Japanese Culture

[SaintessHeart]

Just had to look up "pep rally", which seems to be a North America only thing.

We do have "project weeks" in German schools, which are basically the same as in Japan, it seems. I.e. one week of doing all kinds of mixed stuff, like science, arts (incl. music), foods and an open day for the presentation and visitors at the end of the week. But most projects are just lame and students would be better off just doing a usual school week instead.
We also have an additional sports day.

Our science/arts exhibitions over here are over-inflated failures these days : I remember winning an award in Primary School during a Maths camp during a waffle making session teaching Pi, the bonus question was why the Pi constant changed before and after the waffle was heated.

Most answers went along the lines of systemic/random errors : I answered that the shape of the waffle warped due to heat and expansion - it cannot be circular anymore and thus Pi is irrelevant; I then backed it up by measuring the diameter with a different number from a different angle.

The question ended up in tutorial worksheets which my younger cousin did, sent in the same answer 14 years ago and the teacher marked it wrong - the answer is supposed to be two words : systematic error or random error.

And in high school 6 years ago, we are making bottle rockets propelled by compressed air, and the school pays these ripoffs half-ten grand to plan this event. We had such a big school field, the fire station is 3km away, and we have to fire these bottles with air? Where is the chemistry lesson in mixing optimal amount of oil and alcohol? If that is too dangerous, what about alka-seltzer and vinegar?

I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

[Guernsey]

I always failed my scince projects although I didn't put that much effort into it.

[aohige]

Ummm….Do you think its possible for a Japanese person to move to the US and not speak English?


Oh boy.... you do NOT know America, do you ? :heh:

As long as you live in a close-nit community of corresponding language, you can live in America and not speak A LICK OF ENGLISH.
For Japanese, there's not much of that outside of Hawaii and small portion of Calfornia.
But for Hispanics and Chinese, well just pick any state. :p

It is not uncommon at ALL to run into someone here that doesn't speak any English.
Replying with America as an equal term example goes completely against your point. :heh:

人種の坩堝舐めんなｗｗ　

[Terrestrial Dream]

Oh boy.... you do NOT know America, do you ? :heh:

As long as you live in a close-nit community of corresponding language, you can live in America and not speak A LICK OF ENGLISH.
For Japanese, there's not much of that outside of Hawaii and small portion of Calfornia.
But for Hispanics and Chinese, well just pick any state. :p

It is not uncommon at ALL to run into someone here that doesn't speak any English.
Replying with America as an equal term example goes completely against your point. :heh:

人種の坩堝舐めんなｗｗ　 The other way is what my parent did, which is to make your children learn English and make them translate every important English documents.

[Siegel Clyne]

Oh boy.... you do NOT know America, do you ? :heh:

As long as you live in a close-nit community of corresponding language, you can live in America and not speak A LICK OF ENGLISH.
For Japanese, there's not much of that outside of Hawaii and small portion of Calfornia.
But for Hispanics and Chinese, well just pick any state. :p

It is not uncommon at ALL to run into someone here that doesn't speak any English.
Replying with America as an equal term example goes completely against your point. :heh:

人種の坩堝舐めんなｗｗ　

A brother-in-law of mine, who is of full German descent and whose ethnic German forbears had immigrated from the Volga region in Russia to the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain states and the Midwest in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, told me that his late mother, who was born and raised in America, grew up speaking only German until the age of seven.

The Volga Germans (http://www.google.com/#pq=hagelganz+minister&hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=X7GFOKWdDeB09mCk0n6oLA&cp=7&gs_id=1x&xhr=t&q=Volga+Germans) had been recruited to immigrate to Russia in the 18th century.

I asked him if his mother learned English when she started going to school, and he said yes.

She spoke English with no accent.

In a number of ways, I recall reading in The German-Americans (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22The+German-Americans%22+LaVern+J.+Rippley) by LaVern J. Rippley, Russian Germans and Ukrainian Germans who had immigrated to the U.S. were "more German" than the Germans who had directly immigrated from Germany to the U.S.

The late German American accordionist and bandleader Lawrence Welk (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Lawrence+Welk+Ukraine+German), whose parents had immigrated to the U.S. from what is near now present-day Odessa, Ukraine in the late 19th century, was born and raised in the German-speaking communities in or surrounding Strasburg, North Dakota, USA - but for much if not most of his life, he spoke English with a noticeable Russian-German accent. In his autobiography (http://www.amazon.com/Wunnerful-Autobiography-Lawrence-Welk/dp/B0006PE7CG), Welk bemoaned his lack of proficient English and claimed that he did not learn English until the age of 21. He said he spoke only German at home and at school.

Welk's ethnic German ancestors had earlier immigrated to Ukraine from the Alsace-Lorraine region in present-day France - which probably helps explain the name of the city in North Dakota he grew up in or around in, Strasburg, presumably named after Strasburg (in German, Straßburg; in French, Strasbourg) in the Alsace region of present-day France.

The late Alsatian-born, naturalized French conductor Charles Munch (originally Münch, a German family name) was born in Strasbourg. Munch is famous for his performances of music by French composers, such as his legendary 1954/1955 RCA recording of the entire score for the 1911 ballet Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New England Conservatory Chorus, prepared by the late, famous American choral conductor Robert Shaw.

[NoemiChan]

Does Japanese girls like shy guys that always smiles and loves to cook?

[Vexx]

Does Japanese girls like shy guys that always smiles and loves to cook?
This is almost a silly question... girls have a variety of tastes whatever the culture. I'm sure SOME Japanese girls like this and SOME don't care.

[Guernsey]

Speaking of food, it is true that it is hard to cook some things like spaghetti because of the ingredients? Also, what is normally served in most restaurants?

[Sumeragi]

Speaking of food, it is true that it is hard to cook some things like spaghetti because of the ingredients?
If you're going for the more regional kinds of pasta, a bit. But the regular noodles and sauces are sold pretty much everywhere unless you go into the countryside.

Also, what is normally served in most restaurants?
What is normally served in most restaurants in all industrialized countries? What the restaurants say they're selling.


I mean, really, some of the recent questions feels like they came from the 1930's when Japan was deliberately closing itself off to foreign influence.

[Vexx]

I mean, really, some of the recent questions feels like they came from the 1930's when Japan was deliberately closing itself off to foreign influence.
More like rather than 10 seconds with google or even just browsing the existing threads here they.... oh never mind - thanks for being civil :)

[monsta666]

More like rather than 10 seconds with google or even just browsing the existing threads here they.... oh never mind - thanks for being civil :)
Maybe people prefer the personal Vexx touch rather than the impersonal google! ;)

[aohige]

But... "personal Vexx touch" is the same as 1930$&&:@!/&$ssdkjh


"btw is it true that Japanese kids beg for chocolates from the American soldiers on the street?"

..... Hey, at least I moved up two decades.

[risingstar3110]

If a mother (or one with motherly status - teacher, aunt, and such) told a kid that she loves him/her, which verb would she uses? Suki/daisuki? Aisu/Aishiteru?

[Shinji01]

Mother – Aishiteru or Daisuki. But aishiteru would only be when she really is trying to tell the child that he/she is loved. Otherwise on a daily manner it would be daisuki.

Teacher - Daisuki.

Aunt - Daisuki

But to be honest, I cant imagine that conversation happening in a Japanese setting too much. Usually we don’t express our feelings verbally. Maybe to a young child, but not when you get to a certain age.. maybe up until the child is 9 to 10 ish…?

Would love to hear other people’s opinion on this one though 

[Sumeragi]

I imagine "daisuki". "Aishiteru" is just too strong a word in my opinion.

[NoemiChan]

If I will use "daisuki" for just saying "I liked you"( not the romantic way) to a new female friend without mistaking it as "I love you"... How would I avoid the possible misunderstanding.

[Sumeragi]

Just say "suki", and don't make the atmosphere and your tone of voice romantic. I mean, just think of how you would say "I like you" to a girl.


I wish to state this: At least half of the questions on how to conduct yourself in Japan can be answered based on universal standards. As much as there is the hype of the Japanese traditionally hiding their heart and stuff, in the end it's just a more stylized version of how one would conduct oneself in any modern society. Japan isn't some special unique country: It's a country having a culture made by humans, and as such it can't deviate into some alien world in today's cosmopolitan age.

[Vexx]

I wish to state this: At least half of the questions on how to conduct yourself in Japan can be answered based on universal standards. As much as there is the hype of the Japanese traditionally hiding their heart and stuff, in the end it's just a more stylized version of how one would conduct oneself in any modern society. Japan isn't some special unique country: It's a country having a culture made by humans, and as such it can't deviate into some alien world in today's cosmopolitan age.
I often joke that all one has to do really is behave the way etiquette demanded of us (Americans, etc) just a couple of decades ago in the US. Be nice, don't embarrass people around you. Say please and thank you. Don't be loud. Not mysterious at all. Average Japanese *knows* you're a foreigner so they'll usually appreciate anything you can do to make them feel more comfortable in your zone.

[aohige]

I imagine "daisuki". "Aishiteru" is just too strong a word in my opinion.

No.

Shinji is correct.

[bhl88]

まあそれはそれでからかい甲斐があるがな <- is this informal or archaic?

The only thing I got here was: Well, the teasing was worth it (or something).

[risingstar3110]

Mother – Aishiteru or Daisuki. But aishiteru would only be when she really is trying to tell the child that he/she is loved. Otherwise on a daily manner it would be daisuki.

Teacher - Daisuki.

Aunt - Daisuki

But to be honest, I cant imagine that conversation happening in a Japanese setting too much. Usually we don’t express our feelings verbally. Maybe to a young child, but not when you get to a certain age.. maybe up until the child is 9 to 10 ish…?

Would love to hear other people’s opinion on this one though 

I imagine "daisuki". "Aishiteru" is just too strong a word in my opinion.
Heya thank.

Yeah i can image that would not be daily thing, and won't be used much after certain ages. I means , jokingly put it, universally every parent is more or less tsundere toward their children...
まあそれはそれでからかい甲斐があるがな <- is this informal or archaic?

The only thing I got here was: Well, the teasing was worth it (or something).
Probably should be in Japanese language thread, but I want to know about this too. I thought it's just an alternative of 'kana'?

Edit:
Actually a question as well. Is the obon festival and the word bonfire in English have the same origin? Did the term obon exist much earlier than Western arrival to Japan?

[Sumeragi]

Nope. The "bon" is 盆, the shorten form of Ullambana (于蘭盆會 or 盂蘭盆會). It means "great suffering", and so the festival is to ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna" while remembering and appreciating ancestors and their sacrifices.

[Vexx]

Nope. The "bon" is 盆, the shorten form of Ullambana (于蘭盆會 or 盂蘭盆會). It means "great suffering", and so the festival is to ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna" while remembering and appreciating ancestors and their sacrifices.

And to add to Sumeragi's post:

The modern word "bonfire"
[Middle English bonnefire : bon, bone; see bone + fir, fire; see fire.] bonfire [ˈbɒnˌfaɪə].

Obon is far older than the "english incursion" into Japanese linguistics.

[risingstar3110]

Nope. The "bon" is 盆, the shorten form of Ullambana (于蘭盆會 or 盂蘭盆會). It means "great suffering", and so the festival is to ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna" while remembering and appreciating ancestors and their sacrifices.

And to add to Sumeragi's post:

The modern word "bonfire"
[Middle English bonnefire : bon, bone; see bone + fir, fire; see fire.] bonfire [ˈbɒnˌfaɪə].

Obon is far older than the "english incursion" into Japanese linguistics.
Just to show that there are lots of coincidences in language, i guess

[Sumeragi]

Just to show that there are lots of coincidences in language, i guess

I don't get the connection at all. How is a festival honoring the dead connected in any way to a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration?

[Vexx]

Just to show that there are lots of coincidences in language, i guess
Its interesting to look at the trans-linguistics of the word for "tea" in half the world.

[risingstar3110]

I don't get the connection at all. How is a festival honoring the dead connected in any way to a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration?
Well there are lots of bonfire during the festival to start with, 五山送り火 for example...

It could be the case of "hey, don't you think 'Buddhism Festival for honoring the dead' too mouthful, how about just call it Bon + O, since there are lots of bonfire anyway"
Its interesting to look at the trans-linguistics of the word for "tea" in half the world.
Do tell.

I know lots of country, include Japan calls it cha through

[Sumeragi]

Well there are lots of bonfire during the festival to start with, 五山送り火 for example...

It could be the case of "hey, don't you think 'Buddhism Festival for honoring the dead' too mouthful, how about just call it Bon + O, since there are lots of bonfire anyway"
1. Bonfires are 焚き火, takibi. Long way from being connected to bonfire.

2. 盆 is pronounced bon in Japanese, bun in Korean, pen in Mandarian, and pun in Cantonese.


I know lots of country, include Japan calls it cha through
That comes from the reading of the character for tea, 茶.

[NoemiChan]

I know lots of country, include Japan calls it cha through


In the Philippines, we call it "Tsa-a". Tsa sounds like "cha" too.

[Mystique]

Happy Girls Day!
The Japanese Doll Festival (雛祭り Hina-matsuri?), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3.[1] Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形 hina-ningyō?) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.

Click to read more (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_Day), you can use the wiki link that explains the dolls at each level to analyse my pressie here :p

http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/2240/hina2.jpg

[Siegel Clyne]

Admittedly inspired by my own post, Japanese Singers Fluent in English (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4034051&postcount=51), about mixed singers in Japan like Aoyama Thelma and May J. on the Multingual Seiyu/Voice Actor appreciation thread in the General Anime Forum...

May J. - Japanese R&B/pop singer and television host born in Yokohama, Japan to a Japanese father and an Iranian mother.

May J. / Be mine 〜君が好きだよ〜

Ppmnm-ZhUys

May J. / 「あの日があるから feat. RYO the SKYWALKER」PV

Il5D0zB_om0

BENI aka Arashiro Beni - Japanese R&B/pop singer born in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan to a Japanese (Okinawan) mother and an American father of mixed European and Native American descent; raised in California, USA and Yokosuka, Japan, site of a well-known U.S. naval base.

BENI - Kiss Kiss Kiss live

9OfyUEbLa-k

BENI - ギミギミ live

gH7S0WB98kE

BIG RON - Japanese rap/hip-hop artist. I have read conflicting accounts about his background, such that he is an unknown rapper from Germany or a Caucasian gaijin rapping in Japanese. But I recall reading someone writing somewhere, which sounds fairly credible to me, that BIG RON is one-quarter Japanese and grew up on U.S. military bases.

JAMOSA (JA + MOSA = JAPAN + FORMOSA) - Japanese R&B/pop singer/songwriter born in Fukuoka, Japan to a Japanese father and an Austronesian Taiwanese (Taiwanese Aborigine) mother.

BIG RON / Stay With Me feat. JAMOSA

l3nhX8sHGIE

JAY'ED - Japanese R&B/pop singer born in New Zealand to a Japanese father and a Polynesian mother of Samoan or Samoan/Tongan extraction (not as one might expect, indigenous Maori, which is also Polynesian).

JAMOSA / あなたの胸にもどれるなら feat.JAY'ED Music Video

WjgJekGvblI

JAMOSA + JAY'ED = Austronesian Power in Japan.

EMI MARIA - Japanese R&B/pop singer born in Papua New Guinea to a Japanese mother and a Papuan New Guinean father.

EMI MARIA ／ Mr.ALIEN （Full ver.）

-ri70XJUnrM

JAY'ED feat EMI MARIA - LUV IS

PSjS8FzhZ4E

JAY'ED + EMI MARIA = Oceanic Power in Japan.

Alice - Japanese R&B/pop singer/songwriter born in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan to a Japanese mother and a Guamanian father. Since Guam is a U.S. territory and Guamanians are U.S. citizens, that makes Alice half American. And since the declining Guamanian Chamorro (Chamoru) language belongs to the widespread Malayo-Polynesian subfamily of the great Austronesian language family, Alice adds even more Austronesian Power in Japan. (I doubt, however, Alice speaks Chamorro; English, on the other hand...).

Alice " I wanna... feat. CO-KEY(from MC2) "

pQqXuClw2EM

Alice 「リズム」 PV

DHxcTdad6J4

Sophia - Japanese model and singer for the the three-member Japanese music group Safarii, consisting of AK, Oki, and Sophia. Sophia is half Japanese and half Ethiopian.

Safarii「この恋にさよなら」：動画

itPprFmU72Q

Safarii / 最後の恋

PIBuRuQlTv8

Lisa Halim - Japanese pop singer/songwriter born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an Indonesian father from Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Say good bye／Lisa Halim

hVmoUj27J_4

切ないくらい、愛してた。／Lisa Halim feat.JAY'ED

GO4UHK0IZmY

Lisa Halim + JAY'ED = Even more Austronesian (or more specifically here, Malayo-Polynesian) Power in Japan.

Crystal Kay - Japanese R&B/pop singer born Crystal Kay Williams in Yokohama, Japan to a third-generation Zainichi Korean mother and an African American father.

Crystal Kay - 恋におちたら

xhD7oHecLvM

cristal [sic] kay - kiss

-JNrza8_Auc

Tsuchiya Anna - Japanese singer, lyricist, actress, and semi-retired model born to a Japanese mother and an American father of either - take your pick - 1) Polish-Irish heritage or 2) Russian heritage.

土屋アンナ [Tsuchiya Anna] / Change your life

nHpBznZF_iU

土屋アンナ [Tsuchiya Anna] / Believe in Love

_2Z2n8ipA7k

AI - Japanese American R&B/pop singer born Ai Carina Uemura in Los Angeles, California, USA and raised in both Japan and America. She is three-fourths Japanese and one-fourth Italian.

Amuro Namie - Japanese R&B/dance/pop singer born in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. She is three-fourths Okinawan and - like Ai - one-fourth Italian.

Killing three birds with one stone...

安室奈美恵 [Amuro Namie] feat.AI & 土屋アンナ [Tsuchiya Anna] - Wonder Woman (MTV VIDEO MUSIC AID JAPAN)

Z4kqwseW5xs

Jero - Japanese enka singer born Jerome Charles White Jr. in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. He is three-fourths African American and one-fourth Japanese. His late maternal grandmother hailed from Yokohama, Japan.

ジェロ　[Jero]「海雪」ダンスバージョン

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ジェロ [Jero] - 演歌歌手

RqtgJ5TJi8M

LISA - Japanese R&B/pop singer/songwriter/producer born Elizabeth Sakura Narita in Tokyo, Japan to a Japanese father and a Colombian mother (of mixed European, African, and/or Amerindian ancestries? - typical for Colombia and most of Latin America).

LISA / falling for you．．．feat. VERBAL(m-flo)

AfCvDIJX7GM

m-flo loves LISA / TRIPOD BABY

u3pEpQw2apU

Monday Michiru - Japanese/Italian American jazz/nu jazz//R&B/soul/dance/pop/whatever else singer born Monday Michiru Mariano in Tokyo, Japan to Manchurian-born ethnic Japanese jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader Toshiko Akiyoshi and Italian American jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano.

Monday Michiru (Monday満ちる) - Sands Of Time

TycBeLure74

Monday Michiru - Heal

rKJysvbKEWY

Lisa Ono - Japanese Brazilian bossa nova singer and musician born in 1962 in São Paulo, Brazil to ethnic Japanese parents. At the age of ten she moved with her family to Japan and since then has alternated living in Japan and Brazil (which explains why her Portuguese remains sharp after all these years).

Lisa Ono - Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema)

DHXc4ax7mBs

Lisa Ono 小野リサ My Cherie Amour
<bossa nova version of the Stevie Wonder song>

syzjxuS7Rak

LISA ONO / CARNAVAL

bwWJKx6ah1g

Yo Hitoto - Japanese pop singer born in Tokyo, Japan to a Japanese mother and a Han Chinese Taiwanese father, raised in Taipei, Taiwan and Tokyo.

MIYAVI - Japanese rock / visual kei guitarist born Ishihara Takamasa in Nishikujo, Japan to a Japanese mother and a second-generation Zainichi Korean father.

(I am getting tired of finding YouTube links for these artists...)

And many, many more.

Most of the part-Japanese. non-ethnic Japanese, and Nikkeijin singers in Japan I listed above know English. (The ones who grew up in English-speaking lands should know it.) I have heard many part Japanese and non-ethnic Japanese music artists in Japan readily and easily converse in English (May J., BENI, JAY'ED, VERBAL, Leo Imai, Crystal Kay, MIYAVI, JYONGRI, etc.), so you will not get the typical Engrish in their Japanese language songs.

P.S.I knew I forgot someone...

Bilingual (Japanese and English) singer/songwriter Olivia Lufkin, aka OLIVIA, was born in Okinawa, Japan to an Okinawan mother and a Norwegian American father. Her two younger siblings are Jeffrey Lufkin, who is a musician she collaborates regularly with and Caroline Lufkin, who is an independent musician. Lufkin began her solo career after being in the Japanese girl group D&D. She gained mainstream success in 2006 after creating songs for the fictional band Trapnest under the alias of Olivia Inspi' Reira (Trapnest), and the songs were used for the popular anime adaptation of Nana. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Lufkin)

Olivia Lufkin - A Little Pain

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[Dhomochevsky]

Admittedly inspired by my own post, Japanese Singers Fluent in English (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4034051&postcount=51)
All this fluentness is easily balanced out :D
HZYIy2szkIY

[SaintessHeart]

All this fluentness is easily balanced out :D
HZYIy2szkIY

She got alot of flak for it. While I say it is a really bad rendition, I guess it is appreciated that she brush up her English before singing an English song.

[flying ^]

All this fluentness is easily balanced out :D
HZYIy2szkIY


Man... i'd love to see her visit some southeast asian country and use her talent to sing rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way". I'd clap & cheer at the sound of thunderous 'BANG!' of approval:cool:

[ChainLegacy]

She got alot of flak for it. While I say it is a really bad rendition, I guess it is appreciated that she brush up her English before singing an English song.

Maybe she should drop the bizarre anime voice and just sing in her natural voice? There's no way that's how she really sounds. :confused:

It's all well and good when you're looking at an anime girl with massive eyes and all these exaggerated features, it's just weird in real life. Couple that with the fact that The Beatles had magnificent vocal harmonies... it's just a very strange video. :heh:

[SaintessHeart]

Maybe she should drop the bizarre anime voice and just sing in her natural voice? There's no way that's how she really sounds. :confused:

It's all well and good when you're looking at an anime girl with massive eyes and all these exaggerated features, it's just weird in real life. Couple that with the fact that The Beatles had magnificent vocal harmonies... it's just a very strange video. :heh:

She can't sing for nuts in her natural voice......that kind of natural voice had to be trained for a lifetime.

Just listen to Mizuki Nana's Dangan Shoujo*. That is how tough it is for a female to sing a masculine-1980-ish song; the transposition is already a headache.

I would use this artiste as a benchmark for foreigner-Japanese (and vice-versa) for pitching and tonality, although her genre is ancient. She's a legend (I believe our significantly older forum members from SEA might know about her......a.k.a TRL)

mnpNYIpGiys

P.S * - Kingrecords copyrighted the song and the whole thing is off youtube.

[Sumeragi]

All the youtube embedding is taxing my computer....

[Siegel Clyne]

Let us samba away from Lisa Ono's singing performance of "Carnaval" in my Japanese Pop Music: Engrish Need Not Apply (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=4036436#post4036436)...

And explore the exploits of the Nikkei or Nikkeijin - Japanese immigrants and their descendants - in music and other fields of entertainment and celebrityhood (plus maybe something else) outside of Japan.

Regarding my preceding post cited above and my other post it links to, the terms "Nikkei" and "Nikkeijin" covers Lisa Ono, AI and Hikaru Utada, as well JAY'ED and EMI MARIA, because they were all born in foreign countries and spent part of their childhood and teenage years there.

In general, the Nikkeijin in North America, South America, and Australia (but not Nikkeijin in the UK) have used a fairly unique system of categorizing individuals by generation: 1) Issei (First Generation) are Japanese immigrants: 2) Nisei (Second Generation) are the children of Japanese immigrants; 3) Sansei (Third Generation) are the children of Nisei and the grandchildren of Issei; 3) Yonsei (Fourth Generation) are the children of Sansei; 4) Gosei (Fifth Generation) are the children of Yonsei; and so on....

Unlike the case often for other Asian (e.g., Chinese, Filipino) immigrants in the United States, who tended to be men during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unmarried Japanese (and also Korean) male immigrants were very successful in obtaining wives from their homeland via picture brides (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picture_bride).

Those early Japanese immigrants in the United States - and also in Brazil - generally had low intermarriage rates.

There existed, however, regional differences. "A census taken by the Japanese consulate in New York in 1931 found that of the relatively small proportion of married Japanese men, about one third had married non-Japanese wives, and the percentage of Japanese women intermarrying with non-Japanese men was just as high. The significant difference between the Japanese in Britain and in the US is the fact that in America, the bulk of Japanese American outmarriages were by women. In Britain, it appears that more Japanese men had non-Japanese wives than Japanese women with non-Japanese husbands. (http://books.google.com/books?id=VBijCPLvWyUC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=intermarriage+rate+us+japanese+prewar+new+york&source=bl&ots=Ei8O-0GxkL&sig=I4JHsQ5q9J124OCB0RDMbAxKMMQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LUhkT7KOJOKtiAKPn4iiDw&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false)"

In contrast to America and Brazil, the intermarriage rate of Japanese immigrants in pre-World War II Great Britain - where the ethnic Japanese population was relatively small - was high.

Like virtually all states in the South and a number of other states in America, California once had racist anti-miscegnation laws which barred marriages between Whites and non-"Whites", including Blacks, Native Americans, and Asians, i.e., "Mongolians" (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, etc.), "Malays" (Filipinos, Malays, etc.), and "Hindus" (Indians/South Asians).

California anti-miscegnation laws could not prevent Whites and Non-"Whites" from going out of state to get married and returning to California, nor could they stop White/non-"White" couples and their offspring and descendants from outside California moving to California.

Interestingly, although it also had anti-miscegnation laws, North Carolina did allow marriages between Caucasians and Asians, presumably because it had many descendants of the famous Siamese Twins, Eng and Chang Bunker (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&gs_nf=1&qe=RW5nIGFuZCBDaGFuZyBidW5rZXIgZGVzY2VuZGFudHM&qesig=UgQkmF_J9wUwZJv8cpGKiQ&pkc=AFgZ2tnBNqyL6Z5s-scnDyODtb7AkxuELEf8_xhBd_D2s5O9VWXn9RzIdiXttwMTBd_ tVlkrGZ3mnfECN4p2OHLBaYoBkQsJTQ&cp=32&gs_id=3m&xhr=t&q=Eng+and+Chang+Bunker+descendants) - who were either 7/8ths Chinese and 1/8th Thai or 3/4ths Chinese and 1/4th Thai and born in Siam (now Thailand) during the early 1800s - and who had married a couple of Caucasian sisters, Sally Ann and Adelaide Yates, in North Carolina in 1843 and fathered 21 children with them, 14 of whom lived to adulthood.

The conjoined twins Eng and Chang Bunker fathered 21 children and now have 1,800 descendants - and every July many of them come together in Mt. Airy, NC., where the twins settled after escaping certain death in Siam. (http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/blogs/bunker-family-reunion-darin-strauss)

Likewise, California did allow marriages between Whites and Hispanics or "Spanish" (mainly Mexicans), presumably as California once belonged to Mexico and many Whites who had moved to California from other parts of the U.S. had earlier intermarried with local Mexicans, just as Whites who moved to Indian Territory, later the state of Oklahoma, from other parts of the U.S, had intermarried with local Native Americans. (One incentive driving the relatively high rate of intermarriage rates between Whites and Mexicans in California and Whites and Native Americans in Oklahoma during earlier times was for Whites to gain ownership of land in California and Oklahoma, respectively.)

California's anti-miscegnation laws were struck down as unconstitutional by the California State Supreme Court in 1948. (http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3477823?uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=47698769267587)

As the generations went along, however, intermarriage rates skyrocketed for Nikkeijin in the New World, from Canada in the north to Brazil in the south.

Also, intermarriage with non-Japanese became common in the Japanese American community in the 1960s. Intermarriage among Japanese Americans was at approximately 50% by the 1970s, and at 70% in the 1990s. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonsei_(fourth-generation_Nikkei)#American_Yonsei)

It begs the question: How much higher is the intermarriage rate now, in the second decade of the 21th century, for Japanese Americans?

While members of the sansei [third generation Japanese American] and yonsei [fourth generation Japanese American] generation may visit Japan, they tend to see this activity only as tourism. Japanese cultural structure is generally not present among the yonsei generation. According to a 2006 study of yonsei women in Hawai'i, this generation of Japanese-Americans tends to assert their ethnicity in such "symbolic" ways as the celebration of holidays and ceremonies associated with Japan, eating ethnic foods, and the use of Japanese middle-names. The study noted that the yonsei generation considered its ethnicity to be less important than did previous generations of Japanese-Americans. Cheryl Lynn Sullivan, an ethnic research who specializes in the Japanese-American community of California, wrote, "It is common in the Japanese American community not to consider yonsei Japanese American -- they are 'just plain Americans.' This is especially true of children who are the offspring of Japanese American-Euro-American marriages." Others celebrate their ancestry in cultural exchanges based around youth and sports events, e.g. Yonsei Basketball Association .

