Category Archives: Weird

15 English Words You Will Only Hear in Japan

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

English is something of an international language, and so it tends to make out with a lot of native tongues. In Japan, I hear a lot of English phrases scattered into otherwise Japanese conversations. Most of them, however, make no … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, language, Weird | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

On Finding a Rubbish Bin in Japan

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

My coat pockets are filled with scraps. I dredge up chewing gum wrappers and konbini receipts when I fish for change. There’s no garbage on the street, but there aren’t garbage cans, either; everyone just carries their trash with them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Weird | Tagged , | 4 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

Elvis in Nakasu

Posted on October 9, 2011 by

So this year I went back to catch a night of the Nakasu Festival. The festival is held in Fukuoka’s red-light district, full of host and hostess clubs and worse. During the festival, women from the community get together and … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Fukuoka, Fun, Music, Uncategorized, Video, Weird | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

On Being Funny in Japan

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

There’s actually no word for “sense of humor” in Japan.

Posted in Fun, Uncategorized, Video, Weird | Tagged , , | 4 Comments