Japanese Podcast Recommendations – Part 2
Posted by harvey in Art, Language, Media on 09. Aug, 2010 | 2 Comments
Got great feedback from the first Podcast Recommendation post, so here’s another one! A podcast for your artistic side This video podcast will introduce you to the ancient Japanese poems, Manyoushuu. You would have to have incredibly advanced Japanese mad skillz to understand the language used in the actual poems the first time around, but [...]
Kabuki Diplomacy
Posted by harvey in Art, Culture, Language, Media on 27. May, 2010 | 5 Comments
This is pretty cool! American diplomat in Fukuoka participating in Kabuki. I tried to catch the lines here, but this is tough as it’s old Japanese. Someone give me a hand and help fix my mistakes! This is way over my head. Attempted transcription and translation: 生まれ故郷を後にして umare kokyou wo ato ni shite Leaving the [...]
Japan The Strange Country
Posted by harvey in Art, Media, Society on 31. Mar, 2010 | No Comments
A quick video by a Japanese guy called “Japan the Strange Country” that takes a somewhat critical look at Japan. Worth a look. Japan-The Strange Country (English ver.) from Kenichi on Vimeo. There is also a Japanese language version. Japan – The Strange Country (Japanese ver.) from Kenichi on Vimeo. – Harvey
Seller Fusion Gigs Next Month
Posted by harvey in Art, Media, Music on 28. Mar, 2010 | No Comments
I was contacted by a fellow Iowan who is now in Japan studying Taiko Drumming. His name is Frightened Seller and he has a few fusion gigs coming up with Kazunari Abe, a Japanese shinobue player who has also played with Kodo, the world famous Taiko group. Their group is called Sora Ocean and they [...]
Get your Zen Garden On
Posted by harvey in Art, Crazy Consumers, Culture on 28. Mar, 2010 | 1 Comment
I don’t see these rock gardens much in Japan. You really have to go out of your way to find them. The last time that I can remember visiting one was at Sanzenin in Kyoto, when my parents were in the country visiting for our wedding back in 2007. At Sanzenin in Kyoto I think [...]
An Introduction to Visual-kei with Megamasso
Posted by harvey in Art, Culture, Music, Society on 18. Oct, 2009 | 3 Comments
I bet many JapanNewbie readers know more about Visual-kei than I do. Basically it’s a genre of music, usually rock, in which the “visuals” are extremely important in that the band members wear a variety of flamboyant and elaborate costumes. Don’t take my word for it though – here is an exclusive interview arranged by [...]
