Income inequality has become a common concern. Income inequality is the gap in income different segments of a population. Economists argue about how much, or even if, income inequality helps or damages an economy. Some inequality is healthy for an economy. Social status drives some people to found businesses and work harder, both with rippling…
What if Anime Wasn’t Japanese?
“What if” questions usually fall into speculation and aren’t that helpful. What if anime wasn’t Japanese? The question likely isn’t that helpful because Japan has stamped its culture on animation as we think of it. Anime has influenced how animation is done throughout the world, perhaps even more than Disney has influenced animation in recent…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 1
To celebrate 10 years of blogging I will post a chapter my novella “The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick” on the first Sunday of each month until the story is complete. “Come on, Mitsu. Just one time.” Kitsu’s two tails bobbed as he danced in place. “How many times do I need to say…
You Won’t Read This Post
Online reading differs from reading on paper. You won’t read much beyond the first paragraph of this article if you follow the usual online reading pattern. In fact, I’ve violated all the tenants of online post-forging. I’ve forgone headings, images, and even small paragraphs to illustrate my point. Screen reading requires more complex reading skills…
Unhappily Ever After: the Endings of Japanese Fairy Tales
If you read Japanese folklore, you notice how different the endings seem against Western stories. In most Japanese folktales, people die in the end. Happily-ever-after endings stand out because of their rarity. Of course, most of Grimm’s fairy tales end on a similar note. The children’s versions of Grimm’s most of us in the West…
How to Read Japanese Folktales
Japanese folktales have layers that require some thought to fully understand. Of course, Grimm’s fairy tales and even the Bible require reflection too. Context matters for understanding any sort of literature, but context becomes critical when dealing with stories from cultures other than your own. Culture provides a background and a common language of symbols…