placed on the ground. You could test this out by setting some pillows around your coffee table and eating there.

So if you’re into Japanese style furnishings, doing some Google searches may reveal a whole new world of furnishings and styles that you never knew existed. Have fun shopping!

Stiffer Penalties In Japan

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:07:25 +0000

We have seen so many times in the news here in the US people of popularity getting busted for some reason or another. Maybe they received a DWI, or they were busted for the possession of a drug. This young and very popular actress in Japan was sentenced to over 18 months in prison and suspended 3 years for possessing illegal drugs. Wow, compared to many penalties here, this is pretty severe. Why?

Well anytime you head to another country, you may find that their legal system is quite different. Things like this can be taken much more serious. This girl also lost endorsement deals; basically almost black balling her from working as she did before ever again. Only time will tell.

This can be a huge lesson for those that travel a ton. Not that you are there to do illegal things, but maybe you end up with a little too much to drink and get pulled over by that country’s police force. The penalties there could be much more severe. So no matter what, watch out if you travel, the laws could be much tougher on you where you’re going.

Japan and Racing

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:50:55 +0000

The Japanese auto companies are no stranger to the wonderful world of motorsports. Toyota has just announced that they will no longer compete in the F1Series though. It seems that the company has lost interest in the series and is looking for another motorsports event to spend its marketing dollars on. Motorsports in many countries is very popular. It’s especially popular here in the United States with Nascar and Indy car racing.

Something that Toyota will focus more of its attention on is Rally Racing. The president of Toyota did state that they would continue to participate in some sort of racing event, but they have not announced which one yet.

Most forms of racing have become much more popular as of late. With the increased viewer-ship in events like Nascar and Indy racing, companies long to advertise and market potential customers within these sports. These companies know that when they have a top vehicle in a race, there is constant advertising and branding going on while that car is on camera in the lead. It also can be a testing ground for companies to try new auto technologies, as well as to beat the competition.

Japan And Cars

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:52:46 +0000

Japan has been putting out quality automobiles for years. Toyota for example just posted a huge earning for the third quarter of 2009. Analysts say this is largely in part because the Americans and Chinese are demanding lots of cars from them. Their demands have fueled the auto maker to raise its estimates on earning for the next quarter as well. Both countries are seeing their consumers have demands that include high quality autos from Japan.

As the economy here and overseas seems to be settling out- even a little, the demand for certain products have increased. In Japan they have always had pride in the fact that they produce some of the world’s most reliable automobiles. These autos usually stand the test of time if they are well maintained and cared for.

Auto workers in Japan, for example working for Toyota have very good wages and benefits. In return the auto maker asks them to produce a high quality product.

So whether or not you have been in a Japanese produced vehicle or not, it is hard to doubt that they can engineer and produce a very high quality vehicle. So what are you driving? Are you happy with your car? Next time you’re in the market for a car or truck, consider researching all your options. You never know what kind of vehicle you’ll end up with.

Japan World Series

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:39:56 +0000

The MLB World Series in coming to an end. With the Yankees up 3 games to 2, it could just be a matter of days before it is all over. Baseball is a sport that is loved by many around the world. Kids dream of playing in the big leagues or even just making it onto the varsity baseball game at their high school.

In Japan things are no different. Baseball has really taken off over the past few years. With the league there in Japan now going strong, top Japanese players have to decide at times to head to the US and play here in the MLB. Recently an article profiled a young Japanese player deciding to stay in Japan.

Right now Japan is having their own World Series if you will. Former president George Bush threw the first pitch out at one of the games. The stadiums at the games in Japan are just as packed as they are here. Baseball fever has certainly been in Japan for some time.

So maybe one day we will have a true World Series involving teams from around the world again. Last time Japan took it all!

Japan Bouncing Back Even More

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:22:39 +0000

Sometimes when dealing with the type of economical issues that we have seen lately, it can be easy to miss the fact that other people in other countries are struggling also. With our economy being interlinked now globally, issues here with our stock market can cause problems in other countries. Likewise, when disaster strikes in other countries, the ripple effects can sometimes be felt here on our economy.

Japan has now seen some great changes in their economy. It seems that finally they are enjoying some changes for the good. Last time we reported on how their industrial strength was growing. Now, coming as a shock to most of the analysts in the nation, the unemployment rate has dropped to 5.3%. Here is an article going into further detail on this news and how it affects the countries in that area as well.

It can be truly amazing to watch other countries with issues get things back on the right track, only to have issues in other countries bring them back down some again. It is, however, nice to see the economy bouncing back somewhat in Japan. Maybe things here will start to get better as well.