According to a 2011 columnist in The Rafu Shimpo of Los Angeles, "Younger Japanese Americans are more culturally American than Japanese" and "other than some vestigial cultural affiliations, a Yonsei or Gosei is simply another American." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonsei_(fourth-generation_Nikkei)#American_Yonsei)

For the intermarriage rates of Japanese Brazilians, let a Japanese Brazilian poster, The Hypocrite, on the Anthrocivitas forums answer (http://anthrocivitas.net/forum/showpost.php?p=133190&postcount=23) that for you:

It took sometime for Japanese immigrants to intermarry with other Brazilians. It only began in earnest at the second generation.

Percentage of mixed people by generation:

2nd - 6%
3rd - 42%
4th - 61%

So, 42% of third-generation (Sansei) Japanese Brazilians are only part Japanese, while 61% of fourth-generation (Yonsei) Japanese Brazilians are only part Japanese.

But Japanese Canadians probably take the prize for the highest intermarriage rates among the major Nikkei groups in the Americas: 95% (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Japanese+Canadians+intermarriage+rate+95%) ... and rising.

According to Statistics Canada (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2010001/article/11143-eng.htm#a5):

Japanese had the highest proportion marrying or partnering outside of their visible minority group, as shown in the 2006 Census. Indeed, about three-quarters (75%) of the 29,700 couples where at least one person in the couple was Japanese involved pairings with a non-Japanese person. As was noted in earlier research, this high proportion may be at least partially due to the long duration of residence for many Japanese in Canada, as well as the low overall number of Japanese, which could increase interaction with persons outside of their group.

Although the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans from the West Coast in the United States and Japanese Canadians from the West Coast of Canada during World War II, along with things like low immigration rates from Japan after World War II and relatively small populations may help explain the sky high intermarriage rates among native-born Nikkeijin in the Americas, data from Statistics Canada show that the intermarriage rate in Canada is also high for people born in Japan, approaching 50 percent (48% (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2010001/article/11143-eng.htm#a6)).

Post-World War II emigration out of Japan - like those generally out of Western Europe - is very low. And those few Japanese who choose to emigrate from Japan to the Americas nowadays, unlike Japanese immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, appear to have much higher intermarriage rates.

High intermarriage rates among ethnic Japanese living outside of Japan, along with other factors such as a lack of replenishing pool of new Japanese immigrants and the historic tendency of ethnic Japanese to advance, prosper and assimilate in new lands, may help explain why no major ethnic Japanese communities one can think of - unlike for a number of other ethnic groups - have survived intact hundreds of years outside of their ancestral homeland.

Substantial ethnic Japanese communities once thrived in Siam (now Thailand), The Philippines, what are now present-day Cambodia and Vietnam, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries. (http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Nihonmachi)

They ceased existing long ago after the 1640s, "when the Tokugawa shogunate imposed maritime restrictions which forbade Japanese from leaving the country, and from returning if they were already abroad. This policy would not be lifted for over two hundred years. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_diaspora#Early_history)"

"Some of these Southeast Asian Nihonmachi [Japan Towns] survived through the end of the 17th century. Japan's foreign trade was now handled exclusively by Chinese, Dutch, and Southeast Asian ships, but Japanese living abroad continued to play important commercial roles, and in some cases to exert considerable influence upon the economies of a number of ports. Still, by the end of the 17th century, the lack of influx of new Japanese immigrants led these communities to either disappear through assimilation into the peoples of their new homes, or to die out entirely. (http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Nihonmachi)"

The Japanese American, the Japanese Canadian, and the Japanese Mexican communities in North America are a little over one hundred and thirty or forty or so years old. The ethnic Japanese communities in South America - Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, etc. - are somewhat younger, perhaps a little over one hundred years old (starting point is 1907 with the Gentlemen's Agreement (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Gentlemen's+Agreement+1907), which severely restricted immigration to the U.S. from Japan and diverted it toward the south, way south, to South America).

While the future may look bleak for the continuing existence of present-day ethnic Japanese communities outside of Japan past the 21st century, particularly in places like Canada, a number of descendants of the Japanese diaspora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_diaspora), both those will full and partial Japanese ancestry, have asserted their Japanese heritage, if only symbolically.

P.S. The official data and figures from the 2010 United States Census for the U.S. populations of various Asian groups categorized by national origin can be found here: Race Reporting for the Asian Population by Selected Categories: 2010 - 2010 Census Summary File 1 (http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP8&prodType=table).

Using these official data and figures from the 2010 U.S. Census to calculate percentages of those of full and mixed ancestries, of all the Asian ethnic groups those of Japanese national origin by far have the highest percentage of individuals of mixed ancestry: 41.5 percent.

One can anticipate the figure of people of mixed Japanese descent living in the U.S. going over 50 percent in the 2020 U.S. Census.

The 41.5% figure is considerably up from the 30.7% figure found for those of mixed Japanese ancestry living in the U.S. using official data and figures from the 2000 U.S. Census (http://southjnews.com/changing-demographics-japanese-americans-in-the-us-p175-86.htm).

The total number of individuals of full Japanese ancestry living in the U.S. ACTUALLY FELL from 796,700 recorded in the 2000 U.S. Census (http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-16.pdf) figure to 763,325 recorded in the 2010 U.S. Census (http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP8&prodType=table).

Very low immigration rates from Japan, very high intermarriage rates of people of Japanese descent, low birth rates of people of Japanese descent, and deaths of the mostly elderly population of full Japanese descent presumably help explain the shrinking number of persons with full Japanese ancestry living in the U.S. from 2000 to 2010.

The 2000 U.S. Census, I just noticed, separated Okinawans and Iwo Jimans apart from Japanese into independent categories. The 2010 U.S. Census apparently lumped Okinawans and Iwo Jimans together with Japanese into a single category, Japanese.

It must be taken into account that many people of Okinawan ancestry in the U.S., most of whom live in Hawaii (I seem to recall reading that 20 or so percent of the total ethnic Japanese population in Hawaii is Okinawan), may have classified themselves as being of Japanese descent rather being of Okinawan descent in the 2000 U.S. Census, as the figures there for Okinawans seem much too small to account for those just living in Hawaii.

Using data and figures from the 2000 U.S. census (http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-16.pdf), an astonishing 66.9 percent, or over two thirds, of the total listed Okinawan ethnic population in the U.S. was of mixed descent in 2000.

This very high percentage of people of Okinawan descent living in the U.S. with mixed ancestry presumably has a lot to do with the substantial American military presence and bases in Okinawa and the many U.S. servicemen returning to America with Okinawan wives.

[Siegel Clyne]

Beautiful Uruguayan Mexican actress and model Bárbara Mori (http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=693&q=Barbara+Mori) was born Bárbara Mori Ochoa on February 2, 1978 in Montevideo, Uruguay to a Japanese-Uruguayan father, Yuyi Mori, and a Mexican mother, Rosario Ochoa. Her paternal grandfather had immigrated from Japan to Uruguay during the 1930s, I think, and married a local woman. She has two siblings, an older sister, Kenya Mori, and a younger brother, Kintaro Mori.

Excluding her non-Japanese descended mother and her son Sergio, Bárbara is the only one in her immediate family without a Japanese given name: Yuyi (Yuji/Yuuji), Kenya, and Kintaro (Kintarou) are Japanese names.

Bárbara Mori became famous for starring as the titular bad girl, the "mala mujer," Rubí Pérez Ochoa de Ferrer in the smash hit 2004 Mexican television soap opera (telenovela) series Rubí (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub%C3%AD), (a remake of a 1968 Mexican telenovela, itself based on a short story by Yolanda Vargas Dulché), as well as starring as Zoe (Soniya in the Hindi version) in the hit 2005 Mexican theatrical feature La mujer de mi hermano (My Brother's Wife) - renamed Spanish Beauty (Hindi dubbed version) and A Beautiful Wife (English dubbed version) for the Indian/South Asian market - and co-starring as Natasha/Linda with Indian actor Hrithik Roshan, who plays Jai Singhania, in the much hyped 2011 Bollywood film, Kites.

Mori learned to speak English while filming Kites.

In an interview conducted by India-Forums, 'I'm not a perfect person' - Barbara Mori (http://www.india-forums.com/bollywood/starry-takes/14307-im-not-a-perfect-person-barbara-mori.htm), dated May 10, 2010, Bárbara Mori said:

I was born in Uruguay and grew up in Mexico. I have an Asian root too as my paternal grandfather is Japanese. I have worked in 10 soap operas and 6 movies. I started working when I was fourteen as a waitress. I started modeling when I was seventeen. Later soap operas happened and films followed.

As far as Asia goes, it seems that Bárbara Mori is more famous in India and in The Philippines - where Rubí proved to so popular that it was remade into a local 2010 TV version in Filipino/Tagalog and English - than she is in her ancestral homeland of Japan.

In an old AOL Latino Entretenimiento (http://web.archive.org/web/20061105174319/http://entretenimiento.aol.com/cine/canvas/_a/entrevista-barbara-mori-parte-ii/20060726105609990001) interview - which I had to retrieve using the Wayback Machine - Bárbara Mori was asked about her Japanese family name, Mori, and replied that it means "forest." She went on to say that her father (Yuyi) and her two siblings (Kenya and Kintaro), as well as herself, have the kanji for their family name, 森, tattooed on their bodies.

Bárbara Mori's 森 kanji tattoo is on her lower back.

Bárbara Mori was asked what she learned from her Japanese culture and she answered that she learned to eat raw fish at an early age. She recalled gatherings with her paternal grandfather, when he would get drunk and start singing songs in Japanese. Lots of joy and fun and laughter ensued.

This one is for you Barbara Mori

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Barbara Mori ( Rubí ) - Tu y yo

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Barbara Mori-rubi mala mujer

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barbara mori

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BARBARA MORI

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Las mejores fotos de Bárbara Mori

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Barbara Mori-Marlene Favela (Rubi)

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Moving from Uruguay via Mexico to LA in the USA...

R&B/pop singer and songwriter Jhené Aiko was born Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo on March 16, 1988 in Los Angeles, California to a mother of half Japanese and part Spanish and Black Dominican descent, Christina Yamamoto, and a father of Black, Jewish and Native American descent, Karamo Chilombo.

The little known story of post-World War II immigration from Japan to the Dominican Republic during the 1950s, with all the hardships it entails, may or may not help explain the background of Jhené Aiko's mother.

On March 16, 2011, Jhené Aiko released the critically acclaimed mixtape sailing soul(s) (http://www.jheneaiko.com/).

Probably the best known selection from sailing soul(s) is "july (feat. Drake)."

Many people erroneously assume that "July" is a Drake song:

Drake - July ft. Jhene Aiko (With Download Link)

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The Japanese koto sounds heard repreatedly throughout the song and Jhené Aiko's sung words ending "July" - I am Japanese if you please - say otherwise.

Here is the original version of "July" dating back to late 2008, featuring a then relatively unknown Drake in a much reduced role, heard only toward the end of the song:

Jhene Aiko - July (original) with lyrics

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Jhené Aiko has a daughter with O'Ryan named Namiko Love Chilombo-Browner.

(If they know little or nothing else about Japanese culture, one of things many Nikkeijin is give their children Japanese middle names, or such as in the case of Jhené Aiko, Japanese first names.)

Jhené Aiko's "My Mine"

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Jhene Aiko "3:16am" teaser

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Jhene Aiko Exclusive Interview with Yeah Im Famous

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Staying in the Los Angeles area...

Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda (born February 11, 1977) is an American musician, record producer, and artist. He is best known as the rapper, principal songwriter, keyboardist, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Linkin Park. Shinoda is also noted as a solo rapper in his side-project, Fort Minor. He also provides artwork, production, and mixing for both projects. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Shinoda)

Mike Shinoda was born and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Agoura Hills, California. His father is an American of Japanese descent and his mother is an American of mainly mixed European descent, with some Native American thrown in.

Shinoda and his high school friends Brad Delson and Rob Bourdon formed the band Xero. After high school, Shinoda attended the Art Center College of Design to study graphic design and illustration where he met DJ and turntablist Joseph "Joe" Hahn, a Korean American, and recruited him to join his band. Xero later become known as Linkin Park and the rest, shall we say, is history.

The interplay between the rapping vocals of Mike Shinoda and the singing vocals of Chester Bennington helped define the unique Linkin Park sound, e.g., Linkin Park - In The End (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4).

(Warner Bros. Records and linkinparktv disable embedding Linkin Park music videos on YouTube, so do not worry about them being embedded here.)

Japanese cultural references, including Gundam models, abound in Linkin Park's Somewhere I Belong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcs5PRxEXq4) video.

Crossing the pond from North America to Europe, we head off to Sweden...

Yukimi Nagano - Swedish singer/songwriter born in Gothenburg, Sweden to a Japanese father and a Swedish American mother. Also known simply as "Kimi," she is the lead singer for the Swedish electronic band Little Dragon, which she formed with some of her high school friends. She has performed with other groups as well, such as Sweden's nu jazz duo Koop and Japan's jazz band Sleep Walker.

Little Dragon - Constant Surprises

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Koop - Summer Sun

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sleepwalker afloat (ft yukimi nagano)

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Interview: Little Dragon in Austin

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Yukimi Nagano's singing voice sometimes reminds me of the great American blues/jazz/pop singer Billie Holiday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday) - you can certainly hear the resemblance to Holiday in Hird feat. Yukimi Nagano - I Love You My Hope [ + Lyrics ] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4CJEMmJpr8) - but still all her own.

Nagano's vocal stylings and phrasing remind many fans of African American singer/songwriter Erykah Badu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erykah_Badu), known as the "First Lady of Neo-Soul" or the "Queen of Neo-Soul," whose own vocal stylings and phrasings in turn evoke memories of the aforementioned Billie Holiday.

Yukimi Nagano is a fantastic jazz singer - well, she is a fantastic singer, period - with a unique and beautiful voice, which you can really hear when she performs with jazz and nu jazz musicians from around the world. Check her out on YouTube. It's too bad she isn't better known in America.

Of all singers of Japanese descent whom I know of, Yukimi Nagano just may be my favorite. "Summer Sun" just blows me away.

Speaking of unique...

Maia Hirasawa - Japanese-Swedish singer/songwriter. Someone commented that Maia sounds like a happy Bjork.

Maia Hirasawa - And I found this boy

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It Doesn´t Stop by Maia Hirasawa

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Staying in Sweden (although I think Maia lives at least part time in Japan now, recording for Victor Entertainment there)...

Million Stylez is a reggae and dancehall artist born Kenshin Iryo on June 1, 1981 in Stockholm, Sweden to a Japanese immigrant father and a French immigrant mother. (http://unitedreggae.com/articles/n925/031612/interview-million-stylez)

Million Stylez is "Europe's No.1 dancehall reggae artist. (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Million%20Stylez%20Europe's%20No.%201%20dancehal l%20reggae%20artist)"

Million Stylez - Miss Fatty

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million stylez - all night

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Million Stylez - Wheres My Wife * Brand New * [ Heart & Soul Riddim Nov 2011]

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Interview with Million Stylez by Late Night Munchies

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Moving to Italy...

The "subscribed female singer on YouTube Italia," Sayaka Alessandra was born in Rome, Italy to a Japanese father and a Sicilian mother.

Her favorite music artist is Elvis Presley. But here she is doing a bilingual cover version of the 1950s Italian hit song by Renato Carosone, "Tu vuò fà l'americano," sung in the Neopolitan dialect of Italian and English:

Tu Vuo' Fa' l'Americano/You Wanna Be Americano (SayakaAlessandra at VideoSicilia TV)

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Here is Sayaka Alessandra's cover version of Bobby Darin's 1959 U.S. hit song, "Dream Lover":

Dream Lover (Bobby Darin cover by SayakaAlessandra)

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Sayaka Alessandra performs a bilingual version, in English and in Spanish, of "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás." "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" (also known as "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" in English), is a popular song by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farres. Farrés wrote the music and original Spanish lyrics for the song which became a hit in 1947. The English lyrics were written by Joe Davis and are not a translation of the Spanish lyrics. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quizás,_Quizás,_Quizás)

Quizás Quizás Quizás (cover by SayakaAlessandra)

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SAYALESSANDRA UPDATES/MESSAGGIO DA SAYALESSANDRA

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Heading back to America...

Meiko (pronounced MEE-ko), is an American singer/songwriter, born and raised in Roberta, Georgia and currently residing in Los Angeles, California. She independently released a self-titled album on September 1, 2007. All of the tracks from the LP have been featured in major network TV shows....

Meiko is one-quarter Japanese, on her maternal grandmother's side; in an attempt to get in touch with their Japanese heritage, she and her sister, designer Kelly Nishimoto, adopted the nicknames Meiko and Keiko. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiko_(American_singer))

Meiko - Under My Bed

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Rachael Yamagata (born September 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist from Arlington, Virginia. She began her musical career with the band Bumpus before becoming a solo artist and releasing four EP's and three studio albums. Her songs have appeared on numerous television shows and she has collaborated with other musicians including Jason Mraz, Rhett Miller, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, Toots and the Maytals and Ray Lamontagne. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachael_Yamagata)

Rachael's father is a third-generation (Sansei) Japanese American. Her mother is a half German, half Italian American.

Rachael Yamagata - Be Be Your Love

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Marié Christina Digby ( /mɑriˈeɪ ˈdɪɡbi/ mar-ee-ay dig-bee; born April 16, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist and actress. She is known for her acoustic cover version of Rihanna's "Umbrella", which attracted attention on YouTube in 2007. The song was subsequently played on the radio station STAR 98.7, was featured on the highly rated third season opening episode of the MTV show The Hills,[1] and peaked at #10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. Digby performed the song on the late night talk show Last Call with Carson Daly on August 2, 2007. Since then, Digby has released three studio albums, including one Japanese cover album. These albums have spawned three singles overall....

Digby, whose mother is Japanese and father is Irish American, is the oldest of three siblings. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari%C3%A9_Digby)

Marie Digby - Say It Again - World Premiere Video (HQ)

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Doug Robb, lead singer of the American rock band Hoobastank, is half Japanese and half Scottish.

Hoobastank - The Reason

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Superman, that All-American cultural icon, become part Japanese during the 1990s when actor Dean Cain was cast as Clark Kent/Superman in the 1993-1997 ABC television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Cain was born Dean George Tanaka on July 31, 1966 in Mount Clemens, Michigan to actress Sharon Thomas and U.S. Army serviceman Roger Tanaka. Cain is part French Canadian, Irish, Welsh, and one-fourth Japanese through his biological father.

Cain reportedly has his Japanese birth family name, Tanaka, tattooed in kanji on his (left) ankle. (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=dean+cain+tanaka+tattoo)

I presume the kanji for Dean Cain's Tanaka ankle tattoo are 田中.

Dean Cain is Superman

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Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher on the proposal on Lois and Clark

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Clark's Return (Lois & Clark 4.01)

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Crossing the pond back once again, we head off to the United Kingdom...

Current British Secretary of State of Work and Pensions and leader of the Conservative Party in the UK from 2001 to 2003, the Scottish-born Iain Duncan Smith (IDS) is one eighth Japanese. One of his maternal grandfathers, the Irish sea captain Samuel Lewis Shaw (a relative of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw) met his future wife, IDS's maternal great-grandmother Ellen Oshey (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/sep/03/conservatives.uk) Matsumuro (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Iain+Duncan+Smith+Matsumuro), a Japanese woman in Beijing, China during the late 19th century. Ellen was a daughter of a Japanese artist.

We head back to the good ol' USA, bringing model, actress, and TV host of the Bravo reality show, Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, China Chow along with us...

Born in London to Shanghai-born art-collecting restaurateur Michael Chow and the late jewelry designer and internationally renowned model/1980s fashion icon Tina Chow, China Chow moved with father and mother to New York City when she was five. China is 7/16ths Chinese and 1/16th Scottish from her father's side, and 1/4th Japanese and 1/4th German from her mother's side.

Here is a funny scene from the 1998 non hit, The Big Hit, which starred her opposite Mark Wahlberg, whom she briefly dated around the time of the making of the movie, attempting to read a ransom note presented by the head kidnapper, played by Lou Diamond Phillips, another actor of mixed Asian and European descent (with a little Native American thrown in):

China Chow - Funny scene from The Big Hit

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Work Of Art Sneak Peek: Meet the Contestants

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For more attractive female celebrities and entertainers with partial Asian ancestry, just google "Asian" together with names like "Kate Beckinsale," "Olivia Munn," "Vanessa Hudgens," "Kristin Kreuk," "Lindsay Price," "Naomi Campbell," "Jennifer Tilly," "Phoebe Cates," etc., etc., etc.

Excluding The New Pussycat Dolls...

Did you know that at one time, during their heyday last decade, over half of the members of The Pussycat Dolls were part Asian?

Former Pussycat Dolls member and lead singer Nicole Scherzinger's biological father is Filipino; her mother is half Hawaiian and half Russian. Her family name Scherzinger comes from her German American stepfather.

Former Pussycat Dolls member Carmit Bachar is Jewish Israeli, Dutch, Indonesian, and Chinese. (There are conflicting accounts on what exactly are the ethnic makeups of her father and her mother, so I left that alone here.)

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta's father is Russian-Polish Jewish; her mother is Japanese-Irish Roman Catholic.

The Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up

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Actor/director Clint Eastwood's wife, Dina Eastwood, is part Japanese.

Dina Eastwood (nee Ruiz) was born to a father of African American and Japanese descent and a mother of Irish, English and German descent. Her father was adopted by a Latino family named Ruiz. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Eastwood)

Dina Eastwood said in an interview published in the Spring 2007 issue of Carmel Magazine: "I call it the Carmel Bubble too. I had the same experience in the suburbs [of Fremont, Calif.]. I was the darkest kid at my elementary school. I used to get called ‘nigger’ in grade school. I had a real problem with my looks until I was about 20. Now everyone is mixed. It’s no big deal. My dad is black and Japanese. And my mom’s Irish, German and English. I was the poor kid in the rich school. (http://www.carmelmagazine.com/archive/07sp/dina-eastwood.shtml)"

The Eastwoods have one daughter together, Morgan Eastwood.

Dina Eastwood, Band Manager of Overtone Group

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Clint Eastwood and Dina Eastwood Talk About The SPCA

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Clint Eastwood and Dina Eastwood support the SPCA for Monterey County.

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Carrie Ann Inaba (born January 5, 1968) is an American dancer, choreographer, actress, game show host, and singer. She has been one of the three main judges on the ABC television reality show Dancing with the Stars - a U.S. adaptation of a British television series, Strictly Come Dancing - since its inception.

Inaba was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a father of Japanese descent and a mother of Chinese and Irish descent.

Carrie Ann Inaba Gets Engaged on Live TV

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TOKYOLOGY - Harajuku - Hosted by Carrie Ann Inaba - Tokyo Pop Culture Documentary - HD

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Carrie Ann Inaba - Judging Moments Montage

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Fred Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out. With Carrie Brownstein, he is the co-creator and co-star of the IFC sketch series Portlandia....

Armisen was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and moved to Manhattan, New York City as a baby. He was raised in Valley Stream, New York, on Long Island. His mother is Venezuelan and his father is of German and Japanese descent. He attended the School of Visual Arts (NYC) before dropping out to begin a career as a rock drummer. He has mentioned watching the bands The Clash and Devo perform on television, and wanting to be a performer since he was a child. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Armisen)

Here is a sketch from the second episode of the first season of Portlandia, "Put A Bird On It," starring Fred Armisen as Bryce Shivers and Carrie Brownstein as Lisa Eversman:

Put A Bird On It - Portlandia on IFC

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Fred Armisen Was A Very Disturbed Little Boy - Conan on TBS

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P.S. Wouldn't ya know it? A couple of days after I last edited this post (http://forums.animesuki.com/posthistory.php?do=compare&p=4039120), it was officially announced (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/03/clint-eastwood-wife-dina-reality-show-e-network.html) that Dina Eastwood, Clint Eastwood's wife, will star in a ten-episode television series, Mrs. Eastwood & Company, set to premiere May 20, 2012 on the E! network, featuring Dina and Clint's daughter Morgan Eastwood and Dina's stepdaughter Francesca Eastwood, Clint's daughter by actress Frances Fisher, as well as the all-male vocal group Overtone managed by Dina, whom she discovered in South Africa while Clint was filming Invictus. Clint is slated to make only a few guest appearances on the reality show.

This official announcement confirmed an exclusive report on TMZ late last year, December 14, 2011 (http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/14/clint-eastwood-family-to-star-in-e-reality-show/#.T2UPa3h8al4), that Clint Eastwood and his family would be in a reality show.

"Mrs. Eastwood & Company is produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, the people behind MTV’s long-running Real World and E’s other hit family show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. (http://whogottherole.com/movie-tv-news/tv-news/move-over-kardashians-clint-eastwood-wife-reality-show-coming-to-e/)"

During the early part of the first decade of this century, I remember watching Dina Eastwood co-host Candid Camera with Peter Funt (http://www.candidcamera.com/cc2/cc2i.html), son of the late Allen Funt, creator, producer, and former host of this classic American TV show which made its debut in 1948 and aired its last original episode in 2004.

The lovely (and tall!) Kimora Lee Simmons (http://www.google.com/search?q=kimora+lee+simmons&hl=en&prmd=imvnsol&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=eXJqT8yRG-mXiALluvCeBQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CB8Q_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=873#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Kimora+Lee+Simmons&oq=Kimora+Lee+Simmons&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_l=img.3..0l10.18822l25922l0l27363l6l6l0l0l0l0l1 31l757l0j6l6l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e5bcfb0def6cc17f&biw=1920&bih=873) is "an American fashion model, and former president and Creative Director for Phat Fashions. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimora_Lee_Simmons)"

Simmons was born in St. Louis, Missouri to a Korean-born Japanese mother (though some sources I have read say her mother is half Japanese and half Korean) and an African American father.

Kimora: Life In the Fab Lane | Seas. 4 | Ep. 1 Blowouts and Breakdowns 1/3

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1-13-11 Kimora Lee Simmons Talks New Baby, Tweeting, & New Reality Show on Lopez Tonight

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Gorgeous Chrishell Stause (http://www.google.com/search?q=Chrishell+Stause&hl=en&prmd=imvnso&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=tmxqT8_vJYWuiALKlaGUAQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CA4Q_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=898), born Terrina Chrishell Stause from Draffenville, Kentucky, is an American actress of part Japanese and part Spanish descent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrishell_Stause).

According to a tweet made by Stause herself (http://twitter.com/#!/Chrishell7/statuses/6784017039):

Chrishell Stause
‏ @Chrishell7

Follow

RT @Christie6187: what's your nationality? My dad is half Japanese/half Spanish-mom is just a bunch if white stuff ;)

6:49 PM - 17 Dec 09 via Echofon · Embed this Tweet

Chrishell Stause is sort of an American counterpart of Bárbara Mori, perhaps?

Stause is probably best known for playing Amanda Dillon on ABC-TV's All My Children from 2005 to 2011, when the long-running American daytime soap opera series ended.

60 Seconds with Chrishell Stause - All My Children

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Chrishell Stause Hair Cut

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Soapography Chrishell Stause

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chrishell_stause_Reel2011.mov

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Then again...

Interview with Chrishell Stause

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Judging by her family photos in the Soapography Chrishell Stause video, the second eldest of five daughters, Chrishell looks "the most Asian." Chrishell's sisters, in fact, look all white - one of her younger sisters has natural light blonde hair, much lighter in color than the natural brown hair of their white mother. Their half Japanese, half Spanish father looks "Latino," e.g., Mexican.

Ahh, human genetics...

From the good ol' All-American, Missouri-born and Kentucky-bred girl feelings one gets from Chrishell Stause, let us make a 180 degree turn to the nasty bitch vibes generated from the dance music videos by former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, whom I mentioned earlier in this post:

Jessica Sutta - I Wanna Be Bad

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Bom Chicka Wah Wah - Jessica Sutta

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Paul van Dyk ft. Jessica Sutta 'White Lies'

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Jessica Sutta - Show Me

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Jessica Sutta @ ABC News

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"Show Me" is composed as an uptempo dance-pop and electropop song with an electro beat. The song received mostly positive reviews, with music critics complimenting its club anthem-like nature and the synth pop associated with it. The song peaked at number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs in the United States, becoming Sutta's first solo number-one single and first Pussycat Doll to ever top the Billboard Club chart as a solo artist. "Show Me" is Jessica's second time at the top following her 2007 collaboration with Dave Audé, "Make It Last" while her Paul Van Dyk feature "White Lies" peaked at No. 3 in the same year. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_Me_(Jessica_Sutta_song))

On her ancient MySpace account (http://www.myspace.com/pcdjessicasutta) from five years or so ago, Sutta wrote:

My names Jessica Sutta. I was born in Miami, Florida, of Irish-Japanese Catholic and Russian-Polish Jewish heritage, and started dance classes at the age of three. I attended the New World School of the Arts when I was fourteen to study dance. I suffered an injury to both knees so that pretty much slowed my career down. I still love to sing and dance. I was/sorta still am a member of the PussyCat Dolls but right now I'm just like to take it easy and travel to try and find a place where I feel most comfortable. My hearts not in California anymore so I'm hoping to find a place to call home.

