The Japanese Tradition

One of my classmates showed me a fabulous video entitled "How to Eat Sushi" at our last class. I vaguely recognized the actors and after more digging, found their identities and more vids in the same style. They are Ramenzu (ラーメンズ）, Kobayashi Kentaro and Katagiri Jin, recently seen in the Japanese version of Apple's "I'm a Mac" commercials. Their recent project, "The Japanese Tradition," is made up of several short episodes poking fun at various Japanese traditions: Tea , Chopsticks , Sushi , Origami , Apology , Onigiri , and Relationships Apparently, the humor is so subtle, that many foreigners have mistaken them as actual instructional videos. Some of these are subtitled, some are not. Enjoy!

Up to that Big Ramen Bowl in the Sky

Sure to be topping every blog about Japan - Momofuku Ando passed away a few days ago at the venerable old age of 96. His secret to longevity? Golf and a steady diet of Chikin Ramen. Inventor of the internationally ubiquitous Cup Noodles, he most recently invented Space Ram - that's right, anti-grav ramen. While living in Japan, I developed a deep appreciation for the obsessive lengths that many Japanese will go to find the perfect bowl of ramen. It seems like most people not only have their favorite kind of ramen, but their favorite hole-in-the-wall as well. There are a few websites that are dedicated to reviewing various ramen joints; this one in So. CA, this one in Japanese, and the World Ramen Database. World Ramen Database also has instructions for people interested in starting a ramen restaurant (will someone in Missoula please do this!). The Ramen Road Scholar has made it his life goal to eat as many different kinds of authentic ramen all over Asia. If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, hop on a train and check out the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, complete with a 50's era "working-class-neighborhood" theme park. This Japanese man has paired his love of ramen with his incredible geekiness. One of my all-time favorite movies is about ramen. And lastly, you can add to your ever-so-cool vest of flair by purchasing this ramen lapel pin.

Obake Overflow!

Obake おばけ means ghost in Japanese, and while I should probably wait until October to post all these links (or at least summer, since that's typically when ghosts make their appearance in Japan), I'm inspired to have them materialize now.

First off is the lovely site "The Obakemono Project" by SH Morgan. Really lovely vector art (some of which can be ordered off his DeviantArt website complete with accompanying stories in english (and source material too!).
Another very informative site is this article by Mangajin written by Professor Tim Screech from the University of London. He classifies different kinds of obake (such as Bakemono, Yokai, Yurei, and Oni), and includes a few of the famous tales.
One of my favorite Ukiyo-e artists is Yoshitoshi Taiso, and his collection of 36 Ghosts is stunning and terrifying. Hokusai, too, has a number of ghost illustrations, but they are scattered about. Visit your library, yo!

Real Letters from Iwo Jima

Had a weekend of Japanese WWII thanks to Clint Eastwood and the new Janus collection of films at the Mansfield Library (野火 - "Fire on the Plain"). I tried digging up some of the actual letters depicted in the film "Letters From Iwo Jima," in an effort to more fully digest the tragedy and futility of war in general. I found several links to letters from Kamikaze pilots before departing on their final mission. Also Wikiquote has a page devoted to Gen. Kuribayashi. And finally, books and other links to further letters of pilots and soldiers can be found here.

And to think I used to live next to this place.

My favorite named theme park is in Gifu Prefecture, and is located about 20 minutes drive from where I used to live. It's called The Site of Reversible Destiny in Yoro Park. Much to my chagrin, I never actually went here because I was afraid of changing my destiny. Things were going ok (although perhaps some of my friends will tell you otherwise) and were very interesting, but it looks like I really missed out. The park's focus is an experience of the unexpected that will "give you many opportunities to rethink your physical and spiritual orientation to the world." Other features include the Critical Resemblance House and Trajectory Membrane Gate. There are some interesting photos of it on Flickr as well

Shout Your Love from the Middle of a Cabbage Patch

I've often thought that one of the reason Japanese women go gangbusters over foreign men is because Japanese men aren't really the most attentive of partners. Well gaijin boys, things are going to change! Enter the Adoring Husbands Association. The divorce rate (while low) is starting to climb, and Japanese husbands are realizing that maybe they should say "Thank you" or "I love you" instead of "grph" or "hmrph." Recently, the association instituted "Beloved Wives Day," where husbands are to come home early (at 8 pm) and say some nice things to the person who has been cooking their meals for the last 35 years. My favorite, though, is the newest event, "Shout Your Love from the Middle of a Cabbage Patch," which is exactly what it sounds like. If you need some help, practicing "Aishiteiru / 愛している," check out this club. Also be sure to check the side-bar of this news article, which contains the club's rankings depending on sensitivity level.

There's gonna be a horror film about this soon.

Japan is aging. Fast. Fully one-fifth of the country's population. And while Japan ages, the suicide rate in this group has also risen due to loneliness, depression, honour and a host of other issues. In order to combat this, certain toy companies have been targeting this audience with "Healing Toys." Case in point: Yumel the Healing Partner from Tomy. Designed to talk to you and keep you company, Yumel comes in either gender and in a number of pastel colors. You can watch a video of Yumel here. My personal favorite is this list that was published in Harper's Magazine of translations of Yumel's repertoire.