Tag Archives: culture

Dragon Ash Bassist IKUZONE Passed Away 04.24.12

It is with deep sorrow we bring to you the news of IKUZONE’s passing. The event occurred on the night of April 21st. IKUZONE was found collapsed in his studio by his family and taken to the hospital. The official … READ MORE
Song of the Day: DuelJewel… Again! 04.08.12

Yup, it’s that time of the year. The sun is shining… The birds are chirping… and everywhere people are sneezing, snorting, and shaking their fists at the happily blooming trees. Spring’s here and it’s come a bit early this year. … READ MORE
Song of the day!! DuelJewel – Hanauta! 04.06.12

When it is time for the cherry blossoms to flower, I always hear this song in my head.  DuelJewel are one of my favorite vkei bands, and one of the few I still follow. They were the first I fell … READ MORE
Happy White Day! (and Pi Day) 03.14.12

Today in Japan, it is White Day! It is a holiday celebrated by young lovers as much as Valentine’s day is. White Day comes one month after Valentine’s day. On White Day, guys will give gifts to the girls who … READ MORE
Def Tech – Lokahi Lani 03.11.12

Have you ever found a band that you only listen to when you’re feeling a certain emotion? Or an artist you always listen to when good things happen? Or maybe, you listen to them when bad things happen? I think … READ MORE
Hello Kitty Art. 03.01.12

WOW. A lot of hello kitty in so many costumes and different makeups. I was’t sure if they are for sale or not. Because I know people would want to buy some of these cool hello kitty toys. They look … READ MORE
CNN Tackles Cosplay Culture 11.09.11

There’s an interesting post over at CNN’s “Geek Out!” blog about the art of cosplay. Written in an educational tone, as if intended for people who don’t already know a lot about what the word “cosplay” means, the piece discusses … READ MORE
New Japanese Copyright Laws Might Hurt the Manga Industry 11.02.11

This could be a bad sign for the future of the manga industry. Apparently, Japan is considering making some changes to its copyright laws, opting to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.   In a nutshell: The changes would ”destroy” doujinshi (self-published) works, and … READ MORE
Kashiwa Sato Gives “Cool Japan” Its New Logo 09.21.11

Renowned visual artist Kashiwa Sato is known for many things, such as the logo for clothing company Uniqlo and SMAP’s artwork. He now has an even larger-scale project about which to boast, since his logo was selected to represent the … READ MORE
Is the Japanese Gaming Industry “breaking up” with the West? 09.14.11

Ryan Winterhalter of 1UP.com published a well-thought out piece concerning why the Japanese video game industry is drifting away from the USA and Western societies. Titled Why Japanese Games are Breaking Up With the West, it’s a fascinating read, and … READ MORE
kakigoori is nice and fun. 07.31.11

It’s another hot day in los angeles and totally miss { one thing } about japan. It’s KAKIGOORI! (source)   Summertime in Japan, kakigori is a common treat. Simple cups of ice and syrup from festival stands or elaborate dessert creations … READ MORE
J-Pop Summit Festival returning to San Francisco in August 07.12.11

On the weekend of August 27-28 in San Francisco’s Japantown district, this year’s J-Pop Summit will light up the streets with Japanese music, fashion, video games, and other fun, festive attractions. Put together by New People in conjunction with the … READ MORE
“At Home in Japan” an exhibit highlighting “typical” Japanese life 07.01.11

Oxford University anthropologist  Inge Daniels wanted to shed some light on the realities of a “typical” Japanese home. She sought to dispel the stereotype of what she calls “exotic Japan”. Daniels was motivated to take on this project because she perceived … READ MORE