Kina Kasuya Grannis (born August 4, 1985) is a guitarist and singer-songwriter from California. She is half Japanese and half English, Irish, French, Scottish, Dutch and German.

Grannis was the winner of the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest. As a result of winning, she earned a recording contract with Interscope Records and had her music video played during the commercials of Super Bowl XLII. She recently won Best Web-Born Artist at the 2011 MTV O Music Awards.

Her progress in the competition was covered in The Orange County Register and The Wall Street Journal. Grannis has also been featured on FOX News Los Angeles, Good Day L.A. and Yahoo! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kina_Grannis)

Valentine - Kina Grannis (Official Music Video)

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Kina Grannis Full Interview, "In Your Arms" on Ellen 11/15

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In Your Arms - Kina Grannis (Official Music Video)

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Alice Hannah Meiqui Greczyn (born February 6, 1986) is an American actress and model. She is best known for roles in the films The Dukes of Hazzard, Shrooms, House of Fears and Sex Drive. She is also well known as Sage Lund in Lincoln Heights, and as Madeline 'Mads' Rybak in the hit series The Lying Game....

Greczyn was born in Walnut Creek, California and lives in Hollywood, California. She is the eldest of five children. As a child, Greczyn competed in figure skating. She was home-schooled in Colorado, graduated early from high school, and started taking classes at Front Range Community College when she was 15 or 16. Informed that she had to be 18 to take Colorado's nursing test, she decided to try modeling and relocated to California. Greczyn is of European and Asian descent. On her heritage, Greczyn stated, "I'm mainly French, Japanese, and Polish, but there's also Chinese, Korean, German, Irish, Native American, Scotch, English, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Swedish, Czech." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Greczyn)

Sexy Alice Greczyn Compilation

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ALICE GRECZYN at NEW MOON Premiere Arrivals

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Alice Greczyn An American in China car wash scene

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Alice Greczyn talks Life & The Lying Game

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Beautiful and sexy Teri Harrison (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&q=%22Teri+Marie+Harrison%22&oq=%22Teri+Marie+Harrison%22&aq=f&aqi=g1&gs_l=img.3..0.7721l7721l2l9022l1l1l0l0l0l0l120l120 l0j1l1l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1920&bih=873#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=%22Teri+Harrison%22&oq=%22Teri+Harrison%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=img.3...4346l5802l6l7140l6l6l0l0l0l2l490l1218 l0j4j1j0j1l6l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=7dc82e0e6f31c04a&biw=1920&bih=873), or "Teri Marie Harrison Rose (born February 16, 1981 in Bradenton, Florida, United States) is an American model and actress. A former student of the University of Central Florida, she was Playboy's Playmate of the Month in October 2002. She was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Her involvement with Playboy began when her best friend encouraged her to send pictures of herself to the magazine. Although she was chosen almost immediately as a Playmate, it was a year before she was assigned a month. She was also the German Playboy Playmate of the Month, for January 2003. According to Teri, her father is German and her mother is Japanese.

"She appeared in the 2005 Playmates at Play at the Playboy Mansion swimsuit calendar as calendar girl of December. The calendar was the inaugural Playmates at Play calendar and it was shot on the grounds of Playboy Mansion in 2004. It was Playboy's first attempt at creating a non-nude swimsuit calendar featuring Playmates similar in style with those from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

"She was also a Barker's Beauty on The Price Is Right from 2002 to 2005.

"Harrison was married to Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose and have a son together. They have since divorced. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teri_Harrison)"

According to the TERI HARRISON PLAYBOY PLAYMATE OCTOBER 2002 (http://www.playboyblog.com/2011/08/teri-harrison-playboy-playmate-october-2002/) (NSFW link!) entry on the Playboy Blog official website:

Teri Harrison is the Playboy Playmate for October 2002. Teri Harrison is the product of two different cultures, but the 21-year-old Florida native relishes her diversity. “My mom is Japanese and my father is German,” she says. “I have six sumo wrestler-looking uncles and a tiny Japanese grandmother, so I stick out like a Q-Tip in family pictures. Sushi and bratwurst — that’s my life!”

Terri Harrison Hooters High Quality 1080p
(Teri is the blonde in the magenta/pink bikini)

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tpirmodelstv.com - Terri Harrison 1

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tpirmodelstv.com - Best of Teri Harrison 2

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tpirmodelstv.com - Sun, Sand and Surf Showcase (Teri Harrison)

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She looks a lot more German than she does Japanese, wouldn't you say?

Teri Harrison is a natural blonde with hazel eyes - I have seen photos of her when she was a baby, a toddler, a young girl, and a teenager at the old Playboy official website - so why did she recently go brunette?

Miss October 2002 Teri Harrison

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(Just as is the case with many full Caucasians, when she was young, Teri's hair was literally snow white blonde, but darkened as she grew older. Nevertheless, she remained a blonde. As an adult, she lightened the color of hair to about the color it was when she was a young girl.)

Teri Harrison's has an older sister who also looks white, although with naturally darker hair than Teri, judging from their family pictures that were on at the old Playboy official website I had linked to in my "Sushi and Bratwurst" - A Real Life Half-Japanese, Half-German Blonde (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=1802537#post1802537) post in the foreigner stereotypes in anime thread on the General Anime Forum back in 2008.

And, if I recall correctly from seeing her family pictures at the old Playboy official website, believe it or not, Teri Harrison's older sister looks even more Caucasian than Teri does.

Teri Harrison, especially in the last video, actually reminds me a lot of the three sisters (they also had a brother) who babysitted my siblings and me when we were young. They just also happened to have shared the same ethnic parentage as Teri, that is, a mother of Japanese descent and a father of German descent.

One of metal's preeminent and most gifted musical figures today, Matt Heafy - born Matthew Kiichi Heafy on January 26, 1986 in Iwakuni, Japan to a Japanese mother, Yoshiko Heafy, and an Irish American father, Brian Heafy, and raised in Orlando, Florida - is the lead singer, the lead/rhythm/acoustic guitarist, and the main songwriter for the American thrash metal/metalcore band Trivium. (http://www.facebook.com/Matt.Heafy?v=info)

Trivium - Dying In Your Arms

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Trivium - Anthem (We Are The Fire)

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Trivium - Down From The Sky

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Interview with Matt Heafy of Trivium Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival July 22, 2011

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Going from one kind of musical virtuoso to another kind of musical virtuoso...

Anne Akiko Meyers (born May 15, 1970 in San Diego, California) is an American concert violinist. Meyers has toured and collaborated with a number of symphony orchestras and Il Divo, Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis. Meyers tours with a 1730 Stradivarius violin called the 'Royal Spanish'. She is also the owner of a 1697 Stradivarius called the "Molitor", which is purported to have been owned by Napoleon Bonaparte. She purchased the 'Molitor' from Tarisio Auctions on October 14, 2010 for US$3,600,000, the highest recorded auction price for any musical instrument in history until the Lady Blunt was sold on June 20, 2011. Meyers was featured on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann on October 26, 2010. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Akiko-Meyers/108387215849355)

Anne Akiko Meyers Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor

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Anne Akiko Meyers Performs the National Anthem

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Messages From Friends (Anne Akiko Meyers)

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Anne Akiko Meyers on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at age 11

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And let us move on to a present-day classical music prodigy...

Pianist Umi Garrett, dubbed American 'wunderkind' by Luxemburg TV. Featured on Ellen DeGeneres show. Winner at 9 years old of first prizes at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival and the J.S. Bach Competition against pianists up to 18 years of age.... (http://www.facebook.com/Umi.Garrett/info)

Umi is a student of Mrs. Yoshie Akimoto.

Umi also plays violin in school orchestra, and she has learned classical ballet since she was 2 1/2.

She loves to paint, swim, read and run. She is interested in science, history, computers, and math. She is fluent in English and Japanese. (http://www.umipiano.com/home.html)

Umi Garrett Plays For Ellen

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Umi Garrett with Boston Pops!! (age 9)

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8 year old Umi Garrett plays Liszt "Gnomenreigen"!!

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John Jacobson interviews Umi Garrett

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Daniella Alonso (born September 22, 1978) is an American actress known for her guest appearances as Anna Taggaro on The CW television series One Tree Hill and her lead roles in The Hills Have Eyes 2 and Wrong Turn 2: Dead End. She was voted #41 in 2006's Maxim Hot 100. Alonso appeared in the ABC documentary-style dramedy television series My Generation, which premiered in Fall 2010. The show was canceled after only two episodes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniella_Alonso) Alonso plays Matthews in the 2011 zombie horror flick Re-Kill, slated to be released on September 9, 2012 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re-Kill#Release).

It has been recently announced (http://tvline.com/2012/03/29/covert-affairs-season-3-casts-daniella-alonso/) that Alonso has been cast as Dr. Suzanne Wilkins, a psychiatrist working for the CIA, in the third season of USA Network's television spy drama series Covert Affairs.

Regarding her heritage the lovely Daniella Alonso says, "My mom's Puerto Rican and my dad's from Peru, but he's also Japanese." (http://www.maxim.com/girls-of-maxim/daniella-alonso-0)

Cambio Connect with Daniella Alonso and Jordin Sparks

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Daniella Alonso is "the brain" in ABC's new drama, 'My Generation'

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It is interesting how some singers of Asian and partial Asian descent, such as Yukimi Nagano and AI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_(singer)), who have no black or African ancestry, can sound "black" when they sing and they can sing with a lot of "soul."

Despite her all English/Anglo name, Brooke Taylor is an R&B/soul singer from Culver City, California who also happens to be a fourth generation American of Japanese descent (http://aarising.com/aprofiler/brooketaylor.htm) (Yonsei).

Brooke Taylor "Dear Archer" (Official Music Video)

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Brooke Taylor - Dose Of U

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Brooke Taylor- Live on virtuous energy

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Brooke Taylor - Save It 4 U

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Brooke Taylor Interview

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We now leave the US and head up north of the border to Canada to meet Justin Bieber... err... no, that's another Canadian... Justin Nozuka and a few of his brothers...

Justin Tokimitsu Nozuka (born September 29, 1988) is a American-Canadian singer-songwriter. His debut album Holly has been released in Europe, Canada, Japan and the United States. He has licensed the album to indie label Coalition Entertainment Records, distributed by Warner Music in Canada, Outcaste Records in the UK/EU distributed by EMI and Glassnote Records in the US distributed by RED....

Nozuka was born to a Japanese father and an American mother of English ancestry. His mother's half-sister is actress Kyra Sedgwick and his first cousin twice removed is Edie Sedgwick. Justin's mother raised him and his six siblings as a single mother. Nozuka is the brother of R&B singer George, actor Philip, and singer/songwriter Henry. Other family members include Christian and two sisters, Margaret and Sandra (Sandy). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Nozuka)

Justin Nozuka "After Tonight"

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Mr Therapy Man/ Sun Is Shining - Justin Nozuka Band - Live In Philly

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Justin Nozuka ft. Zaho - Heartless (la promesse)

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Justin Nozuka, Philip Nozuka, and Christian Bridges Dancing =]

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Justin Nozuka, Philip Nozuka, and George Nozuka Acting, well kinda =]
<from the Degrassi TV teen drama series in Canada>

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george nozuka - talk to me - music video

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George Nozuka - Don't Go

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George Nozuka- Last Time

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Returning to America...

Far East Movement

Profile

Members

Kev Nish (Kevin Nishimura) – Chinese/Japanese-American
DJ Virman (Virman Coquia) – Filipino-American
J-Splif (Jae Choung) – Korean-American
Prohgress (James Roh) – Korean-American

Albums

Audio Bio (2005)
Folk Music (2006)
Flavored Animal Droppings (2007)
Animal (2008)
Free Wired (2010)

Biography

The Far*East Movement (also known as FM) is a rapping and songwriting group with ample experience in producing tracks and creating music events, which formed by 2003 in Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif, and DJ Virman. The four of them represent different generations of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Korean backgrounds within the Asian-American community. They put together the first multicultural live music event in Koreatown, Los Angeles to benefit a drug rehabilitation center in the community called "Movementality”. FM’s first claim to fame was their song “Round Round” featured in the Hollywood blockbuster, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and its subsequent soundtrack, video game and DVD. Since Round Round, they’ve been featured on various other network shows including CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, HBO’s hit show Entourage, and Finishing the Game (a featured film at Sundance 2007). They were invited to perform on Power 106′s Powerhouse 2009, one of biggest Hip-Hop concerts on the west coast, performing with the line-up including Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Sean Paul, New Boyz, Pitbull, Lil Jon, LMFAO, Ya Boy, Flo Rida, and the Black Eyed Peas. Their new single “Like A G6″ achieved 6th place on the Billboard Top 100 charts and hit #1 on iTunes as well.

The original members of Far East Movement, Kevin Nishimura, James Roh and Jae Choung, grew up in the Koreatown of Los Angeles, California. They were close companions in high school and shared a passion for music together. The trio promoted their music online and began performing at local clubs and events in Los Angeles; soon, they began their musical career with the name “Emcee’s Anonymous” by 2001. However, they later changed it to Far East Movement or FM, originating from a song that they produced and titled as “The Far East Movement”. In 2003, they organized together an event called “Movementality” in Koreatown, LA, featuring ten different performances with all the proceeds sent to a local youth drug rehabilitation center.

Their first album called Folk Music was released in early 2006. The single “Round Round” was featured in the film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, appearing both on the soundtrack and video game. This critical breakout was the catalyst that cemented their decision to pursue music as a full-time career. They proceeded to perform on two world tours (including USA, South America, Canada, and Asia), and they signed distribution deals in Japan and Korea with Avex Network and JF Productions for their album. Their songs continued to be shown in the media and TV networks including VH1, MTV and E!. In 2007, they were featured in the Sundance Film Festival film called Finishing the Game, making the song “Satisfaction” for the film. They also released the single “You’ve Got A Friend” featuring Lil Rob and Baby Bash, which became their first song on major national radio. (http://www.musicstop.org/far-east-movement-profile)

Far East Movement (stylized Far⋆East Movement or abbreviated FM) is an American electro hop quartet based in Los Angeles. The group formed in 2003 and consists of Kev Nish (Kevin Nishimura), Prohgress (James Roh), J-Splif (Jae Choung), and DJ Virman (Virman Coquia). Far East Movement's first claim to fame was their song "Round Round" featured in the Hollywood movie, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and its subsequent soundtrack, video game and DVD.

Since "Round Round", the group has been featured on various network shows including CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Entourage, Gossip Girl, and Finishing the Game (a featured film at Sundance 2007). They were invited to perform on Power 106's Powerhouse 2009, the Disney show So Random, and one of the biggest hip-hop concerts on the U.S. West Coast, performing with the line-up including Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Sean Paul, Pitbull, Lil Jon, LMFAO, Ya Boy, Flo Rida, and The Black Eyed Peas. Their single "Like a G6" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and on iTunes as well in late October 2010. Far East Movement also has the distinction of being the first Asian-American group to earn a top ten hit on the Mainstream Pop charts in the United States. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_East_Movement)

[i]Far East Movement - Like A G6 ft. The Cataracs, DEV

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Far East Movement - Rocketeer ft. Ryan Tedder

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Far East Movement - If I Was You (OMG) ft Snoop Dogg

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Far East Movement - Girls On the Dance Floor ft. Stereotypes

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Far East Movement - So What?

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Far East Movement - Jello ft. Rye Rye

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Far East Movement - Live My Life ft. Justin Bieber

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After intermarriage with whites, Far East Movement main rapper, songwriter, and producer Kev Nish AKA Kevin Nishimura is a product of the second most common type of intermarriage involving Japanese Americans: intermarriages with other Asian Americans. His father is Japanese American and his mother is Chinese American.

[Shinji01]

I happen to have met Crystal Kay and BENI. Both really nice girls...

Now, speaking of english singing Japanese singers, how about non-english speaking japanese singing in pretty good english???

Kaho Shimada (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSBwPFHGqQ)

Dreams Come True (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9w1_61Ch5A)

[Autumn Demon]

Reconstruction and lack of it in Tohoku (http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2012/03/japan-year-later)

[Nerroth]

I just saw an interesting article (and video) on Nagasaki by Mariko Oi over on the BBC News website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-17285248).

(I probably shouldn't have been so surprised, but I hadn't registered how Nagasaki is closer to Shanghai than it is to Tokyo...)

[GDB]

Any suggestions on some nice (gaijin friendly) onsen that I should hit up when in Japan? I'm not sure of what ones may be in Tokyo, but I'd prefer ones that could easily be reached via shinkansen.

As it is, I already plan on going out of my way to visit the Tottori Sanin Bokoro, since I intend to visit Conan Town while I'm there, so I'd prefer not having to go out of my way for others.

I seem to recall somewhere near Mt. Fuji being a sort of onsen town, but can't recall. Amani, I think it was? Is that shinkansen accessible and nice/reasonable?

[word sux]

I happen to have met Crystal Kay and BENI. Both really nice girls...

Now, speaking of english singing Japanese singers, how about non-english speaking japanese singing in pretty good english???

Kaho Shimada (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSBwPFHGqQ)

Dreams Come True (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9w1_61Ch5A)


I think Yama-b is one of the best when it come to this. He can't speak english but he sounds fluent when he sings. Not to mention that if you were blind folded and someone asked you does this singer sound Japanese there is no way you would say yes.

3HcfwXZHzkw

5csvGw2IcGQ

[Siegel Clyne]

Since I first wrote these last three posts in this thread - Japanese Singers Fluent in English (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=24135&page=115#2281), The Japanese Diaspora, Part 1 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=24135&page=115#2288), The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=24135&page=115#2289) - I have considerably edited and added more info to each post.

Two individuals I initially forgot to include were singer/songwriter Olivia Lufkin in the Japanese Singers Fluent in English post and comedian/actor/musician Fred Armisen in the The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 post.

I have also added to The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (former) TV news anchor Dina Eastwood, actor/director Clint Eastwood's wife and star of the upcoming TV reality show Mrs. Eastwood & Company, fashion model Kimora Lee Simmons, and actress Chrishell Stause.

Their segments are at the bottoms of the respective posts.

Although neither of her biological parents have a "Latino ancestral heritage," the father of Dina Eastwood (born Dina Ruiz), Michael Ruiz, was born to an African American father and a Japanese American mother (in Hawai'i, I think). Michael was adopted, I have read, by a Latino couple (in Hawai'i, I think) named Ruiz - a stepfather who was of Portuguese descent and and a stepmother who was of Puerto Rican descent. (Yep, that kind of family tree sounds like what one could get in the Aloha State.)

Dina Eastwood's mother is of Irish, English, and German descent.

Fred Armisen and Chrishell Stause both have part Latino lineages, Venezuelan for Armisen, Spanish for Stause. Armisen can play a member of virtually any ethnic or racial group. Stause plays nothing but Caucasians.

[Kirarakim]

I am not exactly sure if this is the most appropriate thread (but I can't think of one more appropriate) and thought this was kind of neat.

This is a rare recording of Shirley Temple at age 9 singing two Japanese children's songs. This was recorded in Japan in 1937 when she was there to promote one of her movies.


3M3GuNEOVBY

[aohige]

Any suggestions on some nice (gaijin friendly) onsen that I should hit up when in Japan? I'm not sure of what ones may be in Tokyo, but I'd prefer ones that could easily be reached via shinkansen.

As it is, I already plan on going out of my way to visit the Tottori Sanin Bokoro, since I intend to visit Conan Town while I'm there, so I'd prefer not having to go out of my way for others.

I seem to recall somewhere near Mt. Fuji being a sort of onsen town, but can't recall. Amani, I think it was? Is that shinkansen accessible and nice/reasonable?

Don't be like my friend who spent the entire seven days in Akihabara, while I took another friend on a tour around kantou and kansai.
...... just use six days instead. :rolleyes:

Use the single day free and go to Atami! The hotspot of hotsprings.
Sure, there are other places many people would suggest, but since Atami is the most prominent, they also have largest tourism for onsen, which I would think would help English speakers a bit better.
Atami is in Shizuoka pref., pretty close to Tokyo.

[Tri-ring]

I think Yama-b is one of the best when it come to this. He can't speak english but he sounds fluent when he sings. Not to mention that if you were blind folded and someone asked you does this singer sound Japanese there is no way you would say yes.

3HcfwXZHzkw

5csvGw2IcGQ

How about this one.

N8BxjNA4Zy8

[GDB]

Use the single day free and go to Atami! The hotspot of hotsprings.
Sure, there are other places many people would suggest, but since Atami is the most prominent, they also have largest tourism for onsen, which I would think would help English speakers a bit better.
Atami is in Shizuoka pref., pretty close to Tokyo.

Atami! That's the one I was thinking of. Is it accessible via shinkansen or just normal train/bus?

[aohige]

Atami! That's the one I was thinking of. Is it accessible via shinkansen or just normal train/bus?

It's barely two prefecture over, and pretty close.
Kaisoku Acty rapid train on the Tokaido Main Line (東海道本線) will get you there, no need for a shinkansen.

[Siegel Clyne]

In my The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4039120&postcount=2289) post, I have added more info and videos on two sexy, attractive, part Japanese women in American entertainment, actress Chrishell Stause and singer/dancer/actress Jessica Sutta, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls.

The couple of additional videos featuring the Missouri-born and Kentucky-bred Chrishell Stause in that post, project the image of the wholesome All-American girl.

On the other hand, the couple of music videos by Jessica Sutta in that post portray the bad girl, the nasty b**** ("I wanna be the b****!"), and the femme fatale.

[RRW]

not really culture ish but i say worth to share

6ydeY0tTtF4

[ChainLegacy]

In my The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4039120&postcount=2289) post, I have added more info and videos on two sexy, attractive, part Japanese women in American entertainment, actress Chrishell Stause and singer/dancer/actress Jessica Sutta, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls.

The couple of additional videos featuring the Missouri-born and Kentucky-bred Chrishell Stause in that post, project the image of the wholesome All-American girl.

On the other hand, the couple of music videos by Jessica Sutta in that post portray the bad girl, the nasty b**** ("I wanna be the b****!"), and the femme fatale.

Damn, ethnic mixing can produce some beautiful results :p:love:

[Sumeragi]

Eh..... I've never been a fan of East Asian-Other mixings. For some reason they aren't to my preferences.

[ChainLegacy]

Eh..... I've never been a fan of East Asian-Other mixings. For some reason they aren't to my preferences.

Every ethnicity has women I find attractive and in different ways. Ethnic mixes just add new dimensions. I really couldn't choose a racial look I find most attractive actually, they all are just great. :heh:

[SeijiSensei]

Every ethnicity has women I find attractive and in different ways. Ethnic mixes just add new dimensions. I really couldn't choose a racial look I find most attractive actually, they all are just great. :heh:

Back in the days when I was reading the James Bond novels, some of Fleming's female characters were often described as "Eurasian." It sounded exotic and sexy even if, at fourteen, I wasn't entirely sure what such a woman might look like. Now that I'm older and know what they look like, exotic and sexy still seems right.

[Sumeragi]

I suppose I'm conservative with my tastes.

[Siegel Clyne]

Damn, ethnic mixing can produce some beautiful results :p:love:

Since my lost post, I have added a number of more part-Japanese entertainers and celebrities to my The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4039120&postcount=2289) post, which started with the beautiful Bárbara Mori and incuding one of old-time favorites, the sexy Teri Harrison.

What I like about most all of the part-Japanese women I discussed in that post is that their beauty is natural, especially their facial beauty. They may dye or bleach their and use makeup on their face, but they not do cosmetic and plastic surgery on their face, which is all too common in Hollywood (http://www.celebrityplasticsurgery24.com/marilyn-monroe-set-the-plastic-surgery-standard/) and endemic in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan, and especially South Korea) (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=East+Asia+female+entertainers+plastic+and+cosmet ic+surgery).

On Japan's 2-Channel (2ch) forums, I have seen posted before and after pictures of a number of Japanese entertainers and celebrities, including some voice actresses, who have undergone cosmetic and plastic surgery on their face.

You can tell Chrishell Stause and Teri Harrison's facial beauty is natural because they are more than willing to show pictures of themselves when they were young and they look the same, maybe just less dolled up.

I have seen photos of Bárbara Mori without makeup and she still looks hot. Mori was accidentally discovered while working as a waitress in a restaurant in Mexico City at the age of 17 by an agent from a modeling agency. And, believe it or not, Mori has freckles, which she has talked about and I have seen in some photos.

These women still use makeup, they still do their hair (including bleaching and dyeing it), and they still do other things to make themselves more attractive on and off screen.

Heck, even male actors use makeup on screen.

Actress and model Alice Greczyn has a small bump on her nose. And the lovely actress Aya Sumika (http://www.google.com/search?q=marilyn+monroe+nose+job&hl=en&prmd=imvnso&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=sflvT83mH4jhiALG2PnCBQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CAwQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=1025#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Aya+Sumika&oq=Aya+Sumika&aq=f&aqi=g3g-S4&aql=&gs_l=img.3..0l3j0i24l4.4994l11330l0l11655l32l29l0l 3l3l17l302l3962l0j24j0j1l26l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=7dc82e0e6f31c04a&biw=1920&bih=1025) (born Aya Sumika Koenig in Miami, Florida) - whose mother is Japanese American and whose father is Caucasian American (I think the father may be Jewish because of the Koenig family name) - and who played FBI agent Liz Warner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Warner) in the popular NUMB3RS American television crime drama series, which ran on CBS from January 23, 2005 to March 12, 2010, has more than a small bump on her nose.

Many people on the Internet have commented on the striking beauty of singer/songwriter Jhené Aiko. (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&gs_nf=1&qe=SmhlbmUgQWlrbyBiZWF1dGlmdWw&qesig=W1E3Wl3VZh7GtsgSprA9VA&pkc=AFgZ2tln_a6BsY9PEHrbBB3Xba_00v5RAexfBovewbFDQI A8lf42HJLTVQ6g-1tJhKQ351qXn9Ia7sdjEPDZ9DXwNGJGntx8rQ&cp=20&gs_id=2o&xhr=t&q=beautiful+Jhene+Aiko&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Jhene+Aiko+beautiful)

And yet Jhené Aiko has written this about herself (http://jheneaiko.tumblr.com/post/11703542918/just-so-were-clear-i-am-not-your-next-pop):

I do not want to be your next pop star

I am not your next pop star

I have a pudgy little nose that I never plan on “fixing” ,
a cup full of butt
tiny tits from breast feeding a child for the full year that nature suggested
( in which, btw…
I never plan on filling back up with any other material other than breast milk)

I am not your next perfectly plump,
slim nosed,
5 foot 7
cover girl.

I am 5 foot 2

And I am not your next popstar.

How refreshing.

The legendary actress and beauty Marilyn Monroe, on the other hand, reportedly had a nose job and a chin implant (http://racked.com/archives/2010/06/04/marilyn-monroes-nose-and-chin-job.php). She was beautiful to begin with, but made even more so after her alleged rhinoplasty and almost certain chin augmentation.

[flying ^]

look @ this 15 y/o 'human doll' put up (what looks like and sounds to me...) a Japanese minstrel act... with bunch of hella creepy kimo-otas on niconico douga live.


:heh:


K5jzCQ32rSM


http://kotaku.com/5896366/when-your-daughter-thinks-shes-an-anime-doll-and-talks-to-creepy-guys-online/gallery/1

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/teenager-venus-angelic-living-doll_n_1365798.html

[TinyRedLeaf]

Tokyo chefs huff and puff over looser blowfish laws (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-japan-blowfish-idUSBRE83202P20120403)

Tokyo (April 2, Mon): With a scoop of a net, Tokyo chef Naohito Hashimoto selects a poisonous blowfish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraodontidae), considered a delicacy in Japan and, with a few deft strokes of his gleaming knife, starts the delicate process of preparing it for a customer.

Within moments, Mr Hashimoto separates the edible parts of the fish from the organs filled with a poison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrodotoxin) more deadly than cyanide.

For more than six decades, dicing blowfish in Tokyo has been the preserve of a small band of strictly regulated and licensed chefs, usually in exclusive restaurants. But new laws coming into effect from October are opening the lucrative trade to restaurants without a licence, making chefs like Mr Hashimoto see red.

"We spent time and money to obtain and use the blowfish licence but, with these new rules, anybody can handle blowfish, even without a licence," said Mr Hashimoto, a blowfish chef for some 30 years.

