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November 22, 2024
 

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Alice Gordenker

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Alice Gordenker
Alice Gordenker writes the "So, What the Heck is That?" column, providing in-depth, carefully researched explanations of the things foreigners find so puzzling about Japan. Her work has been modified as a textbook for Japanese university students called "Surprising Japan" (Shohakusha, 2012).
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Feb 21, 2012
Miso's moya moya
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jan 17, 2012
Platform doors
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 5, 2012
Exposing new spins on old-school photography
For a truly fresh outlook on Tokyo, run, don't walk, to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography to see Sohei Nishino's exciting photo-collages of Tokyo and nine other cities, on display through Jan. 29 along with works by other up-and-coming Japanese photographers.
CULTURE / Art
Jan 5, 2012
Exposing new spins on old-school photography
For a truly fresh outlook on Tokyo, run, don't walk, to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography to see Sohei Nishino's exciting photo-collages of Tokyo and nine other cities, on display through Jan. 29 along with works by other up-and-coming Japanese photographers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jan 1, 2012
New window on how Europe viewed Japan
UNDER EAGLE EYES: Lithographs, Drawings and Photographs From the Prussian Expedition to Japan, 1860-61, edited by Sebastian Dobson & Sven Saaler. Iudicium, 2011, 392 pp., €49 (hardcover) Even casual students of Japan are likely to know something about Commodore Matthew Perry and his role in pressuring...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Dec 20, 2011
Yomawari
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Nov 15, 2011
Nipple fruit
Dear Alice,I have lived in Japan for almost a decade. Every fall I see in flower shops the most unusual and fantastic plant, and I would like to finally know what the heck it is. It is sold as cut branches that are laden with a totally implausible fruit in the brightest of yellows. To be honest, those...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Oct 18, 2011
Annoying TV pop-ups
Dear Alice,I want to ask about something that has bugged me the entire 17 years I have lived in Japan. It irritates me so much I am tempted to replace the "heck" in "what the heck" with something considerably stronger but I will be a lady and restrain myself. Anyway, what the heck are those little video...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Sep 20, 2011
Anzan kigan
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 28, 2011
Growing up with photography and picturing youth
You know how difficult it is to get good photos of children. They fidget. They cry. And just when you think you've got the perfect shot, they turn the other way. Now try to imagine how challenging it must have been for early photographers, who had to contend with exposure times of minutes rather than...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jul 19, 2011
Japan's incompatible power grids
Dear Alice,As Japan sweats through this summer of inadequate power, many more people now know that there are different electrical supply systems in eastern and western Japan, and that the two systems are incompatible. This is such a crazy situation that I'd really be interested to know the history behind...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jun 21, 2011
Kinpū
Dear Alice,I am fascinated by the elaborately decorated envelopes offered for sale in Japan. I know they are used for giving money, because the first time I came to Japan to study martial arts a friend taught me to put my lesson fees into an envelope, rather than just hand bills to my teacher. I'd like...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
May 17, 2011
Bridges with names
Dear Alice, I've noticed something that no one has ever been able to explain to me: It seems that absolutely every bridge in Japan has a name! Size, length and location don't seem to have anything to do with it: I once saw two tiny bridges out in the middle of nowhere, one after the other, and each had...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Apr 21, 2011
Setsuden
Dear Alice, Everywhere I go now I see signs for setsuden (conserving electricity). There's a notice at my local convenience store explaining that the lights are down for setsuden. My post office has shortened its hours for setsuden. And the subway is running with fewer trains — you guessed it — for...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Mar 17, 2011
Yokobue
Dear Alice, Last November, I went to Kyushu to see the Karatsu Kunchi festival. It was a wonderful spectacle, with huge, flamboyant floats pulled through crowded streets to the rhythmic accompaniment of drums, music and shouts of "Enya! Enya!" I loved it all, but if I had to designate one aspect as my...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Feb 17, 2011
Bloomers
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jan 20, 2011
Wagashi
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Dec 16, 2010
Kiribi
Dear Alice
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Nov 18, 2010
Shrine tags
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Oct 21, 2010
Nature's air freshener
Dear Alice,
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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