Many English teachers in Japan have a tough time during the holidays. It’s times like these when we realize how much we need each other here. I look around the room and become overwhelmed by how deeply I love the people around me.
THROUGH YONSEI EYES: The virtue of goodbye
April 11, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Late March and early April are times of great change within the Japanese school system. In March, the students have their graduation ceremonies. They are serious affairs filled with tears and stoicism. It’s difficult to move on from a middle school.
THROUGH YONSEI EYES: Welcome home
January 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment
I tried to take in the reality of my circumstances. I had just moved from the metropolitan Bay Area to rural Japan to teach English. I didn’t know any Japanese. I didn’t know anyone in Tottori, the least populated prefecture in the country. I had no Internet and no cell service, which meant I couldn’t even call home. There was nothing to fill the crushing silence.
Falling birth rates and infantile otaku culture
March 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I’m more of a Western gamer when it comes to my video gaming habits. I guess I just never got into the Moe-blob romance and tsundere masochism my friends have enjoyed (though I did play a few dating sims in my day). If I had to choose, I’m much more an “action games” person. That, […]
Fun With Marketing: Children’s Films in Japan
June 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I’ve been thinking a lot about what Chinese consumer power is going to mean for images of Asian people in Hollywood films — (even if offending Asian Americans doesn’t effect a studio’s bottom line enough for it to be an issue, offending Chinese viewers, or the Chinese government, has real monetary consequences). I’ll probably write […]
2 more ways to help Japan
April 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
We’re almost a month out from the devastating events in Japan and I still feel a little weird talking about something as lightweight as food. But you probably don’t come to this blog for Japan relief updates, so this week I’m compromising with this quick post on two more opportunities to help, and a full-length […]
Limbaugh Amused that Earthquake Hit Birthplace of Prius
March 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Apparently, Rush’s understanding of the concept of environmentalism is that you make Mother Earth offerings of Priuses and recycled plastic in hopes she won’t smite you. Media Matters has a transcript and a quick list of some of his other absurd, unfeeling statements.
Japan establishes a secret intelligence unit: WikiLeaks
February 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment
SYDNEY — Japan has established a secret foreign intelligence unit for the first time since World War II to spy on China and North Korea and gather information to prevent a terrorist attack, according to an Australian report on Feb. 21 citing whistleblower Website WikiLeaks. The Sydney Morning Herald and other Fairfax newspapers said a […]
Sumo tournament canceled in wake of match-fixing scandal
February 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Japan Sumo Association announced the first canceled tournament since 1946 in the wake of a series of text messages that brought to light a seemingly widespread system of match-fixing among sumo wrestlers. According to the New York Times, police found text messages that link as many as 13 wrestlers to rigged bouts. Wrestlers must […]
A look at “Made In China”
February 8, 2011 by 4 Comments
There’s a sort of derogatory attitude taken by people in the US and Japan over China. The nation, not to make light of their questionable ethics, is beleaguered with bad press. In Japan’s case, it’s the recent debacle over the fishing boat collision last year, as well as mounting concerns over China’s haughtiness since being […]
Connect & Share