Japanese Culture

How doing less is expressing more — When I first saw Noh, it was the most boring thing I’d ever seen. Twenty-five years later, I enjoy every bit of it: the acting, script, costumes — something about it speaks perfection. I seem to be getting a lot out of Noh. It was not until I read Zeami’s…

In Japan, where the police are supposed to protect citizens, there have been numerous cases of innocent people being hurt by the actions of police officers. Cases of ordinary citizens being injured or killed What specific examples are ther­­e of citizens being injured or killed? A typical case is where officers in a police car or an officer…

Explore the sentimental melodies, dramatic vocals, and cultural significance of Enka in Japan’s music landscape. one of the popular music in Japan, with a traditional folk flavor, is called enka. Enka's songs are often about life, passion, and the spirit of life in Japan. The Soulful Expression of Japanese Tradition and Emotion Enka (演歌) is a genre of…

When an ordinary citizen is suspected of a crime, the treatment that follows is completely different from that for a public official, such as a police officer or firefighter, suspected of a similar crime. The treatment involves social sanctions such as the reporting of the suspect’s real name in the…

Edward Snowden, who was involved in the intelligence activities of the U.S. federal government through his work for the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, blew the whistle on the United States’ collection of information at the expense of the privacy of ordinary citizens around the world. He…

Can Olly Richard’s “StoryLearning” online courses actually teach you a language? — What Is Japanese Uncovered? Olly Richards is a popular YouTube polyglot who created a series of online courses for learning languages called StoryLearning. Japanese Uncovered is, of course, his set of online courses to teach you Japanese. (More about his other language courses near the end.) Now, his StoryLearning approach is not just a…

Restaurant : Onkei @ Woods Square Not too long ago, we had the pleasure of dining at an outlet under the same chain located at Marina Square with flavours drifting over from the very heart of Japan.

Jigo-inari Shrine and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Asakusa We often hear of shrines that are haunted or touched when they are moved. This is one such shrine. Surrounded by houses, it is a small shrine that maintains a pure atmosphere. Asakusa is a good place to visit, where you can…

Hero is coming — The countdown is on for one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan, as the clock ticks down to 3:40 p.m. Although it is popularly known as the “Japanese Derby,” this is a secondary name, and its official name is the “Tokyo Yushun”. The race was established in…