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The Procession of Lord Long Legs
Let’s take a break from monsters and look at how insects are said to have lived in yet another of William Griffis’s collected tales from Japan. Lovely and…
Senbazuru: One Thousand Steps to Happiness, Fold by Fold by Michael James Wong
Let’s take a break from folklore this week: Senbazuru: One Thousand Steps to Happiness takes a different perspective than most books I’ve read about mindfulness. It uses the…
Watanabe Kills the Great Spider
This week continues spooky October with another Watanabe and Raiko monster adventure. You can find modernized versions of these and other stories in my compilation “Tales from Old…
Watanabe Cuts Off the Oni’s Arm
To celebrate October (one of my favorite months), I will be posting Japanese folklore in their original English versions. You can find modernized versions of these and other…
The Appeal of Yashahime
Yashahime excited me when I saw it debut. Inuyasha was one of my first exposures to anime. I enjoyed its exploration of folklore and the characters. Yashahime continues…
The Diary of Lady Murasaki
Murasaki Shikibu wasn’t her name. Like many female writers in history, we don’t know her real name. Murasaki, however, is a nickname derived from her greatest work The Tale…
Miyamato Musashi’s “The Way to be Followed Alone” (Dokkodo)
Miyamato Musashi’s work “The Way to be Followed Alone,” or Dokkodo, is the samurai’s lesser known work next to The Book of Five Rings (Gorin no Sho). Musashi is a ronin, or…
Tea Time with Sakuraco
I’m not a subscription box person, but when Sakuraco reached out to me with a demo offer, I thought I’d give it a try. Sakuraco is a company…
Hinamatsuri, an Anime Review
I rarely find a comedy anime that strikes me as funny. Most have amusing moments amid the tired, over-trod comedy tropes (nude jokes, breast jokes, and the like).…
Can a Christian be an Otaku?
Recently, I’ve had questions from younger Christians who are conflicted about their obsession with anime and their Christian faith. Liking anime and being a Christian are not mutually…
Buy Kanzashi for $0.99
Download the eBook for $0.99 from August 18 – 25th. Mameko never thought she’d witness a murder.Her life consists of songs, stories, lessons, and the other social demands…
How To Stop Being a Weeb, a 12 Step Program
Weebs or Weeaboo are defined by a lack of social boundaries, social skills, and an unhealthy obsession with Japanese media culture. The label is meant to be derogatory,…
A Woman Behind History: Kitanomandokoro
Kitanomandokoro was the first wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the men who helped unify Japan during the Warring States period. Kitanomandokoro proves an interesting person, namely…
Tales from Old Japan Free Download
Download Tales from Old Japan for free from August 9 to August 10th. This collection of over 170 stories provides a glimpse into Japan’s rich folk literature.…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 7
This is the final chapter of the story. Mitsu imagined the spears sinking into his fur and flesh. He imagined Father and Mother finding his body, broken beside…
Seven Samurai (1954)
Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai remains engaging despite being 66 years old. The story follows seven ronin, masterless samurai, as they defend a farming village from a band of…
Love and Fortune, a Review
Love and Fortune is a Netflix and TV Tokyo live-action series that focuses on the life of Wako Taira and her love for a 15-year-old high school student.…
Love and Fortune, a Review
Love and Fortune is a Netflix and TV Tokyo live-action series that focuses on the life of Wako Taira and her love for a 15-year-old high school student.…
Ranma 1/2, Does it Hold Up Today?
Ranma 1/2 is an old sit-com style anime from 1989 to 1992. It follows a martial artist named Ranma, his dad, and the family of his fiance Akane.…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 6
“Wake up, Mitsu.” Kitsu’s voice cut through the darkness. Sunlight jabbed Mitsu’s eyes, and he groaned. His head ached. “What happened?” he asked. “What does it look like?”…
Are Video Game Experiences “Real” Experiences?
