Good Things and Bad Things About Japan

There are a lot of good things about living in Japan. Good food, from sushi to sashimi to Indian curry. People who are generally friendly and polite, with that important "you know no one is horking in your food behind your back" factor. Reading a novel while taking an extended dip in the onsen bath. Going into a hardware store and seeing a beautiful Japanese girl with twin-tails and "Absolute Zone" stockings doing her shopping. However, living in Japan is not all cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji, and there are some downsides to being here too. Coming from a place like California means I have to deal with extremes of weather, and I've had to evolve many strategies to keep from freezing to death during the winter. Allergies are another big problem for many living here, thanks to many decades of government-sponsored forestry which standardized on the nihon sugi (Japan Cedar) tree, replacing natural forests with the easy-to-harvest trees throughout the country. This means that when it's time for the trees to pollinate, they do it all at once, creating an unbearable situation for millions of people with allergies. In addition to the awful months of sugi pollen, Japanese homes can be quite high maintenance when it comes to removing dust. Much as I love our tatami mats, they're very difficult to keep clean, and dust mites love to live inside the fibers -- hyakushon!

Some bad things about living in Japan.

Fun With "Yoji Jukugo" and Anime

There's a class of four-kanji compound word called yoji-jukugo which are used in Japanese quite a lot. Rather than disliking these complex words for their difficulty, which is considerable when coming from a language like English, I found myself enjoying them quite a lot because they are so poetic and beautiful. One such a word is ichigo-ichie (一期一会, ichi-go ichi-eh), which describes a once-in-a-lifetime encounter that should be cherished forever. Another is onko-chishin (温故知新), translatable as developing new ideas by looking at the past, or issho-kenmei (一生懸命), meaning "trying as hard as you can," which is more or the basic state of working in a Japanese company. One word that comes up in just about every love comedy anime series ever made is yuju-fudan (優柔不断, you-joo-foo-dan), which means someone who is chronically indecisive and unable to make up their mind. The male character's inability to decide which girl he really loves is an important plot point in a wide number of anime and manga stories, including my current favorite, Amagami SS.

The main character trait of male anime characters is indecisiveness.

Engrish T-Shirts in Japan

Like many other English speaking gaijin, I came to Japan as a teacher of ESL, imparting my native language to students as young as three and as old as 88. I taught high school students who wanted to study in the U.S., engineers who needed to use English for their jobs, bored housewives who studied English as a hobby and even the wife of the founder of the Sapporo Ramen Company. There were some things I had to get used to as a teacher, including how to answer when my students asked me "why" a certain grammatical point worked the way it did. ("Um, because infinitive verbs just like things that way.") I also had to get used to some of the outrageous Engrish T-shirts my students would wear to class and keep from laughing during class. Just as Westerners appreciate the aesthetic beauty and inherent awesomeness of kanji on T-shirts -- we've been known to sell one or two of those -- Japanese love to decorate their clothes with English, although they're seldom concerned with the meaning. I've been told that the reason no one bothers to understand what phrases like "I feel happiness when I eat a potato" or "Cutie Welcomes Girl Paradise" mean is, "Japanese don't think deeply about such things." They don't think deeply about the Playboy bunny, either, and it's quite common to see school-age students wearing clothes with the iconic logo on them, with no idea what it means other than that it's kawaii. Decorative English is used in marketing of products, too, for example the ubiquitous statement that "this product uses the finest quality ingredients" on every can of Japanese beer. When you open a package of that delicious Fit's Gum from Lotte, you're greeted with a funny Engrish guide to "how to chew Fit's gum" that's so cute.

By the way, I should point out that a lot of the really bizarre Engrish you see on the Internets comes from China rather than Japan these days. You can easily tell the difference between the two languages by noting whether written characters in any image use kanji only (indicating that the language is likely Chinese) or if they also mix in hiragana/katakana characters (which are only found in Japanese). The Japanese staff of J-List specifically asked me to include this, since they don't like some of the really bad English used by the Chinese to be attributed to them. 

T-shirts in Japan can be very, ah, creative.

Anime Artbooks @ J-List

J-List carries a lot of awesome artbooks from Japan, including all the best anime artbooks, and no matter what you love, you'll find something great. We've got the new boxed set of Bakemonogatari artbooks, a bold new artbook + high res image CD-ROM filled with art from 50 top artists in Japan. We've got the epic artbooks from Shirow Masamune, artbooks of cute girls wearing headphones, and more. You can browse all artbooks by popularity, or see which artbooks J-List customers like adding to their wishlists.

