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Author Archives: owwls
On Having No Comment in Japan
In July of 1945 the United States prepared to test the first atomic bomb in a dusty corner of New Mexico. About these ads
Posted in language, Thinking
24 Comments
On Smoking Cigarettes in Japan
Rene Magritte’s “Treachery of Images” shows us a picture of a pipe, then denies that a picture of a pipe is a pipe at all. Of course, we get it now: It’s a picture of a pipe. In Japan, I … Continue reading
On Being Alone in an Office In Japan
This week, a guest post from former Japanese expat Alanna Schubach.
On Dealing With A Million Tiny Uncertainties In Japan
Run too many programs on a laptop and it runs slower. There’s only so much a single chip can process. In the old days you could push your processor past a limit – “overclocking the processor,” a phrase that has … Continue reading
On Not Apologizing in Japan
A few weeks ago, one of the 48 women who make up the pop group AKB48 was caught sleeping at her boyfriend’s house. Soon after that, she shaved off all of her hair- a traditional Japanese expression of regret- and … Continue reading
Posted in Culture Shock
15 Comments
On Figuring Out What’s Up With the Yen in Japan
What’s the least interesting thing that can fall on you? The yen.
