Category Archives: fun links

Fun Link Friday: Ama, traditional Japanese women divers

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Paula

This week has highlighted the contributions of women as the International Women’s Day Strike took place on Wednesday, so this week our Fun Link Friday will highlight some amazing ladies who hold an important place in traditional Japanese practices. Messy … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged ama, fun link friday, Japan, Japanese culture, traditional culture, women, women's history | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Sushi donuts?

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Paula

Now that you’ve endured or enjoyed some matcha beer, here comes another innovation on the traditional… sushi donuts? The internet is having a time with this new interpretation of a traditional favorite, and frankly, I’m just as unsure how I … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged food, fun link friday, Japanese food, sushi | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Matcha… beer?

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Paula

Like it or not, if you spend enough time in Japan, you’ll probably develop a taste for matcha/maccha 抹茶 (green tea). I know I didn’t like tea at all (still don’t like coffee!) but somewhere along the lines it grew … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged beer, food, food culture, green tea, Japan, tea | 1 Comment

Fun Link Friday: Kayashima: The Japanese Train Station Built Around a 700-Year-Old Tree

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Travis

One thing I love doing is Japan is just walking around and exploring, and appreciating, little interesting places. Whether it’s tiny obscure sites of historical interest, or ones with striking architecture or aesthetics, Japan just seems to be full of … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged kayashima, Osaka, train stations, trees | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Japanese idioms and proverbs

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Paula

One of the most fascinating parts of foreign languages is learning the intricacies of local sayings, since they help us really dig into the cultural context specific to that language, but also see the universal themes many places and peoples … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged culture, fun link friday, idioms, Japanese, Japanese culture, Japanese language | 2 Comments

Fun Link Friday: Turning Invasive Species into Sushi

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Paula

A lot of factors can affect changes in our local and global environments, but one that has become a big problem with little attention paid to it is that of invasive species. Sometimes new species get introduced to non-native … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged ecosystem, food, fun link friday, invasive species, Japan, sushi | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: the Salt Sculptures of Motoi Yamamoto

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Paula

Sorry for the lack of Fun Link Fridays, everyone! It was a busy holiday season and I hope you all enjoyed it. Today is a quickie fun link, something that I had saved and meant to put up around New … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged art, artists, culture, fun link friday, Japanese art, Japanese artists, Japanese culture | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: The Origins of Japan’s Christmas Cake

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Paula

As the holidays rapidly approach, you may or may not be feeling nostalgic for the spongey, strawberry-laden cakes so well-known in Japan– the Japanese Christmas cake. Orders for this beloved item start being taken all the way back in September in … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged cake, Christmas, Christmas cake, fun link friday, history, Japan | Leave a comment

Fun Link Friday: Roman Coins Found in Ryukyu Castle

Posted on December 2, 2016 by LM

For our archeology and history enthusiasts: Okinawa was a historical trade hub, and recently ten ancient coins, including several from the Roman and Ottoman empires, were excavated in Katsuren Castle, Uruma, Okinawa. “We don’t think that there is a direct link … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged castles, fun links, history, Okinawa, trade | 1 Comment

Fun Link Friday: Videos of Japan’s Traditional Artisans

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Paula

Maybe it’s because of my research, maybe because I love art, or maybe because making things with your hands is so dang cool, but I am totally obsessed with a YouTube playlist recently highlighted by Open Culture on production processes … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, fun links | Tagged art, artisan, craft, culture, fun link friday, handicraft, Japan, Japanese culture | Leave a comment