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- GKB47 poster misses the point on suicide
- February 10th, 2012Category: Culture
- Let’s talk about suicide for a moment… not that it's the most pleasant of topics. I try now and then with my more advanced Japanese students. Most clearly feel uncomfortable discussing it. Even on trains, the word is somewhat taboo. “Human accident,” the screens say. ... » Continue Reading
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- The story of love hotels
- December 24th, 2011Category: Culture
- One of my favorite J-pop groups, Kome Kome Club, wrote a tune a number of years ago called “Funk Fujiyama.” The lyrics gently poked fun of many of the stereotypes and ideas that visitors to Japan at that time had.Twenty years later, I find the tune -- with its referen ... » Continue Reading