Category Archives: culture

Book Announcement: Meiji Restoration Losers: Memory and Tokugawa Supporters in Modern Japan

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Paula

Meiji Restoration Losers: Memory and Tokugawa Supporters in Modern Japan, published through the Harvard Asia Center, is now available. This book is about the “losers” of the Meiji Restoration and the supporters who promoted their legacy. Although the violence of … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Map Design by Yoshida Hatsusaburo

Posted on March 7, 2014 by LM

Spoon & Tamago has a feature on the cartographer Yoshida Hatsusaburo (1884-1955) and his gorgeous, detailed maps. I love the Taisho- and early Showa-era design work on these, and how much they look like real towns instead of a contemporary … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: “The Mysterious Underground Men”

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Paula

Announcing the publication of the English-language edition of one of Tezuka Osamu’s earliest books, and one of manga history’s most important: “The Mysterious Underground Men” (Chiteikoku no kaijin, 1948), published by PictureBox in New York. http://www.pictureboxinc.com/products/1196-the-mysterious-undergound-men The edition is in … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Tokyo’s Best Plum Blossom Spots

Posted on February 28, 2014 by LM

I’ll confess that I have a personal bias for plum blossoms over sakura. Sure, they aren’t as majestic as the shidare-zakura (枝垂桜), but I love how vividly pink they are and how they smell. I’m most familiar with Kanazawa’s plum … Continue reading →

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Summer Program: Kyoto Traditional Theatre Training

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Paula

The intensive summer program in Kyoto Traditional Theatre Training invites applications to its 30th annual program, July 18-20 (orientation and overview of performing arts) and training (Jul 21-Aug 8). Master-teachers of the Kanze school noh, Okura school kyogen, and Wakayagi school of nihonbuyo classical dance offer … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: Henry Black – On Stage in Meiji Japan

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Paula

Henry Black – On Stage in Meiji Japan By Ian McArthur ONE OF Japan’s first foreign-born entertainers is the subject of my new book,  the first about him in the English-speaking world. Henry Black – On Stage in Meiji Japan … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Wasei-Eigo Poll

Posted on February 21, 2014 by LM

Check out the results of the “‘English’ words Japanese don’t realise aren’t English” poll on What Japan Thinks for a list of useful wasei-eigo words. I actually think these lists are great for learning the correct way to use these terms … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: Shuji Terayama: Japanese Dream

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Paula

SHUJI TERAYAMA TRANSLATION ‘Japanese Dream’ is a translation of selected essays by Shuji Terayama, the film director, poet and icon of the Japanese counter-culture. 2013 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Terayama’s death, and this may be the only example of … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: The 47 Bronin

Posted on February 14, 2014 by LM

Jamie Noguchi of the webcomic Yellow Peril has created one of the best webcomic fillers I’ve ever seen: the tale of the 47 “bronin,” or the classic tale of Lord Asano’s ronin exacting revenge on Lord Kira– but with bros, fistbumps, and dropping … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: Hayashi Seiichi, “Gold Pollen and Other Stories”

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Paula

Hayashi Seiichi, “Gold Pollen and Other Stories” (PictureBox, 2013) Printed in color, it is a collection of Hayashi’s manga work from the late 60s and early 70s, including some of his most famous work for the legendary monthly Garo, including … Continue reading →

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