Taoism, or Daoism depending on which transliteration system you want to use, like many Chinese imports, mixed with Japan’s culture and the native religion Shinto. Although calling Shinto a unified religion is an oversimplification, let’s just go with it for now. Like Taoism’s venture into the West, the philosophy took root in Japan more than…
Author: Chris Kincaid
My Top 5 Nostalgic Anime
Nostalgia has a bad reputation online. It is looked down upon because it isn’t objective. I’m sure you’re familiar with the idea of nostalgia goggles: the idea that nostalgia keeps you from seeing how bad something is. Nostalgia’s warm fondness doesn’t have to keep you from knowing if something is objectively bad. What matters is…
The Value of Calm Silence
Because speech emerges externally from internal activity, whenever you are restless you speak thoughtlessly. You’re apt to be garrulous and flippant, speaking immoderately, talking too much, perhaps making up tall tales for the occasion, perhaps angering others by intemperate words. -Yamaga Soko Yamaga Soko (1622-1685) wrote many bits of wisdom to the samurai he knew….
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun Review
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun surprised me. As long-time readers know, it’s a rare comedy to make me chuckle. Kaguya-sama: Love is War is one of the most recent surprises. Monthly dates back to 2013, but appeared on my Netflix feed, so I gave it a watch. More fodder for JP, after all. I expected the usual…
Using Anime to Heal
To say the past two years of 2020-2022 has been difficult for many people doesn’t do justice. Many people have lost loved ones, suffered mental difficulties, lost income, and suffered through many other trials. Sometimes, you just need to take time to heal. If you are a long-time reader, you know I’m an advocate for…
The Delicate Happiness of “The Guest Cat”
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide focuses on a childless couple who is adopted by the neighbor’s cat. The novella offers a detailed slice of life set in the late 1980s. It’s hard to believe that is over 30 years ago! The author isn’t familiar with cats, so Chibi’s antics surprise and delight him. Chibi doesn’t…