Winter haiku intend to make you feel the cold, the quiet, and the loneliness associated with the season. Literature can resonate different meanings for the writer and for the reader. There’s no right way to read, although some may argue that. In fact, Basho, one of Japan’s most famous haiku writers, warns us to “prefer…
Category: Culture
My Favorite Teas
I debated what to write for my 600th article. Teas play a critical role in Japanese culture and in my personal life, which captures what JP is about–the intersection of anime, Japanese culture, international culture, and our lives. I’ve become a bit of a tea snob. Lipton tea doesn’t cut it anymore. I fell into…
Misora Hibari, the First Japanese Pop Idol
Misora Hibari is the first modern Japanese idol. In her day, she was as big as Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Shirley Temple. She rivaled AKB48 in popularity. Misora Hibari became a symbol of pre-WWII Japanese values and the changes Japan went through during the Occupation years. Teen girl characters in films and media became a…
Gender Roles of Women in Modern Japan
I wrote this article on June 22, 2014. Since then, Japanese women have seen some changes in their status in Japanese society. Their efforts to break through traditional gender roles has taken several decades to get to their current point. In fact, more Japanese women work today than American women. But Japan’s traditional female roles…
The Man Behind the Legend: Prince Shotoku
Prince Shotoku stand out in Japanese history. During his lifetime, he was even seen as a Bodhisattva, a Buddhist saint, and he was eventually deified in a cult that flourished during the Heian period. Ironically, if Prince Shotoku had lived in China, he would’ve been a normal nobleman for the period. He wouldn’t have stood…
Haruki Murakami’s Portrayal of Women
Haruki Murakami writes bestselling postmodern surrealist fiction. His work often focuses on loneliness and alienation. I’m writing this article in response to a reader’s question about how he writes about women. I’ll focus on two books Kafka on the Shore and 1Q84. This article will focus on sexuality and will quote explicit passages from Murakami’s…