Japanese Factories

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:35:29 +0000

Have you ever been to Japan? Most people like me have only read stories, seen pictures and basically on an occasion may catch some news about the island based country. In the news lately they say Japan has an economic boost that the country seems to be getting by their factories or manufacturing facilities. For over 6 months now they have enjoyed increases in output.

Why is this important? For starters, any time a country is selling or exporting more than it is buying or importing, that is a very good thing. It means that they are seeing more money go in and less going out. Also they are doing well enough buying more of the goods purchased within their country versus buying outside goods.

So with rises in factory output comes more success usually overall for a country. Japan’s economy has struggled right along with ours. For them this is amazing news! One year ago things were much bleaker. But now the factories have been rolling nicely for months. This could be a really good sign of great things to come for Japan.

Laws In Japan

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:22:51 +0000

Here is an interesting article on a popular music star in Japan being convicted of having a tiny amount of drugs on her. The laws in Japan and other countries nearby certainly seem a lot tougher than they do here. Many societies believe the way to stop crime is by having harsher punishments for the crimes committed.

Certainly it has not mattered in the least how much money this young girl had nor has it mattered how famous she is. What matters to the Japanese authorities is setting an example by making sure she gets a just trial.

Here though in the US, certain laws seem almost meant to be broken. I mean how many of us truly ever worry about speeding. We know if for some reason we do get a ticket, there will be an easy way out. Also with more serious crimes, if someone is busted then there is a good chance they will just get paroled and no jail time.

No matter what, to me it makes good sense. If a crime is committed, then someone will need to pay for that crime. There can be fair systems put in place for first time offenders, but we must start taking responsibility for our law breaking ways.

Japan And Recycling

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:21:04 +0000

Here is another great article about another Japanese industry leading the way with recycling. Nissan plans to unveil their 4R recycling plan. Basically there is a 4 part process to making sure the battery gets re-used as often as much as possible. Nissan of Japan leads the way in the automotive industry when it comes to eco-friendly alternatives for drivers.

Japan, being a much smaller country as far as land mass is always trying to find ways to keep oil and power usage low. This is really important to a country their size.

They spend much more time on the research and development of energy saving techniques to better the future of their country. Businesses and world leaders often visit Japan to review their new recycling technologies to help them ensure their countries are doing as much as possible to save money as well. Countries like this encourage other countries as well as individuals like me to make sure we are doing our part to help conserve energy.

We all have to do our part; we all must do what we can to become more eco friendly. Failure to do so will only end up costing us more heavily in the future.

Buildings In Japan

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:42:50 +0000

Other than some distinct architectural differences, buildings in Japan seem about the same as buildings do here in the US. They look the same on the outside and inside. Inside they appear to use a lot of the same building materials.

But in fact these buildings can actually be quite different as far as the way they are built. Japan is big in making sure that their building and even their roadways are able to withstand the powerful shaking that a major earthquake could bring. In fact, Japan leads the way worldwide with their intense study on how to make sure their buildings and basic structures are as hurricane proof as possible.

Sure, we have earthquakes here in the US, but not all of the US is prone to getting them. In California, they obviously have to be ready, but in fact lots of building and roadways sadly are not.

Japan spends billions of dollars into the research, design and proper building of their major roadways, buildings and structures. They are big on making sure that their country is prepared. A huge earthquake could literally ruin Japan if they were not as prepared as they are.

Technology In Japan

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:56:45 +0000

Long ago after World War II, the US helped to rebuild parts of Japan and helped them get new industries started. One industry that really took off in Japan was the consumer electrics. Japan is by for one of the world leaders when it comes to changing what the world uses when it comes to items like TV’s, video games and much more. Here is a neat article on the Wii, launching a new video game from Nintendo Japan.

Nintendo Japan is a huge company. They are big leaders in the video game industry. The Wii was a huge new launch for them and it has definitely helped to redefine the video game industry, putting up a ton of competition for its rivals the XBox and Playstation.

By far though, when it comes to technology Japan is the world leader in my opinion. When new technologies are launched, say for a new gaming system, Japan is always one of the first test markets to get the system. So look at the back or bottom of some of your electronics, you will probably see quite a few come from Japan! Here is a good article on what I’m talking about.

Japan And Sports

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:55:49 +0000

The country of Japan has seen some pretty major cultural changes over the past 20 years or so. Within those changes the rise of professional sports has taken a hold of the country. Like most nations the Japanese are very proud of their athletes. They have always been proud of their Olympians. Now things have changed.

Professional baseball is a huge hit in Japan. Japan is probably one of the world’s best overall when it comes to baseball. -From their dominating Little League teams to their new professional teams. The MLB teams here are always trying to woo their best players from Japan to the US for some big money.

