Ja. culture

Billy Blanks

2007-08-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

Now I know the world is coming to an end...

Apparently in Japan "Billy Blanks Boot Camp" DVD's are selling like crazy. If you don't know who this fool is, he's some martial arts guy who starred in some B-movies, but is probably more famous for bringing Tae-Bao to the world of people trying to lose weight. Without the likes of Billy Blanks, we wouldn't have late night infomercials to support episodes of Perry Mason being played on channel 79. Something like 1 million units have sold.....

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/entertainment/news/20070808p2a00m0et020000c.html

what the hell.... another great example of Engrish

2007-08-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

Geezus, sometimes I'm so embarrassed to be Japanese. I'm mean seriously, what's with the usage of English in advertisements. But then, we wouldn't have fun signs to make fun of. Take a look at the gem below.

what the f@*k are you saying kid!

perspectives on race

2007-08-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

I think the initial reaction of any person after seeing this picture would be to recoil in horror, especially if you were Asian. In America today, race is such a sensitive issue. One cannot generalize or stereotype without backlash. Its important that we respect other ethnicities and cultures.

I took the above picture in Brazil. In Brazil, there isn't so much focus on race or differences in color or culture. Out there, you would call a half-black/half-white person a mulatto. That word would never be used here in America today, although the word was in use until 1930 as part of the official census. I'm not sure what word they use to describe Japanese in Brazil, but whatever it is, they don't seem to concerned about using stereotypical images to promote a restaurant.

perfect English

2007-07-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

In the crazy world of English usage in Japan, you'll come across examples of Japanese used in odd and wonderful ways. I saw this sign advertising a restaurant in the area and I couldn't resist taking a picture

Whatever they are serving, I don't want to eat!

Agent Orange.... in Okinawa

2007-07-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

We've heard the horror stories of Agent Orange that was used in Vietnam and the horrible aftereffects of those who came in contact with it. Now comes word that Agent Orange was used in Okinawa. The story can be read here by the Japan Times

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070709a1.html

In Okinawa, it wasn't used to clear out forests to search for the enemy or take away their cover, it was used to defoliate trees and landscaping. What is of particular interest to me is that my family is from Okinawa, so it scares me that this toxic substance was used in Okinawa. It makes me wonder if I had relatives who were exposed and if it explains any cancer or illnesses.

Are we going to find out that other places in the world were exposed to Agent Orange? I think its the responsibility of the United States Army to step up and reveal to what extent they used Agent Orange.

Hopefully I'll write about more uplifting stories relating to Japan, but I thought it was important to bring attention to this.

sex in Japan

2007-07-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

The image of Japan to those who have never been there is one of video games, exciting new technology, cars, sushi and crazy game shows. Of course it is very easy to find examples of these in Japan. There are so many models of Hondas and Toyotas that never make it out to the U.S. The technology in cell phones feels like its 5 years ahead of us. But beneath all of these is a darker side of Japan.

Westerners view the Japanese as polite and respectful people. As a Japanese-American, I'm proud of this. However, beneath this is a darker side to Japanese society. One is the presence of sex in society. Just a walk through any town or city will reveal how open the society is about sex. You don't need to go to Tokyo to find a red-light district. Many small cities and towns will have sections devoted to snack bars (hostess clubs) pink salons, soaplands and other types of establishments. (In another post I'll explain what these are) It expected that men visit these establishments in the course of their lives. Of course, some places like hostess bars aren't a place to get a hooker, but merely a place to go and drink where pretty girls sit at your table and provide services like pouring drinks and bringing food. But its these other establishments where things can get a little crazier.

That's why when I saw a story about the spread of STD's in Japan, it didn't surprise me.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/20070706p2g00m0dm013000c.html

There is still a lack of sex education and having many sexual partners seems to be ok. This kind of attitude is going to cause more problems unless society starts to get more serious about the problem. Of course, being a young person in Japan can be fun, but its scary when high school girls are getting pregnant without any thought and just throwing away their babies. So for any of you planning to just go out and have fun, be careful!

vending machines

2007-07-06T23:42:00.001-07:00

The vending machine in Japan, without a doubt one of the modern conveniences prevalent in Japan. In urban areas, its hard to go 20 yards without bumping into a vending machine. According to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association, there is one vending machine for every 23 people, making it one of the highest densities in the world. Literally, you can buy anything. Cold drinks in the summer, hot drinks in the weather, fried food, instant ramen, candy, dried fish (yum!) Natto (fermented beans), alcohol, you name it. But my favorite has to be porn. Who walks around on the street thinking, "yes, i want to buy porn today, hopefully there will be a vending machine just around the corner." I think with all these vending machines, it leads to waste in energy and creates more trash. But, if you want to buy porn, you know where to go....