In the yakuza world they say, “As soon as you get to the top, someone will try to kick you down.” The world of journalism is, sadly, surprisingly “If you’re going to be an investigative journalist here, you have to make up your mind and be ready [for what comes]. You must endure unreasonable criticism, and continue to fight. In Japan, reporters who reveal their sources are scorned and cannot continue to do proper and decent reporting. That’s why you must keep your important sources anonymous. This often leads to investigative journalists having to go it alone, feeling isolated. You just have to believe in yourself and your friends and hang in there.”
Japan Subculture Research Center
Apr 24, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this
Five Lessons I Learned from the Nerd Culture Ministry Summit
Last week, I had the absolute privilege of attending the Nerd Culture Ministry Summit, the first event of its kind, where leaders in the sphere of nerd ministry…
The Fine Print: Lessons Learned from Tokyopop’s Original English Manga Empire
Priya Sridhar offers a detailed history of TOKYOPOP's now-infamous "Rising Stars of Manga" program, which remains a cautionary tale even today
Lessons Learned: I’m Not a Daily Blogger
Do you all ever reread the stuff you write? I feel like I always do that. Not just because I sometimes need a refresher on what I’ve written…
Valuable Lessons Learned: The Legend of Hei
This is a review of a film in the 2021 New York International Children’s Film Festival. This year’s virtual festival technically ended on the 14th, but there’s still…
10 Spring Cleaning Lessons I Learned From My Japanese Mother-In-Law
Valuable lessons from my Japanese mother-in-law on spring cleaning that will make any home a place of peace and positivity.
Lessons from Kado
Beware the scorned anime watcher… Meta context: This is originally from May 2018, which is why this post doesn’t address Beyond Information. I do prefer that over the…
8 Lessons From Frieren
With its 28th episode, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End ends its initial run. By any reasonable metric, it has been a huge hit on both sides of the Pacific,…
Episode 7- Lessons from Shoujo
Nikki, Miso, and Bees take a look at what shoujo manga can teach us. From practical skills, like cooking, to good mental health practices, like recognizing a toxic…
Fated Encounters
By Andrew Osmond. Anime is full of fraught love stories, where characters cross oceans of time, fight fierce duels, or turn the universe on its head, all for…
Brief Encounters
Sometimes, there is a work that just pierced your soul, leaving deep cuts all over the place.
Life Lessons with Gojo-sensei
To say that Gojo Satoru is sort of a big deal in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen is putting it lightly. He’s established from the jump as the…
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…
Extreme Ownership – Leadership lessons from SEALS
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
Extreme Ownership – Leadership lessons from SEALS
Hey guys what is up welcome back to my blog I’m so thankful that you guys took the time out of your day to read my blog post.…
4 Life Lessons From Japanese Playgrounds
There is a lot a day at the playground can tell you about Japan and parenting.
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…
6 lessons from my 36th year
Today is my 37th birthday. I know I’m supposed to be ashamed of getting up there in years, “never ask a woman her age” and all that, but…
Lessons I Learned About Body Positivity After Visiting A Japanese Hot Spring
An onsen (hot spring) allows you to rejuvenate, cleanse and bond deeper with your body.
The Biggest Lesson I Learned from Frieren
What will your final words be just before you die? Today I ordered a book titled, “Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the…
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan Review
If you have seen the front cover for Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan, then you probably got the same impression that this would be some kid friendly show.…
Life Lessons with Uramichi-Oniisan Streaming
Uramichi is the enthusiastic host of a children's variety show, but underneath his perfect smile is a hardened cynic. Can he keep the façade up? More importantly, is…
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan (1)
Author & Artist Gaku KuzeReleased December 2020 by Kodansha ComicsTranslation: Matt TreyvaudEditor(s): Vanessa TenazasGenre: Comedy
Lessons to Take from Akira Toriyama’s Death
Akira Toriyama died from acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. Toriyama’s started in manga by entering a Weekly Shonen Jump contest, which he lost. But his…
DokiDoki! Precure: Lessons from The Happy Prince
Aida Mana, the leading girl of DokiDoki! Precure, is a character that is ridiculously competent. The student council president, a very hard worker, and someone who is always…
Lessons to Take from Akira Toriyama’s Death
Akira Toriyama died from acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. Toriyama’s started in manga by entering a Weekly Shonen Jump contest, which he lost. But his…
3 Lessons on Simplicity From Japanese Moms
How scaling down can simplify your life and make outings with your children easier.
