The Daily(or so) View of Japanese Language & Culture

[Koiyuki]

If you're wondering how pursing Japanese culture can change a man, take a look at this  

[Koiyuki]

Like many holidays today, Valentine's Day as we know it was an innovation of the companies wanting to exploit people's emotions for maximum profit, and in Japan, this started to take hold around 1975. To see more what makes the holiday unique in Japan, point your browser here  

[Koiyuki]

Over the course of my study, I found this highly valuable resource for learning Japanese: http://www.nihongomaster.com/. On here, you can look up words and grammar and gain a good idea of what makes both work. Highly recommended  

[Koiyuki]

One of the identifying elements of many East Asian cultures is the value of one's reputation and how they look in the public eye. This article shows how that fuels the way people shop in those countries  

[Koiyuki]

One of the parts of Japan's history people often forget about are the female warriors of the time, the Onna Bugeisha. If you need a primer on who they are, take a look at this  

[Koiyuki]

One of the deepest thread in Japan's culture is that of Animism(the belief that all things in this world have a soul of some sort), in particular, the country's iteration of it called Shinto. This is even reflected in the way the people make and use toilet paper  

[Koiyuki]

One of the signature aspects of Japan's culture is the personification of things most wouldn't think to have a personality. One side of effect of that, is that the consumer can connect to abstract concepts on a more intimate levels, as shown in this article about personified periodic tables  

[Koiyuki]

One of the central, yet little discussed aspects of modern Japan is the culture's iteration of the local corner liquor. This Know Your Meme article does a good job shedding light on this, as well as a song inspired by it  

[Koiyuki]

One of the things people associate with modern Japan are the suicidal tendencies of pressured youth. This study shows that the statistic for even thinking about it has now risen to about 1 out of every 4 people  

[Koiyuki]

If you're looking to practice your Japanese skills, point your browser to NHK News Web Daily, made for people still getting comfortable with the language  

[Koiyuki]

One of the defining traits of modern lawmaking are ancient, absurd laws, and Japan, in enforcing the law banning dancing after 11pm without a license, is no different  

[Koiyuki]

One of the most unique aspects of Japan's local relations is how the mainland folks regard the language and culture of the folks of Okinawa, the cultural equivalent to Hawaii and how mainland US regards it. Among the concerns of Okinawan natives, as is continues to be for Hawaiian natives, is how to keep the local language from going the way of the dodo. In recent times, one native decided to start teaching the language himself, known among speakers as Uchi-na-Guchi  

[Koiyuki]

One of the signature elements of Japan's culture is a strong sense of nostalgia, as shown by the fact that Sony still sells recording tapes  

[Koiyuki]

War can do much to change much the way a country works, whether it's during or after it takes place. One example? Gunkanjima  

[Koiyuki]

Haikus are something everyone's heard about, but few truly grasp. To help with this, I wrote a post on the matter