Cool Products Monday, October 25, 2010

Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Shonen Ace Nov 2010 The manga magazine with Evangelion, Keroro, Haruhi, and more! Heaven's Lost Property (Soraoto) DVD as a bonus extra! Great for Japanese beginners.
	Egg Nov 2010 The glitzy glamorous fashion of Tokyo kogals is on abundant display in the newest issue of Egg magazine, check it out and keep current with trends!
	Ai Life ~ Ai photobook The super sexy gravure idol Ai-chan shows her stuff in this new photobook, with super swimsuit and other pictures. "Making of" DVD too!
	Train Station ~ Japanese Sights III Some of the most beautiful scenes in Japan lie at the intersection of transportation and wild beauty of nature - this book shows it all.
	Black Rock Shooter 1/8 Figure Animation ver. This is one of the most amazing figures we've seen, fresh in stock today! A must see for any BRS fan in epic quality from maker Goodsmile Company.
	Evangelion Fleece Blankets Stay warm this winter with the Evangelion girls by your side in these cozy fleece blankets featuring Asuka, Rei and Mari. You will (not) be cold!
	Fullmetal Alchemist 2011 Comic Special Calendar A really special new calendar featured today, this is the page-a-month 12 month 2011 calendar with illustrations taken straight from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga by its author Hiromu Arakawa. Gorgeous full color manga illustrations in a large format presentation you've never seen them before -- this is the calendar for FMA fans for the upcoming year. Remember to check our other awesome calendars too. View products »
	Otona no Kagaku vol. 23 ~ Wire Recorder Science comes alive in this new addition to the Otona no Kagaku home experimentation magazine. English guidelines for easy assembly!
	Megami Magazine Dec 2010 Megami Magazine, the magazine dedicated to bankrupting itself by giving free posters to fans. Hurry, as this month is really a great magazine!
	Hakuouki ~ Zuisouroku Portable For girls who love the gallant warriors of the Shinsengumi, a new Japanese otome game that's great for Fushigi Yuugi fans.
	Restocked Highschool of the Dead, Ika Musume The manga's been flying off our shelves lately, so we're happy to have HoTD and the Squid Girl manga back in stock for you today.
	Rilakkuma Cleaning Floor Slippers Christmas is coming, and J-List is posting awesome Rilakkuma products for you. Here is a pair of super skippers which are both kawaii and which also clean your floor for you! View products »
	Rilakkuma Plush Mini Speaker Strap More of San-X's most delightful, relaxed bear in the form of this adorable strap with a speaker built in to play tunes from iPhone, iPod etc.
	More Rilakkuma Products Even more of Japan's favorite icon of bear relaxation in these character goods from San-X, like ice cube trays, salt'n'pepper shakers, and much more.
	Authentic 'Socks Glue' From Japan For those who love "Zettai Ryoiki," the space between the top of a girl's socks and where her skirt begins, we've restocked Japanese "socks glue."
	Hello Kitty Dust Box Also, see more stock of that fantastic Hello Kitty "dust box" (trash can), the perfect size for keeping in your car, on your desk, or anywhere!
	Anime Pens, Pen Case Restocked We love anime pens and pencil cases, and we've restocked some fun ones for One Piece fans, plus the Parody Chocolate Mirror.
	Mousse-chan Paper Clay Items Restocked The fun kami nendo or "paper clay" molds featuring the cute character Mousse-chan are restocked today. A popular item this Christmas!
	iTunes Japan Prepaid Cards Popular anime songs over at iTunes Japan: the new Railgun release from Fripside (I love that name), or all those dreamy Amagami SS songs. just browse the top anime songs! All songs are fully compatible with all iPod/iPhone/iTunes. (Note: you may need to log out of your normal account to access in iTunes) View products »
	New Japanese Kit Kat, Other Snacks Delicious new Japan-only Kit Kat flavor -- European Cheese! Also enjoy winter-limited Airs creamy chocolates and Frutio gum in Lemon Squash flavor.
	Traditional 'Food Drops' Candies Restocked Food Drops candies are back! Restocked flavors include Strawberry, Cheese Cake, Shirokuma Ice Cream from Kagoshima and Going to Hell Drops.
	'Honoka' Ume & Happy Bird Bento Sets A pair of really cute bento box sets that give you everything you need: two-tier lunchboxes, strap and bento carrying bag.
	Hello Kitty Bento Products Level up your cute bento life with our Die-Cut Hello Kitty Mayonnaise Cup and Spoon Set, plus the Hello Kitty Origami Bento that's fun to make.
	Rilakkuma Salad Case Relax in heart-healthy style with this case that's perfect for storing and tossing salad on the go. Features a cold pack in the lid to keep everything chilled!
	Other Restocked Bento Items If you've been looking for the perfect bento kit or accessory, check again - even more of our classic and fresh bento items are back in stock today.
	'SHIMAPAN' Culture from Japan We have more of those delightful striped anime pantsu that add just the right amount of fan service to your life, and shimapan carrying bags too!
	Maritan's English Drill (Naughty Ver). The moe mascot Maritan will teach you English in the most harsh yet bizarrely cute phrases that a drill sergeant might use. Explicit language warning.
	Lucky Cat Tea Cups, More Lucky Cat tea cups are an awesome item which can be turned over and used as normal cups or displayed. Also, see our Ninja Swing Doll toys restocked.
	AOJIRU ~ Super Healthy Green Drink  A popular diet supplement drink with older Japanese, this is highly concentrated vegetable and fiber powder that you drink to improve your health.
	Yui, Azusa, Mio 1/6 Figures *Preorder* A lovely trio of new K-On! (Keion) figures ready for display in dynamic poses, Clayz is bringing them to us next spring but you can preorder today!
	Noumi Kudryavka Fleece Blanket *Preorder* The adorable Noumi from Kud Wafter and Little Busters is here in a blanket to keep you warm this winter! Order now for January release.
	Stress Toys for Otaku Restocked See the amazing Band Gal! K-On! parody onahole toys, plus the No Sound Good Thing vibrator, bizarre lotion and more.
	Doujin Dakimakura Hug Pillow Covers ~ K-On! We have more new epic hug pillow cases in stock, starting today with this cute pair of Yui and Mio from K-On! in sexy poses for you to hold.
	Kotonoha, Setsuna Mouse Pads *Preorder* Japan floors us with awesome today! Enjoy two School Days HQ mouse pads, the "hip" of Kotonoha and the "oppai" (such as they are) of Setsuna.
	Restocked H-Games from Japan Awesome Japanese H-Games in their large boxes. See Delusion Virtual Character Trouble with the T-Cam, Beat Blades Haruka and Chu x Chu Idol 2.
	Kana ~ Little Sister One of the most famous PC dating-sim games ever brought out in English, this dramatic and beautiful game has touched many gamers. CD and Download!

