Entertainment

Norwegian Wood _ A Character Review

A brief character analysis of the main characters in Murakami Haruki's novel- Norwegian wood. Mild Spoilers included, read with discretion.

Entertainment

Japan's Idol Culture - Fame and riches?

Idol, does this sound familiar, this word is used so often that it might as well have lost its true meaning or maybe has created a new meaning for itself. Japan is known for many different things and idol culture is one which plays a major role in the Kawaii culture. Let’s go back in time and see how this word got its meaning and what it really is.

Food

KFC- Khristmas Fried Chicken? Wonders of Marketing- Japan

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Plum cakes, christmas tree, candy canes? How about Colonel Sanders in a santa outfit? Let us find out how Japan's KFC marketing introduced a whole new culture.

Others

Learning from The Royal Tutor

How do you to teach four eccentric students who have made sure that no tutor lasts to teach them? A short, easy going anime teaching you to teach?

Innovation

Kitto Katsu - Kit Kat more than a wafer - Wonders of Marketing

How many bizarre yet tasty flavors of a sweet favor can you think of? orange, mango, strawberry, blueberry? Why not Whiskey flavoured? or Hamburger flavored? Think those are weird and impossible? Think again in Japan!

Economy

Perception of Japanese products in India

The main factor in the growth of the world economy is emerging markets which offer growth opportunities for firms from developed countries. Companies in Developed economies that saturate the home market with their goods will move to markets where demand for products emerge and offer potential for entry. As such we can notice a lot of FDI into India such as uniqlo, Toyota, Honda, restaurants etc.

Travel

Akihabara- To Geeks and Gadgets

Originally the name of a train station, now a brand for all things electronics and anime- gamers paradise. A must visit site for the newest hippy trends. With its gadgets and geekdom, it is a one of a kind experience.

Sports

Run with the wind – Hakone Ekiden

Hakone Ekiden is a special competitive long distance relay in Japan that happens over a span of 2 days in the beginning of the New Year, competed by amateur and professional teams. Learn more through anime and novel recommendations at the end of the article.

Food

History of frozen food in Japan

How much cooking do you have to know to live in Japan? Not much, because almost everything can be found pre-made or frozen which makes cooking for single people or people who can’t

Food

Wasabi - A spice Bomb

A unique spice specific to Japanese cuisine with a sharp, spicy taste that refreshes the palate and wakes up the brain all in one go. Let’s look at this unique spice that has grown out of Japan.

Food

Wagyu- a Price of Luxury

The A star ranked bovine meat that is the most expensive, premium and worldly renowned standard for beef. The Wagyuu is known for its distinctive for its well-marbled consistency, tender melt in your mouth texture and taste. Enjoyed in many ways, let’s look at how wagyuu, world’s finest beef is produced.

Relationships

Rental Kazoku - A family affair?

Would you like to hire someone to go to the parent teacher meeting you wouldn't want your parents to know? or just spend some familial time with some random stranger who you wouldn't have to have a responsibility for? These can be very much done in Japan as weird as it may be.

Travel

Capsule- space management at it's finest

Like a pea in a pod, safe and sound, just enough, stay at a capsule hotel for cheap, convenient one night tours.

Arts & Culture

Chopsticks- Simple and extravagant

Everyone knows about Chopsticks? In the hands of an artisan, these humble chopsticks can be created into works of art. These gorgeous instruments add a luxurious feel to the table. Simple implements that are also expression of Japanese aesthetics.

Arts & Culture

Bonsai

Small living works of art admired by everybody, just one pot and a plant, the grower gets all the freedom to make it into art embedding the essence of the nature. Recently it has become a hobby. Let us find out why these small plants have such deep appeal to everyone around.

Others

Holidays of Japan

Our impression of Japanese is that of worker bees, but they have a 15 day extended paid holiday, which is either used or not used. Let us look at the various attitudes towards holidays and the way of life.

Arts & Culture

Cultural Similarities

Throughout history, India–Japan relations have traditionally been strong. For centuries, India and Japan have engaged in cultural exchanges, primarily as a result of Buddhism which spread indirectly from India to Japan, via China. India is the largest recipient of Japanese

Food

Ramen

Bowls of steaming hot soup and noodles, slurping not considered rude while eating, born in China but remained well known in Japan. Ramen, from kanto to kansai, is everyone’s favorite dish, it is hearty, filling and cheap. Let us learn more about Ramen.

