JapanSoc / Top Stories

We have LOLcats and FAILblog - Japan has this

KenYN — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:50:49 PST

Got this one off Watashi to Tokyo. Interesting, although an occasional NFSW pops up.

Posted by KenYN in Strange | Socs: 14

The Yen and the Dollar - Do I Send Money Home?

ForeignersFinan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:06:51 PST

A look at the difficult decision of savings when it comes to the yen and dollar exchange rate.

Posted by ForeignersFinan in Business & Economy | Socs: 9

A Photo-essay on the Yukata

Muza-chan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:21:29 PST

In Japan, old and new are joined not only in architecture, but also in the dressing style. One of the main aspects I love about Japan is the fact that it is one of the few modern countries where the traditional dressing is still "trendy".

Posted by Muza-chan in Fashion | Socs: 14

Hideki Matsui is the MVP of the 2009 World Series

hideisalive — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:42:36 PST

After tieing the record for most RBIs in a World Series game, Hideki Matsui has been named the MVP.The Yankees defeated the Phillies in 6 games.

Posted by hideisalive in Sport | Socs: 10

Girl-next-door to wicked stepmother?

Japandra — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:42:52 PST

November's "Do it at Home" poster: back to makeup.

Posted by Japandra in General | Socs: 12

What to Eat and Where to Eat It in Fukuoka

fukuokadreaming — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:10:59 PST

Fukuoka is a food lovers paradise, so here is a short list of what you must eat when you visit Fukuoka City! Ittadakimasu!

Posted by fukuokadreaming in Food and Drink | Socs: 11

A Chat between a Japanese and an American on the Taiji Dolphins after Watching “The Cove” | achikule!

achikule — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:10:52 PST

This is a conversation between two people after watching the documentary, "The Cove," a real-life-mission-impossible-mission to film the dolphin slaughter/harvest in a small cove in Taiji, Wakayama.

Posted by achikule in Culture | Socs: 10

Shimokitazawa: End of an era?

shio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:28:53 PST

Tokyo's neighborhood of Shimokitazawa faces some big changes: redevelopment plans will completely transform the area, running a 26-meter-wide thoroughfare through its center and connecting it directly to Shibuya and the Kan'nana ring road. Work will only start in 2010, but the design for the new

Posted by shio in Business & Economy | Socs: 12

What to follow on Twitter? A list, of course!

Michael — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:31:10 PST

Here's my tongue-in-cheek recommendation for a Japan and Japanese-related Twitter list to follow. Check it out - you might find someone new and interesting to follow!

Posted by Michael in Technology | Socs: 9

Abandoned Hotel At Lake Kawaguchi

WideIslandView — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:07:18 PST

At the foot of Mt. Fuji sits Lake Kawaguchi. Once a great tourist destination, now many places sit abandoned. We take a look inside one such hotel that has seen better times.

Posted by WideIslandView in Photography | Socs: 13

NHK Launches Reproduction-Free Internet Video Library

shio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:06:46 PST

Japanese public TV broadcaster NHK launched an online video library on Saturday consisting of several thousand video and sound clips collected from the broadcaster's program archives. All content can be used free of charge and without any user registration required.

Posted by shio in Internet | Socs: 10

Test Your Fluency in Kanji for Geeks

InvisibleGaijin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:23:13 PST

Mona Nomura (@mona), noted geek blogger/twitterer, creates a brilliant juxtaposition of kanji and geekiness that tests your visual imagination and knowledge of geeky stuff in one highly amusing post.

Posted by InvisibleGaijin in Learning Japanese | Socs: 15

Harsh truths of Divorce in Japan | The Japan Times Online

jonallen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:28:39 PST

Sad tale of Richard Cory. If he divorces his wife he loses all rights to see his three children.
It would be interesting to hear her side of the story too.

Posted by jonallen in Culture | Socs: 19

Recycling in the Edo-Period « Quirky Japan Blog

edjacob — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:45:25 PST

Translation of an interesting Japanese article about how there was no garbage in the Edo Period. Everything got recycled, from umbrellas to scraps of paper to human excrement.

Posted by edjacob in History | Socs: 17

Ideas for Kimono

kimonobox — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:22:15 PST

Some cool chairs and wall hangings. Anyone else fashioned something out of Kimono?

Posted by kimonobox in General | Socs: 12

Hakata Lantern Festival

fukuokadreaming — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:09:32 PST

Strolling down Hakata during the Lantern Festival can prove to be an enlightening experience.

Posted by fukuokadreaming in Photography | Socs: 15

How to write kanji - stroke order

seifip — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:19:24 PST

When a student is taught kanji, one of the first thing that is explained to him is the concept of stroke order-the one and only correct way of writing kanji characters. Unfortunately, the reason behind it as well as the main rules are often left undiscussed. Most students are left wondering about w

Posted by seifip in Learning Japanese | Socs: 13

It's raining cats (on statues in Ikebukuro station)

bigreddot — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:58:48 PST

Catman strikes again in his neverending mission to garland all the statues of Tokyo with kittehs!

Posted by bigreddot in Strange | Socs: 21

Japan's Concrete Coast

mikesblender — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:54:37 PST

Sometime back in the 1960s, the idea of 'stabilizing' coastal areas; protecting them from erosion, became en vogue. However by the 80s, most countries figured out that concrete shores, walls and 'tetrapods' as those huge 4 pronged jacks are called, actually speed up erosion, not prevent it, and

Posted by mikesblender in Nature & Outdoors | Socs: 29

Japanese TV on your Computer With KeyHoleTV

saikyo — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:35:12 PST

Watch Japanese TV on your computer with KeyHole TV!