Flashes of magical energy engulfed my cohealer, and an explosion rocked the top of the tower. The creature–a disembodied head and hands the size of a house–smacked the…
A Look at Japan’s Jomon Period
The Jomon Period is the era before writing that extends from the late Pleistocene to 410 BCE. Little is known about the religious and daily life of the…
Flip-flopping. Aging, and Changing Your Mind
The Internet, and American culture in particular, doesn’t believe people can change their minds. Perhaps it’s because of how public opinions and thoughts are now. Whenever you see…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 5
They traveled until mid-afternoon. Father allowed only a few short rests. By the time the fox brothers saw the village, their excitement had worn off, and exhaustion had…
Tales of Ise
Tales of Ise is referenced throughout early Japanese literature. If you hadn’t read it, you won’t catch some of the meaning Sei Shonagon, Lady Nijo, Murasaki Shikibu, and…
Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book
Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book offers a look at the Imperial court from around 993 to the end of 1000, when she served as a lady-in-waiting for Empress Teishi.…
Horimiya: Surprisingly Subtle
Horimiya appears to be a standard high-school rom-com, but it quickly shows how it is more. The series focuses on how people have hidden sides to their personalities…
“Don’t You Feel Lonely?”
Since my girlfriend of 4 years broke up with me over a year ago, people keep asking me if I am lonely. Blunt question! Lately, there seems to…
JP Site Changes
Google has an update coming sometime this summer that may change search rankings. Last time a big update like this happened, JP’s traffic dropped off by half. This…
JP Site Changes
Google has an update coming sometime this summer that may change search rankings. Last time a big update like this happened, JP’s traffic dropped off by half. This…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 4
That evening the fox brothers approached the den of Old Tanuki. Kitsu tottered on his hind legs and fumbled with the small paper lantern they used to light…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 4
That evening the fox brothers approached the den of Old Tanuki. Kitsu tottered on his hind legs and fumbled with the small paper lantern they used to light…
The Confessions of Lady Nijo
The Confessions of Lady Nijo is an example of Japan’s traditional women’s literature: the diary. Her father was the head of the Minamoto clan: Major Counselor Masatada, who…
The Confessions of Lady Nijo
The Confessions of Lady Nijo is an example of Japan’s traditional women’s literature: the diary. Her father was the head of the Minamoto clan: Major Counselor Masatada, who…
Neir:Automata, a Review of Its Themes
I’m an old school JRPG gamer. Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger still remain at the top of my list. I’m not much on action rpgs. I prefer…
Neir:Automata, a Review of Its Themes
I’m an old school JRPG gamer. Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger still remain at the top of my list. I’m not much on action rpgs. I prefer…
The Possible Impact of NFTs
NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, have appeared throughout the news cycle recently. NFTs use blockchain technology similar to Bitcoin to make a certificate of authenticity for a digital item…
The Possible Impact of NFTs
NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, have appeared throughout the news cycle recently. NFTs use blockchain technology similar to Bitcoin to make a certificate of authenticity for a digital item…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 3
Mitsu fidgeted with excitement. Father will finally know that I am as good at tricks and illusions as Kitsu. Once he gives me a chance, he will see…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 3
Mitsu fidgeted with excitement. Father will finally know that I am as good at tricks and illusions as Kitsu. Once he gives me a chance, he will see…
The Gossamer Journal
The Gossamer Journal is the memoir of a woman we know only as Michitsuna’s Mother. Michitsuna is the son she had through her marriage with Fujiwara no Kaneie.…
The Gossamer Journal
The Gossamer Journal is the memoir of a woman we know only as Michitsuna’s Mother. Michitsuna is the son she had through her marriage with Fujiwara no Kaneie.…
Poems from the Frontier of Japan
Most people think of Basho and haiku when they think about Japanese poems. Japanese poetry encompasses more than lovely nature images. The word literature conjures, at least for…
Poems from the Frontier of Japan
Most people think of Basho and haiku when they think about Japanese poems. Japanese poetry encompasses more than lovely nature images. The word literature conjures, at least for…
Lessons from 10 Years of Blogging
I’ve been writing for JP for 10 years now. Over those years, my writing style has changed. I hope for the better! I’ve also gained more confidence, although…
Lessons from 10 Years of Blogging
I’ve been writing for JP for 10 years now. Over those years, my writing style has changed. I hope for the better! I’ve also gained more confidence, although…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 2
Kitsu returned an hour later, carrying a fat plant. He spat it at Mitsu’s feet and licked his chops with a grimace. “Now we just need to make…
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 2
Kitsu returned an hour later, carrying a fat plant. He spat it at Mitsu’s feet and licked his chops with a grimace. “Now we just need to make…
The Fisherman and the Moon Maiden
Pearly and lustrous white, like a cloud in the far-off blue sky, seemed the floating figure of the moon maiden, as she flew to earth. She was one…