Food

CONVEYOR BELT SUSHI – Kaiten sushi

One of the many things you have to try in japan is eating sushi from a conveyor belt. Plates of sushi pass by customers, you can quickly eat and get going or slowly have an experience. Let us look at tradition meets technology.

Fashion

Fashion for Health? Harajuku

Walking around Harajuku you can see a lot of youngsters dressing up in rather eccentric out of the ordinary clothes as a form of art and expression. There are also some styles that are specific to tackling mental illnesses. Let’s find out more.

Food

MISO

A fermented soy based paste is the bedrock of Japanese cuisine, it is used in soups, simmered dishes and everywhere it is required. Long lasting and nutritious it is and was a valuable source of food for the Japanese.

Innovation

Stationery

One of my favorite things to buy as souvenirs from Japan is stationery, because they are high quality, useful, and very different from anything you would expect out of a simple pen or eraser. We’ll explore the technology, sense of fun and innovation behind Japanese stationery.

Travel

Convenience stores

Convenience store unlike corner shops can be seen wherever you go in Japan, so much that it has its own word in Japanese called “conbini”. These compact stores have everything a person would need as essentials for 24 hours a day, 365 days in a year. Let us find out the different strategies and methods used by these stores to survive in a cut throat competitive market.

Food

Japanese curry

Japanese of all ages, young an old love the Japanese curry with rice! Though the routes are Indian, it is nothing like the Indian curry? Let us look at the journey of curry to Japan and how it is a national favorite.

Arts & Culture

Geisha - The epitome of Japanese culture

Geisha, a word that most people have heard of and associate it with the beautiful Japanese women wearing kimonos and white painted faces. But that is not all that earned them the title. Let’s go back in time and learn more about them.

Arts & Culture

Matcha

Used in traditional tea ceremony to a Starbucks special of matcha latte, this green power powder is said to be one of the reasons for the lifespan of Japanese. Let’s find out more.

Others

A Translator’s Challenges - Pokemon

“You” is said to be one of the most difficult word to translate, but what about puns? Pokemon is full of puns from names to dialogues. As I started learning Japanese, I realized how difficult a job it is to be a translator and also how fascinating it is.

Arts & Culture

Rakugou: A one man show

Much like mono-acting, Japan has a traditional art form of storytelling in times where technology had not made its way yet.

Travel

Rural Japan – Toyooka

An experience, surrounded not by a concrete jungle but by paddy fields.

Others

Abbreviations in Japanese

As you finish N4 and enter N3, you tend to notice some words which are loaned from different languages, usually written in katana, there are also shortened versions of the same loaned words which you might have to remember. I’ll introduce these sometimes easy to identify, but many times not, words used generally and specifically used in social networking.

Travel

LOVING THE FOUR SEASONS: WINTER

As regions in Japan go from blazing colours, a frigid chill engulfs the whole of Japan, while you may not see sheets of snow in the metropolitan cities, areas surrounding mountains and northern regions are regularly covered by fresh sheets of snow.

Travel

LOVING THE FOUR SEASONS: AUTUMN

Autumn, the season of bright colours and lovely insects in contrast to the dead of summer, temperature drops as the land prepares for winter. Just before the dread of the cold, autumn starts with a pleasant weather.

Arts & Culture

LOVING THE FOUR SEASONS: SUMMER

A four part series about Japan’s seasons beginning with spring, and continuing on to summer, after the rains of course. We may not hear a lot about the rains in Japan, but summer is the season of youth! Vacations! Beaches and Pools! I’d suggest a read on spring first and then start summer to see the transformation of lifestyle.

Arts & Culture

LOVING THE FOUR SEASONS- SPRING

A four part series about Japan’s seasons beginning with spring. Explore in depth on the different lifestyle of the people such as the food they eat, the clothes their wear and the festivals they celebrate depending on the season.

Arts & Culture

THE KIMONO- WHEN, WHERE, WHAT

Although, we do not see the kimono being worn as a casual clothing anymore, during auspicious, important events in a Japanese person’s life, the go-to outfit is definitely the kimono. The Kimono has a variety of distinguishable features depending on the occasion, event and age at when it is worn. Let’s learn about what type of kimono is worn on what occasion.