2010-02-12, 20:35 | Link #1341 |
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Age: 74
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Japanese Valentine's Day Customs in Flux
This morning's NPR report on how the custom of "giri choco" is declining in favor of "jibun choco."
Audio [mp3] Transcript
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2010-02-13, 02:51 | Link #1342 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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And yeah.. the Yoshida Brothers do some very cool things with their instruments.
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2010-02-19, 19:32 | Link #1343 |
Rawrrr!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: CH aka Chocaholic Heaven
Age: 40
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Japanese Traditional Arts and Crafts
I don't know if there is a lot of people interested in those, so instead of creating a new thread I'll share what I have here:
First of all, before interesting myself in anime and manga, I was already fascinated by Japanese culture, as the cultural stream between France and Japan saw it's revival in the 80's and 90's as I grew up. Oddly, what first piked my interest were Franco-Belgian Comics (aka Bande Dessinée) with strong japanese cultural content (Yoko Tsuno and Kogaratsu, which BTW I strongly recommend for all those that French doesn't rebuke). But ultimately the revelation came with a single picture: that of a wakisashi or japanese short sword in a coffee table book. Even now it represents for me the quintessence of japanese art and craft perfection and intention: a blade forged out of a complex mix of steels, cut and polished as a precious gem would be, protected by the finest woodwork and lacquerwork, and held by a functional combination of shark skin, silk and metal ornaments... all geared toward a goal of beauty and functionality. Ermm... I'll stop the trance here. So are you people interested in Japanese Traditional Arts and Crafts? I have myself a broad interest, but I am especially interested in the followings: Japanese Swords: if that wasn't already clear , and by that I mean the real stuff, not the cheap pseudo replicas. I already own an old (but alas in poor shape) wakisashi, it cost me a few hundred bucks on eBay about 10 years ago, but being able to hold the real stuff is priceless, and anyway the fittings only are worth what I paid for it according to my antique dealer. For now I don't have the money to buy anything but books, but later I'll start a collection of old swords (starting in the 2k $ range), with maybe a fine practice sword just for holding, not sure yet about commissioning one of those European passionate blacksmiths. Japanese Kimonos: I find women kimonos to be absolutely beautiful, but since I'm a guy, so far my passion's expression has been limited in reading books, and carefully picking yukata for my female friends and relatives each time I go to Japan (I find Furisode to be even more gorgeous, but those a damn expensive...). Japanese Traditional Architecture: I discovered it recently trough this beautiful book which I recommend. Since my country still has a living and even dynamic, albeit different tradition in using "living" wood for building, I often dream of how I would build my house. Japanese Traditional Lacquerware and Japanese Traditional Ceramics: beauty and perfect finish, that's why one day, I'll own at least one or two pieces to be admired. So, what kind of Japanese Traditional Arts and Crafts interest you the most?
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2010-02-20, 00:53 | Link #1344 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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I was interested in Japanese culture, arts and crafts, etc long before I got interested in anime.