Apprentice blowfish chefs must train with a veteran for a minimum of two years before they can take rigorous written and practical exams. In Tokyo, the exam fee runs up to 17,900 yen (US$218).

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said city laws covering the serving of blowfish should be changed to reflect changing times. It hopes that relaxing the rules will cut prices and bring Tokyo in line with the rest of the nation.

"Outside of Tokyo, the regulations for blowfish are even more relaxed and yet there are hardly any poison-related accidents," said Mr Hironobu Kondo, an official at the city's Food Control Department.

"It is hoped that the number of restaurants with unlicensed chefs serving blowfish will rise, and that blowfish as an ingredient will be used not only for traditional Japanese foods, but also others, such as Chinese and Western foods."

A full-course meal of blowfish, known as fugu in Japanese, features delicacies such as blowfish tempura, and toasted fins in cups of hot sake. But the meal is far from cheap, as diners pay for the safety of a licensed chef. At Mr Hashimoto's restaurant, a meal costs at least 10,000 yen a person.

REUTERS

[Sumeragi]

What the hell is Tokyo, and for that matter, Japan thinking..... There's a reason why the license exists.

[SaintessHeart]

Tokyo chefs huff and puff over looser blowfish laws (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-japan-blowfish-idUSBRE83202P20120403)

Is the article title meant to precede "anyone eating fugu is fcked."?

[Autumn Demon]

What the hell is Tokyo, and for that matter, Japan thinking..... There's a reason why the license exists.
Maybe they're thinking the state should stop enriching license holders at the expense of consumers and non-licensed chefs.

[ranran]

Tokyo chefs huff and puff over looser blowfish laws (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-japan-blowfish-idUSBRE83202P20120403)

Well...if the number of deaths suddenly rise up in the Tokyo area...we all know who to blame :heh:

But seriously though, this is worrying. Even if they say the number of fugu poisoning is little, as they say 'hardly any', that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future. Especially if you start taking away the license...

[TinyRedLeaf]

Maybe they're thinking the state should stop enriching license holders at the expense of consumers and non-licensed chefs.
That would be my guess as well.



What the hell is Tokyo, and for that matter, Japan thinking..... There's a reason why the license exists.

Well...if the number of deaths suddenly rise up in the Tokyo area...we all know who to blame :heh:

But seriously though, this is worrying. Even if they say the number of fugu poisoning is little, as they say 'hardly any', that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future. Especially if you start taking away the license...
Actually, for one sickening moment, it occurred to me that the story could have been a belated April's Fool joke, so I went digging around and, to my relief, I found that it had been reported earlier last month (March 5) by The Japan Times (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120305a7.html).

======

The Japan Times story gives the relevant numbers:

Nationwide, there were 338 food poisoning cases in Japan related to fugu consumption that killed 23 people from 2000 to 2009.

Tokyo has logged seven instances of fugu poisoning over the past decade, with only one occurring in a restaurant, according to the metropolitan government. There was only one fatality: a man who ate fugu he had caught and cooked himself.


Twenty-three deaths over nine years, out of a national population of 125 million. So, yes, I think it's reasonable to say there has been "hardly any" cases of fugu poisoning.

The other key passage in the story:

"The revision will mean many more eateries will be allowed to sell fugu, and thus consumers may be able to eat cheap kinds of fugu at izakaya (traditional Japanese pubs) and other restaurants," said Mr Yuichi Makita, chairman of the Tokyo Fugu Cuisine Association.

"But prices of high-quality fugu, such as tora (tiger) fugu, will not drop and will probably not be available at such cheap places," said Mr Makita, who runs a high-class blowfish restaurant in Tokyo. However, he added that he opposes easing the licensing requirement because it will compromise diner safety.

Tokyo is one of only a handful of prefectures where people without licences are not allowed to sell so-called mikaki fugu, or whole fugu minus the poisonous parts, said Mr Makita.

To be sure, any fish shop can sell sliced or processed fugu meat as long as it is registered for sale at a public health centre. Only the sale of mikaki fugu is restricted.

From October, mikaki fugu sellers must label their products as "having venomous parts removed". Those who buy it, mainly restaurants, must buy only labelled fish and keep records of who they buy it from, if they don't have any licensed fugu chefs on staff.

The Japan Times story is clearly better as it explains why the Tokyo metropolitan government believes loosening the law brings the city "in line with the rest of the nation", with respect to the sale of so-called mikaki fugu. The story also shows that it's not as though all caution is being thrown out of the window. Restaurants that buy the cheaper fugu are required to take careful note of their source and suppliers, ensuring accountability if something were to go wrong.

[Sumeragi]

Being a paranoid person who also happens to have the Korean license for handling fugu, I rather not buy anything from unlicensed people.

[ChainLegacy]

Being a paranoid and skeptical person, I think I'll steer clear of poisonous puffer fish for the foreseeable future. :D

For one who has tried it, what makes it a delicacy? Just the cool-factor, or does it truly have a unique taste? I love trying exotic flavors (as an Irish-American, Japanese cuisine is full of 'alien' flavors I've come to love), but I wonder about the puffer fish.

[Sumeragi]

It depends on how you prepare it. What I can say is that it's chewy for a fish and barely tastes like seafood.

[Endless Soul]

I've always wondered how the correct way to prepare fugu was discovered. I mean, how many people did they go through to find the correct way? One would think that after the first couple of people keeled over, they would realize that it's a dangerous fish not fit for consumption.

~hands fish to guy #21~ Here, try this.
~guy #21 eats it and dies~
Hmm...let's try this way.
~hands fish to guy #22~ Here try this.
~guy #22 eats it and dies~
Hmm...let's try it this way...

Endless "I'll stick with rice" Soul

[Azuma Denton]

Ok, one thing to note when visiting Japan next week...
Never ever eating fugu !!!
Stick with "half-price" ben-to then...

[Nerroth]

I was doing some digging about the Ainu online, and I found this very interesting piece from 2010; done for Al-Jazeera English's 101 East (http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/) program:

iA7BILX-q4I&feature=relmfu

[MrTerrorist]

Confessions of an American Hostess: Getting Paid to Drink with Men (http://kotaku.com/5903670/confessions-of-an-american-hostess-getting-paid-to-drink-with-men)

Please Don’t Aim Games about Hostess Clubs at Kids! (http://kotaku.com/5903669/please-dont-aim-games-about-cabaret-clubs-at-kids)

[Terrestrial Dream]

Anyone seen the movie Nobody Knows (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408664/) (Dare mo shiranai)? Been watching in class recently, it is very depressing but interesting movie. The film reflect on some of the social problems in Japan (even though the event in the movie was based on was from 1988). Even thought the film came out eight years ago it seem to have strong relevance even today, especially after the earthquake in March.

[ChainLegacy]

I was doing some digging about the Ainu online, and I found this very interesting piece from 2010; done for Al-Jazeera English's 101 East (http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/) program:

iA7BILX-q4I&feature=relmfu

What a fascinating people. The Japanese archipelago houses two very different yet equally compelling cultures. :)

I find it disheartening the level of knowledge presented by the Japanese surveyed, but am not surprised. I doubt many in my hometown could name the natives who once lived here either (though the time scale is different).

[Nerroth]

What a fascinating people. The Japanese archipelago houses two very different yet equally compelling cultures. :)

More, if you count the likes of the Ryukyuans and the zainichi Koreans and Chinese. (Nagasaki (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-17285248) has had Chinese enclaves for centuries; even during the Edo period, there was one not far from the Dutch outpost at Dejima.)

[Merilyn Mensola]

I don't know if this is the right thread..but i found this pics..and i think this pics are really awesome


Japanese awesome restaurants

http://s2.imagestime.com/out.php/i699642_japanesethemedrestaurants2.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699642_japanesethemedrestaurants2.jpg.html)

http://s6.imagestime.com/out.php/i699643_japanesethemedrestaurants3.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699643_japanesethemedrestaurants3.jpg.html)

http://s2.imagestime.com/out.php/i699645_japanesethemedrestaurants8.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699645_japanesethemedrestaurants8.jpg.html)

http://s7.imagestime.com/out.php/i699646_japanesethemedrestaurants14.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699646_japanesethemedrestaurants14.jpg.html)

http://s2.imagestime.com/out.php/i699647_japanesethemedrestaurants15.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699647_japanesethemedrestaurants15.jpg.html)

http://s2.imagestime.com/out.php/i699648_japanesethemedrestaurants16.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699648_japanesethemedrestaurants16.jpg.html)

Awesome...i want to buy a Home in Japan..in Tokyo

[asaqe]

While maybe this belongs in music more, one thing I found interesting is the rumor about that Japanese idol/music culture is very segegrated. Meaning Female Pop Idols does not do collab with male pop idols. How true is that statement.

Here is a few korean examples from way back, this is kind of related since if an AKB48 member does something like a collab with some well off pop group, she could get in trouble.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV4Qin26_rI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YM2FRwwqy4&feature=related

[NoemiChan]

http://s2.imagestime.com/out.php/i699642_japanesethemedrestaurants2.jpg (http://www.imagestime.com/show.php/699642_japanesethemedrestaurants2.jpg.html)

They surely captured the taste of their customers.:heh:

[TinyRedLeaf]

It's a few days old, but since no one brought it up, I'll add the story here, where it belongs.

Ageing Japanese town bets on young mayor (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/business/global/aging-japanese-town-bets-on-a-young-mayor.html?pagewanted=all)

Yubari, Hokkaido (April 26, Thu): Most young people have already fled this city of empty streets and shuttered schools, whose bankrupt local government collapsed under the twin burdens of debt and demographics that are slowly afflicting the rest of Japan.

Now, Yubari, a former coal-mining town on Japan's northernmost main island, Hokkaido, is hoping an unlikely saviour can reverse its long decline: a 31-year-old rookie mayor who has come to symbolise the struggle confronting young Japanese in the world's most greying and indebted nation.

"Japan will tread the same path someday," said Mr Naomichi Suzuki, who a year ago this month became the youngest mayor of the country's most rapidly ageing city. "If we can't save Yubari, what will it mean for the rest of Japan?"

In Yubari, Japan's demographic and fiscal demise is on fast-forward. The city's population has plunged by 90 per cent since its heyday as a coal-mining hub in the 1950s and '60s. Currently, fewer than 10,500 people live in a geographic area approximately the size of New York City. And of those remaining Yubari residents, nearly half are older than 65.

Yubari has also faced its day of reckoning with creditors. Crippled by the closure of its coal mines as Japan moved to petroleum-based fuels and nuclear power, and after a failed bid to revive its tourism economy with subsidies from the central government, Yubari went bankrupt in 2007, owing more than US$400 million to holders of its municipal bonds.

Under Japanese law, that debt must still be repaid under a bankruptcy reorganisation the city will be labouring under for the next 15 years.

Dispatched from Tokyo
The city's services have been cut to the bone, and the public work force of about 300 has been cut by half. Its public bath has been closed and its six elementary schools consolidated into one. The aftermath of the March tsunami last year further decimated local tourism.

It was into these depths of despair that Mr Suzuki, then a 26-year-old public servant in the city of Tokyo's social-welfare department, was dispatched to Yubari on a year-long loan from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

He quickly established rapport with the locals, volunteering his free time to help resuscitate the city's annual film festival and checking in regularly with his elderly neighbours.

He began a door-to-door survey to get a better grasp of how the city's cuts were affecting living standards. He also pushed for the city to set up regular three-way meetings with the central government and the prefecture of Hokkaido, to discuss Yubari's debt repayments.

In late 2010, eight months after Mr Suzuki returned to his old job with the Tokyo government, a group of Yubari locals called on him with a bold request: Come back to the city, and run for mayor.

Mr Suzuki was politically untested and a relative unknown. But something remarkable happened in a country usually dominated by the elderly: the incumbent mayor, Mr Hajime Fujikura, a 70-year-old former car-industry executive, declared he would step aside and settle for a city-council seat.

"Look, our children and grandchildren have all left Yubari, but Mr Suzuki came all the way from Tokyo to try to save us," said Mr Fujikura. "If we seniors don't support him, who will?"

Emboldened, Mr Suzuki's camp unleashed a campaign blitz. Trudging through the heavy snow and flashing his winning smile, Mr Suzuki visited more than 5,000 of the city's 6,000-plus households, laying down his message: Yubari can be saved.

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara even flew to Yubari to cheer on his former employee.

A record voter turnout produced a landslide victory for Mr Suzuki over Ms Yukari Iijima, 46, a former national parliamentarian.

Hard times
In his first year, Mr Suzuki moved swiftly, abolishing the post of vice-mayor and putting the resultant savings on salary towards medical care for the city's infants. He is moving to sell off some of the city's bad investments.

He is also making his share of sacrifices for Yubari: Mr Suzuki is not only Japan's youngest mayor, but also thought to be its lowest-paid. His annual salary of 3.74 million yen (about US$46,000) is a third less than what he was making in Tokyo and lower than some first-year salaries there.

Mr Suzuki and Manami, his wife of 11 months, have registered their marriage at city hall, but are unsure when they can afford a wedding. "Both Yubari and I have a mountain of debt," he joked.

"In many ways, it's not my generation's fault that Japan has so much debt," he said. "But blaming others won't get us anywhere. We just need to find a way forward. It's the responsibility of all of us born into this age."

NEW YORK TIMES

[Guernsey]

So what book, tales or stories are taught in Literature classes in Japan? I know in the West we got books like Lord of the Flies, Catcher in theRye, To Kill a Mockngbird, etc are in the US but what cultural stories are read in Japan?

[Endless Soul]

I wasn't really sure where to post this, here in the Japanese Culture thread or the Japanese Point of View of Western Culture thread, so I guess I'll post it here. If it needs to be moved, please do so.

I found this site which contains a report from the U.S. Intelligence Bulletin, March 1943. It contains translated observations of U.S. military as noted by the Japanese around the time of Guadalcanal.

JAPANESE IMPRESSIONS OF U.S. WARFARE (http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/intelligence-report/japanese-impressions.html)

and

JAPANESE ESTIMATE OF U.S. LAND TACTICS (http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/intelligence-report/estimate-us-tactics.html)

One thing that caught my eye was this:

b. He is fond of using hand grenades, and fires and throws them at close range.

and...

b. They are skilled in the use of hand grenades.

This got me to thinking about how every American kid at the time grew up throwing things such as baseballs, pigskins, and the occasional basketball, so using hand grenades with accuracy probably came natural to most of the U.S. soldiers at the time.

Some of the other observations seemed rather contradictory, and has been noted so in the second document.

This was the other thing that caught my eye:

A great many motor vehicles are included in the organization of the U. S. forces, who are thoroughly experienced in using them. They plan strategic and tactical actions with them that are unthought of by us

Endless "Historical" Soul

[Vexx]

Also guns..... almost every American soldier came already familiar with the use, cleaning, and handling of firearms.

And we had team sports that trained all those soldiers in how to interact as a team.

I used to play a tabletop game called Squad Leader (Avalon Hill) that did a fair job of simulating the general behaviors of the various forces in WW2. Americans ride everywhere, they use and discard vehicles like candy. The morale may break quickly in a surprise but they recover independently and regroup faster.

[TinyRedLeaf]

And we had team sports that trained all those soldiers in how to interact as a team.
This played out in other interesting ways. People today often associate the Japanese with team spirit and esprit de corps, so it can come as a surprise to many to read that Japanese fighter combat in World War II emphasised one-on-one dogfighting tactics (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/previous_seasons/case_dogfight/clues.html), in keeping with the battle traditions of the samurai. In contrast, United States tactics focused on teamwork, theoretically because of the American tradition of team sports. This doctrinal difference is further reflected in the design of fighter aircraft on both sides, with the Japanese favouring firepower, range and manoeuvrability, while the Americans tapped on technology and tactics to keep pilots alive as long as possible. (That is, Zerg vs Marines. Literally.) Machines can be replaced. Skilled pilots, once lost, are gone forever, as the Japanese would eventually realise much too late.


JAPANESE IMPRESSIONS OF U.S. WARFARE (http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/intelligence-report/japanese-impressions.html)
and
JAPANESE ESTIMATE OF U.S. LAND TACTICS (http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/intelligence-report/estimate-us-tactics.html)
For me, the interesting points were:
(1)
The enemy does not pay much attention to hand-to-hand fighting.

The Americans make much of firepower, especially the power of artillery, and lay only small stress on bayonet assaults.
We are so used to the fire-and-movement tactics of modern combat that we forget that bayonets were once considered highly necessary weapons. It used to be that once a company had expended its rounds to soften a target, its soldiers would fix bayonets before making the final charge to finish off a stricken enemy.

Such small-unit tactics were still considered valid as recently as during my own time as an infantry officer cadet, about 20 years ago. It's the poor bloody infantry's job to take and hold ground and, in the past, it was assumed that this would necessarily mean fighting tooth and nail to dislodge enemies from fortified positions.

Even so, bayonet tactics were already falling out of favour by the time of World War I. That the Japanese still placed emphasis on it illustrated the growing obsolescence of their infantry tactics.

(2)
What Japanese staff officers think of the land warfare tactics used by U.S. forces is set forth in an official Japanese document. These beliefs indicate clearly why the Japs have specialized in infiltrating, surprise, and deceptive tactics to such a great extent against our forces.
I couldn't help but smile, because that one paragraph encapsulates a fundamental aspect of the Chinese/Japanese art of war. For the Chinese and the Japanese, warfare is all about deception. Both cultures are replete with legends of brilliant generals who outmanoeuvred opponents through trickery, and the very best commanders are those who achieve victory with minimal losses.

That's not to say Western commanders don't know the value of espionage and deception, as the likes of Erwin "Desert Fox" Rommel would amply show. But, doctrinally, it's true that Western tactics typically favour sheer firepower over feints and manoeuvres. Hence the emphasis on grenades and artillery.

In fact, I note wryly that American military doctrine, as observed by the Japanese, would still have been familiar to me and my fellow cadets 20 years ago. The approach to defence and assault is fundamentally the same, despite a time gap of 50-plus years.

In defence, dig in and prepare for a pounding. Though it's never explicitly said, the unspoken assumption is that if you're tasked to hold ground, you're as good as fucked, so you might as well prepare for the worst. Yes, don't bother to counter-attack — you're not likely to be in any shape to do so after enduring just one assault (assuming you're still alive, that is).

If you wonder why such an assumption exists, do try to experience an artillery live-firing exercise at first hand, if you ever get such an opportunity. The closest I got was for the live firing of a battery of now-decommissioned 106mm jeep-mounted recoilless rifles. Standing on a forward observation post, I could still feel my legs turning to jelly from the force of impact as the shells landed several kilometres away.

Now imagine if you were at ground zero... It's game over, man. Game over (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsx2vdn7gpY).

[Dhomochevsky]

To me, this sounds like the japanese army was still using a WWI doctrine, with frontal assaults on fortified positions leading to close combat and counterattacks after those assaults.
That's typical WWI trench warfare.

[NoemiChan]

JAPANESE IMPRESSIONS OF U.S. WARFARE (http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/intelligence-report/japanese-impressions.html)

and

JAPANESE ESTIMATE OF U.S. LAND TACTICS (http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/intelligence-report/estimate-us-tactics.html)

I find this funny

2. U.S. BATTLEFIELD TACTICS

c. The enemy's fighting spirit is unexpectedly intense. He does not retreat in single-firing combat. However, when charged, he will flee.:twitch:

The following is our estimate of American strength and capabilities:

d. In defense, they never counterattack and never carry out an offensive.:twitch:

f. They know nothing of assault. We should assault whenever possible. Fifty yards is often the best distance for assault.:twitch:

These resulted to many Japanese casualties during WWII

[SaintessHeart]

One note : the US battlefield doctrine has been based on chaos - their soldiers, since the 1900s, seemed to be trained in split second decision making, regardless of the initial command.

The best plan for them? It's to have no plan.

Even so, bayonet tactics were already falling out of favour by the time of World War I. That the Japanese still placed emphasis on it illustrated the growing obsolescence of their infantry tactics.

Never underestimate the usefulness of the bayonet in urban warfare. Gut that poor bastard round the corner who's trying to get on top then rape you. :p

The interesting thing to note, is that the shock value of the bayonet charge puts anyone out of commssion - they are more likely to fire more rapidly; wasting ammunition, or fumble upon their reload drills.

Except for the MG crew. :heh:

[TinyRedLeaf]

The best plan for them? It's to have no plan.
If there's no plan, you might as well curl up and die. :eyebrow: There's always a plan. Whether it is well-articulated and well-executed, though, is another matter.

...American tactical ideas are simple...

...the character of the American is simple...

They simply make broad plans for combating enemy attacks against their fortified positions...

...Americans are unlike our troops, who can attack at night and bring about decisive results; instead, they simply use the night hours to better their preparations...
It's here that the Japanese made a fatal error in judgment, partly because of their different doctrine, and partly because of sheer arrogance.

The truth is that simple plans are the best, because they are easy to explain, easy to execute and, most importantly, easy to adapt on the fly.

I speak from personal experience: first as a gawky cadet planning and executing my first mission (major fail; mission plan was so complicated and garbled I couldn't even remember parts of it en route to objective) and subsequently, many years later, as an older, more experienced reservist officer (conduct 'O' group, give mission statement, identify key objectives, lay out plans of action, obtain buy in [critical]).

The non-commissioned ranks don't need the "bigger picture". They just need the objective and the timings, which an officer is supposed to provide. Smooth execution will depend on pre-rehearsed drills, but within the framework of the plan, there should be enough room for each soldier, or at the very least the section leaders, to exercise initiative. The mission is supposed to be carried out through familiar routines in the first place. If it doesn't even start that way, something is seriously wrong.

That's the ideal situation. How close any unit is to the ideal depends, of course, on individual personalities. American doctrine can't be very different.

[SaintessHeart]

If there's no plan, you might as well curl up and die. :eyebrow: There's always a plan. Whether it is well-articulated and well-executed, though, is another matter.

What I meant was : just give the objective, and by when. Those people working in special forces, for some reason, prefer it this way - an old bird once told me that since nobody knows anything, the special forces are sent in first, either as reconnaisance, or to buy time while commanders figure out what to do.

Usually the objective always include "Return safely" at the end; if a SOF team doesn't return, usually everyone else back home is fcked.

It's here that the Japanese made a fatal error in judgment, partly because of their different doctrine, and partly because of sheer arrogance.

The truth is that simple plans are the best, because they are easy to explain, easy to execute and, most importantly, easy to adapt on the fly.

I speak from personal experience: first as a gawky cadet planning and executing my first mission (major fail; mission plan was so complicated and garbled I couldn't even remember parts of it en route to objective) and subsequently, many years later, as an older, more experienced reservist officer (conduct 'O' group, give mission statement, identify key objectives, lay out plans of action, obtain buy in [critical]).

The non-commissioned ranks don't need the "bigger picture". They just need the objective and the timings, which an officer is supposed to provide. Smooth execution will depend on pre-rehearsed drills, but within the framework of the plan, there should be enough room for each soldier, or at the very least the section leaders, to exercise initiative. The mission is supposed to be carried out through familiar routines in the first place. If it doesn't even start that way, something is seriously wrong.

That's the ideal situation. How close any unit is to the ideal depends, of course, on individual personalities. American doctrine can't be very different.

I admit, I have little or no idea how infantry command and tactics work other than the standard combat drills conducted by grunts. Though the way the Japanese snipers operate gave me the impression that they are horrendous at ground-level intelligence operations - the operator must first return in order to be able inform, and secondly, tying themselves to the top of the tree breaks the entire predator-prey cycle - which is the primary operating rationale for sniper/recon forces. It is about maintaining the predator position as many times during the engagement as possible - when the enemy starts looking, you are the prey; and the prey always gets eaten by the predator.

For QRF/SO side, planning is like debugging a complex program - 1 objective, then lots of boolean operators thrown in on the fly as things keep going wrong. OFC, being the first to go in, what can't go wrong? :heh:

[Siegel Clyne]

In my earlier posts in this thread, The Japanese Diaspora, Part 1 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4039118&postcount=2288) and The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4039120&postcount=2289), I documented the very high intermarriage rates of present-day Nikkei or Nikkeijin (Japanese immigrants and their descendants) living in the New World (North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean) in the former, and linked to a number of videos on YouTube featuring entertainers and celebrities of mainly mixed Japanese descent from the New World and Europe in the latter.

Using official data and figures from the 2010 U.S. Census, as well as from the 2000 U.S. Census, around 41.5% of the total population of the Japanese ethnic group in the United States is of mixed ancestry.

In other words, almost half of the ethnic Japanese population in the U.S. is only part Japanese.

About 6.0% of the total ethnic Japanese population in the U.S. is a combination of Japanese and other Asian only (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Filipino, Malaysian, Indonesian, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Nepalese, Bhutanese, etc).

The total population of full Japanese descent living in the U.S. ACTUALLY DECREASED from 2000 to 2010, presumably mostly due to deaths of the elderly population.

The majority of the young ethnic Japanese living in the U.S. already appear to be of mixed descent.

It seems that the 2020 U.S. Census will show that the majority of ALL ethnic Japanese living in the U.S. will be of mixed descent.

After intermarriages with whites, the second most common form of intermarriage involving Japanese Americans is with other Asian Americans.

An example is main rapper, songwriter, producer, and frontman for the popular mainstream American electro hop band Far☆East Movement, Kev Nish AKA Kevin Nishimura (http://audreymagazine.com/tag/kev-nish/).

Kev Nish's father is a third-generation Japanese American, or Sansei, while his mother is a third-generation Chinese American.

Kev Nish and a couple of his close friends from downtown Los Angeles, California - lead rapper and songwriter Prohgress AKA James Roh, and rapper and songwriter, J-Splif AKA Jae Choung, both Korean Americans - formed Emcees Anonymous by 2001, but later changed the group's name to Far East Movement. Los Angeles radio station Power 106 DJ, DJ Virman AKA Virman Coquia, a Filipino American, became Far East Movement's official DJ in 2008.

While mixed Asian American music artists (e.g., Puerto Rican/Filipino American Bruno Mars) have topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Charts, Far East Movement became the first (and still only?) All-Asian American group to hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Far+East+Movement+Like+A+G6+No.+1) Charts with their song, "Like A G6," in October 2010.

Far East Movement - Like A G6 ft. The Cataracs, DEV

w4s6H4ku6ZY

In their sweet (really bittersweet) 2009 music video "Rocketeer" featuring Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer and frontman for the pop rock band OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder, there are a few examples of Japanese-style illustration and manga pictures, as well as a Super Mario reference by Kev Nish:

Far East Movement - Rocketeer ft. Ryan Tedder

RcmKbTR--iA

Far East Movement's 2011 music video "If I Was You (OMG)" features famous rapper, singer, record producer, and actor, Snoop Dogg:

Far East Movement - If I Was You (OMG) ft Snoop Dogg

IT3TP1ifpcs

Near the end of Far East Movement's 2012 music video "Jello" featuring rapper, dancer, and actress, Rye Rye, Kev Nish proposes to and kisses - really kisses - an Oprah Winfrey lookalike:

Far East Movement - Jello ft. Rye Rye

iSqmprBRFXg

Far East Movement's 2012 music video "Live My Life" featuring YouTube sensation, Justin Bieber, was filmed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands:

Far East Movement - Live My Life ft. Justin Bieber

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Here is the "Party Rock Remix" version of "Live My Life" by Far East Movement featuring Justin Bieber and rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, dancer and DJ, Redfoo, from the electro pop duo LMFAO:

Far East Movement - Live My Life (Party Rock Remix) ft. Justin Bieber & Redfoo

dnH977xKcz8

Far East Movement's new album, DIRTY BASS, is slated to be released "May 22nd around the world and June 5th in the US. (http://www.interscope.com/fareastmovement/news)"

Rising and much critically acclaimed American r&b/pop singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko (born Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo in Los Angeles, California) - whose mother, Christina Yamamoto, is half Japanese and half Dominican mulata (mixed black and white {Spanish}), and whose father, Dr. Karamo Chilombo, is part black, part German Jewish, and part Native American - has drawn praise from fellow music artists like rappers Drake and Wiz Khalifa (http://www.ddotomen.com/2011/08/29/video-wiz-khalifa-x-drozdailysteezin-interview/).

Jhené Aiko's 2011 music video, "SNAPPED," which was posted on her official music channel on YouTube, features video clips from the Japanese animation (anime) title Black Lagoon, starring Revy:

Jhene' Aiko's "SNAPPED"

STIxztIo3KU

Jhené's older sister, Mila J, is also a singer. Here are a couple of her music videos from 2006 and 2007, respectively, "Complete" and "Good Lookin' Out" featuring Marques Houston:

Mila J - Complete

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Mila J - "Good Lookin' Out" feat. Marques Houston

pAELmu335V0

Whatever happened to Mila J?

Many fans say that Mila J and certainly her baby sister Jhené Aiko have a lot more talent than many, if not most, of the singers who are more popular today.

More information and videos featuring Far East Movement and Jhené Aiko, as well as other international entertainers and celebrities of mainly part Japanese ancestry, can be found in my The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 post which I linked to above. I recently updated that post with a number of new links and more info, including different videos starring the stunningly gorgeous, part Japanese, Uruguayan-born Mexican actress and model Bárbara Mori.

Born to a Japanese-Jamaican mother and a Black American father in New York, Misa Hylton is an American celebrity stylist. "She has created fashions for Mary J. Blige, Kimora Lee Simmons, Chris Rock, Missy Elliot, Lil' Kim, Diddy; Faith Evans and the beat goes on.... (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Misa-Hylton-True-Style-Session/365869392005?sk=info)" She has said that she prefers to work behind the scenes.

While a teenage student in high school, Misa Hylton dated famous American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur Diddy AKA Sean John Combs, who was an adult at the time.

Misa Hylton.mp4

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Misa Hylton Speaks

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Misa Hylton and Diddy had a son together, Justin Dior Combs. Earlier this year, the 18-year-old Justin accepted a full football scholarship to UCLA (http://www.jayblessed.com/2012/02/04/diddys-son-justin-combs-accepts-full-football-scholarship-from-ucla/). The 5-foot, 9-inch Justin Combs plays defensive back.

Inheriting his mother's good looks and his father's status as a famous celebrity, Justin seems to be have already been quite a heartthrob when he was a younger teenager. Now being an American football jock at a big name, NCAA Division I university should have even more girls throwing themselves at him.

FOX Sports Next: Justin Combs

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Justin Combs SUPER SWEET 16 At M2, 01/23/10-Part 1 of 4-HD

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Justin's younger half sister, Madison Brim, Misa Hylton's daughter with her ex-husband Jojo Brim, is a real cutie:

Top 5 Things That Scare Madison

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Madison does the Cinnamon Challenge

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Japanese America, Japanese Canada, Japanese Mexico, Japanese Brazil, etc., will only increasingly look like - although in the case of intermarriage with most other Asians, they will nor differ very much - the entertainers, celebrities, and their offspring whom I have featured in my posts on this thread.

[DonQuigleone]

I couldn't help but smile, because that one paragraph encapsulates a fundamental aspect of the Chinese/Japanese art of war. For the Chinese and the Japanese, warfare is all about deception. Both cultures are replete with legends of brilliant generals who outmanoeuvred opponents through trickery, and the very best commanders are those who achieve victory with minimal losses.

That's not to say Western commanders don't know the value of espionage and deception, as the likes of Erwin "Desert Fox" Rommel would amply show. But, doctrinally, it's true that Western tactics typically favour sheer firepower over feints and manoeuvres. Hence the emphasis on grenades and artillery.


Not so sure, I'd say Japan at this time was much more heavily influenced by German and British military doctrine, then anything else, albeit archaic German doctrine. Same goes for China. The whole bayonet charge thing is very WW1esque, as is the lack of motorized vehicles. Part of it is that the terrain the Asian war was fought in was not amenable to the "Blitzkrieg" land tactics developed recently in Europe. The lack of infrastructure and prevalence of difficult terrain meant it was difficult for armour to maneuver and be supplied, likewise there wasn't enough airfields (in central china) for a sustained airwar.

Combine it with the fact that China was still backward at the time, and Japan had little reason to innovate. Likewise, at the start of the war, the Soviets weren't a whole lot better either, and the Japanese did have a dangerous superiority complex compounding it, due to the fact they were undefeated up until that point.

But on the whole for the Japanese officer corps, it was more Clauswitz then Sun Tzu. Same goes for the KMT National Revolutionary Army.

I'd also say that the British and French were also very different from the Americans. They both still used a WW1 approach to warfare, heavily based on infantry supported by armor and artillery, each precisely carrying out their component of a grander plan. The USA not so much.

Since WW2, however, their military doctrines have grown closer together, I'd say the modern US and UK armies work almost identically.

[Vexx]

Except for stopping for high tea.... the Yanks aren't that sophisticated ;)

[Endless Soul]

Great discussion so far, I'm really enjoying the analyses you guys are posting.



This was the other thing that caught my eye:

A great many motor vehicles are included in the organization of the U. S. forces, who are thoroughly experienced in using them. They plan strategic and tactical actions with them that are unthought of by us


I probably should have explained myself when I posted this earlier. The reason why it caught my eye at the time was that it shows the fact that the U.S. armed forces the Japanese were facing at the time were, of course, highly mechanized, whereas the Japanese armed forces were not. You could say that the American love affair with the car was well underway at this time.

I may be wrong, but I believe I read somewhere that the Japanese invented modern amphibious assaults. However, that innovation ended with landing barges. The U.S. took that idea and ran with it, perfecting the amphibious assault and using it against the Japanese with success time and time again.

Endless "Mechanized" Soul

[Sumeragi]

I may be wrong, but I believe I read somewhere that the Japanese invented modern amphibious assaults. However, that innovation ended with landing barges. The U.S. took that idea and ran with it, perfecting the amphibious assault and using it against the Japanese with success time and time again.
It wasn't the US as a whole who ran with it: It was one individual, Andrew Higgins, who made breakthroughs in the designing of the "Higgins boats", the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP).

[Endless Soul]

It wasn't the US as a whole who ran with it: It was one individual, Andrew Higgins, who made breakthroughs in the designing of the "Higgins boats", the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP).

True, the Higgins Boat was used in the Pacific, but I was thinking more about the LVT "Amtrac" which is, of course, much more capable than a barge. Higgins didn't make those. Also there were the much larger LSTs, a British invention.

Endless "some other time" Soul

[DonQuigleone]

The US were much more mechanized then any other army in the war, though I don't think it was cultural. It was much to do with their industrial capacity. IE if the other countries in the war could have put out as many motorized vehicles as the US, they would have, but what industrial capacity they had was going towards more objectively important weapons (planes, tanks, artillery).

For instance, almost all the cars used by the soviets were manufactured in the US. It helps that the US had the largest car industry going into the war. The only other country that could match them in this respect was Germany, and most of their car industry was diverted into tank production.

Motorized brigades would have made up a minority of every other army, the average soldier had to make do with marching, or if they were lucky, rail.

[Vexx]

I recall reading in some European histories of the war that the most astonishing thing to the Europeans about the American forces was that *everyone* rode *everywhere* and that they'd leave perfectly functioning vehicles just scattered about if they became superfluous.

[Ascaloth]

Except for stopping for high tea.... the Yanks aren't that sophisticated ;)

And they use proper big guns on their tanks which we can all see are rifled for greater accuracy. Unlike those smoothbore American ones which just hits something... over there.

:D

[aohige]

We don't wish to discuss tanks.
Unlike the American Sherman tanks, and the amazing German Tiger tanks, we had Chiha tanks seemingly made out of cardboard boxes, rusty fish buckets, and empty tuna cans.

I'm pretty sure my Toyota Corolla is more bulletproof.

[Guernsey]

I recall reading in some European histories of the war that the most astonishing thing to the Europeans about the American forces was that *everyone* rode *everywhere* and that they'd leave perfectly functioning vehicles just scattered about if they became superfluous.

Did anyone ever locate said vehicles?

[SaintessHeart]

We don't wish to discuss tanks.
Unlike the American Sherman tanks, and the amazing German Tiger tanks, we had Chiha tanks seemingly made out of cardboard boxes, rusty fish buckets, and empty tuna cans.

I'm pretty sure my Toyota Corolla is more bulletproof.

What about this? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_10) The armour material is......beautiful (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2006/0127266.html)! :love: Unlike the crude and barbaric American DU sandwich plates....

When are they developing Gundarium?

[Akka]

Well, here is a question that has been bothering me for quite some time, in relation to japanese culture and how it expresses in anime - and yes, I know, animes are not real life :p

One of, if not THE most prevalent male protagonist archetype, is the "nice guy to the extreme", that is someone who is nice to a fault, and happily let himself be insulted, abused and exploited by some domineering/rude/selfish girl/friend/whatever, usually female. And this kind of guy is simply ubiquitous, even in male-oriented market.

On the other hand, I think I've heard that Japan is still very male-dominated, and that the role-model is more about being a "strong man".

I have a hard time understanding how social norms like the latter could create something like the former outside of shojo manga, especially considering the famous normative power of the society.

I suppose there is something I'm missing in japanese culture, and it's a point I'm rather curious about. So, could an insider explain it all ? ^^

[DonQuigleone]

Herbivorous males. (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2009/06/the_herbivores_dilemma.html)

Also, consider the demographic most anime is aimed at: Teen-Young adult nerdy males. I don't know about you, but as a teen I was terrible with women(in fact I'm still terrible...), and so a lot of clichés in Anime had a certain amount of resonance. Also, seeing guys fail at romance like that has a certain element of Schadenfreude.

So the typical romantic/harem plot, whereby the loser male gets all these girls holds a lot of attraction to otaku, who may be losers themselves. It tells them "You can get a girlfriend too!".

It's as much a case of a demographic being catered to, that in the west does not get catered to. Closest thing might be Judd Apatow movies.

Also, in a society where males are dominant, there's a certain comedy in males being subservient. Consider American Family Sitcoms as well. Going back to the 30s the father is usually somewhat of a doofus, with the wife is smart. This is drawing comedy by basically flipping traditional gender norms.

For instance guy abuses a girl -> drama. Girl abuses a guy -> comedy.

[SaintessHeart]

Herbivorous males. (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2009/06/the_herbivores_dilemma.html)

Also, consider the demographic most anime is aimed at: Teen-Young adult nerdy males. I don't know about you, but as a teen I was terrible with women(in fact I'm still terrible...), and so a lot of clichés in Anime had a certain amount of resonance. Also, seeing guys fail at romance like that has a certain element of Schadenfreude.

So the typical romantic/harem plot, whereby the loser male gets all these girls holds a lot of attraction to otaku, who may be losers themselves. It tells them "You can get a girlfriend too!".

It's as much a case of a demographic being catered to, that in the west does not get catered to. Closest thing might be Judd Apatow movies.

Also, in a society where males are dominant, there's a certain comedy in males being subservient. Consider American Family Sitcoms as well. Going back to the 30s the father is usually somewhat of a doofus, with the wife is smart. This is drawing comedy by basically flipping traditional gender norms.

For instance guy abuses a girl -> drama. Girl abuses a guy -> comedy.

I don't hit girls because I fear seeing them cry. Does that make me a herbivorous guy? Having been the heck-care type when it comes to girls and some ridiculous level of pain tolerance, I'd say that a girl abusing a guy is NOT a comedy. I still don't understand what is so funny when Sumeragi abuses me on this forum.

Naturally though, it still proves one thing : human beings, male or female, are insecure creatures.

[Akka]

I don't really buy the target demographic : making so the audience relate to the protagonist is certainly a good thing for marketing, so making him a somehow shy guy bad with women is understandable, but making him a buttmonkey that gets abused and without a spine ? If it's about making people relate, it's rather insulting. You would think that you would like the hero you relate to, to be at least able to bite back and not just be a passive loser - showing you that you can get a girl AND you can be an actual person and not just a doormat for people to clean their feet on.

As well as the humorous inversion of gender role, I can get it (we do it rather commonly in the West too), but it's just so UBIQUITOUS that I think there is something else here. I mean, I have a hard time remembering even ONE protagonist that didn't let himself to be abused by some maniacal female friend, so it's not even a trend, it's downright systematic.

The link about herbivorous male is rather interesting, though, especially as it seems it started roughly at the same time as the victim-protagonist cliché. Maybe that is an actual deep shift in the whole japanese society.

One more reason to wait with interest for a Japanese member's point of view on the subject !

[DonQuigleone]

As well as the humorous inversion of gender role, I can get it (we do it rather commonly in the West too), but it's just so UBIQUITOUS that I think there is something else here. I mean, I have a hard time remembering even ONE protagonist that didn't let himself to be abused by some maniacal female friend, so it's not even a trend, it's downright systematic.

I wouldn't go that far, there's plenty of male characters who aren't total complete losers. The whole Love Hina/Tenchi Muyo Archetype of complete loser male is not as ubiquitous as you might think. Here's some recent examples of shows with guys who aren't the "complete loser" archetype:

Natsume Yuujinchou
Hotarubi no Mori e
AnoHana
Usagi Drop
Bakuman
Sakamichi No Appolon
Tiger and Bunny
Danshi Koukosei no Nichijou
Ao no Exorcist
Gundam Unicorn
Gundam Age
Mawaru Penguindrum.


The "complete loser" is really only common in Harems. That said, there are plenty of "weak males" outside of the "complete loser". Generally I'd split it up as follows:

1. Complete losers: These are indeed the complete losers to whom you refer. No redeeming qualities. Might occasionally have a bout of courage. No particular reason for being losers either.

2. Legitimate losers: These are guys who are dysfunctional, but are legitimately so, often feature in more dramatic stuff, think Welcome to the NHK or The Tatami Galaxy. They may end out overcoming their problems.

3. Initially losers: A lot of Shonen, the guy starts off weak, but gains courage, guts and strength as the story continues. Think Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, or most any sports or Shonen show.

Only number 1 gets egregiously abused by the women around him. 1 is more of a comedy agent, it's not funny to see an amazing guy get with loads of women, but it is to see a loser. Again, this character is also super extreme version of many Otaku, he has the hangups many otaku have, but he gets into "hilarious" situations, allowing the viewer to laugh at himself. There's also Schadenfreude going on here. It's a bit like laughing at Mr. Magoo, or Mr. Bean etc. This character never changes as the story continues. He might grow enough of a pair to confess to the girl at the end. Might. They're endemic to Comedies and Harem shows.

Number 2 is intended to explore real life issues otaku viewers might have, this character type is rarely seen being outright abused by anyone, but is still a loser, and misanthropic. This is more about Drama, I rarely see anyone complain about these guys.

Number 3 has the benefit of being both empathetic to the viewer, presenting a good fantasy, and being generally superior to the alternative (utterly amazing hero). In contrast to an utterly amazing hero, it's impossible for the viewer to think "This guy is just like me" and shows that with effort and courage, he can be just like that character. It's also dramatically satisfying to see someone overcome their fears. This wouldn't be possible with a character that's all round amazing. It features a lot more possibilities for introspection and characterisation compared to a lead who kicks ass and chews bubblegum. While the ass-kicking badass is cool, he makes for a poor lead, because there's no real way for him to improve, he's already an ass-kicking badass. Seeing a guy start as an ass-kicking badass and end as an ass-kicking badass isn't satisfying. Seeing someone go from zero to hero is. That's why the protagonist of Star Wars is Luke Skywalker, even if we all prefer Han Solo. And that's why the star of every sports movie ever is some loser team at the bottom of the league, not the team at the top of their game that initially beats them at the start, but that loses against them again in the heroic finale.

In terms of male characterisation, I think Anime actually does a lot better then most other genres of young adult fiction (particularly their closest counterpart, american comics).

[aohige]

Nerds sympathises with nerds.

Quite simple.

American nerds fantasies they were buffed, badass, and macho. = superhero idolizing syndrome
Japanese nerds wish they were accepted the way they are = spineless buttmonkey protagonist syndrome

It wasn't always this way, back in the 80s the mindset of a Japanese nerd was a lot closer to that of the American ones.
(look at Space Cobra, Lupin IIIrd, Mazinger Z, Hokuto no Ken, Kinnikuman, City Hunter, to name a few)

[SaintessHeart]

Nerds sympathises with nerds.

Quite simple.

American nerds fantasies they were buffed, badass, and macho. = superhero idolizing syndrome
Japanese nerds wish they were accepted the way they are = spineless buttmonkey protagonist syndrome

I supposed you grew up in the era where heroes were overflowing with manliness like the characters in Hokuto no Ken instead of pretty boys like those in PoT. :heh:

[aohige]

Haha, your timing is impeccable, Saint, I was just editing that in. :)

Needless to say, I prefer the old days protags.
Same even goes for eroge. The early 90s eroge protagonists were badass, strong, manly, and openly playboy.
Now they're just as spineless and whiney as their anime counterparts.

[SaintessHeart]

Haha, your timing is impeccable, Saint, I was just editing that in. :)

Needless to say, I prefer the old days protags.
Same even goes for eroge. The early 90s eroge protagonists were badass, strong, manly, and openly playboy.
Now they're just as spineless and whiney as their anime counterparts.

The feminists were complaining that we spent too much time being like our metallic mecha and hell-raising hunks in their gun-slinging martial-arts escapades, so we transformed into pretty boys who look effeminate in the uniforms of our predecessors :

http://i.imgur.com/Jb2bv.jpg (http://news.yahoo.com/pop-sensation-rain-joins-south-korean-army-070050026.html)

My heroes are still the Expendables-types though. And people call me old-fashioned. :eyespin: And the fujoshis are going to have a field day with that picture about what he and his buddy will do while under camoflage in their spider-holes......

[Sumeragi]

Nah, I have too much respect for the military to think of such things. My fiancé is a former ROKMC, and he's a compact hunk, especially compared to the stupid machos of the past. Finely toned muscles everywhere.

Also, rare is the eroge protagonist who are worth anything.

[Dreamer90]

I have a question regarding one of the most common things often attributed to Japan; the masks.
I know that many people wear them when they're sick to reduce the risk of infecting others (which is a good thing, IMO.) but I've seen in many anime and mangas that characters usually wear them (or something similar) when they're cleaning the house or serving food in cafeterias. I was just curious how widespread these different uses of masks are, if they're even used this way IRL at all.

D3

[Sumeragi]

They're used as much as seen in anime, if not more. The use in cafeterias is to prevent saliva from getting into the food as the servers speak.

[JMvS]

Last time I went to Japan, it amused me seeing a wide choice of those masks in even the most tiny convenience store.
From what I could tell, in spring a lot of people are wearing them because of the pollen as well.

[MisaoFan]

In response to Classified Info's question (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4108822&postcount=534) on Chobits, I wonder why cats in Japan are popular ?

[SaintessHeart]

Nah, I have too much respect for the military to think of such things. My fiancé is a former ROKMC, and he's a compact hunk, especially compared to the stupid machos of the past. Finely toned muscles everywhere.

Also, rare is the eroge protagonist who are worth anything.

Why do I have a feeling that you pretty girls hate us guys over at the intel side just because we don't train as extensively as the ops guys outfield......is it because we only listen, write tons but rarely speak? :eyespin:

[Dreamer90]

They're used as much as seen in anime, if not more. The use in cafeterias is to prevent saliva from getting into the food as the servers speak.

Ooh, I see. I do know that they're commonly used when sick, but I didn't know if the other uses (cleaning, cafeteria) were as common as anime makes them look. Does everyone in a cafeteria have to wear them as part of a job uniform or something? Are there special masks just for cleaning or cafeteria work(wouldn't surprise me if there are. I've seen a bajillion types of masks from Japan.) or do they use the same kinda masks in all those cases?
Hmm...sometimes I wish we swedes'd pick up the mask practice. -_-

D3

[andyjay729]

Here's a look back at Japanese TV 30 years ago (the year I was born).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPc6_phqhx0

[aohige]

In response to Classified Info's question (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=4108822&postcount=534) on Chobits, I wonder why cats in Japan are popular ?

You mean there's a nation out there where cats are NOT popular? :heh:

Here's a look back at Japanese TV 30 years ago (the year I was born).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPc6_phqhx0

Even to this day, I don't think there's a single Japanese who doesn't know the theme melody to Taiyou ni Hoero (Shout to the Sun).
It's almost up there with Mito Koumon. :heh:

[MisaoFan]

You mean there's a nation out there where cats are NOT popular? :heh:

I'll just want anyone to explain to Classified why cats are popular in Japan, especially the nekomimi thing.

[MUAHAHAHAHAHA]

I'll just want anyone to explain to Classified why cats are popular in Japan, especially the nekomimi thing.

Because it's cute, playful, mischievous, and rather wicked in an erotic way? Things that tugs at a guy's weak heart.

[Sumeragi]

Why do I have a feeling that you pretty girls hate us guys over at the intel side just because we don't train as extensively as the ops guys outfield......is it because we only listen, write tons but rarely speak? :eyespin:
He also happens to be a law student (and an accomplished cook, a violinist, etc). He has the brains and the brawn.

[Azuma Denton]

I have a question regarding one of the most common things often attributed to Japan; the masks.
I know that many people wear them when they're sick to reduce the risk of infecting others (which is a good thing, IMO.) but I've seen in many anime and mangas that characters usually wear them (or something similar) when they're cleaning the house or serving food in cafeterias. I was just curious how widespread these different uses of masks are, if they're even used this way IRL at all.

D3
Last time i ask the manager of the inn when i stay in Japan:
- Protect the mouth from cold wind (especially in Winter)
- Prevent sickness from spreading
- Prevent pollen sickness
- To serve as the mask when entering "suspicious store" (example: JAV section in DVD shop / Fujoshi shop) :heh:

[Dreamer90]

Last time i ask the manager of the inn when i stay in Japan:
- Protect the mouth from cold wind (especially in Winter)
- Prevent sickness from spreading
- Prevent pollen sickness
- To serve as the mask when entering "suspicious store" (example: JAV section in DVD shop / Fujoshi shop) :heh:

Using them as a disguise, eh? Tricky~
I did know that they do use them for the first three reasons actually, I'm just a bit confused weather or not people actually use masks when cleaning and working in a cafeteria, as I've seen on anime and in manga.
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7892/themaskeddeadpan3.png

I'm not really very fond of getting my image of reality completely from fictional media, so that's why I'm asking. xD

D3

[SeijiSensei]

He also happens to be a law student (and an accomplished cook, a violinist, etc). He has the brains and the brawn.

Might I ask how he feels to be engaged to a "Yandere Yuri Goddess?" :heh:

[SaintessHeart]

- To serve as the mask when entering "suspicious store" (example: JAV section in DVD shop / Fujoshi shop) :heh:

I thought fujoshis are the "bold girls" type who dare to enter those kind of stores to buy those disgusting illegal material - never met a shy fujoshi before.

You mean there's a nation out there where cats are NOT popular? :heh:

The Swiss. They eat cats. :heh:

Might I ask how he feels to be engaged to a "Yandere Yuri Goddess?" :heh:

I think he'll start worrying when they have children - Sume-nee is a shotacon and probably won't hestitate to buy BL entertainment for her daughters. *digs a hole and hides*

[Akka]

I wouldn't go that far, there's plenty of male characters who aren't total complete losers.
Yeah, but how many of them don't let themselve being talked down, or actually react when they are punched by a girl of their household/nakama (I'm not talking about beating her back, but just calling her on it, or getting actually mad and not just meek ?) ?

The loser harem protagonist is certainly the most "glorious" example of complete doormat, but I'm rather talking about the "submissive/passive" streak of nearly every protagonist, not just the most extreme cases.
In terms of male characterisation, I think Anime actually does a lot better then most other genres of young adult fiction (particularly their closest counterpart, american comics).
You're preaching to the choir here. If I'm so irritated by some flaws ubiquitous in anime (like the doormat protagonist or the unability to actually build a relationship until the last episode), it's precisely because anime is practically the only kind of visual medium I watch (as it's the only one that "resonate" with me).
And so it makes me desperate to see the series break more from the usual clichés :p

[Dhomochevsky]

Yeah, but how many of them don't let themselve being talked down, or actually react when they are punched by a girl of their household/nakama (I'm not talking about beating her back, but just calling her on it, or getting actually mad and not just meek ?) ?

As DonQuigleone said, this is more a sign of a weak female status, than a weak male.
The woman is not taken seriously, so she can do whatever she wants and all it amounts to is comedy.
If the girl was actually in the stronger position, like you say, then behavior like this would have serious consequences. But as it is, it can be ignored, because it comes from a girl.
For someone with this line of thinking, it would make the male look weaker, if he took a girl serious. He would lower himself to her level, so to say.

So yes, these are symptoms of inequality, but you are reading them upside down.

[Sumeragi]

I think he'll start worrying when they have children - Sume-nee is a shotacon and probably won't hestitate to buy BL entertainment for her daughters. *digs a hole and hides*
*Contacts the ROKMC Veterans'' Association and has them destroy SaintessHeart's shelter*

Well, he's pretty tolerant of things. I mean, he doesn't mind my using him as a model for some of my writings ;)

[Azuma Denton]

I thought fujoshis are the "bold girls" type who dare to enter those kind of stores to buy those disgusting illegal material - never met a shy fujoshi before.

Ha ha ha...
Where do you get that impression from??
Sumeragi?? :heh:

Well, most of them i see is using mask...
And on the counterpart, male otaku (anime and idol) rarely use mask even when browsing 18++ material... :heh:

[Dreamer90]

I thought fujoshis are the "bold girls" type who dare to enter those kind of stores to buy those disgusting illegal material - never met a shy fujoshi before.

Disgusting illegal material? O_o
If it's illegal, why is it even sold in stores? And what's so disgusting about it?. xD

D3

PS. If anyone has an answer to the stuff I asked in my previous post, don't hesitate to respond. I'm still curious. xD

[Sumeragi]

I already answered the cafeteria part:

The use in cafeterias is to prevent saliva from getting into the food as the servers speak.

And yes, the masks are used when dusting stuff. Prevents stuff from going into one's nose and mouth.

[Dreamer90]

Aah, alright, thank you! Do you use the same kinda masks for all those things or are there specific kinda masks for specific purposes?

D3

[Akka]

As DonQuigleone said, this is more a sign of a weak female status, than a weak male.
The woman is not taken seriously, so she can do whatever she wants and all it amounts to is comedy.
If the girl was actually in the stronger position, like you say, then behavior like this would have serious consequences. But as it is, it can be ignored, because it comes from a girl.
For someone with this line of thinking, it would make the male look weaker, if he took a girl serious. He would lower himself to her level, so to say.

So yes, these are symptoms of inequality, but you are reading them upside down.
Sorry, but this interpretation feels just weird. Ignoring people being annoying can certainly denote looking at them as inferiors. But submitting to them and doing their bidding ? Not buying it.

[Endless Soul]

Here's a look back at Japanese TV 30 years ago (the year I was born).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPc6_phqhx0

That was very interesting to watch. Lots of coffee commercials though. Also, I had no idea Pocky was that old.

Endless "Tiller girl" Soul

[DonQuigleone]

Yeah, but how many of them don't let themselve being talked down, or actually react when they are punched by a girl of their household/nakama (I'm not talking about beating her back, but just calling her on it, or getting actually mad and not just meek ?) ?
Well there's plenty of shows where they're never punched, or talked down to by a girl at all. Most of the shows I cited were of that nature.

There are plenty of guys that get mad, or annoyed. Due to the facts that their characters are more subtle, they mightn't stick out in your mind, but I'd actually say the completely meek guys only make up a small minority of male protagonists as a whole.

I suppose you don't usually get guys "punching back", but hey, guys aren't supposed to punch girls...


The loser harem protagonist is certainly the most "glorious" example of complete doormat, but I'm rather talking about the "submissive/passive" streak of nearly every protagonist, not just the most extreme cases.

Certainly many characters in Anime have a passive streak, but first it's important to consider that many Otaku in real life also have a passive disposition, so it's easy for the viewer to empathise, and because it's a familiar experience, they can draw comedy from it.

Also, it's not necessarily a bad thing, a lot of Anime feature around characters overcoming their passivity. Which is a satisfying thing to watch.

Also, however annoyingly passive guys can be in Harems, they don't hold a candle to girls in a lot of Shoujo. A significant portion of them never make a decision for themselves. So it might be a japanese thing that cuts across the sexes.

And finally, there are also plenty of manga/anime characters that aren't passive at all. Death Note anyone?


You're preaching to the choir here. If I'm so irritated by some flaws ubiquitous in anime (like the doormat protagonist or the unability to actually build a relationship until the last episode), it's precisely because anime is practically the only kind of visual medium I watch (as it's the only one that "resonate" with me).
And so it makes me desperate to see the series break more from the usual clichés :p
I'll admit that when you watch the umpteenth light novel adaptation and realise it's almost the exact same as the last 10 you watched, you feel a little bit of you die. But there are plenty of of exceptions. For instance yes it's annoying that anime guys never can get the balls to confess until the last episode, but sometimes they do (Kids on the slope!). It could be that you're watching bad anime. The good anime tend to mix things up a bit more, and will surprise you (which is one reason why they're "good").

If you think it's bad in Anime, don't even touch JDramas.

As DonQuigleone said, this is more a sign of a weak female status, than a weak male.
The woman is not taken seriously, so she can do whatever she wants and all it amounts to is comedy.
If the girl was actually in the stronger position, like you say, then behavior like this would have serious consequences. But as it is, it can be ignored, because it comes from a girl.
For someone with this line of thinking, it would make the male look weaker, if he took a girl serious. He would lower himself to her level, so to say.

So yes, these are symptoms of inequality, but you are reading them upside down.
I'd say the logic of this is also correct. Part of women being inferior is that they are weak and need to be "protected". One of the easiest ways to wring comedy from this is to subvert the demure female stereotype and have the girl beat up on the guy.

