Discover the mischievous water-dweller believed to inhabit Japan's swamps, lakes and rivers.
Sep 17, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this
Everything Changes in Folktales and Frieren
Frieren's story may seem fantastical, but her feelings are grounded in the very real experience of returning to a home you no longer recognize.
The Kappa Kappa Butthole Musical Changed My Life!
It’s been a while! This post is not an article, but an announcement that I was part of a Sarazanmai zine arranged by Tomatobird: “Well, we didn’t get…
Workshop - Gendering War & Peace in Modern Japan
In this workshop, Dr. Barbara Molony (Santa Clara), Dr. Sabine Frühstück (UCSB), Dr. Sharalyn Orbaugh (UBC), and Dr. Hillary Maxson (Oregon) present their recent research and discuss the…
How to Read Japanese Folktales
Japanese folktales have layers that require some thought to fully understand. Of course, Grimm’s fairy tales and even the Bible require reflection too. Context matters for understanding any…
[Anime News Network] “Everything Changes in Folktales and Frieren”
Management: Hi, it’s been another while since I’ve written something. After 5 years, I’m back from Japan and back in America. I felt melancholic about leaving, feel melancholic…
Episode 577, "Oppa Kappa Style"
On this week's episode of The One Piece Podcast we have hosts Zach , Ed & Alex on with special guests Stephen Paul (translator for One Piece…
Episode 577, "Oppa Kappa Style"
On this week's episode of The One Piece Podcast we have hosts Zach, Ed & Alex on with special guests Stephen Paul (translator for One Piece and Samurai 8 in Shonen Jump and Manga Plus), Shannon Strucci (Strucci…
Episode 577, "Oppa Kappa Style"
On this week's episode of The One Piece Podcast we have hosts Zach, Ed & Alex on with special guests Stephen Paul (translator for One Piece and Samurai 8 in Shonen Jump and Manga Plus), Shannon Strucci (Strucci…
That Combini Life: Convienence Stores in Modern Japan
Convenience stores ("combini") in Japan are everywhere. But what do people use them for? A look at combini and everyday life in Japan.
Samurai Cultivator: the Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan
Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning days of the samurai.
Tamura Toshiko: The ‘New Woman’ Feminist in Early Modern Japan
In Taisho era Japan, Tamura Toshiko emerged as one of the preeminent writers of the "New Woman" movement. Her legacy extends beyond Japan's borders.
Rōnin: Why Being a “Masterless Samurai” in Modern Japan Sucks
Saying "rōnin" in English conjures up images of cool, lone-wolf samurai. But in modern Japan, being a rōnin kinda sucks.
Pick of the Week: Classic and Modern
MICHELLE: Part of me really wants to pick Marmalade Boy here, as it's one of the first manga I ever read and I have tremendous nostalgic feelings about…
Modern Japanese Monsters and Their Folklore Equivalents
As anime writers get more creative, they often depart from the original versions of the traditional creatures and create their own spin.
Tracing the Journey of Queer Expression, Culture and Legislation from Pre-Modern to Present-Day Japan
By Callistine Jude Lewis (2nd Year BA Programme, St Stephen’s) Japan represents an interesting conundrum of a country when it comes to grappling with LGBTQIA+ issues, stemming from…
Peak Modern Visuals
Starting this post, I want to make this clear. I really like the aesthetic from older anime and modern anime. I do love the look of peak cel…
The Eminence in Shadow and Encroaching Modern Underwear
Weird Ideas That Won’t Stop Have you ever had a strange idea that you can’t let go no matter what and it turns into a blog title? Yeah,…
Slavery and Japan
Japan, like nearly all nations. has a history of slavery. Many Western historians in the past believed the concept of freedom was imported to Japan from the West.…
Japan and Yokai
From ancient to modern times, Japan’s monsters continue to be part of the cultural psyche. By Komatsu Kazuhiko Translated from this article The 1994 Yokai Boom When Kodansha…
Day 3 of Hotsui Matsuri: Nihongo Legends- The Mighty Kappa
Hey ya’ll. It’s Luna here, and today for Hotsui Matsuri I wanna talk about some Nihongo Legends. And today? Today on Nihongo Legends, we’re going to be talking…
Street Fighter 6 and the History of “Modern Controls”
Street Fighter 6 has succeeded in its goal of bringing in new players through a simplified control scheme labeled “Modern.” The signature special inputs that Street Fighter pioneered…
Gekikou Kamen | Modern Recontextualization of Tokasatsu and Otaku Culture
Gekikou Kamen is a very strong Tokasatsu seinen. Since debuting in late 2021, it’s been a manga that I often use as a benchmark for other “deconstruction” ongoings.…
Haikara-San: Here Comes Miss Modern Part 1 and 2
Fans of old-school shōjo and soapy melodrama won't want to miss this.
