199 Posts Found

This site contains some of the common terms heard in anime and gives their explanations.

Source: The Yale Anime Society | Subjects: Anime / Manga, Vocabulary / Phrases

An “account of a Christmas unknown to Westerners – and to most Japanese too! Including an amusing account of Santa dressed as a Samurai.” This article follows the observance of Christmas in Japan from 1549 to the present day, with examples of “mirror customs of European traditions.” Originally written in Japanese by a writer for the Felissimo Christmas Museum in Hokkaido, Japan.

Source: Felissimo Christmas Museum / Mariko Okawa | Subject: Culture

This site presents articles and information about the Japanese tea ceremony. It features sections on the history of the tea ceremony, the tea room, traditional Japanese fabrics, and philosophy. Also includes a directory of tea ceremony classes and related links. From “a group of people in London and in New York who are interested in Japanese tea ceremony.” In English and Japanese.

Source: TeaHyakka | Subject: Culture

This is one of the free areas of the larger YesJapan.com site and it offers quite useful short cultural overviews on the following topics:
– Bed and Bath
– Currency
– Eating Etiquette
– Festivals
– Hot Springs
– Hotel Etiquette
– House Rules
– Links
– Pachinko
– … [ Read more ]

Source: YesJapan.com | Subject: Culture

This volume is one in a continuing series of books prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the Department of the Army. It describes and analyzes the political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors. The … [ Read more ]

Source: Library of Congress | Subject: Comprehensive

This is the Japan country section of the World Factbook by the CIA. This is truly one of the most useful resources for quick information on any country, including in this case Japan. Categories covered include:
– Introduction
– Geography
– People
– Government
– Economy
– Communications
– Transportation
– Military
– Transnational Issues

Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | Subject: Comprehensive

Provides detailed information about Japanese government and diplomacy, technology and science, and culture.

Source: Japan Information Network | Subject: Comprehensive

The kimono is the traditional clothing of Japan. Kimono styles have changed significantly from one period of Japan’s history to another, and today there are many different types of kimono worn by men, women, and children. The cut, color, fabric, and decorations of a kimono may vary according to the sex, age, and marital status of the wearer, the season of the year, and the … [ Read more ]

Source: JP NET | Subject: Culture

An illustrated guide to Japan’s holidays and cultural events. Just click on the month for details of all events and holidays during that month.

Source: JP NET | Subject: Culture

A nice comprehensive site about Japan. Find topics including:
– Sightseeing guides
– Hotel search
– A job search feature
– Cellular Phones in Japan
– Travel News
– Living in Japan
– Information pages
– Forums
– Shopping and Business
– Photo Gallery

Make sure you also check out the members area where you can search for penpals and place/view … [ Read more ]

Source: Kinboshi Media | Subject: Comprehensive

A collection of over thirty photographs of nineteenth century Japan. Includes images of dance, and gates of temples and shrines in Nikko. From the California Museum of Photography, University of California, Riverside.

Source: California Museum of Photography | Subject: Images

Illegal CD copying and fan boredom clobber sales.

Source: BusinessWeek / Chester Dawson | Subject: Business / Economy

This excellent piece looks at Japan’s Keiretsu system – definitions, history, purposes, structure and future. If you don’t know much about the Keiretsu system, this is the article to read.

Source: Japan Economic Institute / Douglas Ostrom | Subject: Business / Economy

findateacher.Net helps foreign language teachers and students find each other directly anywhere in Japan without having to go to a language school. Teacher sign-up is free. findateacher.Net was made for teachers by teachers and is NOT a language school. Rather, it is a nationwide network of private teachers who run thier own classes or schools. Teachers are not obligated to make a contract with findateacher.Net … [ Read more ]

Source: FindaTeacher.Net | Subjects: Employment / Career, Teaching English

You can no longer safely shrug off Japan’s economic crisis. It just might drag the world into a depression.

Sources: Benjamin Fulford, Forbes Global | Subject: Business / Economy

Strategist Michael Porter tells why Japan’s economic sun has set, and how it can rise again.

Source: CFO.com / Edward Teach | Subject: Business / Economy

“Japan’s extraordinary postwar industrial success was defined by lean production, consensus and continuous improvement. But lately it has been the country’s perceived weak points, such as lifetime employment and over-regulation, that have come to the forefront of the debate on Japanese management. But new ideas are emerging with the younger, more flexible generation of Japanese managers, which means there will still be plenty for the … [ Read more ]

Source: strategy+business / John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge | Subject: Business / Economy

Shigeo Shingo is credited with creating the concept of zero defects and the techniques of poka-yoke (Japanese for mistake-proofing). The approach seeks to remove the causes of defects, or, where this is impossible, to inspect each item simply and inexpensively to determine that it passes the quality threshold – with no defects.

Source: ManagementFirst.com / Michael Fisher | Subject: Business / Economy

One of the four major daily newspapers in Japan.

Source: Mainichi Daily News | Subject: News / Magazine

Very interesting article looks at the decade-long economic woes of Japan, how they might have been avoided or mitigated and lessons for the U.S.

Source: American Enterprise Institue / John H. Makin | Subject: Business / Economy