Review: Teach me Enma-sama
In the children’s picture book Teach me Enma-sama, written and illustrated by Hiromi Tanaka, Enma who is the King of Hell in Buddhist mythology teaches children how to behave in…
Heisei to Reiwa ≠ Heiwa?
On April 30th, Emperor Akihito became the first sitting Japanese Emperor to abdicate the throne in over 200 years. Then, the following day on May 1st, his son Naruhito ascended…
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tradition, kanamara, penis festival
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Parade the Penis: Kanamara Matsuri
Text & video by Phoebe Amoroso, cover image courtesy of Kanamara Shrine Our roving reporter, Pheebz, visited the annual Kanamara Festival on April 7th, which involves a lot of phalluses.…
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Book Review: Japanese Tattoos
Overall, Japanese Tattoos was a fascinating read and I would recommend it enthusiastically to anyone interested in tattoos or keen to learn more about specifically about irezumi. While perhaps the…
The Reiwa Era
Not Cool. #Reiwa Japan: Run by sociopathic Hitler-loving plutocrats, w/ plummeting press freedom, endemic poverty, rising censorship, deliberate destruction of public records, continual death by overwork, a corrupt bureaucracy, &…
News: All That Is Fit To Drink, Without Fear But With Flavor
NEWS is a legendary Japanese whisky from the 1980s. "One Liter Per Month. NEWS is light & smooth. You can enjoy it on the rocks, with water, or with anything.…
The last words of Carlos Ghosn (before his 4th arrest) translated from the French
For those who are interested in the interview of Carlos Ghosn,former CEO of Nissan, with French TV LCI, here is the transcript in English. As you may know, Mr. Ghosn…
Full Kondo
I’m claiming this word! “Full Kondo” To completely implement the teachings of tidiness as espoused by Marie Kondo, the tiny Zen Buddhist-like wizard of minimalism and organization. “Dude, he went…
The high price of cocaine in Japan (metaphorically & literally)
Pierre Taki may not be so lucky. Compared to kakuseizai, cocaine constitutes a serious offense and it's much more difficult to buy in Japan. Taki has never cultivated a squeaky…
The Lament Of Carlos Ghosn: The Man Who Loved Nissan Has His Day In Court
Your Honor, I am an innocent of the accusations made against me. I have always acted with integrity and have never been accused of any wrongdoing in my several-decade professional…