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July 16, 2024
 

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BILINGUAL

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 31, 2003
When in doubt, just blame it on the wind
The Japanese have traditionally described their island country as being governed by the forces of mizu (water) -- what, with all this rain falling for what seems like 360 days of the year, but our grandmothers say kaze (wind) is the other ruling force that tends to be overlooked. Mizu will wash everything...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 10, 2003
Let's all open a window and see what happens
I'm depressed. And hyperventilating. This is because I just came back from visiting my cousin and his wife in their new Tokyo manshon (condo) that boasts among other things, a fully automatic kuchoki (air adjustor) that comes with a year's free supply of shinsenna sanso (fresh oxygen).
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 19, 2003
A sensitivity course in the frigid effects of hiesho
"Hey, what's with all the clothing during the hottest months of the year?" That's my friend Alan's observation of the working women populace in Japan. Nagasode (long sleeves), uwagi (outer jacket) and suttokingu (nylons) are the norm for so many of them, despite the unbearable heat and humidity of a...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 29, 2003
Confessions of a Tokyo shojo
You can take the girl out of Tokyo but you can't take Tokyo out of the girl . . .
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 8, 2003
O-soji: the way of the Japanese housewife
A lot of things baffled when I attended a Japanese school for the first time at the age of 14. Lot's of things baffled me, but the custom of soji -- or cleaning -- of the classroom and school buildings everyday after the last bell, seemed outrageous.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 13, 2003
OK guys, it's payback time
Oh heck. It's that time of year again, the dreaded White Day that forces us males to dispense several mansatsu (10,000 yen bills) whether we're ready to or not.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 17, 2003
The art of making excuses
Part of growing up in Japan is about naturally acquiring shoseijutsu -- phrases and expressions that get you through difficulties and make good impressions.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 27, 2003
Trials of a singleton
When a man's been single for too long, he can start to exhibit strange symptoms.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 6, 2003
Making an exit, Japanese style
My grandmother used to say that people of her generation never expected much out of life. In her prime, her mantra was "Ikiteiru dakede arigatai (I'm thankful just to be alive)" and in her final years, that changed to "Pokkuri ikitai (I want to die suddenly and quietly)."
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 16, 2002
The thorny topic of 'office flowers'
Nowadays the term "OL (office lady)" is seen as semiderogatory (about time, too), and some companies have trashed it completely and started using simply jyosei shain (women employees). This is to differentiate them from sogoshoku (general worker), which is not gender-specific but is used to describe...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 15, 2002
And you wonder why women don't want to have babies . . .
Rumiko, the 29-year-old president of her own computer-graphics company, says she has decided to become an achiragawa no ningen (person who has crossed over to the other side) by having a baby.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 18, 2002
Let's hear it for the big wa in a small country
Although we seem to have built an entire culture based on loathing of all things Japanese and admiration of all things foreign, scratch the surface of our inferiority complex and you'll find a streak of patriotism somewhere.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 27, 2002
Plenty of reasons to enjoy the predictable pleasures of fall
The Japanese have long described themselves as people who value the solidity of sameness. Anyone who has ever seen "Mito Komon" on TV will know what this means: the same dialogue, the same roles and the same big sword fight exactly 45 minutes into the program, all going on for many decades to general...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 6, 2002
Small-life, low-name -- let's not talk about me
There are some aspects of Japanese politeness that baffle even the Japanese. Like the habit of saying: "Kyoshuku desu (I'm terrified and shrinking)" in response to someone doing you a favor. And "Osoreirimasu (Fear has entered me)" instead of a plain "Arigato (Thank you)." Are other people really so...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 16, 2002
You've got mail: the romance of the shoe box
Remember the days before cell phones and e-mail, when people actually wrote letters to each other, by hand -- often pages and pages of kokoro-no toro (emotional outpouring)? Maybe it's just me getting sentimental in my old age, but, really, there's something to be said for the days when the sight of...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 26, 2002
Summertime wisdom out of the mouths of shogakusei
My French professor used to say that France is a nation where children try to become adults as soon as they possibly can, while in Japan, adults try to extend their childhood for as long as they possibly can.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 5, 2002
Our yankii are different from your yankees
You know you're old when the slang expressions so fashionable in your youth go right over the heads of 22-year-olds who stare blankly as though you've just spoken to them in ancient Egyptian. One remembers a time when mecchanko (extremely superduper) was the adjective of the day, used to describe everything...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 14, 2002
'Allez Nippon!' -- how Japan learned to love M. Troussier
Watched any World Cup matches in the past few weeks? Yelled your heart out? Ready to slit your wrists -- or, more to the point, to strangle a shinpan (referee) or two? Predictably, a few of my friends have sworn never to touch coffee made from Costa Rican beans ever again (what was that referee thinking...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 24, 2002
Japanese women staying in touch with their inner virgin
What with the rise of the strong and professional Japanese woman, it may have escaped your notice. But the nation is currently undergoing a quiet boom in otome (innocent young girl) culture, to which a large number of aforementioned strong professionals are addicted.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 3, 2002
Just your average, run-of-the-mill salaryman sings the blues
So let me introduce myself. I'm your futsu (run-of-the-mill), heikin (average) salaryman, nothing special. What's wrong with that? I can remember a time when this particular jiko-shokai (self-introduction) at company functions and karaoke parties was perfectly acceptable -- even welcomed.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
Amid same-sex marriage ban, LGBTQ couples opt for 'photo weddings'
A lesbian couple, consisting of a 35-year-old woman (left) and 40-year-old woman, cover their faces with bouquets as they pose for wedding photos in Yokohama on Nov. 1.
China and Russia conduct joint Pacific military patrol
The Russian corvette Gromkiy enters the Chinese port of Zhanjiang as part of a joint China-Russia naval exercise on Saturday.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.
How to tweak your diet when temperatures spike
Most people think of hydration as a strictly liquid-based concept, but eating foods with high water content is an essential part of making it through a Japanese summer unscathed.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals
Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals

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