Other sports that have been taking off in popularity are the soccer teams there and tennis. Japan hosts professional tennis tournaments like the ones seen here in the US. They also love to play billiards and have for years.

So things may not be as different in Japan as you think. In a lot of ways they have the same likes and dislikes as we do here. Soon, you never know, they may be joining the ranks in the professional NFL style football as well.

Consumers Confident In Japan

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:12:11 +0000

In a nation who has seen its worst post war economy ever, Japan has been seeing a significant rise in consumer confidence among its people. The US has not seen such a report yet. We are continuing to have ups and downs in quite a few areas of our economy. Consumer confidence is key when you’re trying to jump start the economy, especially one that has hit an all time low. Here is a good article describing how Japan’s economy is bouncing back.

As unemployment continues to worsen, here in the United Sates such confidence is truly needed. We need to get behind our country, and have the confidence needed to give our economy a jump start.

Others might say as well that it was the business community that lost confidence in the people years ago once outsourcing work overseas became a common thing to do. Companies like Levi Strauss who once had a solid American role here traditionally closed their last US manufacturing facility years ago. They now make everything overseas. So let’s get together and get this country rolling again.

Japan Ready For the 2020 Olympics

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:13:07 +0000

It seems that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are going for a joint bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The two cities feel that they are ready to take on the huge responsibility of hosting the Summer Olympics. One cannot deny that the weather there would be perfect for the games. The cities themselves are certainly beautiful. But, like in China, there are tons of preparations needed to host such an event. Here is a good article on the announcement.

China had spent untold large sums of money preparing themselves for the last Olympics. It was also not a very large success either. Most the stadiums for most of the events ended up rather empty. Their huge stadium built for the games specifically was an amazing site yet did little to draw crowds.

Is it that the Olympics are fading into the past? Is there no glory to the games any longer? Only time will tell to see how the next summer and winter Olympic Games fair. One thing that’s for certain, Japan is well on their way to leading for the bid to host the next Olympics. Sure, more countries will throw their hat in soon, so we shall see who ends up with the torch for the nest Olympics 2020.

Learning The Japanese Culture

admin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:25:07 +0000

Many in the west, like here in the US, love to study the Japanese culture. We read blogs and books on the subject. We try and imitate their diet or home decor the best we can. But are we truly getting the true picture of what their culture really is? Not really.

If you want to get a true picture of the culture in Japan you need to consider staying there for quite some time. You have to decide what part of the culture that you want to study. Do you want to study the more modern changed culture or the traditional culture as it exists today.

Most people seem to be fascinated with how the Japanese used to live as opposed to now. Now the younger generation lives basically in the same way we do. But traditionally they do not at all.

Either way you want to go, the best way to get the real experience is to visit the country yourself. This will be important to getting a true image of how they live in the east. You will be able to experience how families live, eat, and work. Best of all, you will never need to read up on the subject again, your experiences will be all you need!

We Have Hurricanes, They Have Typhoons

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:51:42 +0000

Take a look at this recent article on a typhoon that is threatening the island of Japan. We in the US always hear about the destructive power of hurricanes and how they can devastate areas that they hit. They bring with them strong winds, severe storms, storm surges and many other problems. Just like we saw in New Orleans, their destructive power can be unmatched.

Typhoons and hurricanes can be one in the same. We just do not hear much about them here. Typhoons can be even more deadly though, with rainfall levels exceeding those of what hurricanes can do. Also, when a typhoon hits an island like Japan, there can be no escaping its power for the people that live there. On a small island, essentially people all live near or along the coast line where storm surges and flooding can be the worst.

The next time you hear about a typhoon striking a foreign land, think about what hurricanes have done here. A typhoon can be just as deadly. People hit hard in these regions may need our help so always be aware of what’s going on around you!

The Rise Of Baseball In Japan

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:41:43 +0000

When most people think baseball they always think of the MLB in the United Sates. But, the great game of baseball has risen in popularity in Japan as of late. Years ago, older and on their way out baseball players found themselves playing their career out in Japan. It was good for the game there for the Japanese people to see some of the old greats playing in their ballparks. And some still do this. But there with its popularity rising annually in Japan, this great country has their own group of rising stars for their fans to watch and enjoy.

Some of the players in Japan, of Japanese origin, find themselves being heavily scouted by the MLB. During the World championships when countries around the world played against one another, Japan won it all. Their players are highly skilled and make very few errors. They can beat anyone.

The next time you’re in Japan, try and head to one of their ballparks to see a game. Watch the excitement of the fans there and the skills of the players. Then when you’re back in the states, check out a game here. You will soon realize that the game of baseball in Japan is just as popular there as it is here.