Swords.... they aren't as mystical as myth would have it - but they are exquisitely evolved for the types of warfare they function in. Kimono/yukata -- actually there are yukata for men (I have one). Worn around the house and at festivals. The hapi coats and hakata are usually less challenging for guys though Architecture/furniture -- we're slowly slowly evolving our house along aesthetic lines and furniture. A bit easier to get stuff since we're on the west coast of the US. My wife has inherited quite a bit of Japanese ceramic and wares (as well as some kimono and various art) - so that's a big jumpstart. Our basic problem though is that we're both clutterbugs - *cleaning* and *organizing* is an exercise for Sisyphus
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2010-02-20, 04:26 | Link #1345 | |
Resource cabinet
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
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2010-02-20, 07:09 | Link #1346 | |||||
Rawrrr!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: CH aka Chocaholic Heaven
Age: 40
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Here in Switzerland, at least we have a high density of antiquities circulating around (I'll indulge myself a visit to an antique weapon dealer one day). And since we have a very active and creative tradition of woodworking, I'll find some way later to build or fit quite a unique house, for the garden I think I'll have only a small part in Japanese style, probably dry or rock. Quote:
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The katana is a daito or long sword, designed for infantry use; and used to come with a wakisashi which is a shoto or short sword, in the daisho (long and short) pair samurai wore as a trademark. Basic criterion is the length of the blade, basically daito (tachi (early, long cavalry sword), katana) and shoto (kodachi?, wakisashi, tanto). Are also included in Nihonto some two edged swords, forged using the same techniques (those are beutiful by the way), for buddhist ceremonial purpose. Naginata, spear and arrow heads are also included in the family, as they are forged using the same techniques. BTW, a tachi would be the crowning piece of my dream collection. Provided you have a 1-2 k $ budget you could indulge yourself with a practice sword for iai or cutting if you want a semi-industrial katana with at least a temper mark, if you have less there are still cheaper practice swords (generally made of duralumin), which are still closer to the real stuff than cheap replica. Otherwise, if you're not dead set on a katana, there are fine antique short swords (wakisashi) and daggers (tanto) which are relatively affordable.
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Last edited by JMvS; 2010-02-20 at 07:20. |
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2010-03-16, 16:04 | Link #1347 | |
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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Old news, latest article and report on the matter
Even as population shrinks, Japan remains wary of immigration Quote:
(Wonders if they'll reverse the years needed for permenant residency someday...)
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2010-03-16, 16:41 | Link #1348 |
I desire Tomorrow!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: As far away from reality as possible
Age: 41
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Well, I want to live and work there eventually, truth be told, despite all the crappy things I've heard about the whole biased issues and all that. I still think it's a decent place to be.
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2010-03-16, 20:17 | Link #1349 | |
思想工作
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Vereinigte Staaten
Age: 31
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2010-04-22, 13:31 | Link #1350 | |
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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Japan struggles to face up to poverty
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Reading it reminded me of Tokyo Sonata, an acclaimed movie directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, released in 2008. If you get a chance, do watch it. |
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2010-04-23, 05:08 | Link #1352 | |
World's Greatest
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 36
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2010-04-23, 05:21 | Link #1353 | |
Gregory House
IT Support
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Still the article does state a few things that are more than obvious for anyone with half a brain, almost to the point of being tautological.
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2010-04-23, 13:47 | Link #1354 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Japan has a single-payer system that everyone participates in (I believe you can supplement with some minor private plans). The problem they have is one of shortages in some fields of specialty and number of beds at any given point. What Japan seems to lack is a "render first aid and stabilize" policy prior to shunting people away and a protocol for helping those find a hospital with space.
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2010-04-23, 15:42 | Link #1355 | |
Just some guy
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Age: 62
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Poverty anywhere is sad, but to see the lengths that the Japanese government went to in order to try and make it look like there was no such thing. Heck, you'd think they were trying to hide the real story behind the moon landing (just kidding!).
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2010-04-23, 15:55 | Link #1356 | |
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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Unless Mystique or LynnieS can help to verify, I guess we'd have to take the reporter at his word. |
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2010-04-23, 16:07 | Link #1357 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Fairly depressing article but lacked some details (like the off-hand medical treatment remark).
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2010-04-24, 00:21 | Link #1358 | |
World's Greatest
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 36
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2010-04-25, 09:31 | Link #1359 | |
Gregory House
IT Support
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What he told me is that he had three years of scholarship and then he had to get out there and find a job--which wasn't being so easy, anyways.
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2010-05-16, 23:04 | Link #1360 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Could have put this under "silly news" ... but actually I think its a great idea and culturally centered:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l...cle7128300.ece Wielding swords in samurai camp is the new aerobics for Japanese women The sad part is that it is open to both genders but the men often drop out because they can't keep up.
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culture, discussion, japan, japanese culture |
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