As of 2016, more Japanese women had jobs than American women. 74.3% vs. 76.3% (Shambaugh, 2017). For the longest time, Japanese women trailed in employment compared to their American counterparts. Much of this had to do with Japanese culture. Japan’s society expects women to spend their time at home once children enter the picture. Women…
Category: Culture
Censorship of Anime Can Make Anime Pornographic
Censorship of anime nudity isn’t subtle (As you can guess, I’m going to discuss nudity and include images some may find troubling). Streaks of white light or darkness slash across character’s “naughty” bits. A lady’s long hair stick to her nipples as if they are made of glue while the rest of her hair flutters…
Winter Haiku Collection
As the heat of summer wears on, winter haiku gives us a chance to think on cold days and all the pleasures of winter. Hot tea. Hot chocolate. Blankets. This collection of haiku includes Basho, Buson, Issa, and a few others. It’s far from exhaustive. Haiku is a style of poetry that requires plain language…
What is a NEET?
Anime and manga fans are often accused of being NEETs. In Internet parlance: neck-beards, otaku, slacker, hobo. But what is a NEET? NEET is an acronym for an English (as in British, the acronym started in the UK) expression: Not in Education, Employment, or Training. The acronym started in July 1999 in the report “Bridging…
Cat Idols in Japan
The Angry Cat isn’t the only famous cat on the Internet. Cats have overtaken dogs as the most popular pet in Japan within the last few years (Yamamura, 2016). Each year, Yokohama features Neko-Break, an exhibition of cat-themed photography and merchandise. As Japan often does, there’s a market for cat-otaku. Otaku, in the Japanese sense…
A Brief History of Japanese Paper Fans
Paper fans symbolize Japan, right up there with giant robots, sushi, geisha, and kimono. While a humble part of fashion and summer, the fan has a history of its own. Japan isn’t unique in having fans. It’s the most convenient way to cool off, after all. A leaf or anything flexible can become a fan,…