Real Japanese Food

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:56:01 +0000

If you were to ask most people if they have had Japanese food before, they would more than likely say yes. Why? Well for one, they think heading to the local Chinese food buffet is the same. NOT! I am very sorry to tell you that your orange chicken and white rice with sugar biscuits does not constitute Japanese Food.

True Japanese food is not at all the same as Chinese Food. Have you ever heard of Japanese Natto or Tsukimi? According to this blogger the natto is commonly eaten at breakfast in the Japanese culture. So what in the world is natto? It is fermented soybeans. The only soy most of us have ever heard of is soy milk and tofu. Not the same- and sorry to tell you the soy milk is heavily processed and not good for you. Natto on the other hand can be very healthy. The fermentation process, an ancient way to eat all kinds of vegetables, increases the nutritional content a hundred fold.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting we all rush out and buy natto. But try looking up in a town near you where you can try a traditional Japanese restaurant. You might just enjoy the new culinary experience.

Here is a great blog on traditional Japanese food, check it out!

Japan Facts

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:25:20 +0000

Japan is an amazing country; there are thousands of islands that actually make up Japan as a whole. Most people like me usually think of Japan as a few islands at the most.

I have always thought though that the Japanese seem like very intelligent people. They have a literacy rate of 99%. Amazing! Lots of the technologies that we enjoy from our homes are birthed in Japan. They are a leading country when it comes to the technological advances of the modern world. From TV’s to computers, some of the top companies use employees and researchers from this country to develop new technologies.

Although at first glance on a map, Japan seems small. Yet with a GDP of US$4.4 trillion that would make them have the world’s second largest economy. Amazing. That means they do a lot of exporting, shipping goods for sale all over the world.

With a population now of over 127 million people, it does seem to get crowded on the main island. Some of the stations there can see as many as 790,000 people a day come through it. Talk about crowded.

The next time you’re in Japan, take a look around and enjoy. They are very friendly to tourists and would love to show you around!

Japan and Tsunami’s

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:29:57 +0000

Today a small tsunami hit Japan. Japan is no stranger to Tsunamis and earthquakes. The over 6,000 islands that make up Japan were basically all formed from volcanic activity. The country has to go to great lengths to make sure that the buildings there are up to code when it comes to withstanding an earthquake.

Basically, beneath Japan still lies a very turbulent sea floor that, believe it or not, is still very active. That area has a huge fault line running straight across it. Areas with such a fault line tend to have a higher chance of having an earthquake or a tsunami.

This activity can cause minor earthquakes constantly around the region. Some of these may never be felt by most the residents there, but it still doesn’t change the fact that the earth is violently moving below them. Sometimes if an earthquake like today occurs within the ocean, the shift can cause a tsunami, or a huge wave of water to come crashing inland.

So anytime you visit an island such as this, take some precautions and know the warning signals these countries have set in place for these such occurrences. You will want to make sure your travels are as safe as possible.

A Tour of Japan

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:09:48 +0000

Not many people know much about Japan. For people our age we have possibly only heard of their involvement in past world wars as well as the US dropping the big bomb on them. There’s so much more to learn though.

Japan is actually an archipelago of 6,852 islands. Basically this means that these islands were formed by volcanic activity long ago. Imagine that. The country is made up of that many islands, of course most of them being very small. Here in the US we are literally almost one land mass except for Hawaii.

Japan may be a ton of small islands, but they are actually the 4th largest exporter of goods and the 6th largest importer of goods. That means the people of Japan are very much involved in the commerce that fuels economies around the world. Amazing. They do a lot of the buying, selling and trading of goods that we use, buy and sell here in the United States.

Amazingly enough, they also have the highest life expectancy rating of any other country in this world. So if you thought that they were a struggling 3rd world country, well think again.

So there are just a few tidbits about Japan, more to come on a later post. -Time to educate ourselves by learning about countries around us.

Japan’s Stock Market

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:07:04 +0000

So what in the world does the Japanese stock market have to do with the markets in other countries like the US or Australia? Everything at times. I am no financial guru, yet I can tell by reading the headlines, like on this article, that when there are troubles in an economy like ours that there can be issues felt around the globe.

You would think that Japan would not have felt any of the repercussions that we did from the last economic down swing here. But hey did. In fact some, just like people here, could have lost just about everything. It is easy with technology today to trade stocks in markets around the world with a few simple clicks of your mouse.

So when I trade stocks here, and one loses big time let’s say, then globally more than likely people took a huge hit also.

So what does the Japanese stock market have to do with the markets around the world? At times it has everything to do with them, and at times very little at all. We need to face the fact that our economy is tied just as much into what is going on globally than most think or even realize.

