A Virtual Hatsumode (初詣） for our readers. Happy New Year!

The first visit to a shrine at the start of the New Year is important in Japan. We went and filled out a votive tablet (絵馬) for you. Good luck and best wishes in 2012! This is our way of saying thanks for sticking with us and the blog for 2011 and expressing our best [...]

Book Review: Introduction to Zen/Two Takes On The Same Book

 英語対訳で読む禅入門, or Introduction to Zen with Accompanying English Translation, was written by Priest Souen Ozeki and translated by a one Elizabeth Mills (whom I suspect may be using a pen name, as the translation is not native). As stated in the preface, the book was intended for both English speakers interested in the religion and [...]

Has Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, been co-opted into a personal weapon of the Chairman?

Is Chairman Watanabe, “the Rupert Murdoch of Japan”, willing to use the Yomiuri Newspaper as a tool in his personal vendettas?

Movie Review: About the Pink Sky

written by Amy Seaman   This is the second in a series of reviews about films showing at the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival, which runs until October 30 at select cinemas throughout Roppongi.   With its rough editing, abrupt scene changes and nearly nonexistent transitions, About the Pink Sky is an indie film that [...]

Occupy Tokyo: Another Good Excuse to Come Out and Hate on TEPCO

Saturday, October 15th, Occupy Wall Street went global. Around 300 people around Tokyo came out to march in 2 separate locations. Japan Subculture went to check out what was happening at Hibiya Park, where 100 protestors marched through the Roppongi district. How did Occupy Tokyo come about? The story is another testimony to the efficiency [...]