Posted by saikyo in TV & Radio | Socs: 17

Japan: When Your Wife is Sick

KenYN — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:03:20 PDT

Advice from fellow housewives about whether one should ask your husband to look after you when ill.

Posted by KenYN in Work | Socs: 18

Japanese Honesty, Welcome back 1,000 Yen

shibuya246 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:26:50 PDT

How I was surprised to get back 1,000 Yen before I realized I had lost it.

Posted by shibuya246 in Society | Socs: 19

Nara Promotion for 1300 years since Heijo-kyo

shibuya246 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:25:06 PDT

Next year, 1020, Nara will celebrate 1300 years since Heijo-kyo, when Nara was the capital.

Posted by shibuya246 in Sightseeing | Socs: 17

Nintendo DSi LL Announced

oOgA — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:25:00 PDT

It is official, Nintendo had announced DSi LL, a new variation of the popular handheld, this time with a slight twist. The newer version will have these features over the predecessors.

Posted by oOgA in News & Business | Socs: 16

Ciggies to go up 60%?!?

KenYN — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:38:23 PDT

The government needs to raise cash from somewhere, so smokers look to be first in line, with a proposed 10 yen per ciggie, 200 yen per pack tax hike!

Posted by KenYN in Politics | Socs: 19

Comparing Grocery Prices in Japan to America

ForeignersFinan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:56 PDT

I thought I was spending a lot on groceries in my first months in Japan. Turns out, I was right.

Posted by ForeignersFinan in Business & Economy | Socs: 21

12 Bird's-Eye Views of Yokohama

Muza-chan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:52:00 PDT

I think that the best place to admire Yokohama from high above is from the heights of the Yokohama Landmark Tower. Here's a first set of bird's eye view photos, and naturally, some landmark information.

Posted by Muza-chan in Photography | Socs: 23

Willing workers on organic farms

WideIslandView — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:48:46 PDT

Interested in Japanese farming life? Why not take a vacation to work on a farm? Better knowing Japan through agriculture.

Posted by WideIslandView in Sightseeing | Socs: 17

33% Of Japanese Students Sleepy

WideIslandView — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:48:17 PDT

A recent study has found that 33% of Japanese students are sleepy in school. I find it surprising because I've taught classes where 33% of students were actively sleeping.

Posted by WideIslandView in Culture | Socs: 18

Its a Domo invasion

hideisalive — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:17:17 PDT

Considering 7/11 is Japanese owned it was only a matter of time before they tried a Japanese influenced advertising campaign in the states. Reception seems to be positive, people seem to think its cute. Here's a gallery of what they've done to the 7/11 on campus here at Temple.

Posted by hideisalive in Business & Economy | Socs: 16

A replica of English church in a new Osaka hotel--on the 21st floor

David — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:46:53 PDT

I heard this on As It Happens on the CBC. The Vicar of the All Saints Church in Brockhampton, English said that he was surprised that the Japanese developers even found his church--let alone want to copy it and put it on the 21st floor of a building in Osaka.

Posted by David in News | Socs: 16

Blogopolis: Visualizing the Japanese blogosphere

shio — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:41:27 PDT

Having trouble visualizing what the Japanese blogosphere looks like? Here's a service that categorizes popular Japanese blog entries into groups and then visualizes them as buildings in a GoogleMap-like 2D city map called "Blogopolis".

Posted by shio in Blogging | Socs: 21

Curzon visits Yamba Dam

KenYN — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:16:18 PDT

Another good article from MutantFrog, this time a cycling visit to the (in)famous Yamba Dam.

Posted by KenYN in Politics | Socs: 11

The real Maneki Neko

Muza-chan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:18:02 PDT

There are many stories about the origins of Maneki Neko, the well known Japanese statue. Here's, in my opinion, the most beautiful of them all.

Posted by Muza-chan in Culture | Socs: 20

ICANN expected to okay Japanese internet addresses this week

zonjineko — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:49:09 PDT

International domain names or addresses that can be written in non-English characters are expected to be approved this week by ICANN.

The ICANN board, who are meeting this week in Seoul, will decide if they will allow entire internet addresses to be in scripts that are non-Latin letter-based suc

Posted by zonjineko in Internet | Socs: 19

Google Tracks The Flu For You

David — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:47:08 PDT

This site from Google labs tracks the occurrence of flu related searches and forecasts outbreaks. Historically it has been rather accurate in the USA, but I wonder how well it will related to the actual data with all the flu-fear going on now.

Be sure to click on "Learn more" to find out how t

Posted by David in Science | Socs: 13

Tokyo Motor Show 2009 - Cars and Beautiful Women

mikesblender — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:48:16 PDT

The Tokyo Motor Show is for two things: girls and cars, and basically in that order. Actually it was no contest. Cars alone gathered modest crowds, but when they brought out one or more models to pose with the cars, the hordes gathered en masse, jostling, elbows out, scrabbling for the best positio

Posted by mikesblender in Girls | Socs: 20

Jamaica and Japan – Relationship Priorities

jamaipanese — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:24:14 PDT

Generally (but not all of them), Japanese tend to value a person's character and personality the most when we choose a mate.

Posted by jamaipanese in Blogging | Socs: 22

Finally, a solution to the invasion of giant jellyfish--just eat them

WideIslandView — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:54:54 PDT

So remember those giant jellyfish plaguing the seas around Japan? Well the Japanese have come up with the same plan they used to fight the evil tuna and whale, eating them.

Posted by WideIslandView in Strange | Socs: 17

Giveaway Contest, Japan Anime

shibuya246 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:33:15 PDT

Chance to win some prizes including K-ON, Rilakkuma and Haruhi Suzumiya

Posted by shibuya246 in Anime & Otaku | Socs: 13