Traveling To Japan…

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:36:23 +0000

Well, taking a trip to Japan would be quite an ordeal. First of all for me, I’m not one for traveling. Heading a half an hour into town would be enough for me at times. Now going out of the sate, now that is really pushing it.

Now taking a trip to Japan would totally be another thing. I mean, you need a passport and permission to exit the country, heading into town or a nearby state, no passport or permission needed.

So what would I expect when I get there? I would first fear that not knowing the language would be a huge barrier, and why would it not. I am entering their country, should I not know the language some? Thankfully in Japan there are tons of people there that know the English language. The main places to stay and visit cater to outside tourists. NICE!!!

As a matter of fact from what I understand the people of Japan are very kind and welcoming. You want to no matter what, educate yourself on the culture and country you’re visiting as much as possible. But it is nice when traveling to a place like Japan that they are ready for someone from North America to visit. Safe traveling everyone!!!

Cultural Differences

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:15:35 +0000

As the world seems to now be connected more and more by the technological advances of today, there are still very many differences between the western and eastern cultures.

Here in North America it seems that we have affected the eastern cultures more than they have affected ours. A lot of the companies that have originated here now do business in countries like Japan. From fast food chains to computer companies, many of the items we consider normal parts of our lives are used in Japan in the same way.

Economically though we could certainly learn from the Japanese culture…

They are savers and we are spenders. Even if we do not have the money, we’ll spend the money by borrowing from credit cards companies. In their culture they tend to save 20% of their incomes. AMAZING. The economy is driven of course by spending, yet at the same time they are still able to keep their economy afloat by being big savers.

It is time for us to learn some of their cultural benefits by learning to control our spending by balancing between saving money and spending what money we do have versus what we do not have.

So, the culture/lifestyle portrayed in mangas/animes differ a lot from the japanese lifestyle itself?

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:51:10 +0000

hyde asked:

I mean .when you see it in mangas/animes it seems some kind of a realistic paradise/fantasy…….they portray japan/japanese culture in such a way where they have the good sides of both the orient(values,norms) and the west(standardization/modernization)……….but japan itself is different…..I mean a busy life 9 to 9,technofreaked,strict cultures,rigid,disciplined lifestyles(things not portrayed in mangas/animes)………….no offense intended….!!!
I don’t know much………but it took me quite a while to understand that there is a vast difference between these two,so can you guys tell me why it is??what are the similarities then ??why are things portrayed in an unrealistic manner…….??it gives people like us(non japanese,I mean)…..a biased view ,you know
because I have seen lots of question asking……”I am a great fan of animes /mangas,I have fallen in love with the jpanese lifestyle(judging fom mangas) and I want to come there ,how can I go to japan??”……but when you guys answer you discourage them saying that their view is not correct……..so what are you really trying to say??
to tell you the truth..I first got fantasized about japan not from mangas/animes but from its ‘history’ and paintings……mangas and animes came later in the list……and to be honest I also learnt a lot from mangas and animes about japan….the interest started from there but for the info I depended on something realistic like books maybe,coz just like I said there are a lot of misinterpretations…..it’s better if you don’t believe all of it…… …….the mangas and animes I mean
good idea tempslip…..

Am I weird for Loving Anime and Japanese culture?

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:49:14 +0000

anime fever asked:

I just cant help it and I dont know why I wanna learn to speak japanese (currently am) I want to take kendo classes I love samurai and anime I love their food tradition people culture god….I love it all and I dont know why and when people ask me so why do u like that stuff so much I dont really have a solid answer I just do…..does anyone else feel this way? (I have family members make me feel odd or even weird for liking Japan so much) am I the only one out there thats like this? or am I just weird? sometimes I wonder if god meant for me to be in a different body (by that I mean someone japanese)

Between the arabs and japanese culture which one is more acceptable?

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:43:30 +0000

Mari Laveau（^ω^）♥ asked:

I addicted to the arab, northern and eastern african costume and architecture……last june I visited yemen, I’m not a muslim but I like their clothing…..I don’t understand why my parents find I’m weir? I’m just interested in the coloring of the middle eastern costume, architecture and traveling places….. I wanted to wear the traditional berber cloth when I walking on the street. my mom say if I worn such a cloth I shouldn’t go anywhere with her…………..my sister married the japanese man and she got the baby with him, my parents like japanese culture very much, they like japanese traditional songs, people,language, country. they get annoyed when I playing the arab, turk or India songs. my mom like to tease me by making an ugly sound when she heard I listening to the arab songs…………
I been visited japan one time and I like nothing there, people are boring chinky, the country has the high technology and nothing look exotic and traditional. I also get very angry when I wear the eyeliner the same like egyptian or arabian women, my mom like to say I have got the fierce look. she wanted me to make up like the korean and japanese but i don’t like it. I personally don’t find korean or japanese pretty at all……I prefer arabs, I just don’t understand why everyone have to anti arabs?