Japanese Love Extravagant Weddings

One interesting area of life in Japan is weddings, and Japanese really take the subject of getting married seriously. One of my first instances of culture shock in Japan happened when I was riding my mountain bike (foreigners always ride mountain bikes in Japan) and came across a sprawling palace that looked like it had fallen out of a time warp from Czarist Russia. Turns out it was a wedding hall, a giant facility created solely for marriage ceremonies and receptions, which are quite common in all corners of Japan. In our prefecture, various companies compete ferociously to capture the largest share of the local wedding market, coming up with interesting themes such as Georgia House, which recreates an Antebellum plantation house from the American South; Lockhart Castle, an authentic castle that was imported from Scotland; and Sharon Gospel Church, a U.S. style Southern Baptist church in the heart of Japan.

You can also get married in Disneyland, naturally.

Easy vs. Difficult Japanese Language

There are times when Japanese as a language is surprisingly easy. While poor Japanese people have to memorize the names of the twelve months, going the other way is easier, since the months are simply ichi-gatsu, ni-gatsu (lit. "1-month, 2-month"), etc. Also, a lot of the really nasty grammar that exists in English, such as conditional statements like "if she hadn't gone to university, she wouldn't have met her future husband," simply don't exist in Japanese, making it easier for foreign learners. Then there are areas of Japanese that are decidedly more complex than we'd like them to be. While kanji fundamentally have two readings (the kun or Japanese reading and the on or Chinese one), there are exceptions, and one of the worst is the kanji for "life" which has many different ways to read it. The verb "to live" (as in, to be alive) is ikiru, while "life" can be seikatsu (someone's daily life), seimei (the biological term), inochi (a person's precious life), or jinsei (the span of a person's entire life). Oh, and the same kanji also expresses nama, meaning "raw" (as in sushi), "draft" (as in beer) or "live" (as in a live news feed on TV). The simple word "to wear" can also be a challenge, as there are several different words, including kiru (to wear around your body, like a T-shirt), kaburu (to wear something on your head, like a hat), suru (to wear things like rings or gloves), and haku (for anything work below the waist, like pantsu, socks or shoes), and it seems foreigners will always pick the wrong word. (If you accidentally said pantsu o kaburu it'd mean wearing your underwear on your head.) In the Strike Witches anime, they use the word haku when "wearing" the Striker Units that let them fly.

