Soutaisei Riron
Posted by harvey in Media, Music on 23. Feb, 2009 | 7 Comments
It seems I’m on a music kick lately.
I’d like to introduce you to HearJapan artist of the month, Soutaisei Riron (相対性理論). The band name translates into, “theory of relativity”. Read the HearJapan link for more information about the band than you’ll probably ever need.
Soutaisei Riron has that typical whispery female vocal sound so common [...]
Free iPhone App from The JapanShop
Posted by harvey in Gadgets, Language on 20. Feb, 2009 | 3 Comments
I think this is “pointing-JapanNewbie-readers-to-free-stuff week”.
The JapanShop has come out with a free iPhone or iPod Touch application for Japanese learners.
You can upgrade from the free 400 phrases to the complete 800 phrases for $3.99. Also, if you upgrade you get a $5 coupon good for anything at TheJapanShop.com. Yes, the product costs less [...]
Japanese Music Giveaway at HearJapan
Posted by harvey in Media, Music on 20. Feb, 2009 | 1 Comment
HearJapan.com is having a limited time music giveaway in anticipation of Japan Nite 2009 which happens this March. Japan Nite is a music event where musicians from Japan come to the United States to perform. This will be the 13th annual Japan Nite.
I must admit, I’m hearing about Japan Nite for the first time. [...]
Those Who Left Japan for North Korea
Posted by harvey in Culture on 14. Feb, 2009 | 6 Comments
I’m taking a course on North Korean state and society this semester, and unable to suppress my tendency to link everything to Japan, I managed to stumble upon this fascinating video.
A North Korean Mystery
The lady in the video is Tessa Morris-Suzuki, a Japan scholar and the author of Exodus to North Korea: Shadows from Japan’s [...]
Don’t rush, you’ll just spin circles
Posted by harvey in Culture, Language on 12. Feb, 2009 | 6 Comments
急がば回れ (isogabamaware)
This is a Japanese expression that literally means, “if you hurry, you’ll go in circles”.
This expression warns us that rather than rushing and doing things in a way that might not be safe, it is best to take your time and do them carefully. In fact, if you slow down and take it easy, [...]
De De Mouse – baby’s star jam
Posted by harvey in Music on 11. Feb, 2009 | 2 Comments
Japanese musician. The language is not Japanese.
The song though, is hot.
- Harvey
TOKYO! – a film by Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, Bong Joon-ho
Posted by harvey in Media, Tokyo on 07. Feb, 2009 | 5 Comments
(higher quality version available here)
Those who have been to Tokyo will notice most of the landmarks in this trailer. Shibuya crossing, the retro-futuristic looking cube buildings, and that location in Shibuya I photographed a while ago. (I think that’s the same local anyway, what do you think?)
This movie looks fun. I’m not going to pretend [...]
Drinking and Laughing
Posted by harvey in Culture, Language on 03. Feb, 2009 | 6 Comments
In my post about Japanese words to express laughter, reader “Taeko” asked how to say 笑い上戸 (warai jyougo) in English. I just got around to taking a look – I had never heard that expression before.
This question led me down a fun rabbit hole of Japanese language excitement! So fun in fact, that I thought [...]
