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…
We Never Learn: Bokuben
We Never Learn: Bokuben follows Nariyuki Yuigi as he tutors three female geniuses in their weaknesses. Of course, this is a harem anime, so they all develop feelings for him. Fumino Furuhashi is a literature genius, but her interest in astronomy drives her to tackle her weakness in mathematics. Rizu Ogata is a genius in…
JapanPowered — Looking back on 2019
The year 2019 was an interestingly normal one for me. JP has remained steady, enjoying modest growth in traffic: 511, 697 visits, up from 508,001 in 2018. I didn’t release a new book this year, opting to focus on writing. That said, Kanzashi is looking at a late February or March release. Kanzashi is a…
Yamada and the Seven Witches
Yamada and the Seven Witches is goofier than what I normally watch, but beneath the goofiness wait some interesting currents. The anime follows the blue-haired Yamada and seven witches that hide among the regular high school students. Each witch has a special ability that casts when she kisses someone. Well, through an accident Yamada kisses…
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
I’m not a fan of magical girl anime. I’ve watched a little Sailor Moon and read a few issues of the manga a few years ago so I could write about it. I enjoyed Kill la Kill, but on the whole the genre just isn’t my thing. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (PM3 from here on) languished in…
Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton
The other day I was at a library for a teen mental health conference. As I usually do, I took the lunch break for some alone time. Conferences have far too much group work and socialness! After wandering around town, I returned to the library and found the book Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton. I’ve…