Will I be welcomed in Japan if I know how to speak Japanese and know about Japanese Culture?

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:41:18 +0000

Tony asked:

I am a white American male and I am a 17 year old male and a High School student planning on getting a job and saving enough money to go to Japan one day but I am just wondering if any of the Japanese in Japan will support an American if he/she knows about their Culture, History , etc.

I have been learning Japanese and I’ve been reading about the Culture that is in Japan and I’m living in America right now and I am just wondering if I will be welcomed in Japan if I know how to speak Japanese know about their Culture.

Sorry if anyone didn’t understand this question but what I’m trying to ask is, Will I be welcomed in Japan if I know about Japanese Culture and knowing how to speak Japanese?
And I really like Japanese Culture and the Language.
Sorry if I said to much.
And I would like to make allot of friends in Japan including girls and guys.
Just for the record Bruce P or what ever the heck your name is, Please leave your ********* comments to your self.

Question About “Stigma” in Japanese Culture/Language?

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:15:39 +0000

Yggdrasil asked:

Sorry to use anime as my examples…but anime helps me learn the language.

Anyway, here goes. In Azumanga Daioh, one of the girls, Sakaki-san is not your “standard” stereotype of a Japanese girl…for two reasons…height (174cm and still growing at 16) and bust size (Osaka calls her “an American” while staring at her development. Sakaki-san is very ashamed of her height and bustiness. She feels she is not cute and that she “stands out.” She is also painfully shy. Is “standing out” taboo in Japanese culture? She feels that she is a freak (as she is likely to grow to about 6′ by the time she enters college). Chiyo-chan becomes pretty much her surrogate younger sister…but even Chiyo (10 years old and 4′4″ in the first year of HS) has trouble convincing her that she is cute and beautiful. I have known several very tall Japanese women who were absolutely stunning in physical appearance. Why does Sakaki-san feel so out of it?
I’ve met lots of teenagers…I was a professor, counselor, and psychologist. That doesn’t mean I know cross-cultural taboos and stigmas now, does it?
Thanks Colin, but it still doesn’t address prejudice against “tall” people. I mean, is she Ripley’s Believe It or Not tall? No. I know why she feels bad; I don’t know why she is being made to feel bad. Does that clarify it…or am I still being obtuse?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This is the character I am discussing…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakaki_(Azumanga_Daioh)

It is interesting to see the relative perceptions of women’s height and sexiness/girlness (I can’t think of a better way to put it.)

I mean, most models are tall…Elle McPherson is 6′ and Maria Sharapova is 6′2″. Both, in their time have been considered massively **** and desirable. So, why would Sakaki feel bad about being 5′9″ if there wasn’t a cultural stigma?

Is there a way to balance a love of Japanese culture without becoming known as a wannabe?

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:00:18 +0000

Pressure.Point asked:

I have had a HUGE interest in Japanese culture throughout my high school years, and I have taken the language for 4 years, been there twice (once on a homestay where I went to school), and I have started to primarily listen to J-Rock, love the art/architecture, and the list goes on and on. (Oddly, I really don’t read much manga and watch much anime, though that seems to be what everybody thinks when they hear about a kid that loves Japan). I try to study Japanese daily so I may become fluent someday.

I have enough appreciation and determination to learn about every facet of their society and adhere to it to the best of my ability. I know I will always be thought of as a gaijin while I am over there, but I almost like being the minority, for I am able to be part American and Japanese.

However, I am concerned, if I choose to pursue Japanese in college and in life, will I always be thought of as just a “wannabe?” I am a Caucasian kid with a little Italian heritage from the midwest…
I want to major in Japanese language and literature in college and eventually work in a field that involves interaction with the people and the culture.

I have really tried to educate myself as much as I can about Japanese culture so I can closely follow their age-old (and modern) traditions, but it is so difficult to break out of the stereotype of “all kids that love japanese are asian wannabes that watch anime all day.”

I guess whatever choices you make will make someone lose respect for you, but is there any way I can balance my American heritage and my Japanese interest so I am not simply a wannabe, but instead I am an American who is fascinated by Japan and its culture?
Sonny, thank you for your analysis, it really got me thinking and seriously considering backing down on what I had planned so far…however, it has just made me even more determined. I do not want to become Japanese, I want to enjoy Japan and its culture while still retaining my American heritage. I understand how I may not get respect from some, but no matter what you do, life is going to throw you some challenges, and this would be one I can endure, I’ll just take the initiative and show them that my love of Japanese culture is much more well-rounded and deep then most who only want to come there for one or two reasons. You are making it sound like they care little about you, but I humbly beg to differ, when I lived there I was well received and cared for by a large group of Japanese people, and I know they are much more warm and accepting than you are trying to make them seem.

