Below is one version of one of the most popular tanuki stories in Japan. The translation dates to the early 1900s. During this time, the character for tanuki was translated as badger. If you want to learn more about tanuki, check out my ebook, Tanuki: The Folklore of Japan’s Trickster Long, long ago, there lived…
Year: 2015
Goku vs. Superman: The Cultural Perspective
People debate who would win in a duel: Goku or Superman? Although entertaining, this question is the old oranges and apples argument. Goku and Superman are different types of heroes. Each reflects a different set of values and cultural views, and both types of hero are important. The Man of Steel Superman is the ultimate…
NHK World
NHK (Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai) World is a must watch station for fans of Japan. The public broadcasting station features news, documentaries, and current-interest programming from Japan. NHK World broadcasts in 18 different languages. Anime fans will find shows like Imagine-nation interesting. Imagine-nation features stories about video games, anime, and other works of art. Documentaries focus…
Gay in Japan
Japanese history is well known for celebrating homosexuality. Well, what we in the West call homosexuality. During the feudal era, homosexuality wasn’t an identity as it is today. The celebration of male love changed with many other aspects of their society during the Meiji Reformation. Like the protections single mothers and women enjoyed, homosexuality declined…
Manabeshima Island Japan
Manabeshima Island Japan is a whimsical, warm stay at one of Japan’s small islands. Populated by 300 people, Manabeshima’s small size allows the artist Florent Chavovet sketch all aspects of life, from the insects to the residents and even to the gangs of cats that control the island. Chavovet’s art contains gentle humor and an…
Musings II: Magical Girls, or, Empowerment VS Sexism
Magical Girls puzzle me; they make me feel intrigued and desperate at the same time. That is not just because of my, admittedly, relatively limited experience with shōjo (‘[for] girls’) anime genres – until recently, I preferred adventure fantasy, which is sadly, but undoubtedly, shōnen (‘[for] boys’) material of the most popular order. No, Magical…