Category Archives: Tradition

On Sneezing in Japan

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

In Japan, no one can hear you sneeze.

Posted in Culture Shock, Homesickness, language, Tradition, Uncategorized | Tagged | 7 Comments

On Getting Lucky in Japan

Posted on January 18, 2012 by

No, not like that.

Posted in Shrines, Tradition, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Winter Haiku Forecast

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

“Writing shit about new snow for the rich is not art.” – Kobayashi Issa (trans. Robert Hass)

Posted in Thinking, Tradition | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

On Being Selfish in Japan

Posted on December 7, 2011 by

I remember my high school French club. The kids smoked too young, wore black turtlenecks and talked about Camus, or more precisely, “spoke of Camus.” The German club ate strudel, listened to unbearable polka and occasionally invaded the French club.

Posted in Culture Shock, Teaching, Tradition, Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

On Being Cute in Japan

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

“Battle not with Hello Kitty lest ye become Hello Kitty; and if you gaze into the abyss the abyss gazes into you with huge eyes and a helpless disposition.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Posted in Fun, Tradition, Uncategorized, Weird | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

On Demonic Umbrellas and Japanese Banking

Posted on October 26, 2011 by

In Japan, many ATMs work from 9 to 5 and get weekends and holidays off. That’s better than most humans get. And the reason, I suspect, has more to do with ghosts than any bank is willing to admit.

Posted in Culture Shock, Shinto, Shrines, Thinking, Tradition, Weird | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments