Category Archives: culture

Workshop: Hokusai & Book Illustration

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Paula

Rare Book School offers five-day, intensive courses for students from all disciplines and levels to study the history of manuscript, printed, and born-digital materials with leading scholars and professionals in the field. This year, we are pleased to present more … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: Making Tea, Making Japan: Cultural Nationalism in Practice

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Paula

By Kristin Surak “Elegantly written and extraordinarily argued.” –John A. Hall, James McGill Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology, McGill University “This is the tea book for which we have been waiting.  Surak introduces the embodied practice of making tea, but … Continue reading →

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Volunteer Opportunities: Washington DC National Cherry Blossom Festival Events

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Laura

As many Washingtonians may already know, the National Cherry Blossom Festival of Washington DC will be running this year from March 20th to April 14th and there are still  plenty of events to get involved with for those looking to … Continue reading →

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An Introduction to the Japan-America Student Conference (JASC)

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Paula

Many students wonder what kinds of programs outside of the standard academic study abroad experience will enable them to make meaningful connections to Japan on a personal and professional level.  The Japan-America Student Conference is a student-led exchange program in … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: At Home Abroad: The Contemporary Western Experience in Japan

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Paula

With Japan’s graying working population rapidly dwindling, supplementing the labor shortage with non-Japanese workers has been proposed as one solution to this demographic crisis.  It is crucial, however, that foreign nationals not only be “imported,” but also that Japanese and … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: “How the heck is nori made?”

Posted on March 1, 2013 by LM

My FLFs are always about food, aren’t they? At the risk of being a bit one-note: Alice Gordenker of The Japan Times‘ “So What the Heck Is That” column has a new article in JT as well as a great … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: Prof. Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan–and Japan to the West

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Paula

“Professor” Risley (Richard Risley Carlisle) introduced the Western circus to Japan in 1864. Three years later, this former acrobat gave many in the West their first glimpse of Japan when he took his “Imperial Japanese Troupe” of acrobats and jugglers … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: The Famous Foods Of Every Japanese Prefecture

Posted on February 22, 2013 by LM

Every region in Japan is famous for local food. One might even say that Japan is famous for being famous for food! Koichi on Tofugu has collected three famous foods from each prefecture from Hokkaido to Okinawa in this two-part … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: Japan Since 1945:From Postwar to Post-Bubble

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Paula

Christopher Gerteis and Timothy S. George ‘An excellent interdisciplinary collection of essays on “postwar” Japan, from 1945 to 2011 – from the ashes of defeat to the anxiety of decline. It deserves to be read not only for its fascinating … Continue reading →

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Fun Link Friday: Amezaiku Candy Sculpting

Posted on February 15, 2013 by LM

Today’s fun link is a video featuring the craft of amezaiku, or candy-sculpting, featured on Iromegane as part of the blog’s feature on shokunin, craftspeople. Juji Kurihara writes, Today’s Shokunin (職人/ maestro) is a candy craftsman. 飴細工 (Amezaiku / candy sculpting) came to Japan in Heian period (平安時代/794-1192), precisely in … Continue reading →

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