Author Archives: owwls

On Awkward Acts of Generosity in Japan

Posted on April 17, 2013

It should have been a yes or no question. About these ads

About these ads
Posted in Culture Shock | 33 Comments

On Hunting Whales in Japan

Posted on April 10, 2013

The whaling controversy ignites more bad press and international disagreement than almost any contemporary political issue in Japan. If it sometimes seems like Japan is staking far too much on an industry that no one wants for a food nobody … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 16 Comments

On Festivals in Japan

Posted on April 3, 2013

If you really want to express your feelings, it helps to carry a one-ton shrine around the city at 5 in the morning while having cold water poured on your back.

Posted in Shinto, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

BRB Sri Lanka

Posted on March 27, 2013

There is an old story in Japanese Buddhist legends, said to come from India.

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

On Eating Foreign Sushi in Japan

Posted on March 20, 2013

I turned on the TV in a Thai hostel last year, and compared international news broadcasts. Fox and MSNBC were covering the shootings in Colorado; Al Jazeera was reporting on what nations could buy with the tax revenue they lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Tradition | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

On Praying to a Fox in Japan

Posted on March 13, 2013

Nobody in Japan seems to know anything about Shinto.

Posted in Shinto, Shrines | Tagged , | 9 Comments