In our previous issue, some of our staff shared stories about their personal experiences with failure while living in and outside Japan. This time, our staff, both old and new, have recommended some of their favorite Japanese music – what better way to immerse yourself in a culture than to explore its music? They’ve also… Continue reading
Category: 14.2
Hajichi: A Story of Overcoming Colonization
By Kyle Yukawa Many countries throughout the world have unfortunately experienced colonization. Names, languages, ceremonies, and traditions that have been seemingly wiped away in a single generation are struggling to maintain a place in the modern-day world. Looking at these fights for recognition and cultural respect shows amazing stories of grit and pride in one’s… Continue reading
Sounds of Japan
Writer: Vika Lekve Translator: Sayaka Tateishi Japan: a culture rich with both ancient and modern lifestyles interwoven. Among these contrasting worlds is music. From the ancient ceremonial instruments of Gagaku (雅楽) to J-Pop, our ears fill with sounds of Japanese life, but have you ever wondered what traditional Japanese instruments are? To unveil some of… Continue reading
Christianity in Japan
By Amber Jones Japan is not a Christian nation. In fact, Japan has a dark history of persecuting Christians, especially in Kyushu and Nagasaki. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Religious Yearbook 2019, only 1.1% of the Japanese population claims to be Christian, and that is easy to see with the abundance of Shinto… Continue reading
Thundering Guitars and Teaching Stars: An ALT Joins A Japanese Band
By Brandon Danford Playing music on stage in front of an audience is one of the greatest feelings in the world. So when the opportunity to join a band with other local Japanese teachers came around, you better believe I took it. My name is Brandon Danford, I am a 5th year ALT (Assistant Language… Continue reading
An Inside Look at the Sasebo Skateboarding Scene
By Mark Hunstein The skateboard park in Sasebo wasn’t designed by someone who skates. The ramps are pre-built (as opposed to molded concrete), are unusual sizes and degrees of incline, and are arranged in a way that’s a little unintuitive at first, sending skaters rolling into obstacles with too much or not enough speed. On… Continue reading
Iki Island: Island of Gods
Island of Shinto shrines, beautiful nature, and ancient legends
The Appeal of Boys’ Love
By Tine Sarawat As a genre, Boys’ Love or BL has captivated the fantasies of various audiences. From straight women gushing at romantic relations between handsome guys to gay men finding representation in the media, BL has attracted fans across the sexuality spectrum and the world. Before the emergence of contemporary BL works, in Classical… Continue reading
Heavy Metal Heroines
By Mia Husic Japan has produced no shortage of talented and globally influential female musicians, from pop icon Utada Hikaru to beloved composer and rock star Yoko Kanno. But there is one musical genre in particular where women have been carving out a place for themselves front and center lately, and that genre is heavy… Continue reading