Monthly Archives: May 2009

The ‘Gaijin’ Debate

Published May 29, 2009
That perennial debate – is it racist to use the word ‘gaijin’ to refer to foreigners? Here is a summary of the multitude of views out there surrounding this thorny issue and my own humble opinion.
Posted in Japan | 196 Comments

The World of Golden Eggs CM

Published May 28, 2009
Ooo! The Golden Eggs are back! Gotta love these insane little adverts. Plusheads and CC Lemon last year and right now on Japanese television they’re marketing a low fuel consumption car – the Nissan NOTE – again. Take a look! ^^
Posted in Other | 4 Comments

Super Mario X Japanese Lesson

Published May 24, 2009
I came across this fantastically hilarious Super Mario World parody today. It’s an original song by Hyadain which I enjoyed so much that I subtitled and turned into a special Gakuranman Japanese lesson for you! Men compete with their heart!
Posted in Japan | 14 Comments

Yakushima – Japan Travel Photos

Published May 21, 2009
Here’s a video-photo slideshow of my trip to Yakushima (屋久島), the green island in southern Japan, famed for its ancient cedar trees (yakusugi) and captivating forests. I went there for a 3-day trip with a couple of Japanese friends late summer 2008.
Posted in Japan | 23 Comments

Gakuranman Fan Art

Published May 20, 2009
I’m the proud owner of some wonderful fan art! Dave from The Ramen Blues (also the artist behind my Gakuranman image) has kindly drawn me this fantastic piece!
Posted in Bioluminescence | 8 Comments

Japanese Newspaper Headlines

Published May 5, 2009
Have you ever wondered how to read the headlines in Japanese newspapers? They’re so chock-a-block full of kanji that it seems like an insurmountable wall to scale. And that’s not to mention the split sentences. What do all those mysterious sentences that end on a particle mean?! I take you through some examples.
Posted in Japan | 29 Comments