If you don’t mind me asking, why do you still live there if you paint such a negative picture?
xdegrass, thank you for your advice.

I just have to disagree with your statement that i am not unique in my Japanese interest. While i do know many who like certain aspects of Japan, I realy find few that appreciate their culture as a whole like I do.

It almost seems that more than 1/2 with a big interest are obsessed with anime/video games/harajuku-esque clothing, and in the remaining half, some people just like the food, others just like the language, some want to go because they think the guys and girls are attractive….in my experience, its hard finding people who have a genuine interest in more than a few aspects of Japanese culture.

This is why I think I am (relatively) unique. We all have interests to accomplish different goals, and since I like so much about the country as a whole (I also know the darker side, but I will cope), its not like the “magic” will just “shake off.”

Do you know what Jiso means in Japanese culture?

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:03:39 +0000

Snowcrane66 asked:

It was puzzle for me and still lingering in my mind for a long while that there were tons of little stone made Jiso statues along the track where I went hiking down in a very rural lonely villiage in the southern Osaka. As I know that most Japanese don’t have any religion at all, but back in the ancient time they did have one and most were Buddism. And I was told that in the past by my Japanese teacher that there were not much food at that time and a lot of poor family they usually got rid of the youngest baby and buried them alive in order to save the food for the remaining family members to survive. My mainpoint question was that under those little stone Jizo statues were buried dead baby at that time? If not, what does that mean? If anyone who penetrates into Japanese culture and do know what it meant, plz tell me. Ans Thanx so much for your helping.

How do people in Japanese culture view demons?

admin — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:35:51 +0000

Curiosity Strikes asked:

This is a question that came about while I was watching “Howl’s Moving Castle”, when Sophie mentions Turniphead being a “good demon”.

Now, I realize that the movie was based on a non-Japanese book – one that I’ve never read before and don’t know how it compares to the movie – but since demons seem to often play a role in anime/manga, I thought I’d ask: How do people in Japanese culture view demons?
To elaborate, when they say “demons” do they really just mean “spirits” – spirits that can be either good or evil?

Help me out here, people! I’m curious!

What does the Swastika symbolize in Japanese culture?

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:31:33 +0000

ben dover asked:

I would like to know what the Swastika means in Japanese culture. I know it shows were the temples are on a map. But does it have some other meaning? The reason I ask is because I watch an anime called Bleach. In it Ichigo has a sword that when he uses “Bankai” ( a way to increse his powew ) his sword changes. The hilt of the sword is now a Swastika. If you were looking at it head on. I was at the anime expo last week, and there were people taking photos of some guys in cosplay dressed like Ichigo. There were some Jewes people that were walking by, and they said something about the Swastika on the swords. I know it means something to them, but what does it mean in the Japanese culture.

Onegai! Japanese Culture/Language Question?

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:33:02 +0000

Yggdrasil asked:

This is one I have been trying to figure out for quite some time now…and since we have many Japanese speakers here… Sorry for my cultural ignorance.

In the anime, Ah! Megamisama (Ah! My Goddess), Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld are often troubled by the inept demon Marller. Skuld, the youngest of the sisters, is always inventing something…so she invents a robot named, Banpei-kun RX…and he comes equipped with a cannon of sorts. Skuld has finally decided to take Marller on…so she loads the cannon with an assortment of ceramic cat statues and little objects that look like luggage tags with ribbons. I don’t get it. Can anyone clue me in? Are cats somehow magical or what? I am totally clueless.

Also, there is a genre of anime called “Cat-girl” anime. What is that about.

Sorry for my simplistic questions, but I really want to learn the language and culture.

Arigato.
Man, so much to learn.
Thanks. Yup, they were all as you described. Thanks for the links too.
BTW, Chiyo-chan gives each of the other Azumanga Daioh girls a Gakugyō Jōju before they go for their university entrance exams. Apparently, they are pretty strong stuff…because even Tomo and Osaka got into university. LOL

Why does Japanese culture in general celebrate cuteness?

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:14:07 +0000

Jeff_N asked:

I believe most of us who live in cities or other centers of culture and learning here in America have seen how much the Japanese love cuteness, and may I add, how sadistic some seem to get. I actually don’t know enough about Japan to be 100% sure, but by looking at their media(manga, anime, game shows, music, movies) I came to the conclusion that Japan is obsessed with cuteness.