It's also worth remembering that most female characters in Japanese harems and Rom-coms come in basically two varieties: Yamato Nadesico and Tsundere. Yamato Nadesico is the perfect girl who'll basically mother you, and Tsundere basically represents the idea that a guy can "tame" a girl, IE he tames her and transforms her from Tsun Tsun to Dere Dere. Both have a [male-centric] sexist idea at their core, though in a lot of anime it's not so overt as to be offensive. Otaku tend to often be a very conservative bunch, remember the furore when Nagi of Kannagi was revealed not to be a virgin, the mangaka got death threats.

Sorry, but this interpretation feels just weird. Ignoring people being annoying can certainly denote looking at them as inferiors. But submitting to them and doing their bidding ? Not buying it.

The guy doesn't usually submit. He often just tolerates. Because he's superior, a girl can't threaten him. If a guy behaved the same way, he'd punch him in the face, because it's a girl, he doesn't need to care.

Of course, I still contend that this behaviour you're citing isn't ubiquitous, though I don't deny that it's common.

[SaintessHeart]

Haha, your timing is impeccable, Saint, I was just editing that in. :)

Needless to say, I prefer the old days protags.
Same even goes for eroge. The early 90s eroge protagonists were badass, strong, manly, and openly playboy.
Now they're just as spineless and whiney as their anime counterparts.

I think aohige is a Level-5 psychic or something, plus if anyone wants to look for a place that will be like Japan, they didn't need to look far :

Actress Felicia Chin: S’pore men are shallow and arrogant (http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/actress-felicia-chin-pore-men-shallow-arrogant-081313426.html)

Maybe in modern society, men are taught to let go of their "barbaric ways" and be more "civilised" (meaning to become more docile to the Big Corps and government who milk dollars and sense out of them). Punish the boys for fighting in school when it is their natural instinct to protect what they deem is important to them (pride and ego)? Suspend them when they think critically and challenge established ideas?

Well there they have it : soft men whom women don't want to breed with, and a greying population.

[Guernsey]

I an not sure about the rest of the male population in Japan but it seems that they learn to be more in tune with their emotions and besides being 'manly' does not necessarily being reckless. It is also about being responsible and taking care yourself and others, I guess women are looking for a confident male who can take them as well as themselves and otaku don't provide that.

[SaintessHeart]

I an not sure about the rest of the male population in Japan but it seems that they learn to be more in tune with their emotions and besides being 'manly' does not necessarily being reckless. It is also about being responsible and taking care yourself and others, I guess women are looking for a confident male who can take them as well as themselves and otaku don't provide that.

I agree with your theory, and I have thise sub-theory that due to the rising standards of living, some women's perception of "able to take care of them" includes a Burberry handbag whenever they want one. :heh:

Though I admit that I am a soft and lazy man who let my male friends have their way (probably explains why I am constantly surrounded by fujoshis, FML) instead of jostling for the pack leader position (why bother? It isn't like army days where incompetent leaders are a dime a dozen, my buddies are dependable enough not to lead us to death); maybe indeed, our lives have been to comfortable that we no longer see the need to lead anymore.

[Sumeragi]

So you're basically the opposite of Oppa (who just turns into a leader by his mere presence), and that explains why you're my otouto :)

[DonQuigleone]

Strange.

Whenever I'm involved in a group task, I always end out being leader in all but name. People seem to follow and trust me. :confused:

Really, it's not that hard to lead, you just need to work for the well being of your team mates. In that way your team will trust you, and leadership without trust is nothing.

[SaintessHeart]

So you're basically the opposite of Oppa (who just turns into a leader by his mere presence), and that explains why you're my otouto :)

Whatever, nee-sama. But stop abusing your position! :p

I recently met up with a few old bunkmates (no, that is not what you think! Not that kind of "bunkmates"!) during a gathering, and when we were talking about old times, they mentioned that I often had weird and funny ideas to carry out which could have put me in a leadership position, just that I am too lazy and "ball-less" to suggest it out loud for fear of "offending someone". My response of "everyone is a leader, and at those times, it just isn't my turn yet" was immediately shot down.

Maybe I really am too soft instead of just merely "lazy"? I don't know - there hasn't been a girl that told me that yet, and I can't be bothered to find out from one. ;)

[DonQuigleone]

You should have just said your ideas. Maybe they're terrible, but it's on the group to decide that. Suggesting new ideas can't make things worse, unless your boss is an asshole, in which case, get out of there.

Often I end out leading the people around me because I suggested good ideas for whatever task we're doing. Not everyone is so good at coming up with ideas...

[Guernsey]

I am not in the military like SaintessHeart (assuming that you are in the military) but I guess I can be called lazy, I don't realy talk or speak my mind as much and I am constantly a 'girl' like by my father or brother. Despite being the firstborn son, I lack any real leadership qualities and I am not assertive at all in social situations.

[AnimeFan188]

"The bizarre taste in helmets of Japanese samurai, generals and warlords would
put any modern cosplayer to shame, and sengoku jidai buffs have been busily
collecting up some of the most egregiously eccentric examples.

The classic Japanese helmet (“kabuto”) came into being during the Heian period,
and became an essential martial accessory during the Sengoku Jidai period.

However, with feudal daimyo increasingly more interested in advertising their
presence on the battlefield than participating directly in combat they began to take
on less practical designs, eventually becoming the subject of the daimyo equivalent
of creepy otaku collectors."

See:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/05/20/30-unforgettably-bizarre-japanese-helmets/

[AnimeFan188]

6 Ways Japanese Wrestling Makes the WWE Look Sane:

"Professional wrestling is crazy by nature -- you can't get fans to tune in for a
couple of guys pretend-fighting for an hour; you need to spice it up. In America, this
is done with gimmicks and outlandish personalities and openly silly story lines. In
Japan, this is done with utter insanity."

See:

http://www.cracked.com/article_19868_6-ways-japanese-wrestling-makes-wwe-look-sane.html

[aohige]

"The bizarre taste in helmets of Japanese samurai, generals and warlords would
put any modern cosplayer to shame, and sengoku jidai buffs have been busily
collecting up some of the most egregiously eccentric examples.

The classic Japanese helmet (“kabuto”) came into being during the Heian period,
and became an essential martial accessory during the Sengoku Jidai period.

However, with feudal daimyo increasingly more interested in advertising their
presence on the battlefield than participating directly in combat they began to take
on less practical designs, eventually becoming the subject of the daimyo equivalent
of creepy otaku collectors."

See:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/05/20/30-unforgettably-bizarre-japanese-helmets/

Such a dumb list.
I went through the whole thing, and didn't see the best helmet of all.
愛 (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Noae_Kanetugu _Yoroi.jpg)

[Ridwan]

A helpless fan of traditional sweets and desserts that I am, this shop is permanently on my to-visit list when I'll visit the country someday : http://www.chuckeats.com/2009/04/20/a-few-kyoto-sweets-kasagi-ya-kagizen-yoshifusa/

[SeijiSensei]

I just happened today to look at hospitalization statistics after reading this announcement (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-28/voice-actress-yuki-goto-expects-to-leave-hospital-in-august) that Goto Yuko is spending 2 1/2 months in hospital with what appears to be an autoimmune disease. It reminded me of Yuuki of Moshidora who is endlessly hospitalized with an unnamed mysterious illness. Long hospital stays appear in a number of anime shows. I wondered if this was just a fictional convention or representative of actual Japanese health care.

Originally I thought it might be a consequence of Japan's national health system, but it turns out long hospital stays are a distinctly Japanese thing. In 2009 the OECD (http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,3746,en_2649_33929_2085200_1_1_1_1,00.html) reports an average length of stay for Japan of 32.5 days, more than twice the next country Korea, at 14.7, and far longer than most other rich countries that average some six to nine days.

This difference between Japan and other countries has persisted at least as far back as 1960 when the data begin. In 1965, the average length of stay in Japan was 56.7 days, with most other countries reporting figures in the 15-30 range.

As a social scientist, I generally dislike explanations for "outliers" like this one that rely on "cultural" differences. I have to admit this one seems to qualify. Any ideas about why the Japanese hospitalize their people much longer than other rich countries do? Hospitalization is generally the most expensive method to provide care. Perhaps Japan works differently?

[Sumeragi]

Patients accept responsibility for 30% of these costs while the government pays the remaining 70%. The out-of-pocket and total expenses of patients seem to be much lower than other countries. Furthermore, while most of the OECD countries rely on drugs to keep the patient get better, Japanese tend to go for a more "extensive" caring to make sure they aren't unhealthy for whatever reason.

[monsta666]

You should have just said your ideas. Maybe they're terrible, but it's on the group to decide that. Suggesting new ideas can't make things worse, unless your boss is an asshole, in which case, get out of there.

Often I end out leading the people around me because I suggested good ideas for whatever task we're doing. Not everyone is so good at coming up with ideas...
You don't even need to be good at generating ideas to become a leader. If you are good at implementing and selecting the right ideas to be promoted that can be enough. Stress should be given on implementation side however because many people want others to do the leg work!

[Endless Soul]

So I was working on one of my projects this weekend, and I was doing a bit of research online, when I came across these videos on youtube. Apparently there is a TV show in Japan called Plamo Tsukurou (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plamo) that gives tutorials on building plastic scale models. I had never heard of it, and frankly I'm quite amazed that there's airtime devoted to this hobby. This is unheard of (at least in the States).



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I really like the Japanese version of Mr. Rogers. at the end of the build, he commenting over the completed diorama with a pint of Guiness. :)

gnRgfju6bd8
Here's Tomoe Ogoshi (or Okoshi) building a Gundam AMX-004. Idiotic comments all over the place. She has a website (http://www.054taste.jp/) too.

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Same girl building a Type 97 Chi-Ha Tank.

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This one is pretty old (2006) and focuses on the VF-0S from Macross Zero, so apparently this show has been around a while. Hmmm smoking around your model kits ~tsk~tsk~.

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This guy dresses like an 80's rock star, but his skills are quite good. Also, there's a visit to Tamiya headquarters, and our host is accompanied by a very nice looking Tamiya representative.

So my question is, and I think I may already know the answer but I'd like some input anyways, is scale modeling more accepted and celebrated in Japan? Sure, I speak with other modelers from around the world (thanks internet!) but I can't think of any other country that has a dedicated TV show on the hobby.

Endless "Thumbs up for geek girls!" Soul

[TinyRedLeaf]

Japan's pursuit of cute spawns US$30b industry (http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/japans-pursuit-of-cute-spawns-30-bln-industry)



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VIDEO: AFP




Gifu (July 6, Fri): Police forces use them; shops can't do without them; power companies have them — and sack them when they become unpopular. No marketing or public information campaign is complete without them. Cute, cuddly — or startling — characters are everywhere in Japan.

While marketers the world over have long understood the value of an oversized cartoon animal who can persuade children to part with their pocket money, those in Japan know it is also an effective way to reach their parents.

And despite the tepid economy, there is money to be made: The licensed-character industry, including copyrights and merchandising, is worth a whopping US$30 billion a year — more than Japanese people spend on books annually.

But it's not just the big names — Hello Kitty or Pokemon — that draw the crowds and their cash.

A two-day "grand assembly" in the central Japan city of Gifu attracted around 120,000 visitors who were entertained by 47 adult-sized mascots, one from each prefecture, who treated visitors to songs, dances and endless photo opportunities.

The yuru-kyara (http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/exotic/JapanesQue/trivia/201011_cool.html) (suggesting "laid back character") often represent regions or towns, taking their inspiration from locally famous foods, personalities, animals, industries or occasionally a combination.

Characters roamed shopping arcades, chased by children holding balloons — and adults with cellphones — who were eager to shake hands and take pictures.

Many visitors said growing up surrounded by characters like these meant they could continue to appreciate them into middle age.

"Even in adulthood, we find no mental block to them and think they are cute," said Mrs Aki Kamikara, 38. "I'll do Internet searches when I get home as I found some new characters I like," she said. Her husband, Yuichi, 42, said it had been worth the trip.

"There are a lot of characters I don't see usually, ranging from interesting ones to good ones," he said. "It's fun."

Mr Noriaki Sato, president of Radetzky, the event-planning company that organised the get-together in Gifu, said characters speak to the Japanese mindset. "Anime and manga have taken deep root in Japan and people are familiar with many characters from a young age," he told AFP as Yanana, a svelte female body with a large square head posed for pictures a few steps away.

Those inside the suits agreed that they were part of something that chimed with the nation's collective soul.

"Japanese people like characters a lot," said a man in a red mask from the central city of Tsu. "From children to elderly people, they are pleased when characters appear at events… This is a culture peculiar to Japan that we should take pride in."

AFP

[Azuma Denton]

One thing i wanna ask for a long time. (But i keep forget it :heh:)

In anime, the characters seldom take a morning shower before going to school/work. Is it usual there??

[Sumeragi]

Most people tend to just wash their hair, given how people usually take a bath in the evening. Unless you're like me who is a shower person.

[Ridwan]

It's pretty convenient to live outside tropical belt. There's no way you'll survive stink-less in humidity and heat around here without at least bathing twice a day.

[Azuma Denton]

Most people tend to just wash their hair, given how people usually take a bath in the evening. Unless you're like me who is a shower person.
Well, i am the opposite of Japanesse people. I bath completely on morning, and sometimes bath before night, given sometimes i arrive at my room late at night. :heh:


Well, in tropical land like Indonesia, it can make you wanna bath every 2-3 hours because of the humidity.

[Ridwan]

Well, i am the opposite of Japanesse people. I bath completely on morning, and sometimes bath before night, given sometimes i arrive at my room late at night. :heh:


Well, in tropical land like Indonesia, it can make you wanna bath every 2-3 hours because of the humidity.

It gets better when you live in coastal cities. I currently reside deep in Pasundan hinterland which is notoriously cold for Indonesian term. And indeed, 12 o'clock in here feels like 8 o'clock in an East Kalimantan port city.

[Vexx]

For those interested in the Shinto belief system often seen or used in anime and manga, this site is a fair starter point:

http://www.isejingu.or.jp/shosai/english/index.htm

(thanks to Rev. Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki America Grand Shrine (http://www.tsubakishrine.org/)).

[ChainLegacy]

For those interested in the Shinto belief system often seen or used in anime and manga, this site is a fair starter point:

http://www.isejingu.or.jp/shosai/english/index.htm

(thanks to Rev. Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki America Grand Shrine (http://www.tsubakishrine.org/)).

Indeed, I found the Shinto beliefs about bathing to be quite interesting when I first heard them. It was for this reason historically the 'more advanced' Europeans seemed like stinky barbarians after being holed up on ships for days. :p

[SeijiSensei]

It was for this reason historically the 'more advanced' Europeans seemed like stinky barbarians after being holed up on ships for days. :p

After teen-aged "Japonais" Yune has been in France for a few days, she finally tells Claude that she needs to take a bath. Claude, 19th century Parisian that he is, finds this quite surprising. He also says that it's a waste of water and would annoy his neighbors.

It's in episode four of Ikoku Meiru no Croisee (http://www.theanimenetwork.com/Anime/Croisee-in-a-Foreign-Labyrinth-The-Animation/Watch).

[Duo Maxwell]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask...

I'm doing research about Kimono, but there is not many sites that have good (and big) pictures of the kimono fabric pattern. Does anyone know any place I can find those images? Preferably the old and/or extravagant one.

[Sumeragi]

Are you researching to buy, for school, or for hobby/pleasure?

[Duo Maxwell]

Mostly for drawing and designing, but it's also part of my hobby, as I'm interested in women's clothing, especially those traditional ones.

[ChainLegacy]

After teen-aged "Japonais" Yune has been in France for a few days, she finally tells Claude that she needs to take a bath. Claude, 19th century Parisian that he is, finds this quite surprising. He also says that it's a waste of water and would annoy his neighbors.

It's in episode four of Ikoku Meiru no Croisee (http://www.theanimenetwork.com/Anime/Croisee-in-a-Foreign-Labyrinth-The-Animation/Watch).

Ah, that's great, I didn't know there'd be a direct reference to this clash of cultures in the anime world. :D

Luckily we Westerners have caught up in that regard. Well, most of us, anyways... :p

[TinyRedLeaf]

Don't know if this topic had been brought up before in this thread. A simple keyword search threw up several possibilities and I don't have time to check them all. If it's a repeat, my apologies in advance.

Basically, I've been wondering about the relationships between grown children and their parents in Japan. I'd just watched Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTj1-Bu4PWE) over the weekend and, if you aren't aware, the movie is essentially a loving tribute (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1jktkOUPiM) to mothers, among other things.

Here's a part of my overall question: To what extent does mainstream anime accurately reflect family relationships? As many of you may have observed, parents are usually not present in many anime series. They're usually not included to keep the cast small and plot-relevant, or else they are simply written out of the picture altogether (eg, the protagonists' parents died while they were still children, forcing them to grow up either alone or in the care of relatives).

More importantly, I'm curious about the extent to which grown-up children keep in touch with their parents. I get the impression that Japanese families are similar to Western families in this regard, that is, parents — particularly the poor hardworking mothers — are essentially left alone in home towns once the children have flown the coop.

(I get the impression that Western parents greatly look forward to this "coming of age". For starters, they get to have the house back all to themselves! No more pesky children messing up the place and unwilling to do their fair share of chores! Yay!)

Do understand that I'm speaking as a person who grew up and lives in a city-state. People in Singapore, and in cities like Hong Kong, tend to be very close to their parents — both physically and emotionally — often living with them all the way till they are married. There is little to no stigma about not leaving to set up your own home, as is often the case in the West. (Partly because homes are extraordinarily expensive, and also because, culturally, parents in both cities do like to have their children nearby, even after they've moved out.)

[Guernsey]

Don't know if this topic had been brought up before in this thread. A simple keyword search threw up several possibilities and I don't have time to check them all. If it's a repeat, my apologies in advance.

Basically, I've been wondering about the relationships between grown children and their parents in Japan. I'd just watched Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTj1-Bu4PWE) over the weekend and, if you aren't aware, the movie is essentially a loving tribute (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1jktkOUPiM) to mothers, among other things.

Here's a part of my overall question: To what extent does mainstream anime accurately reflect family relationships? As many of you may have observed, parents are usually not present in many anime series. They're usually not included to keep the cast small and plot-relevant, or else they are simply written out of the picture altogether (eg, the protagonists' parents died while they were still children, forcing them to grow up either alone or in the care of relatives).

More importantly, I'm curious about the extent to which grown-up children keep in touch with their parents. I get the impression that Japanese families are similar to Western families in this regard, that is, parents — particularly the poor hardworking mothers — are essentially left alone in home towns once the children have flown the coop.

(I get the impression that Western parents greatly look forward to this "coming of age". For starters, they get to have the house back all to themselves! No more pesky children messing up the place and unwilling to do their fair share of chores! Yay!)

Do understand that I'm speaking as a person who grew up and lives in a city-state. People in Singapore, and in cities like Hong Kong, tend to be very close to their parents — both physically and emotionally — often living with them all the way till they are married. There is little to no stigma about not leaving to set up your own home, as is often the case in the West. (Partly because homes are extraordinarily expensive, and also because, culturally, parents in both cities do like to have their children nearby, even after they've moved out.)

I am not sure but doesn't that usually apply to shonen adventure stories? I know my family who came from a Haitian background keep their family in touch. I come from a huge family especially on my father's side, he even has cousins and uncles that even he doesn't know about. I still keep in touch with them but that is only because I live with them and unlike American families (my family has a haitian background), they don't usually kick out chiildren until they can afford to do so or just plain leave the house.

[Vexx]

Just a note, Americans don't *all* kick their kids out at 18 or 22, it is an out-of-date meme. The last two decades have pretty much decimated that habit between the cost of housing and the lack of living wage jobs. Anecdotally, almost all of both my son's friends live with their parents at least part time or move in and out as their finances allow (all these young adults are in their 20s). The "nuclear urban" family bubble of the second half of the 20th century is fading as families pool resources so they can avoid living on the streets.

In my case, my older son is living with us while he starts a small business. He has lived on his own off and on. My other son was able to swing a job on graduation and is currently living in Los Angeles, but if he goes back to grad school and its near us he's certainly welcome to "return to the commune" so to speak. All we ask is that people who live in the house contribute to the maintenance and help pay bills as they are able to. Los Angeles son now pays his part of the cell bill, for example, and completely supporting himself now. My older son pays his own bills (car, ins), contributes to the food bill, and helps with house maintenance/remodeling projects.

[LeoXiao]

One of my best friends, after doing an exchange year in Germany, ended up going to university there. All signs currently point to him finishing school there, getting married there, and pretty much becoming German. He's his parent's only child and they aren't too happy about this. But what can they do?

I think that modern parents often have this dilemma where in order for their children to succeed it becomes a must for them to leave their parents forever (visits don't really count lol), and then when the parents are old they become lonely. Even in my case, with two siblings, my parents have only another five years or so before my younger brother goes off to college and they are the only ones left in the house. Sure the kids can come back and visit but it's not the same.

But who knows. maybe when I'm done with school I'll end up moving back and find a job where I grew up.

[Irenicus]

More importantly, I'm curious about the extent to which grown-up children keep in touch with their parents. I get the impression that Japanese families are similar to Western families in this regard, that is, parents — particularly the poor hardworking mothers — are essentially left alone in home towns once the children have flown the coop.
Warning: anecdote/thoughts. As you no doubt are fully aware (being most certainly wiser than I am and all), anecdotes don't make for very good statistics.

I think, however, that it maybe a bit of an insight.

I once did homestay in Japan, living with a family that lives in one of the satellite cities around Osaka's metropolitan core. They had two children, both adults (10+ years older than I am), the older daughter is married and lives with her husband in Osaka itself, while the younger son lives with the parents; he works and has a lot of friends and hobbies and everything, not a NEET (a cool jazz guy, actually). It didn't seem to be anything unusual. On the other hand, a Japanese college friend there has family in Yokohama, near Tokyo; he visited home during the new years holiday when I was there.

So, here's what I think:

1) I believe it is natural to stay at your parents' home as an adult. There's not really a "you leave at 18" culture in Japan unless you're in an orphanage or something and have to leave when you turn legally adult.

2) The "leaving home" situation you implied seem to be a different phenomenon: young people move to college, to work and establish their lives in the cities, while their parents, the elderly, live in the countryside. The city-country age gap in Japan is huge, and for a reason. Younger people leave home not because their parents kicked them out or society looked down upon them, but because the opportunities lie in the great metropolitan areas. In other words, it is more of a geographical issue than a culture of "independence" as the cliché goes in the West -- though, as Vexx-jiisan mentioned, it is a bit of a false cliché by now with the storm of the Great Recession hitting many American families...including my own.

3) Nonetheless, many Japanese do indeed keep in touch. They have their own version of the American "family" Christmas, wherein during the summer the city-to-countryside traffic -- trains, roads, even planes -- become extremely clogged as younger Japanese returned home to their families for the yearly Obon festival.

4) Being as it is both modern and traditional, Japan has a wide variety of family models. Large families with deep generational ties, nuclear families in city "mansions" (i.e. apartments), single parent families that desperately needed childcare services (childcare rationing is a relatively important issue there), broken families...


For all the harsh and unfair judgements thrown at anime over the years, the one which argues that it fails to represent the typical Japanese family is among the fairest and closest to the truth, in my opinion -- although it must be noted that anime is under no obligation to do so anyway (escapism and fantasy and all). If anything, something like a Ghibli movie captures the tone of Japanese family life far better.

[willx]

Just a note, Americans don't *all* kick their kids out at 18 or 22, it is an out-of-date meme. The last two decades have pretty much decimated that habit between the cost of housing and the lack of living wage jobs. Anecdotally, almost all of both my son's friends live with their parents at least part time or move in and out as their finances allow (all these young adults are in their 20s). The "nuclear urban" family bubble of the second half of the 20th century is fading as families pool resources so they can avoid living on the streets.

In my case, my older son is living with us while he starts a small business. He has lived on his own off and on. My other son was able to swing a job on graduation and is currently living in Los Angeles, but if he goes back to grad school and its near us he's certainly welcome to "return to the commune" so to speak. All we ask is that people who live in the house contribute to the maintenance and help pay bills as they are able to. Los Angeles son now pays his part of the cell bill, for example, and completely supporting himself now. My older son pays his own bills (car, ins), contributes to the food bill, and helps with house maintenance/remodeling projects.

^ This. Right after graduation from University, even after I got my current job (which is ridiculously high paying) .. I still lived at home for awhile. I worked to help pay for my tuition, but student loans can be crushing.

Keep in mind that I'm in Canada as well, so my tuition bills were MUCH lower than those graduating out of the U.S. and I didn't live on campus during my education. I read somewhere that the average student graduates from college with >$25,000 in debt.. Much higher if you go for Masters+ .. and factor in a terrible job market

I'm out on my own now, far away from all my family, but that's my choice. They'd actually much rather prefer me to be closer to home .. then again I'm of Chinese descent so maybe it's a cultural thing too.

[NoemiChan]

Most people tend to just wash their hair, given how people usually take a bath in the evening. Unless you're like me who is a shower person.

That's why she smells good.. *sniff

..That's why Nii-nii goes to school to meet Haruka without taking a morning bath.....

[DonQuigleone]

As far as I can see, Anime is definitely not a realistic depiction of Japanese family life. The reason parents are so rare in Anime is simply because Parents would get in the way. It's similar in western literature, there's an alarmingly high number of orphans (Luke Skywalker of Star Wars is a case in point, he has no parents, and what parents he has die in the first half hour of the film. He seems to get over it pretty quickly, all things considered).

From what I can see, Japanese families are fairly close, and parents are keen to look after their kids, and in fact I'd say are more likely to overly coddle them then not. For instance, look at all NEETs and hikikomoris living with their parents, the parents usually trying to do their best by their dysfunctional children, when in fact "tough love" might be the best answer.

As an interesting aside, from what I've heard the whole "harsh chinese parenting" thing is also likely a cliché (http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/helen-he-dont-demonize-chinese-mothers-545975) at this point. While there was truth to it in the past (and hey, in the west we had corporal punishment!), it seems today most Chinese parents seem to prefer taking a kinder approach. Apparently popular parenting book titles include "A Good Mother Is Better than a Good Teacher (http://baike.baidu.com/view/71483.htm?wtp=tt)" and "Education of Love (baike.baidu.com/view/71483.html?wtp=tt)".

I recently watched parts of a BBC documentary called "Chinese Schools", while schooling in China is far from perfect (every kid is a young pioneer! Crazy examinations!), the parents on the whole seemed pretty normal. There are some crazy committed parents out there, who make their kids into study machines, but then doesn't that happen everywhere? I knew kids at my school who were studying 5 hours a day (in addition to 9 hours of schooling).

Anyway, I'd say the parenting landscapes in other countries are pretty difficult to describe in only a few paragraphs. But I'd say that there's more variation in parenting style within a country, then there is between countries.

[SaintessHeart]

Study till night was a hit in my Primary and Secondary school days. Some of my foreign friends still don't believe me when I was caned for scoring below 80% in any test or exam, while the local ones thought it was pretty normal other than the caning part : most were just nagged at.

Until the second Gulf War when the economy took a hit, they realised that the cert is more worthless than it looks because you still get sacked if your company doesn't do well. Then they start investing in alternative skills for their kids, for me it was worse off because my dad lost his job and could't afford "alternative skills training" for both his kids - so I started working as a verbal punching bag instead.

Studying till dawn is a ludicrous idea; you can be the best in your field, what if the money flows out of your industry? Being the best makes nonsense when you can't find a job to suit it.

[DonQuigleone]

Study till night was a hit in my Primary and Secondary school days. Some of my foreign friends still don't believe me when I was caned for scoring below 80% in any test or exam, while the local ones thought it was pretty normal other than the caning part : most were just nagged at.

Until the second Gulf War when the economy took a hit, they realised that the cert is more worthless than it looks because you still get sacked if your company doesn't do well. Ghen they start investing in alternative skills for their kids.

Indeed. Though, from what I've heard, this might be a point of divergence between overseas Chinese and Chinese in China.

I think Immigrants tend to spur their children on much harder. From what I've heard, Irish-Americans back in the day put a lot of pressure on their kids to do well, while I can say with some degree of certainty that that kind of competitive educational culture doesn't really exist in Ireland.

As for the Caning, well, Corporal Punishment is not unique to Asia. My dad had a story where the Christian Brothers hung a boy out of a window by his feet...

[MakubeX2]

From the way the Japanese society and family function, I'm interested in how the parents feel if their children falls into the extreme sides of life as yakuzas, fuzokujous and AV actors. Will the children be disowned or the parents resign to the fact ?

[Sumeragi]

AV: Would the parents know about it, given that it's likely false names would be used?

[MakubeX2]

AV: Would the parents know about it, given that it's likely false names would be used?

Only a matter of time, I believe. As the Chinese saying goes "Paper cannot wrap a fire". Someone will recognize the girl and make the connection.