Expressing certain ideas in another language can be quite complex.

How Japanese Perceive America

I recently wrote about things that gaijin focus on when they visit Japan, like wacky vending machines or maid cafes or love hotels. One of my Twitter followers asked me to write about the reverse, what Japanese people pay attention to when they go to the U.S., so I thought I'd write about that today. Seen from Japan, America is very hiroi (wide and spacious), and Japanese are always oo-ing and ah-ing at how big everything is. Items sold in stores are also much larger than Japanese are used to back home, and giant watermelons or the "buckets" of Coca-Cola (32-oz Big Gulps) stand out to them. Often Japanese will not see the real America for all the preconceptions they have in their minds, which is why every woman in the U.S. is perceived as "blonde" and every man as "tall," even if they're not. Except for hunting in rural areas, there are no guns in Japan, and Japanese often obsess over them, asking people how many guns they keep in their house or visiting the many shooting ranges that cater to Japanese tourists. There are very few curse words used in Japanese -- most insults are variations of baka, meaning stupid -- and sometimes Japanese people develop an affinity for the rather picturesque anatomical swearing that English is so good at.

Japanese are always shocked at how large drinks are in the U.S.

J-List Holiday Guide Update

If you browse the new J-List Holiday Gift Guide, you'll find a host of products the J-List staff thought would make pretty nice gifts for the special people on your list. One thing we try to do very hard at J-List is act like a mirror reflecting back the country as it really is. That's why we carry so many different products, since Japan is such a deep an interesting place. We welcome you to browse our humble site and find whatever awesome items you can find on our site this Holiday season!