Higehiro – 03 – Fated Encounters
Sayu has a dream about a past night she spent with a man in exchange for a place to stay. She lies under him passively, her eyes devoid…
Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway, High School Girls
The Journalist (2020) review
A highly relevant narrative that succeeds in underlining the importance of fighting against a-moral system of media manipulation.
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan – Episode 1
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan is one part ennui, one part millennial crisis, and has the potential to be utterly funny… though it’s important to remember that comedy…
First Look: Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan
Uramichi Omota is a former gymnast who is currently employed as the star of a popular children’s television show. He’s extremely unhappy with his life, and it’s starting…
First Impression: Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan
Ex-gymnast Uramichi is the high-energy, always-smiling host of the children’s show, Together with Maman, and joined by his fellow actors / musicians, including a couple of kohai dressed…
Review: I WANT TO ESCAPE FROM PRINCESS LESSONS
It's time for another Bad Romance Month, where we cover a selection of some of the worst and weirdest romances to grace manga. We're start...
Review: I WANT TO ESCAPE FROM PRINCESS LESSONS
It's time for another Bad Romance Month, where we cover a selection of some of the worst and weirdest romances to grace manga. We're start...
How Can the Church Do Better? Lessons from Snow White with the Red Hair
She went into her most secret room—no one else was allowed inside—and she made a poisoned, poisoned apple. From the outside it was beautiful, white with red cheeks,…
What I’ve Learned From My First Year Of Blogging
The SpaceWhales blog began in February 2019! What have I learned in a year of blogging?
What I Learned from Watching the Ghost Stories Dub
Do you guys know about the hilarious and sorted history of the Ghost Stories dub? I feel like a lot of people have at least heard of it…
The Biggest Lesson I’ve Learned from Blogging
This past weekend, I was at a party celebrating the 5th year anniversary of the mahjong club that I've been a part of for the last 4 years.…
Essential Things I’ve Learned From Raising Kids in Japan
From daily park visits to an accidentally-achieved eye contact at the dining table, raising children in Japan teaches you a thing or two.
The Journalist (2022) [Drama Review]
The Journalist; or, Checks and Balances After seeing how Ms Matsuda strives to give a voice to the voiceless no matter how difficult it...
First Impression: I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons
Leticia is a young girl who spends her days laughing with her pet dog, John, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors with all the carelessness a young child should…
I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons, Vol. 1
By Izumi Sawano and Miru Yumesaki. Released in Japan as “Kisaki Kyōiku kara Nigetai Watashi” by PASH! Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Heart. Translated by Camilla…
First Look: I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons
Leticia Dorman has spent most of her young life engaged to be married to the prince of the kingdom, Clarke. To prepare for this she’s been separated from…
I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons – Episode 1
While I loved the episode's climax, I worry our heroine might not end up escaping princess lessons or production woes.
First Look: I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons
Leticia Dorman has spent most of her young life engaged to be married to the prince of the kingdom, Clarke. To prepare for this she’s been separated from…
Anime Like I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons
Leticia Dorman has been betrothed to the Crown Prince Clarke since she was seven. As a rambunctious and spirited child, Leticia was forced to endure stern
Bibliophile Princess, I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons, Koikimo, Love of Kill, Romantic Killer
Anime Series Like Life Lessons With Uramichi-Oniisan
On the set of children’s show “Together with Mama,” 31-year-old Omota Uramichi is upbeat and cheerful to the children, but they are all ultimately put off as they…
Paranoia Agent, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan, Aggretsuko, Aggressive Retsuko
Life Lessons with Uramichi #01 — On Screen Paragraphs
Isn't that lesson 1 for how not to do a powerpoint slide? Impressions: I'm pretty sure that your opinion on this one is going to come down…
Lessons in Team Building with Tokyo Mirage Session
Recently, I finished playing Tokyo Mirage Sessions (or TMS), the hybrid love child born from Nintendo’s Fire Emblem and Atlus’ Megami Tensei. Atlus is mostly known nowadays for…
Review: Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan, Vol. 1
Imagine Barney the Dinosaur, surrounded by all his child friends, bursting into a song about…how rough it is to be a single thirty-something and the meaningless of his…