Japan: Courts and Culture
By Helen McCarthy. Japan: Courts and Culture was originally scheduled to open in 2020. Like so many of that year’s best-laid plans, it had to be shelved. But…
Dumbbells, Katsudon, and Fat Gum: Fat-shaming and body positivity in modern anime
Anime (like media in general) has a rough record when it comes to body positivity. Fat-shaming is frequent and even stories that attempt positivity often fall into fetishization.…
Books: History of Modern Manga
By Jonathan Clements. “The history of manga,” notes the back-cover blurb for Matthieu Pinon and Laurent Lefebvre’s new book, “is inextricably tied to Japan’s social, economic, political, and…
Digimon in the Modern Era
In its over two decades of existence, Digimon has seen a wide array of iterations, so today we'll be taking a look at the most recent anime…
Disney's Most Underrated Modern Gem
Plus: global animation news and retro ads.
The Recipe for Modern Anime
Anime has changed a lot in the last 60 years, with each decade being defined by the introduction of new technology. Today, anime isn't just defined by the…
Mobile Suit Gundam, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Fate/Zero, Fist of the North Star, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
Manga Pulse 450: Ancient Modern
Welcome to the AP border town. Please have your papers in order. You there, step quickly. Hmm. It seems you have “Ruby” listed as a favorite anime. Problem?…
VG Pulse 353: Modern Disaster
This week on VG Pulse, we still exist, we promise! We start out with side notes about the goings on of the past month and the state of…
Those Snow White Notes – 08 – Modern Maimai and Her Fantastic Friends
The Matsugorou Cup’s team division marches on, Team Umezono’s time on stage grows near, and Shuri is scared. Yui encourages her to focus on getting the first notes…
This Week in Anime - The Modern Romance of Sasaki and Miyano
Nick and Nicky discuss the emotional ups and downs of potential couple Sasaki and Miyano and the latter's attempt to navigate his feelings and sexual identity. His Miyano…
Higurashi, subversion of moe, and the birth of the modern yandere
Rena and Shion originally appeared in direct counterpoint to the then-oversaturated moe tropes of the time; however, what began as subversion would become an archetype all of its…
Rage, Mentors, and Rebellions in Classic vs. Modern Sukeban Anime Girls
Content Warning: Discussions of sexism and trauma. Spoilers: For Asamiya Saki’s full character arc (Sukeban Deka) and Uotani Arisa’s backstory (Fruits Basket). In a country where women are…
(#ShonenJumpMovieMonth) Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – When Modern and Classic Combine
This is the secret last post to Shonen Jump Movie Month. I was hoping that One Piece Red would have also appeared in august so I could write…
Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, One Piece
The Lantern and the Night Moths: Five Modern and Contemporary Chinese Poets in Translation
The Lantern and the Night Moths: Five Modern and Contemporary Chinese Poets in Translation is an outstanding read. For reasons that are discussed in the book itself, translator…
Adventures in Japan (And Chipmunks)
Hey guys! We’re alive. Josh and I haven’t posted in ages, which I admit is largely my fault–as he will be more than happy to tell you. But…
Yakunara Mug Cup Mo 2 – Episode 4 – Origins of the Second Kappa Sculpture
Episode impressions of Yakunara Mug Cup Mo 2 Episode 4 as it’s fall and on the way home, Mika talks to a flowerpot statue shaped like a god.…
Mob Psycho 100: A Modern Classic
Hey Guys, Bad anime takes here. Just had some opinions about Mob Psycho 100 that I wanted to share. Mob is a amazing show, that I consider as…
Level 1 Overlord #06 — Modern Weaponry
How is a spear the only actual weapon on this supposed battlefield. Impressions: At least this awful arc is over, but all it accomplished was making a…
The Impossibly Modern World of 'Flebus'
On Ernest Pintoff's 1957 Terrytoons classic.
Pick of the Week: Modern Dracula
MICHELLE: It's absolutely Glitch for me this week. Siblings investigating a weird town would be enough on its own even without the goodwill Lost Lad London engendered, honestly,…
The Lazyness of Modern Shounen Jump
Disclaimer: This is all just my opinion. I’m obviously not in the board rooms of Shueisha & I don’t have any specific or unique data to reinforce. Perhaps…
Eastern Wisdom in a Modern Context
The wisdom of Japan and China remains valuable for us today. Like the wisdom of Stoicism, we can look toward the past for lessons on how to live…
Kuro | A Modern Classic Mystery Manga
Kuro is a fantastic supernatural mystery manga by Somato. The definition of a modern classic for its genre, Kuro has incredible art and a touching story that can…
Why I -Actually- Hate Modern Isekai’s
Featured Image: I’m not creative so the meme used as my feature image is from twitter. Sourced from here. Note: When referring to modern isekai’s I am referring…
Godzilla Singular Point – The Modern Kaiju
Godzilla Singular Point is not well served by Netflix's description. It's better than that. Trust me!