Cool Products Friday, November 12, 2010

Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Newtype Dec 2010 First up today, the latest issue of Newtype with the exclusive scoop on the Sora no Otoshimono movie, plus great poster extras.
	Shonen Ace Oct 2010 One of the best manga magazines around, with Eva, Haruhi, Keroro Gunso (Sgt. Frog), Bakatest, and more. Note: stock is limited, apologies if it sells out.
	Soryu Asuka Langley 1/7 Figure Asuka has never looked quite as sexy as she does in this Yamashita Shunya-designed figure from Yamato! In stock and ready to order!
	Awesome Figma, Revoltech Toys and More The epic Jack Skellington dressed in his Santa Claus suit, the King Kazama from Summer Wars, and that gorgeous Halo figure.
	Awesome JPOP and Idol Calendars We've updated the entries for many of our idol calendars with photos from the real thing -- Aya Hirano, Yuko Ogura, T.M. Revolution, Gackt, much more!
	2011 Anime Calendars, Too We have all the best calendars from the newest popular anime in stock, too -- Railgun, Gundam and more in stock today!
	Otona no Kagaku vol. 20 ~ The Bird Organ Another amazing issue of the science project magazine. Build a recreation of a working 'bird organ' from 18th century France!
	Townscapes in Japan ~ Nihon no Meikan See the most famous and beautiful town landscapes in Japan with this photobook showing a glimpse of the country's natural and man-made beauty.
	Tomoyo After ~ It's a Wonderful Life ~ Memorial Edition If you've ever wondered what happened after the events of the Clannad anime and game from Key, you'll love this sequel from writer Jun Maeda that explores Tomoyo's life after high school (an English fan translation is currently in progress). This is the just released new "Memorial Version." View products »
	PIXIV Artbooks Restocked Some of our most popular artbooks are back! The Pixiv series from the hottest artists in this thriving net community with their best work on display.
	Miffy Face Die-Cut Coin Purse Created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna, the Miffy character is super popular in Japan. Now you can get this cute coin rabbit-eared purse just like her!
	Fantastic Hello Kitty Traditional Dolls The epic Hello Kitty traditional kimono dolls are back in production after a several year hiatus. These high quality items are super for collectors!
	Oppai 'Nyotai Mori' Plate, Sake Cups, More Awesome new "oppai" coffee cup, sake server and a plate that looks like a woman, for eating hadaka style. (Please view from the J-List side.)
	Totoro China Tea Cup Restocked Christmas is coming, and we know some Totoro fans who would love to receive this very special china cup set from Noritake. Made in Japan.
	Gothic Lolita Complete Dress, Arm covers Then, add some awesome to your daily life with the authentic Gothic Lolita complete frill dress and awesome arm covers.
	Ninja Driver 4GB ~ USB Flash Memory This ninja-themed USB memory stick will protect your valuable data with ruthless efficiency and stealth. Also acts as a luck charm against pirates!
	Kawaii Japanese Memo Pads Just about everything in Japan is somehow more awesome than the normal stuff back home. Here are two really unique Japanese memo pads with Engrish on them.
	Japanese Pens and More! Or check out the restocked pens and more. Mameshiba pen case and notebook, "smoky" color highlighters, erasers and study flashcards!
	Awesome New Japanese Snacks Got an excellent lineup of J-Snacks for you, just in time for the weekend. From a large bag of special Hi-Chew soft candies to Meiji's Creamy "Fuwa Fuwa" Marshmallow Chocolate to Meiji Xylish Morning Citrus Mint and Pinky Mints, we have an awful lot of cool items in stock. View products »
	Restocked Japanese Snacks & Gum, Too Monster Hunter Aurora Biscuits, Black Sesame Caramels, Meiji Pick Up in BBQ Flavor, Lotte My Cube Gum and Sasha Chocolates, plus Gundam water cookies!
	Big Restocking of Evangelion Items We love Evangelion, and have restocked many items for Christmas. Headphones, UCC coffee + figures, the Eva Desk Mat and more.
	New Hello Kitty 'Wagara' Face Bento Boxes Colorful kimono-style flowers decorate the face of the timeless icon of cute that is Hello Kitty in these new gorgeous, stylish bento boxes from Sanrio. Sturdy and perfectly sized for all your meal needs on the go, and sure to get exclamations of "cute!" when you take out your lunch to eat. View products »
	Winter Rabbits Round Wood Grain Bento Box  A lovely natural wood-style finish and cute rabbit design on top makes this a kawaii understated look for a lovely new style of bento!
	NATURAL LUNCH TIME Green Bento Box  In addition to the popular Pink & Black Sakura bento, we've restocked the Natural Lunch series, one of the best places to start your bento collection.
	Awesome Hello Kitty Bento Products "Kittify" your lunch today with our large selection of Sanrio official goods, from sauce bottles, picks, onigiri shapers, to bento boxes themselves.
	ECO My Own Chopsticks Make the world a slightly better place by avoiding the use of disposable chopsticks, which are made from trees after all. Handy chopsticks restocked today!
	Restocked Japanese Sandwich Makers, More Sandwich makers that create cute shapes, an oil brush for making takoyaki, plus cute nori cutters for bento.
	Authentic Furikake, Wasabi Powder, More Delightful restocking of traditional Japanese foods, including furikake you sprinkle over rice, mugi tea bags and real wasabi powder!
	Japanese Hachimaki Headbands Show your determination with our cool Japanese hachimaki kanji headbands. We've restocked a bunch of them today.
	Amazing Restocked Traditional Products Those Lucky Cat figures with good luck messages written on their tummies, rubber Ninja Shuriken, delightful kokeshi dolls for all four seasons!
	'Seeking a Certain Japanese Girlfriend' Shirt J-List has awesome kanji and anime T-shirts for you. Enjoy our new "Japanese Girlfriend" shirt color for fans of Love Plus or Japanese women in general.
	Today's New Preorder Figures Gorgeous Tamaki and Sasara figures to warm you this winter, plus a new Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Figma. Preorder them all!
	Coffee of Yuki Nagato Set of 3, More On our fun Anime & Gift Snacks page see the upcoming Yuko Nagato coffee from Pokka, which you can preorder. Also, Ika Musume rice crackers!
	Awesome Ero Artbooks from Japan Master illustrator Tony Taka's epic artbook is back in stock, truly one of the greatest hentai artbooks ever published...
	Huge Restocking of TENGA Products J-List sells tons of TENGA stress toys, and today we've restocked the most popular item, including Flip Hole, Hole Warmer and all lotion types.
	Doujin Dakimakura Hug Pillow Covers Restocked! If you're looking for a lovely sleeping companion we've got all the warmth you need in these large "body pillow" cases with your favorite characters.
	Sexy Beach ZERO, Other Eroge Restocked In addition to publishing awesome Japanese dating-sim games in English, J-List stocks a great selection of Japanese import games. The popular 3D game has been restocked, plus the epic Real Kanojo, a moving polygon girlfriend for you. Also, the Fate/stay night games. View products »
	Mission BOYD CHASER Hakubi Figure *Preorder* Wow, is all we have to say -- a hawt cast-off figure with a long samurai sword, does it get any better than this?