Australia PM has got skills
Posted by harvey in Language on 30. Nov, 2007 | 4 Comments
I’m jealous, Australia’ PM-elect Kevin Rudd speaks Mandarin Chinese. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN42pk7eozk While on the other hand my president… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa3J-L29iT8 The grass is always greener… – Harvey
Checking your Japanese-English Translations with Google Fight
Posted by harvey in Language on 27. Nov, 2007 | 6 Comments
Daily J is making great efforts to bring together the Japan blogger community. （いや、ほんまに努力してんで〜） Recently, nihonhacks.com picked up on and added to, the Learning with Google Images post we had a while back after hearing that Daily J had mentioned a NihonHacks and JapanNewbie connection. So I’m going to take the double-bait and respond to [...]
Are you a dreadist?
Posted by harvey in Crazy Consumers, Culture, Osaka, Society on 25. Nov, 2007 | 15 Comments
Remember how I mentioned that down at Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri almost all of the participating girls had their hair braided? Well, I also ran into this place in Kishiwada. The Japan Extension Dreadist Society! Their window was plastered with photos of their clients. The girl in the upper right looks so young! I bet she’s [...]
Osaka Life Blog: by an English speaking Osaka-jin
Posted by harvey in Media, Osaka on 24. Nov, 2007 | No Comments
I recently came across this nice blog run by a Japanese architect living in Osaka. Osaka Life It’s not often that you can find blogs run by Japanese people in English, so this is a real gem! Stop by and learn about life in Osaka from a true Osaka-jin. (I am 偽物大阪人) – Harvey
Good Couple Day in Japan 11/22
Posted by harvey in Culture, Language on 22. Nov, 2007 | 2 Comments
Well, it’s November 22nd, and you know what that means! Okay so you probably don’t. I didn’t know either until my wife told me. Today, 11/22, is “good couple day” in Japan. 11/22 is いい夫婦の日。(ii fuufuu no hi) [click image for a blast from a JapanNewbie past] Some of you language geeks might already have [...]
Got my Dictionary! The Casio XD-GW9600
Posted by harvey in Gadgets, Language on 21. Nov, 2007 | 27 Comments
Back in October I broke down and picked up what has become essential in my Japanese study and translation work. The Casio GW9600 electronic dictionary! (Also available on TheJapanShop at 10% off until the end of Dec 2007!) Little coffee shop, 50 yen Botchan, monster dictionary, gotta love it. The sheer volume of information available [...]
Architecture in Osaka – The Church of the Light
Posted by harvey in Osaka on 19. Nov, 2007 | 1 Comment
I took a little field trip to The Church of the Light in Osaka a few weeks ago. The church was designed by famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who also has many works on the art island Naoshima (JapanNewbie on Naoshima). The back wall of the church has a cross shaped hole in it; when [...]
Tips on How to Drop Everything and Move Abroad
Posted by harvey in About, Travel on 17. Nov, 2007 | 7 Comments
I’m going to publicly reply to a comment I got from a long-time reader via email because I think it might be useful to a lot of people. The reader had the following question… I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 years now and I was really impressed with how you seamlessly went from [...]