[Sumeragi]

Meh, I would say there are just too many products for that short of the actor having been originally well-known.

[MakubeX2]

Meh, I would say there are just too many products for that short of the actor having been originally well-known.

For a short stint like 5 titles, it might be alright. But for the likes of Yamaguchi sisters and Tsubomi, I don't know.

[Terrestrial Dream]

Speaking of AV

Japan sees surge in aspiring adult film actresses; 6,000 said to debut each year (http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/japan-sees-surge-in-aspiring-adult-film-actresses-6000-said-to-debut-each-year)
The Japanese sex film, or adult video (AV), industry is big business. It’s said that around 20,000 videos are released annually and some Japanese AV actresses have achieved celebrity status even outside of Japan.

And it’s not just demand for Japanese skin flicks that’s thriving.

According to nonfiction writer Atsuhiko Nakamura, who has published several books based on interviews with AV actresses, the number of Japanese women seeking work in the adult video industry has increased dramatically over the past decade, with some 6,000 girls making their debut every year.

Atsuhiko Nakamura has interviewed over 500 AV actresses and made headlines in Japan for casting light on the dark side of the AV industry with his bestselling book, “Namae no nai Onna-tachi” (“The Nameless Women”).

“Actresses come and go every day and it’s likely that there are about that many [6,000] women in the industry at all times,” explained Nakamura during a recent investigative television program.

“Until the late ‘90s, a lot of people said they wouldn’t appear in an AV even if they were paid 10 million yen, but that rapidly changed over the decade and now normal girls are rushing for a chance to make it into any kind of production.”

While there were always spots open for amateurs in the ‘90s, now it’s said only 15 out of 100 aspiring actresses can get a role and the rest are turned away at the door. It’s just like applying for a part-time job at a convenience store.”

While the adult video industry is known for being recession-proof, Nakamura points out that not all applicants are in it for the money: “One girl had been working for a major bank for one or two years and had begun to feel unsure if it was the right career choice for her. She likes sex and realized she could be an AV actress, and told me she was really happy with her career change.”

And, despite the nature of the work, a strong academic or educational background is valued by producers when trying to sift through so many applicants. “Girls from top-tier colleges are often chosen over those who have a weak academic background,” said Nakamura. “Those with credentials and a job are also more likely to make the cut, especially teachers and nurses.”

Wait ... so you mean those are actually REAL nurses in “Giant-Breasted Nurse Hell 2!?!?” (actual title)

“Most amateur contracts stipulate a set compensation rate for three videos, two pair and one solo. The rates range from 150,000 to 200,000 yen, 250,000 and 300,000 yen, depending on the applicant’s experience and background.”

However, it seems the 150,000 yen rate makes up 60-70% of contracts and recently, some girls are told that due to low demand they’re only needed for one video and can only be paid half the normal rate, leaving them with a take-home of less than 30,000 yen.

[Sumeragi]

What, Terrestrial Dream..... You changed your avatar?!?!?!

*Faints*

[Terrestrial Dream]

What, Terrestrial Dream..... You changed your avatar?!?!?!

*Faints* I had that chibi GaoGaiGar for too long, time to move back to my Ibis.

[willx]

So, speaking of something "sort of" culture related. Back when I was Japan in April, I noticed two things Japanese cuisine related different in North America that surprised me considering I thought I knew a decent amount about the cultural before I went (..I guess I'm easily surprised)

1) Certain restaurants or cuisine types are considered "high end" there vs. being gimmicky and considered cheap in North America - Tempura & Teppanyaki Restaurants

2) Miso soup in Japan is not served at the beginning of a meal but along with the rest of the cooked food. I actually asked the nicer restaurants that I frequent here in Toronto why and was told: "People here are just used to having soup as an appetizer"

[MakubeX2]

Speaking of AV

Japan sees surge in aspiring adult film actresses; 6,000 said to debut each year (http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/japan-sees-surge-in-aspiring-adult-film-actresses-6000-said-to-debut-each-year)

This just shows how mainstream porn had become. The stringent requirement means that the studio takes their productions seriously and the actress needs to get involved with her character like a professional does. Acting in porn is not like filming a home sex video now because you need to prepare for the role and put up a good performance.

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If you are good, it might actually leads to something better.

[aohige]

So, speaking of something "sort of" culture related. Back when I was Japan in April, I noticed two things Japanese cuisine related different in North America that surprised me considering I thought I knew a decent amount about the cultural before I went (..I guess I'm easily surprised)

1) Certain restaurants or cuisine types are considered "high end" there vs. being gimmicky and considered cheap in North America - Tempura & Teppanyaki Restaurants

2) Miso soup in Japan is not served at the beginning of a meal but along with the rest of the cooked food. I actually asked the nicer restaurants that I frequent here in Toronto why and was told: "People here are just used to having soup as an appetizer"

It's kinda funny, but the stuff you commonly see as "Japanese food" in US are mostly ones that we don't actually eat very often. Especially sushi.

And likewise, the common everyday food we eat, is almost never seen in US.
Most popular food are like Japanese style curry rice, ramen, gyudon (and other cheap donburi), soba and udon, etc.
But no, EVERY freakin Japanese restaurants here in US are about sushi, tenpura, more sushi, and sushi. WTF.
The restaurant I went near where I live (in US) served 5 pieces of Takoyaki at seven bucks, and small side of yakisoba at eight. Those are supposed to be CHEAP JUNK FOOD for god's sake. :heh:
That's like serving french fries and tacos for 7~8 bucks.

Japanese restaurants in the west are absolutely NOT a representation of everyday Japanese meal. Not even close.

[Sumeragi]

The worst part: Why is it that the people running the Japanese restaurants are usually Chinese?

[sneaker]

China is poor and huge => lots of uneducated emigrants that opt for opening restaurants.

[Vexx]

I'm somewhat lucky. We have a dozen or so mom'n'pop Japanese restaurants in my area that are actually run by Japanese and actually do regular Japanese food (though they do sushi as well). A couple even do seasonal dishes popular in Japan. Then we have 3 or 4 what I'd call "hoity" restaurants like aohige describes. Touristy... and unrepresentative.

We have several actual Korean-run Korean restaurants. They're always seem excited to see "da white people" come in. Last time my son and I were in one, we ordered a sampler mix and the owner stood there and talked about each dish, what part of Korea it was from... it was a good thing we didn't have an agenda, but he was entertaining.

On the other hand, the innumerable "teriyaki places" are almost always run by Koreans. Yeah, I can tell the difference in the languages. Often I get sense of "we don't care, just buy it"...

What is a weird experience is I'm starting to see a lot of latino cooks in the "teriyaki" and "kaiten-zushi" places. Some of them are very creative but ... I can see why Japan was thinking about "global sushi rangers" to patrol.

[DonQuigleone]

Personally I don't like Sushi and prefer Ramen and other soups. But to be honest, where I am the Japanese places are simply overpriced with subpar food.

The best ethnic places in Ireland are currently the Kebab joints. There's also a fairly large number of Chinese places, some of which are pretty good. There's also a section of the city that has decent Korean food.

I think the key to good ethnic food is numbers. You need to have a large number of the places crammed into a small area, and so have price competition and competition for food quality. And to get those numbers you need to have large numbers of that ethnic community. Not only because you need those numbers to start restaurants, but also because the best restaurants largely cater to their own community first, and "natives" second. In Ireland there's a lot of Chinese and Arabs, but very few Japanese. That's why our Japanese food is overpriced and subpar, there's not enough competition.

Generally there's a few criteria you should use when evaluating an ethnic restaurant:
1. Decor, the trendier it is, the worse the food will be.
2. Clientele, the greater the proportion of people eating there that are of the ethnicity, the better the food.
3. Competition, If you see the same genre of food being served just across the street, the food and prices will be better.
4. Menu, See a chinese menu with weird dishes almost entirely written in Chinese that's got poorly translated English subtitles? Go for it.

So if you find a lone good looking Japanese place on the trendiest street, filled with trendy 20 something Irish people you're going to get shafted. Instead, go to the ethnic "ghetto", find a dingy Korean place filled Korean old dudes and families, right across the street from 2 or 3 other Korean places where you can barely read the menu, and feel secure that you have probably struck gold.

And the trendiness thing is particularly true. There was a Sichuanese place I used to go to all the time, amazing place, always crowded. It recently switched to a new location and went all "Up market", it's food is now shit. Alas, I never go there any more (now I cook my own!).

[aohige]

So does Ireland also suffer from the British curse of Bad Food Syndrome?

I kid, I kid.

[DonQuigleone]

So does Ireland also suffer from the British curse of Bad Food Syndrome?

I kid, I kid.

Irish food is shit (except soda bread :) ). British food actually has an unjustified reputation. There are great British dishes.

As for Ireland, the only good restaurants are ethnic places. Ireland doesn't really have a native cuisine that's restaurant worthy.

[RWBladewing]

The best Japanese restaurant I've found around here is this tiny hole-in-the-wall place on the local university campus. I guess that shouldn't be too surprising considering it's a very large university with a very diverse student body, but it's kinda sad that it's the only Japanese restaurant among many that serves more than sushi or store-bought udon (even the well-known restaurant actually run by a Japanese guy in the city is heavily Americanized). Can't get curry rice, beef soba, or my personal favorite, oyako-don, anywhere else around here and I still go there fairly often despite having graduated long ago.

[Vexx]

Personally I don't like Sushi and prefer Ramen and other soups. But to be honest, where I am the Japanese places are simply overpriced with subpar food.

The best ethnic places in Ireland are currently the Kebab joints. There's also a fairly large number of Chinese places, some of which are pretty good. There's also a section of the city that has decent Korean food.

I think the key to good ethnic food is numbers. You need to have a large number of the places crammed into a small area, and so have price competition and competition for food quality. And to get those numbers you need to have large numbers of that ethnic community. Not only because you need those numbers to start restaurants, but also because the best restaurants largely cater to their own community first, and "natives" second. In Ireland there's a lot of Chinese and Arabs, but very few Japanese. That's why our Japanese food is overpriced and subpar, there's not enough competition.

Generally there's a few criteria you should use when evaluating an ethnic restaurant:
1. Decor, the trendier it is, the worse the food will be.
2. Clientele, the greater the proportion of people eating there that are of the ethnicity, the better the food.
3. Competition, If you see the same genre of food being served just across the street, the food and prices will be better.
4. Menu, See a chinese menu with weird dishes almost entirely written in Chinese that's got poorly translated English subtitles? Go for it.

So if you find a lone good looking Japanese place on the trendiest street, filled with trendy 20 something Irish people you're going to get shafted. Instead, go to the ethnic "ghetto", find a dingy Korean place filled Korean old dudes and families, right across the street from 2 or 3 other Korean places where you can barely read the menu, and feel secure that you have probably struck gold.

And the trendiness thing is particularly true. There was a Sichuanese place I used to go to all the time, amazing place, always crowded. It recently switched to a new location and went all "Up market", it's food is now shit. Alas, I never go there any more (now I cook my own!).

This post is pretty much Great Truth. Its the same reason I avoid most 4 or 5 star anythings like the plague (restaurants or hotels). They're like soul-less corporate whores of the world, teleport into one and you may not be able to tell what part of the planet you landed in. I sometimes end up in them on business trips and I hate them.

If you go to Japan, avoid those, make heavy use of the street food nd small eateries, use the mom'n'pop ryokan or minshuku to stay at. Its a lot cheaper and your immersion experience goes through the roof.

[aohige]

Although food served at Ryokan are generally a heck of a lot more upscale than your everyday dish. :heh:

[SaintessHeart]

Although food served at Ryokan are generally a heck of a lot more upscale than your everyday dish. :heh:

Does it include nyotaimori where you can choose the type of serving dish you want? :D

[aohige]

Is your head EVER out of the gutter? :heh:

I can't believe I'm saying this. I'm supposed to be the resident sicko.

[willx]

This post is pretty much Great Truth. Its the same reason I avoid most 4 or 5 star anythings like the plague (restaurants or hotels). They're like soul-less corporate whores of the world, teleport into one and you may not be able to tell what part of the planet you landed in. I sometimes end up in them on business trips and I hate them.

If you go to Japan, avoid those, make heavy use of the street food nd small eateries, use the mom'n'pop ryokan or minshuku to stay at. Its a lot cheaper and your immersion experience goes through the roof.

Now now.. Let's not go TOO far. When I was in Japan in April, I actually looked up the Michelin 4 & 5 star restaurants in Tokyo and Kyoto .. I didn't make reservations ahead of time (they wouldn't let me make reservations from outside the country :upset:) so I couldn't get into any of them but some of them seem very nice. In fact, I was trying super hard to get into Ryugin in Tokyo, but was told there was a 2 month waitlist.. The cuisine is supposed to be fantastic.. I did however end up at a very high end rooftop teppanyaki restaurant in Kyoto that served Oumi beef, and it was absolutely delicious.. albeit super duper ridiculously expensive.

Perhaps I'm lucky, as a huge foodie, I've managed to discover fantastic Japanese and other restaurants in both the cities I've lived in here in Canada (Toronto & Vancouver). Many of them are NOT 4 or 5 star restaurants at all.. But some of them definitely are (albeit not Michelin, there's no Michelin guide for Canada). As for Japanese cuisine and sushi.. Of the hundreds and thousands of sushi restaurants here in Toronto, I would go to maybe .. 5 or 6 for the sushi? They have fresh uni and toro! I actually have fewer options when it comes to decent ramen.. :heh:

OH! And I stayed at this GORGEOUS ryokan in Hakone, definitely busted the wallet, but the kaiseki cuisine was breathtaking.. I actually miss having rice for breakfast since coming back to Toronto..

@Sumeragi - Interesting tidbit.. It's true most of the Japanese restaurants outside Japan are owned by non-Japanese, namely Korean and Chinese, but the chefs at the good restaurants (incl. good ramen places) learned their craft for years in Japan before opening up overseas if they're not ethnically Japanese. Also some of the restaurants do have Japanese chefs, even if the rest of the staff isn't Japanese. I've started to try to not judge restaurants based on the ethnicity of the owner/staff .. but that has bitten my in the butt HARD on a few occasions as well :heh:

[DonQuigleone]

I'll add another factor, the age of the clientele. The older the better. Young people aren't as discerning about their food, and are more likely to go to places because they're "fashionable". Older people are generally more discerning.

On the flipside, older people tend to be more set in their tastes, which may not necessarily be the same as yours. And not all young people are such poor judges. But the more fashionable ones definitely are. They'll just go to a place because it look cool, not worrying about value for money or how good the actual food is. The poor student dressed in clothes from Walmart, might be a slightly better judge. He has no pretensions.

[Terrestrial Dream]

The worst part: Why is it that the people running the Japanese restaurants are usually Chinese?
On the other hand, the innumerable "teriyaki places" are almost always run by Koreans. Yeah, I can tell the difference in the languages. Often I get sense of "we don't care, just buy it"...

What is a weird experience is I'm starting to see a lot of latino cooks in the "teriyaki" and "kaiten-zushi" places. Some of them are very creative but ... I can see why Japan was thinking about "global sushi rangers" to patrol. Well my dad runs a small sushi bar despite being Korean, for good reasons. One, not many white people know anything about Korean food, not the case with Japanese food. Second, Korean restaurants are much harder to run and can't not be run by a single person; the fact that banchan is necessity makes it impossible. Japanese has done really good when it comes to making their food famous, so there is little risk for other Asians to open a Japanese restaurant.
We have several actual Korean-run Korean restaurants. They're always seem excited to see "da white people" come in. Last time my son and I were in one, we ordered a sampler mix and the owner stood there and talked about each dish, what part of Korea it was from... it was a good thing we didn't have an agenda, but he was entertaining. This is the reason, Korean restaurants are made for Koreans. Unlike the "Chinese food", and sushi (example being California roll) are rather catered towards Western. White people in the restaurant are rather rare, unlike Japanese and Chinese restaurants. Maybe Koreans should try to change their food to make it more western, but I rather not see that.

[aohige]

Korean ran Japanese restaurants are much closer to Japanese food than Chinese run ones in general.
They're still freakin sushi bars though. :heh:

I wish there was a cheap Matsuya nearby for some good cheap Gyudon, cheap ramen joints, and cheap okonomiyaki and takoyaki places.

But noooooo. Yet. Another. Freaking. SUSHI!!! *cries*


Last month I bought a deep fryer.
And made my own Katsu-curry. Because you know, unless I make them myself, I'll be eternally denied of them! *sobs*

P.S: btw, mix Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire sauce with a clump of ketchup, and voila, it taste just like Tonkatsu sauce. Amazing.

[SaintessHeart]

Is your head EVER out of the gutter? :heh:

I can't believe I'm saying this. I'm supposed to be the resident sicko.

The name means it is SUPPOSED to be a food PRESENTATION. It is a WORK OF ART. There is nothing wrong about it!

Think of the palette types that are available! Soft and smooth serving dishes can be used for mochi and desserts, brown ganguro types can be used to serve warm barbecue meat, and the endowment levels can be suited accordingly to the food portions, i.e the unendowed ones can be use to serve finger food where no utensils are actually needed.......

As compared to the regular food presentations of sushi on normal coloured plates, this would certainly look more appetising, no?

With regards to food presentation though, I find that Japanese food preparation processes seem to have this OCD about food tasting AND looking good at the same time. The last time I went to one, the sashimi was so slowly prepared; I went through an entire tray and it is still not refilled, the chef slowly slicing and putting the thing into place.

[Azuma Denton]

I really miss kushiyaki...
Havent found any Japanesse restaurant served it at Indonesia.

@saintessHearts
Do you know any place served Kushiyaki in SG?? :heh:

[aohige]

They're just BBQ chicken on sticks, other than the sauce used, it's pretty much the same all over the world. :heh:

Heck, don't you have kebabs in Indonesia?

[willx]

Korean ran Japanese restaurants are much closer to Japanese food than Chinese run ones in general.
They're still freakin sushi bars though. :heh:

I wish there was a cheap Matsuya nearby for some good cheap Gyudon, cheap ramen joints, and cheap okonomiyaki and takoyaki places.

But noooooo. Yet. Another. Freaking. SUSHI!!! *cries*


Last month I bought a deep fryer.
And made my own Katsu-curry. Because you know, unless I make them myself, I'll be eternally denied of them! *sobs*

P.S: btw, mix Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire sauce with a clump of ketchup, and voila, it taste just like Tonkatsu sauce. Amazing.

Haha! This reminds me a couple of years back where I made my own Katsudon. I think I'm blessed.. or maybe I just spend a lot of time hunting for it.. But here in Toronto there are actually a number of ramen places and izakayas (sort of) that serve a variety of food other than sushi..

Then again I eat a lot of sushi as well so I'm not exactly complaining.. although I don't go to 99.9% of the restaurants because they're terrible. The sushi place I frequent here gets a thumbs up on using the appropriate rice, super fresh fish and telling me honestly if they get a shipment of ingredients that is subpar!

[Vexx]

Well my dad runs a small sushi bar despite being Korean, for good reasons. One, not many white people know anything about Korean food, not the case with Japanese food. Second, Korean restaurants are much harder to run and can't not be run by a single person; the fact that banchan is necessity makes it impossible.

The Korean restaurants are actually doing pretty well in Portland... but yes, one has to be a "foodie" and hunting for something eclectic to find them. I love Korean food... well, I'm pretty much up for food anywhere from India to Korea.

I don't have aohige's problem at all comparatively, that may be a regional issue. All the things he's crying for are readily available in all the Japanese restaurants I frequent. (though he's dead on about some street food being horribly overpriced sometimes)

White people in the restaurant are rather rare, unlike Japanese and Chinese restaurants. Maybe Koreans should try to change their food to make it more western, but I rather not see that.Noooooo, I go into an ethnic restaurant to eat food the way its supposed to be eaten, not have mayonnaise poured all over it!!!! Its always a fight in the Thai restaurants to get them seasoned. Thank god they have a seasoning tray. Usually after that when they start recognizing me, I don't have to ask for heat.

[Endless Soul]

In my area there are quite a number of "Japanese Restaurants", at least 20 in a 10 mile radius. Most of the ones I've been to are run by non-Japanese folks. All are pretty good.

However, my favorite place is a little hole-in-the-wall run by a sweet, old Japanese woman who does all the work herself.

Zod, now I can't wait for lunch!

Endless "Hungry" Soul

[Terrestrial Dream]

Korean ran Japanese restaurants are much closer to Japanese food than Chinese run ones in general.
They're still freakin sushi bars though. :heh:

I wish there was a cheap Matsuya nearby for some good cheap Gyudon, cheap ramen joints, and cheap okonomiyaki and takoyaki places.

But noooooo. Yet. Another. Freaking. SUSHI!!! *cries*
I think that might be because of Zainichi Koreans, my dad learned to make sushi from one. But yeah, finding a non sushi Japanese restaurant is like finding a Chinese restaurant with real Chinese food in the US.

[Siegel Clyne]

From Country & Western to Chicano Hip-Hop: The Eclectic Musical Tastes of Japan and the Japanese People

Shoji Tabuchi (April 16, 1944) is a Japanese country music fiddler and singer who currently performs at his theater, the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, Missouri. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoji_Tabuchi) He is a naturalized American citizen.

Tabuchi is thus a Nikkei/Nikkeijin (Japanese immigrants and their descendants) and a Shin Issei (New First Generation), or someone who immigrated from Japan after World War II.

The Shoji Tabuchi Show

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SHOJI TABUCHI [- Jambalaya]

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KoTolán is a cross-cultural based world beat music group led by Japanese born singer Junko Seki and Los Angeles based trombonist/songwriter Otto Granillo.
Front woman, Junko is fluent in Japanese, Spanish and English and sings in all three while playing the accordion as her main intrument in the group. She has already been recognized as a high caliber vocalist with solo guest performances that include The Hollywood Bowl Mariachi Concerts, El Primer Encuentro de Mariachi in Guadalajara Mexico, Tucson Mariachi conference, San Jose Concerts and Salinas Concert. She has shared the stage with Linda Ronstadt, Lalo Guerero and Viki Carr.
Trombonist/songwriter Otto Granillo is a storyteller through his songwriting and creative use of orchestration and sets fourth a soul inspired wave of energetic cross-cultural grooves and lyrics.

Blending languages, sounds and instruments from around the globe, KoTolán's music can best be described as a fusion of eclectic styles, rhythms and beats. From disco, salsa, rock to electro-pop, KoTolán will have you shaking and moving! (http://www.kotolan.com/html/news.php)

Junko Seki con Mariachi Cobre

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La Boca de Cultura - Kotolan

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Junko Seki and KoTolan at Eagle Rock Music Festival Kick Off Party 08-06-2009

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Entertainment News
Caribbean Nationals In Japan Happy About Minmi's Soca Monarch Debut
By Islandevents.com
Feb 5, 2007, 11:47

This is the first time I am ever hearing about anyone from here being in a Soca competition in Trinidad!” said Hollis Humphreys last Friday from his home in Japan.

Humphreys who is an Antiguan was reacting to the news that female Japanese entertainer Minmi was among the semi-finals of the ’07 edition of the prestigious Soca contest scheduled for ‘Fantastic Friday’ (February 16th) at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium in Port-of-Spain.

Caribbean nationals residing in Japan are naturally surprised but equally elated to learn, that a Japanese was among the participants in the 2007 b-mobile International Soca Monarch competition.

Humphreys added, “Although Minmi is not a big star here, I think it is just great to know that someone from here, is actually involved in the Caribbean culture over there!” (http://www.islandevents.com/entertainment/printer_3678.shtml)

Dailymotion MINMI SUMMER TIME!! a ミュージック video

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Minmi sha na na (japanese wine) ft Machel Montano

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MINMI／シャナナ☆ -Trinidad&Tobago ver.-

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BACH COLLEGIUM JAPAN ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS,
Masaaki Suzuki, conductor

Photo Credit: K. Miura
Internationally Acclaimed Chorus and Orchestra

MASAAKI SUZUKI, Music Director


“The performances are, to my ears, of unmatched excellence.”
-Gramophone Magazine

Bach Collegium Japan, hailed in BBC Music Magazine as “Kings from the East,” comprises a baroque orchestra and choir that has been widely recognized among the world’s leading interpreters of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries. Founded in 1990 by its current Music Director, Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan introduced the Japanese audience to period instrument performances and subsequently have shared their intriguing performances around the world through their acclaimed BIS recordings. Bach Collegium Japan made their North American debut in April 2003 performing the St. Matthew and St. John Passions of J. S. Bach across the United States in New York at Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids & Boston. Recent international tours include concerts in Europe’s major music centers – Madrid, Amsterdam (Concertgebouw), London (Barbican), Rome, Paris, Berlin and Brussels – and at leading festivals in Edinburgh, Santiago de Compostela, Tel Aviv, Leipzig, and Melbourne as well as at the BBC Proms.


Acclaim: “Musicianship is, to be sure, Mr. Suzuki’s greatest strength…a subtle ear for color, a keen sense of harmonic direction, and an ability to make phrases breathe and rhythms live.” -The New York Times

“I have never heard period instruments played with such purity of tone, so reliably in tune. The small, precise, dramatically alert chorus breathed fire but also revealed a heartbreaking tenderness.” -The Los Angeles Times

“The choruses were trim and nimble, and the group’s compact size allowed for a transparency that kept the text clear and in the foreground. The orchestra also played with an appealing fluidity.” -The New York Times (http://www.franksalomon.com/artist.php?aid=28)

Bach Collegium Japan - Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr by Heinrich Schütz

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Bach Collegium Japan - Johann Kuhnau Festival Oude Muziek 29 augustus 2012 Utrecht

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Johann Sebastian Bach - Komm, Jesu, Komm BWV 229
(Bach Collegium Japan & Masaaki Suzuki, taken from SACD Bach Motets, BIS 2009)

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ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ was formed in Tokyo as a unique Japanese Salsa band in 1984 and started performing at the clubs such as the Shibuya Crocodile, Roppongi Pit inn.

The lead singer NORA visited NY with a demo tape that finally gave the band an opportunity to perform in NY in 1989. The first NY tour was so successful that the band had a chance to release the debut album “DE LA LUZ (Salsa Caliente del Japon)” through BMG Victor in Japan and RMM in US in 1990, which received the Gold Disc Award and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Salsa Chart and remained for 11 consecutive weeks. Since then the band visited 22 countries including USA, South Central America and Europe, released 6 original albums in total, received the Outstanding Award at the Japan Record Award (91 & 93), the United Nations Peace Medal Award (93), performed at the NHK Kohaku Utagassen (93) and nominated for the Grammy Award “Tropical Latin Album” (95). In 1997 the band was dissolved in order to focus on the members’ solo activities and was reorganized for the charity event “World Peace Music Festival” in 2002.
And the reaction of this event WPMF Vol.2 that was held in the next year made the artist to restart the activity. In July, 2004, the band’s original album “iBANZAAAY!” for the first time in nine years as new DE LA LUZ was released from AVEX io and started developing its energetic live activities such as participation to many events, festivals and made the nationwide concert tour successfully. (http://www.last.fm/music/Orquesta+De+La+Luz)

LA ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ - SALSA CALIENTE DEL JAPÓN

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ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ - CUERO SONO

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Orquesta de la luz - Close to you

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ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ - DESCARGA

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Soil & “Pimp” Sessions is an energetic Japanese club jazz band that have started to receive international recognition. The band consists of six members: Shacho (“agitator”), Tabu Zombie (trumpet), Motoharu (sax), Josei (keyboards), Akita Goldman (double bass) and Midorin (drums).

The band was born out of Tokyo’s club scene, when Shacho and Tabu Zombie started including live jam sessions in DJ sets. Gradually the other members were invited, the band line up was finalised and the DJ sets dropped.

The band’s adrenalin-fuelled live sets started to create a buzz on the Tokyo live scene, and in 2003 they became the first unsigned band to perform at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival. They were well received there and in the following months record companies were scrambling to offer contracts. JVC Victor won the battle, and summer 2004 saw the release of the mini-album “Pimpin’”.

The album was a critical and, for a jazz release, commercial success, and this together with constant touring paved the way for the release of their first full album, “Pimp Master” in early 2005. The album captures the sheer power of their live performances as well as higlighting their individual musical talents. Two tracks in particular, “Waltz For Goddess” and their cover of “A Wheel Within a Wheel”, caught the attention of DJs abroad, they began to receive heavy air-play on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide radio program on BBC Radio 1 in the U.K. (http://www.last.fm/music/SOIL&“PIMP”SESSIONS)

SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS Ｘ 椎名林檎 [Shiina Ringo]／MY FOOLISH HEART～crazy on earth～

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SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS "Summer Goddess"

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SOIL＆PIMPSESSIONS／POP KORN

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Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band is a Japanese jazz big band.