It it some sign of regression to a more innocent state(its so totally fake, you have mature people acting all innocent). I know the ******* rate is pretty high in Japan. Perhaps a mob of people celebrating innocence and not wanting to hear the plight of those who are depressed, maybe because of this mentality, is the reason the rate is so high.

The birth rate is also negative, women are taking the initiative, entering the business world…

Ive seen some Japanese game shows…they show women in almost nothing, and the guys are like drooling, but then they start doing things that look like it hurts..
Also, Japan and their pornography. Its incredibly sadistic in just 1 movie, you would htink its like that everywhere else(the movies i mean). Isnt *** about love and enjoyment? Why is it that sum1 is getting beaten up real bad? What happened to the men, they get like no screne time in there. What happened to equality? And they even make hentai…Their minds are somewhat perverted, no?

Why are women also adoring AV idols? I understand that they have the largest *** industry in the world. Women are becoming millionaires(in yen) because they enter the business…

About the guys, and their high ******* rate…I read somewhere that whenever a guy sees a sucessful girl, he gets depressed.
This part of the argument seems to target only the minority so ill move on…

About their media, kids learn these things from like anime. Sure there are some good stuff out there but they are not always in great number.
Anyway, mob mentality, popular culture (the overwhelming homogenized populous, as opposed to America’s diversity), girls dying their hair blond just because some rich girl does it. If there was a japanese paris hilton, many there would want to be like here. And in mob mentality, those who stand up get stricken down. (I read a proverb a japanes proverb on wikipedia)

Please elaborate this for me, sorry for the long question, i hope you can make sense of it.
Im from a different culture, so i hardly understand Japan. Also, no1 has wrote about this yet -_-
Oh yes, almost for got. I read that looking cute causes your brain to create this neural transmitter chemical thing that makes you want to take care of them…perhaps looking cute in Japan will get you attention and people to care for you like you are a baby(which annoys me, act teenaged mature atleast)

Thats why cute elephant babies are so loved by their family..

To Japanese/Asian people, does it bother you when “Gaijin” misinterpret the culture?

admin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:27:35 +0000

Pete asked:

I have seen on here, and at school where people who say they “Know” about Japan, while at the same time they believe in these things…

“Geisha” is a Japanese word meaning “Hooker”
“In Japan people can have *** in public, and no one cares.”
“If you go to Japan, you can get laid anytime you want.”
“Most Japanese women don’t like Japanese men”

and even…

“In Japanese culture people do not……cut their hair……”

and it’s not just Japan, but other Asian counties as well.

It’s both mind boggling, and sickening for these people to think in such a way. It really pisses me off..

Where in the hell are they learning this trash from….

very big question for all those of you who know alot about anime and japanese culture?

admin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:36:27 +0000

street racer japan asked:

i have a freind he speicalizes in martial arts and his house has alot of antique nimnja samurai stuff and pictures of the culture of japan his house looks awsome and he also likes to watch anime the ones like samurai champloo samurai deeper kyo ninja scroll so on so on
and he also owns all the anime dvds but just yesterday he bought a wallscroll of an anime show and me and him were arguinig about i think that having the anime dvds in a japanese them house is cool but when you add a wallscroll to it of an anime cartoon picture wont it look out of place but even though i have to admit the animes shows are bad *** but should ent he just have the dvds but dont you guys agree the wallscrolls ruin it i know this question is hard to understand but please try your best to answer : ))

f.y.i me and my freind have a beat on this question

A question from a Japanese. Let me know some musics that you could feel ‘That’s japanese culture’,please?

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:06:34 +0000

Ryo Y asked:

Hello,I’m a high-school student in Japan.
I have a question that I’d like to ask you.
I’m going to America as a exchange student this December.
So I want to bring some Japanese music CDs
to show Japanese culture.
(Showing Japanese culture is requested in this exchange program)
Then I’d like you to let me know some Japanese songs or musics
what you could feel ‘That’s Japanese culture itself.’

Sorry for my poor English.
Can I reply to your answers?
I finally couldn’t find how to reply.
Please let me know
if there’s the way to do it.
Thank you for your answers!
I really appriciate it.

I’m asking Americans about it
because I want to know
‘What kind of stuff makes
you Americans be interested in.’

And I’d like to ask you,
How about traditional Japanese music?
It’s not only geisha play and
Tsugaru shamisen that two of the answers said,
but olso gagaku, taiko drums etc…

what is the coolest launguage/ culture. example:italian, japanese.etc?

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:27:27 +0000

Berny asked:

i was wondering which culture and make the best food and launguage…
example: italian people because they make pizza and pasta and blahbalh balh
or
japanese because blahblah
or chinese blalalblah
you get what i mean….
so which culture food and launguage