Stories about Japan from September, 2010
Japan: Pachinko, a legal gambling game
A blogger at theJapaneseTutor.com shortly explains [en] what pachinko [en] is and why this gambling game is legal in Japan.
Japan: Earthquake warning via mobile phone
Akky Akimoto from Asiajin introduced an earthquake early warning system via mobile phone network in Japan.
Japan: “Our Park” a documentary about Tokyo's Nike Miyashita Park
Directors Emil Langballe and Maria Samoto le Dous produced a documentary titled Our Park [en] about Tokyo's Miyashita Park [en], which is also called Nike Park [en] after sportswear multinational Nike bought its naming rights in 2008. The film focuses on the group of artists and activists who have been...
Japan: Relics of a US Army-Air Force base
Ruins explorer and novelist Michael John Grist documented through pictures [en] what remains of Camp Drake, a joint US Army/Air Force base in Saitama (north of Tokyo) active until the 1970's.
Japan: Hiring research talent from abroad
In “No choice but need to hire from abroad?“, Sibylle Ito outlines how some Japanese companies in different sectors are taking a multinational approach to supplement research and product development power.
Japan, China fishing boat row: a war of words
Just as the Diaoyu Islands row between Japan and China intensifies over the detention of a Chinese fishing captain, whose detention has just been extended by a further 10 days, a war of words has broken out between prominent bloggers Yoshikazu Kato and Zhang Wen. Yoshikazu Kato, bilingual in Japanese...
Japan: A new cabinet, again
Tobias Harris at observingjapan comments [en] on the new cabinet that was formed after Prime Minister Kan won the DPJ party leadership election last week.
Japan: Welcoming Karen refugees
Adamu at Mutantfrog reported the news [en] that by the end of September a group of 27 Karen refugees, natives of Burma, will resettle in Japan. The blogger also investigates the issue of refugees in Japan.
China: Han Han on Daiyu Islands
Julian Smisek translated prominent blogger Han Han's recent post on Daiyu islands incident. (via DANWEI)
Japan: Reflections on normality
Kei999 reflects [ja] upon the meaning of normality. In a post titled “Is ‘normal’ ‘right'?” the blogger takes into consideration various issues such as homosexuality and the practice called fūfu bessei (that would allow [en] couples to keep their surnames after marriage).
Japan: Drinkommunication, when drinking alcohol is a social obligation
Alcohol in Japan it is often used as a social lubricant in a society that still sees a gap between one's real feelings and intention and what one says on social occasions. And according to many, it is with a glass of beer or sake in hand that a new type of franker communication may occur, or a 'drinkommunication'.
Japan, Korea: Traces Of Japan-Korea History Within The Zainichi Community
August 10th, 2010 will remain a historical date in the Japan-South Korea diplomatic relations as the Japanese Prime Minister apologized for past crimes during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Still, some bloggers found themselves wanting for a clearer apology and a mention of the Zainichi community, the largest Korean community in Japan.
China and Japan: Reactions on Chinese Fishing Boat Captain Arrested by Japanese
ChinaSMACK translates Chinese netizens’ reactions towards the arrest of Chinese fishing boat captain by the Japanese coast guards.
Japan, Brazil: Dirty Hearts, a movie on first-generation Japanese-Brazilians after WW2
Jamaipanese reports [en] that next year will be released in Brazil the new film by Brazilian filmmaker Vicente Amorim titled Coracoes Sujos (Dirty Hearts). The movie is about an underreported conflict that divided the Japanese immigrants in Brazil [en] following Japan’s World War II defeat. The trailer of the movie...
Taiwan: The Allure of Night Markets
After sunset in Taiwan, when the stars start to twinkle, night markets are crowded with people from all walks of life. To Taiwanese, night markets are more than mere eating places, and now the culture of the night market has become a distinctive and precious touristic experience for foreigners visiting Taiwan.
Japan: Ancient medical woodblock prints
Pinktentacle published [en] some images of a health-themed woodblock prints collection that dates back to the 19th century. The series of 400 prints is maintained by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and “offers a unique look at Japanese medical knowledge in the late Edo and early Meiji periods.”
Japan: Run Uncle Yamashita!
A 62-year-old Japanese man, known as uncle Yamashita, rollerbladed across the United States from the east to the west coast. During his 6000 km journey he tweeted @kenyamashita62 [ja] and was in contact with his supporters through Facebook [ja, en]. A group of friends also followed his adventure at two...
Japan: What's wrong with being a bookshop browser?
Twitter users debate [ja] on tachiyomi, the (very common) habit of standing and reading books or magazines in shops without necessarily buying them.
About our Japan coverage
Nevin Thompson is our Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
