Author Archives: Michael Gakuran

JLPT1 2008 Results

By Michael Gakuran | Published March 8, 2009
Finally! They’re here! MY JLPT level 1 results! (Actually, they were a week ago, but Love Dolls took the limelight). Three months of trepidation. Of nervously waiting by the letterbox and checking every JLPT website for some semblance of news. I kid, right..? And they arrived, in an unceremoniously bent envelope last Friday…
Posted in Japan, Journal | 51 Comments

Love Doll Rental in Japan

By Michael Gakuran | Published March 3, 2009
Recently I guest-blogged for Loneleeplanet, discussing the controversial matter of ‘Love Dolls’, or ‘Sex Dolls’, and challenging the social taboo surrounding them. As an appendix to that, here I will look at the practice of renting love dolls, usually by the hour! Is there a market for soft silicone against the flesh?
Posted in Japan | 47 Comments

Why say Moshi Moshi twice?

By Michael Gakuran | Published February 27, 2009
Moshi-whatnow? “Moshi Moshi” da yo! This is the expression Japanese people use when answering the phone. But why on earth say it twice? Isn’t once enough for you?? Today I explain the reason for that giving oft-uttered phrase in a double dose. Moshi-Moshi, are you listening?
Posted in Japan | 50 Comments

Lucky Japanese Girls

By Michael Gakuran | Published February 22, 2009
Ever wondered why some girls can stop a guy at 10 paces and others make him run for cover? Do you know how to tell a gold-digger from your perfect wife? Join me in on another trip into the bizarre world of Japanese television and discover ‘Ageman’ – girls who bring good fortune!
Posted in Japan | 47 Comments

Refusing people in Japanese

By Michael Gakuran | Published February 18, 2009
I’m disinclined to acquiesce your request, dear Sir.” We all have times when we need to politely refuse requests. But how to turn someone down without upsetting the balance or damaging the trust in the relationship? Here are some useful expressions to help you turn someone down, Japanese style.
Posted in Japan | 27 Comments

Happy Birthday Darwin!

By Michael Gakuran | Published February 12, 2009
I can’t let today pass without giving one of the greatest Naturalists of our time a proper birthday message! A—– Happy, happy, happy, happy birth-day, Dear Darwin! 200 years young today! ^^; Most people are probably much fonder of Darwin today than they were when he published the Origin of the Species 150 years ago, […]
Posted in Journal | 10 Comments

Fish and Chips

By Michael Gakuran | Published February 7, 2009
A bit of a re-post of the earlier January article on the Top 10 British Fish and Chip shops that I wrote for the benefit of my Japanese readers. It turns out that this month’s Japanese blog matsuri is on ‘Foreign Foods’, so what better a thing to introduce than a bit of the old […]
Posted in Other | 44 Comments

GTO Jdrama

By Michael Gakuran | Published February 3, 2009
Great Teacher Onizuka! GTO is *the* best Japanese drama. Yes, it’s cheesy, cliché at times and really pushing the boundaries of real-life, but it leaves you with a sublime feel-good factor. Did I mention you can also learn really cool yakuza-style casual Japanese too?
Posted in Other | 43 Comments