Led by Carlos Kanno of Orquesta de la Luz, the Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band started out as a group of friends playing for fun and evolved into an 18-piece ensemble. Boasting four percussionists, a three-piece rhythm section, and powerful horns, the group released their first album Live in Yokohama in 1998. That year also saw the Japanese release of their follow-up September which was released in the United States the following year. They have played at various jazz festivals and venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettai_Tropical_Jazz_Big_Band)

OBATALA　熱帯JAZZ楽団　 Tropical Jazz Big Band

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"[An] outstanding pianist. First of all, his technique is extraordinary. And secondly, there isn't an ounce of waste to his performance. It is a wonderful thing to be able to express oneself to the audience with such clarity." – Oscar Peterson (on Makoto Ozone)...

A jazz piano child prodigy from Kobe in the 60s, Makoto honed his jazz chops further at USA’s Berklee College of Music. His discovery by famous vibraphonist Gary Burton led to Grammy®-winning collaborations, worldwide performances, 20 acclaimed albums and collaborative recordings with not only Burton, but a plethora of artists from the USA and his home base in Japan including the late pianist Michel Petrucciani, vocalist Kimiko Ito, Makoto’s own big band No Name Horses and his Makoto Ozone Trio, Paquito D’Rivera, Katsumi Watanabe and Marc Johnson. In recent years, Makoto has turned his focus to classical music and he currently performs several concerts each year, playing with symphony orchestras, combining his skills in jazz and classical music to standing ovation. (http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/programme_info/makoto_ozone/index.jsp)

Makoto Ozone Trio - Asian Dream (Makoto Ozone)

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BIOGRAPHY
ROJO REGALO IS A OSAKA BASED CUMBIA BAND. THIS UNIT HAS BEEN ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE JAPANESE CUMBIA-ROCK LATINO, REBEL MUSIC SCENE SINCE THE 2006.

CUMBIA, AFRO-CUBAN, REGGAE, HIP HOP, PUNK, JAPANESE POPULAR SONGS ARE THE BLEND OF THIS UNIQUE BAND. IN 2010, THEY HAVE TOURED OVERSEAS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DID SHOWS IN THAILAND, BELGIUM AND FRANCE.
IN JAPAN, THEY HAVE TOURED AS SUPPORT ACT OF WELL KNOWN ROCK LATINO ARTISTS SUCH AS VERY BE CAREFUL, ESNE BELTZA, MATE POWER, RUDE HI-FI AND MANY MORE. ALSO DID VERY WELL KNOWN FESTIVALS SUCH AS "DOWN BEAT RULER", "FIGHT FOR RIGHTS", "MONDO SONORO", "FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL" AS WELL AS A NEW TOUR IN EUROPE DURING 2011 DOING GIGS IN FRANCE, ENGLAND AND BELGIUM INCLUDING AN APEARANCE AT "LES 24H MOUSCRON FESTIVAL.
THEY HAVE RELEASED THEIR NEW SPLIT EP WITH EKD“MARGINAL COLLECTIVE“ IN NOVEMBER 2011.
AND THEIR FIRST LIVE CD “LIVE & LOVE IN BANGKOK“ IN 2010. ROJO REGALO CONTINUE TOURING AROUND JAPAN AND THE WORLD AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THEIR NEXT WAVE OF CLASSICS IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME.
(http://www.rojoregalo.com/2012/09/biography-rojo-regalo-osaka-based.html)

Rojo Regalo-Bambi-BONEFOOI-BXL

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Rojo Regalo-Sniper J, CUMBIA-BONEFOOI-BXL

FB65sulNCLQ

Japanese 'Cholos': Chicano Subculture Finds A Home In East Asia (VIDEOS)
The Huffington Post | By Carolina Moreno
Posted: 09/11/2012 8:24 am EDT

Oversized khaki shorts, white knee-high socks, a plaid shirt and the tattoos to match, a signature look for 'cholos' -- Japanese 'cholos.'

The fashion and tendencies behind the Chicano subculture -- originating in the Mexican-American empowerment movement of the 1940s through 1970s, but now often associated with Los Angeles street gangs -- has found a new home in East Asia. Stemming from the “lowrider” car culture popular in Japan , Tumblrs of Japanese 'cholas' and 'cholos' can now be seen around the internet. YouTube videos of Japanese 'cholos' with their arms raised high as they rap next to hopping cars and Japanese 'chola' artists, like MoNa a.k.a Sad Girl, can be heard mixing Spanish, English and Japanese in their music. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/japanese-cholos_n_1870941.html)

NOTITAS DE NOTICIAS September 19, 2012

Well That’s Interesting: Japan Takes on ‘Cholo’ Culture

Published at 3:17 pm EST, September 19, 2012

A Chicano subculture which reached peak popularity in the U.S. between the 1940s and 1970s, has made its way to Japan.

There appears Japan has a growing community of “cholos” and “cholas”, a look now most commonly seen among Los Angeles street gangs.

Japanese rappers like MoNa aka Sad Girl have created careers with a mix of Spanish, English, and Japanese rapping.

The look includes baggy jeans (pants and shorts), over-sized knaki shorts, flannel shirts, white undershirts, bandanas, flat-brimmed baseball caps, dark lip liner for cholas, lowriders, jerseys, clearly visible tattoos, gold jewelry (often crosses), and knee-high socks. Interestingly, there is often also the presence or depiction of a Mexican flag. (http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/notitas-de-noticias/details/well-thats-interesting-japan-takes-on-cholo-culture/18629/)

DJ☆GO「SUMMER MADNESS feat. Kayzabro & A☆ZACK」 (PV)フルバージョン

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4 My City feat. AK-69, RICHEE, HOKT, HIRO of LGYankees, BIGIz' MAFIA / DJ PMX

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BUBBLE feat. DJ☆GO / G.CUE　フルバージョン公開！

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「Back In Da Day feat. TEE TEE/ DJ☆GO」 Music Video "Sepia Color"

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MoNa a.k.a Sad Girl 【Summer Groove】 feat. MK THE CiGAR

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MoNa aka Sad Girl / For Life feat. MK THE CiGAR

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【OFFICIAL】MoNa a.k.a. Sad Girl 「Azucena」Music Video

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Partly through my own very diverse and eclectic music tastes down through the years, I have discovered that the Japan, while having a fairly homogeneous people and culutre, have one of the most diverse and eclectic musical tastes of any country in the world.

Japan is much more than a nation of Jpop.

By the way, regarding the music videos I linked to in this post, one of them was uploaded by me on one of my channels on YouTube.

Can you guess which one?

Answer: Bach Collegium Japan - Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr by Heinrich Schütz.

"Sing Sing Sing" / ep19 Swing Girls First&Last Concert Live 2004

5jYoJe4IN4U

Chicken Dishes of the World

Unless one is a vegetarian or a vegan, chicken is a meat which crosses national and religious boundaries.

Some of my favorite chicken dishes include:

Japanese yakitori: skewered chicken

Chinese (Sichuan) gongbao jiding: kung pao chicken

Korean tak toritang: chicken and potato stew

Malaysian nasi ayam: roast chicken rice

Thai gai pad krapow: stir fried chicken with Thai holy basil

Indian murgh makhani: butter chicken

Arabic/Turkish shish taouk: chicken kebabs

Hispanic arroz con pollo (I'm partial to Mexican-style): chicken with rice...

And good ol' American (Southern) fried chicken - though I also like Japanese-style fried chicken, tori no karaage, and Korean-style fried chicken, yangnyeom tongdak.

What are some of your favorite chicken dishes?

[MakubeX2]

So how authentic is this joint (http://www.ajisenusa.com/) ?

I eaten a few times there and while the dishes is tasty enough and the serving isn't bite sized but the pricings ain't suited for consumption on a regular basis. So I want to see if I got my money's worth.

[willx]

So how authentic is this joint (http://www.ajisenusa.com/) ?

I eaten a few times there and while the dishes is tasty enough and the serving isn't bite sized but the pricings ain't suited for consumption on a regular basis. So I want to see if I got my money's worth.

Oh god, that place is so awful.. They have one here in Toronto .. I'd describe it as the McDonald's of ramen but I think that would be an insult to McDonald's ..

If I recall, the only thing I liked there was a braised pork dish, but even then it tasted more like Chinese food that my mother made as a child than anything Japanese..

EDIT: Oh, and it's been a year since I've been to the one in downtown Toronto, but I remember the noodles were all wrong. They didn't taste like ramen noodles at all.. and I've tried a variety of ramen joints in Tokyo, Kyoto, Vancouver and here in Toronto..

[Sumeragi]

No, no, and no. At least, not outside of Japan and Korea.

[Vexx]

There really isn't a good spot to put this.. but as we've discussed the Korean Wave in Japan, here's a Korean musical group that actually didn't make me laugh but rather I found interesting. I consider it a bit better than those "clone girl factory" crowds/groups.

n8I8QGFA1oM

[willx]

There really isn't a good spot to put this.. but as we've discussed the Korean Wave in Japan, here's a Korean musical group that actually didn't make me laugh but rather I found interesting. I consider it a bit better than those "clone girl factory" crowds/groups.


OOOH.. OOOH .. Speaking of Korean Wave in Japan.. does anyone else remember in the nineties when SES and HOT was all the rage?

[MakubeX2]

^

While the K-Girls hasn't exactly made a dent in America, the world (America included) had a taste of K-Pop this summer courtesy of this jolly fellow here :-

9bZkp7q19f0

Even Britney Spears danced to the tune now :-

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Will not be long before a English Remix comes into the work.

[Terrestrial Dream]

There really isn't a good spot to put this.. but as we've discussed the Korean Wave in Japan, here's a Korean musical group that actually didn't make me laugh but rather I found interesting. I consider it a bit better than those "clone girl factory" crowds/groups.

n8I8QGFA1oM Well at least member count is not in double digit, that's something positive.

OOOH.. OOOH .. Speaking of Korean Wave in Japan.. does anyone else remember in the nineties when SES and HOT was all the rage? I remember them along with Finkl(핑클, I refuse to accept that they are actually called Finkl), Clon, GOD, Shinwa, Seo Taiji, Coyote, and bunch of others.
Don't remember how popular they were back in the days in other Asian countries.

[Sumeragi]

You're making me feel old remembering those old groups.

[willx]

^ Haha.. Korean Culture thread? For a short while I actually had hair like Moon He-Jun from H.O.T! Well, except my hair was orangey vs. red/blue/white..

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SOB42HhWXNU/SI6uHPYv00I/AAAAAAAAAIg/warSDq5jsWo/s400/Moon-Hee-Jun.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/128_14421650453_461_n.jpg

[DonQuigleone]

There really isn't a good spot to put this.. but as we've discussed the Korean Wave in Japan, here's a Korean musical group that actually didn't make me laugh but rather I found interesting. I consider it a bit better than those "clone girl factory" crowds/groups.


What's the difference between this and SNSD?

[MakubeX2]

If those Korean music label had any ambition outside of Asia, they might want to opt for off beat, catchy tunes demonstrated by the portly Psy instead of trying to overwhelm us with unnatural talents of both gender in arts and looks.

[Vexx]

What's the difference between this and SNSD?
I simply don't like huge crowds on stage. A small group must survive on their individual talent. 3, 4, or 5-ish folks - its just a personal preference.

[willx]

Man, all of this has made me think of my favourite old school Korean Pop PVs too

ZPaK5sTRm6A

[j0x]

i dont know if this has already been posted but i guess its relevant info on this thread since it contains a lot of infos about japanese lifestyles

http://magnetic-rose.net/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/09/13/12/anime-event-feature-blogger-magnetic-rose

[DonQuigleone]

I simply don't like huge crowds on stage. A small group must survive on their individual talent. 3, 4, or 5-ish folks - its just a personal preference.

Maybe so, but I think choreographing the large numbers of dancers is more impressive.

That's where K-Pop noticeably beats J-Pop. J-Pop's dance choreography is a lot less polished.

[Merilyn Mensola]

This just shows how mainstream porn had become. The stringent requirement means that the studio takes their productions seriously and the actress needs to get involved with her character like a professional does. Acting in porn is not like filming a home sex video now because you need to prepare for the role and put up a good performance.

8MxhgHDZdgY
If you are good, it might actually leads to something better.


Interesting video, the girl seems to have not much stamina,strange,the stamina and strength of the quadriceps girls is usually high..

[Ridwan]

^ Haha.. Korean Culture thread?

You know what ? I think it's about time for that.

[MakubeX2]

Interesting video, the girl seems to have not much stamina,strange,the stamina and strength of the quadriceps girls is usually high..

She is training and preparing for a role where she has to "cowgirl" 10 people in a row. Sex is more physical than it seems, espcially where you had to act in out in front of a camera.

[Azuma Denton]

They're just BBQ chicken on sticks, other than the sauce used, it's pretty much the same all over the world. :heh:

Heck, don't you have kebabs in Indonesia?
Well, i do. But most kebab here is already "indonesianized" so you must go to middle eastern restaurant to find a genuine kebab... :heh:



And yesh, what i like from kushiyaki is their sauce... :D

[Merilyn Mensola]

She is training and preparing for a role where she has to "cowgirl" 10 people in a row. Sex is more physical than it seems, espcially where you had to act in out in front of a camera.


Yes, i agree, sex is more Physical and psychological than it seems, especially in front of a camera, and in front of people,doing video porn is not for all people,you really need to prepare psychologically and mentally, also the man must do this.

[SeijiSensei]

If you are good, it might actually leads to something better.

Ah, so that's what Hinako was training for.

http://www.isshoni-training.com/top/main.gif

[KitsuneShi]

^ LOLOLOL. FUUUUUUUUUUUUU. haha jk, The moment I saw that my mind went FASDFADSFFDSFSDA. Nice one

[james0246]

I created a new thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=114860) for the topic that was being discussed. Please move the discussion to the new thread.

[Siegel Clyne]

María Eugenia Suárez Riveiro (born March 9, 1992 in Buenos Aires), also known as Eugenia Suárez and China Suárez; is an Argentine actress, singer and model. She is the best known for her role of Jaz Romero in the Cris Morena Group series Casi Ángeles and as a member of its group Teen Angels. Suárez is also known for appearing in television series Rincón de Luz, Floricienta and Amor Mío. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Eugenia_Suárez)

Also known affectionately as "Euge," Eugenia Suárez's maternal grandmother was Japanese - something she frequently mentions in interviews (http://www.noticiascadadia.com/noticia/30401-maria-eugenia-suarez-nunca-digas-que-nunca-pero-hoy-no-participaria-en-bailando/) and elsewhere.

They call her "China" or "la China" because it is much shorter than "Japonesa" ("Japanese") - but not "Japo" or "Japi."

Eugenia Suárez models shoes in a video ad for Ricky Sarkany, a famous shoe designer in Argentina:

Eugenia Suárez para Ricky Sarkany [Primavera-Verano 2012]
(Eugenia Suárez for Ricky Sarkany [Spring-Summer 2012])

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A couple of YouTube viewers commented that Eugenia Suárez, playing Jazmín ("Jaz") Romero in Casi Ángeles (Almost Angels), looks like a real-life Barbie in this video clip:

La Nueva Jazmin Romero
(The New Jazmin Romero)

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Euge certainly has a doll face, doesn't she?

Eugenia Suárez modeling swimsuits and lingerie for Sweet Victorian, a line of lingerie and swimswear in Argentina (I wonder where they find the inspiration for the name?):

Eugenia Suarez [Age 17]

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Maria Eugenia Suarez Sweet Victorian 02 [Age 19]

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Two of the most popular songs sung by Eugenia Suárez as Jazmín Romero from Casi Ángeles are "Reina gitana" ("Gypsy Queen") and "Te perdí ("I Lost You"):

Jazmin- reina gitana
(Jazmin- Gypsy Queen)

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Te perdí - letra
(I Lost You - Lyrics)

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Eugenia Suárez affirms her Japanese heritage with one of three tattoos she got when she was eighteen:

Los tatuajes y piercings de Euge
(The Tattoos and Piercings of Euge {Eugenia Suárez})

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The tattoo on Euge's waist on her backside is the Japanese kanji, 福 ("fuku"), which means "good fortune" or "happiness."

The tattoo on Euge's lower neck in the back is in English, "Japanese Blood" ("Sangre japonesa"). Euge has Japanese blood because of her Japanese grandmother (abuela japonesa).

As I have shown here and in my earlier post in this thread, The Japanese Diaspora, Part 2 (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=4039120#post4039120), like Eugenia Suárez a number of Nikkeijin, or Japanese emigrants and their descendants - including entertainers and celebrities of mixed heritage - have visibly affirmed their Japanese roots with tattoos, names, etc.: Uruguayan-born Mexican model/actress Bárbara Mori, her older sister Kenya Mori, her younger brother Kintaro Mori, and her father Yuyi (Yuji) Mori all sport a kanji tattoo for their Japanese family name, Mori (森; "Forest"); American ex-supermodel Kimora Lee Simmons gave her younger daughter a Japanese name, Aoki, and her son a Japanese name, Kenzo; American R&B/pop singer/songwriter Jhené Aiko gave her daughter a Japanese first name, Namiko; and American actor Dean Cain AKA Clark Kent/Superman reportedly has a tattoo on his (left) ankle for his real family name, Tanaka (田中, I presume).

[willx]

Business Attire in Japan?

So, while I was getting dressed this morning, I suddenly became curious about this topic. Although I've traveled to Japan somewhat recently for leisure, I have never been there for business. If anyone that works there or has been there for business for an extended period of time could satisfy my curiosity -- I would be very grateful! My only real encounters with Japanese businessmen are:

1) Watching an avalanche/wall of them on the march at Shinagawa station on a Monday morning while I was wearing yoga wear and half asleep trying to get to a Tsukuji fish market
2) A brief business meeting 3-4 years ago with two older gentlemen representing Itochu, but I was more junior then and sat quite a ways away and didn't really speak to them

So my questions are:
1) How much do good quality suits cost? Good quality wool? Made-to-measure? Bespoke?
2) Do people wear french cuffs? Cufflinks? I don't recall seeing any.
3) How much do cheap suits cost? I notice everyone wears suits there, many of them looked ill-fitted and couldn't have cost that much? The cheapest polyester suits here cost ~US$80-100?
4) I heard there was a push (post-earthquake/tsunami) to have people not wear ties to reduce air conditioning costs? True?
5) Conservative business environments here are almost solely the domain of white/blue shirts, sometimes with stripes .. I don pink on Fridays(!) because of Pink Shirt Fridays(tm) -- what's the practice there?

[DonQuigleone]

I once got interviewed by a Japanese company (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries). My impression is that business atire is extremely conservative. Generally they don't wear anything fancy that would stand out (like fancy cufflinks, pink shirts). Likewise, it's all short simple hair styles (possibly the only interview I've ever been to that discussed my hair style...). The trends towards flexible work atire that you see in the US and Europe I don't think has really taken hold in Japan. Business-casual is right out.

One interesting difference in Japan is that in factory environments, on the factory floor white collar workers are expected to wear the same blue overalls as line workers(with the overalls worn over the suit shirt and tie, like this (http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/images/2012keyBg_02_graph168.jpg)). Generally, Japanese companies are quite keen on group solidarity within a company, rather then the executive/manager/worker split you might see in American companies.

If you're sticking out, or the clothes are tight and showing off your body, you won't do well in Japan. I'd say even a gold watch would be frowned upon. Not really the kind of environment for any self expression, at least where clothing is concerned.

[Metaler]

Kinda had a feeling they wouldn't like my long hair.

The Japanese need to learn how to chill.

[Sumeragi]

No, people need to stop thinking they need to stick out.

But that's just me, who is pretty conservative with clothing (I avoid wearing skirts if possible).

[Vexx]

Like in many other things, the japanese could benefit from a bit more flexibility and individuality and we in America could benefit from a bit more formality and communitarianism.

Aieeee, woman ... wear .... pants!!!!!! So out of line!!!! Modern wildness!!! :)
(When I was in high school, a woman wearing pants would be immediately sent home as it was "indecent". My "top 10 of class" future wife got sent home for just that when she wore pants because they were going to be constructing props for a big school function.)

But yeah, I looked at doing teaching in Japan and before even showing up for interview I went and removed most of my hair. Turned out I was "too old" (42 at the time) and there was "no way" I could connect with teenagers or young adults .... o.O

Took me a year to grow it back, so it goes :)

[Ridwan]

Skirts are okay, but trousers are better.

[Metaler]

Like in many other things, the japanese could benefit from a bit more flexibility and individuality and we in America could benefit from a bit more formality and communitarianism.

Aieeee, woman ... wear .... pants!!!!!! So out of line!!!! Modern wildness!!! :)
(When I was in high school, a woman wearing pants would be immediately sent home as it was "indecent". My "top 10 of class" future wife got sent home for just that when she wore pants because they were going to be constructing props for a big school function.)

But yeah, I looked at doing teaching in Japan and before even showing up for interview I went and removed most of my hair. Turned out I was "too old" (42 at the time) and there was "no way" I could connect with teenagers or young adults .... o.O

The levels of assholery from the employer must've exceeded the normal human capacity. Jesus Christ.

[Vexx]

The levels of assholery from the employer must've exceeded the normal human capacity. Jesus Christ.

That would be the JET program. They used to prefer people under 35 for that rationale. Maybe they've gotten a clue since then <shrug>.

The point is, you're in a different country with a different set of unspoken rules. Outsiders like me can get away with some difference via the "dancing bear" technique (o look! he can use chopsticks so well! your japanese is so good! you're so tall!) but outsiders can be stressful to even be around (what are the rules with the gaijin???? panic! run!)

[DonQuigleone]

The levels of assholery from the employer must've exceeded the normal human capacity. Jesus Christ.

Doesn't surprise me. Japanese employers are ridiculously conservative. None of my experiences have indicated otherwise.

For what it's worth though, a lot less people are employed in the old style organisations then how it used to be. I'd say the smaller employers are probably a lot more flexible.

That said, the Japanese corporate philosophy is not all bad. Japanese employers do tend to look after their workers, and workers tend to work for their companies out of more then simple greed. Usually there is a real commitment to making quality products for their customers, that is often lacking in American companies, where it's more about "what's in it for me?" Though in the last 30 years we've had a case where most American manufacturers have taken on many key points behind Japanese corporate governance.

[aohige]

Kinda had a feeling they wouldn't like my long hair.

The Japanese need to learn how to chill.

What, sorta like half of America needs to chill with the bible thumping culture?

See, anyone can play that game. :rolleyes:

[DonQuigleone]

What, sorta like half of America needs to chill with the bible thumping culture?

See, anyone can play that game. :rolleyes:

You could also reasonably say that Americans are too obsessed with their appearance and vain "self-expression".

[willx]

Hm.. My question was more related to cost and accessibility of business attire and general practices, definitely not a comparison to what is or isn't acceptable or good/bad..

But now that we've gone there... :heh:

I work in a very conservative work environment by North American standards, but even then I can wear pink shirts on Fridays and my lawyer friend wears socks with cartoons on them. Cufflinks are considered classy here. Pocket squares more so. Plastic buttons are mostly worn by more junior people and middle office staff. Or on hot days when you fold up your sleeves and when you're definitely not seeing clients.

As for "sticking out" .. it's incredibly important here. You don't stick out (at least in positive ways) and you don't get promoted and you don't make the six figure salary. It's the only way you get ahead. I speak my mind to my boss and if something is dumb or pointless? I say so. If I notice something I feel is important? I say so. I have been told outright personality is important. Have a view. Be able to back the view up, but have a view and don't vacillate. It's the only way to climb the socio-economic ladder..

I'm used to working crazy hours and don't mind that .. but I don't deal well with not speaking my mind -- I'd probably get fired working in most companies in Japan eh, Sumeragi? :p

[Endless Soul]

Hm.. My question was more related to cost and accessibility of business attire and general practices, definitely not a comparison to what is or isn't acceptable or good/bad..

But now that we've gone there... :heh:

I work in a very conservative work environment by North American standards, but even then I can wear pink shirts on Fridays and my lawyer friend wears socks with cartoons on them. Cufflinks are considered classy here. Pocket squares more so. Plastic buttons are mostly worn by more junior people and middle office staff. Or on hot days when you fold up your sleeves and when you're definitely not seeing clients.

As for "sticking out" .. it's incredibly important here. You don't stick out (at least in positive ways) and you don't get promoted and you don't make the six figure salary. It's the only way you get ahead. I speak my mind to my boss and if something is dumb or pointless? I say so. If I notice something I feel is important? I say so. I have been told outright personality is important. Have a view. Be able to back the view up, but have a view and don't vacillate. It's the only way to climb the socio-economic ladder..

I'm used to working crazy hours and don't mind that .. but I don't deal well with not speaking my mind -- I'd probably get fired working in most companies in Japan eh, Sumeragi? :p

Conversely, although I work in a small office, the dress code here is very relaxed. Right now I'm wearing a screen T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. They pretty much draw the line at shorts, and even though I'm in Southern California, I wouldn't really want to wear shorts to an office environment anyways.

The girls here often wear capris and sandals!

Endless "Easygoing" Soul

[Metaler]

What, sorta like half of America needs to chill with the bible thumping culture?

See, anyone can play that game. :rolleyes:

I'm not defending American culture or anything. I'm just saying they gotta chill, take it easy.

Though to be quite fair, from what I know of Japanese Culture (and I admit it's not much), I can't really respect it. Way too conservative and organized for my tastes.

[DonQuigleone]

As for "sticking out" .. it's incredibly important here. You don't stick out (at least in positive ways) and you don't get promoted and you don't make the six figure salary. It's the only way you get ahead. I speak my mind to my boss and if something is dumb or pointless? I say so. If I notice something I feel is important? I say so. I have been told outright personality is important. Have a view. Be able to back the view up, but have a view and don't vacillate. It's the only way to climb the socio-economic ladder..

I'm used to working crazy hours and don't mind that .. but I don't deal well with not speaking my mind -- I'd probably get fired working in most companies in Japan eh, Sumeragi? :p
I think you misunderstand the thrust of Japanese corporate culture, and why it has been so successful in the past. Japanese companies are not against people speaking their minds (though you do get issues surrounding "face"), after all that's what they're employed to do, they're not employed to be mindless yesmen.

However, they are against ideas of personal aggrandisement. It's not about your greatness. It's about company, and your team's greatness. They want to see you to work first and foremost for the benefit of the company as a whole. The motivation is to see the company (and also your team) be the best it can be, to give the best service it can to it's customers.

In return for your hard work and loyalty, the company will repay you for your hard work and initiative with a good salary and job security. You are the most important resource of the company, and are just as much a part of it as your foreman, or even the CEO. You are not a part to be thrown away as needed.

If the company culture is focused on individual advancement, on not the advancement of the company as a whole, you very easily get the situation where employees have no real loyalty to the company in question, and will do everything they can to improve their position, even if that is to the detriment of the company or their fellow employees.

Japanese companies frown on people going out of their way to stick out because they see it as hot air, and also that it damages the cohesiveness of the group as a whole. It's about substance over style. Japanese employees speak through the quality of their products and services they help deliver, not their own personal style and panache. I think it's about being effective, even if it means you're a little boring.

Their are downsides to this approach, it can result in group-think and other problematic behaviours. I think the flipside of what you're talking about results in some of the excesses you see on wallstreet, with employees primarily motivated towards ever higher personal salaries and bonuses, rather then stepping back and thinking about your organisation as a whole.

[Metaler]

^ I think you just proved why bullying is so hardcore over there.

But yeah, I can understand what they mean when they say that working with the company and its customers in mind is better than just thinking of your own personal achievements. But just because I show up to work with a green shirt instead of the usual blue shirt doesn't mean I'm trying to screw everyone over. It's my own thing.

[Vexx]

If you've ever seen the folks at the JPL mission centers - that's a quick study of the way people dressed in all the jobs I've ever had (places with customers like NASA, Air Force, "other" customers). Not that there wasn't resistance from the "suit/tie" faction. I'm perfectly fine with suit/tie for the right situations - but there are far fewer of those situations than one might think. When the general is there for a formal meeting, sure, dress up. When its majors, colonels, and whatnot? Meh, its goth, hipster, punk, hell's angels, and a few bazingas at the wheel.

To wheel this around back on topic: In JAPAN, you'll find much more openness in the artistic fields both serious and pop. You'll also find more openness at the street and small business level. Corporations, otoh, are descended directly from samurai culture - you're a "soldier" for Mitsubishi, etc. The bad thing is that you used to be an employee for life in exchange for that service. Somewhere in the mid-90s, the corporations started experimenting with the New American Way of treating employees like shit and disposable commodities rather than important assets. The Japanese working forces are starting to respond to that and it isn't in a positive way for the old power clans - imagine that.

[SaintessHeart]

If you've ever seen the folks at the JPL mission centers - that's a quick study of the way people dressed in all the jobs I've ever had (places with customers like NASA, Air Force, "other" customers). Not that there wasn't resistance from the "suit/tie" faction. I'm perfectly fine with suit/tie for the right situations - but there are far fewer of those situations than one might think. When the general is there for a formal meeting, sure, dress up. When its majors, colonels, and whatnot? Meh, its goth, hipster, punk, hell's angels, and a few bazingas at the wheel.

You do realise that you work with bunny ears lawyers types right?