Famous Suicides of the Japanese Empire

Hara-kiri? I am sure that you have heard of – or even used – this term before. This term is actually more formally known as seppuku, which referred to “a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai honor code, seppuku was used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies, as a form of capital punishment for samurai who have committed serious offenses, and for reasons that shamed them. Seppuku is performed by plunging a sword into the abdomen and moving the sword left to right in a slicing motion.” (Source: Wikipedia)

In his book, Famous Suicides of the Japanese Empire, however, David Mura, dramatizes something else. He showcases the life of sansei, or third generation Japanese American. The main character is Ben Ohara, a sansei who is mired deep in a quest to find out what really happened to his father who died and his only brother’s disappearance. The Chicago Tribune has a review which narrates:

For Ohara, suicide begins at home. His father, interned during World War II, held his own shame as one of the so-called “No-No Boys,” a nisei (second generation Japanese American) who refused to join the American army and went to jail instead. That shame eventually led him to take his own life. Ohara’s brother, an astrophysicist with a drug habit, walks out into the Western desert, never to be seen again.

If you are interested in reading this book, you can get it from Coffee House Press for $14.95. It might be a good gift this Christmas.

The Ghibli Museum

If you find yourself in Japan and you want to visit a place that will offer you one of the best kawaii experiences, I suggest heading over to the Ghibli Museum. Located right smack in the middle of a residential area about 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, the Ghibli Museum provides a one of a kind experience. Its director, Hayao Miyazaki, expresses his sentiments about the museum and describes it as:

A museum that is interesting and which relaxes the soul
A museum where much can be discovered
A museum based on a clear and consistent philosophy
A museum where those seeking enjoyment can enjoy, those seeking to ponder can ponder, and those seeking to feel can feel
A museum that makes you feel more enriched when you leave than when you entered!

I have not have the chance to personally pay the Ghibli Museum a visit yet but from what I have heard and read, it is rife with kawaii – just like many other places in Japan. You will be in for a treat of cuteness at this place. They are open on all days of the week except for Tuesday, from 10:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening. They also have a café, dubbed the Straw Hat Café, which is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. However, if you want to enter the café, do so before 6:00 pm as that is the latest that they allow people to go in.

The Ghibli Museum is very popular and they only sell admission tickets in advance so if you are planning on a trip there, make sure you buy your tickets beforehand. Do visit their web site for more information.

Kawaii For The Holidays?

Christmas is only a little more than a month away. Have you gotten started on your Christmas shopping yet? I know some people who are finished with their lists. In fact, they finished months ago. But if you are like me, then you are probably the type who waits till the last minute to get gifts for everyone. Good thing for us, there is such a thing as online shopping. Whoever first thought of online shopping should be awarded some great prize! I mean, I do not even have to go anywhere to get gifts. They will be delivered right to my doorstep – or the recipient’s doorstep!

Speaking of online shopping, did you know that there are great places online where you could find kawaii items? If you do not know what I am talking about, then you should read my previous post about kawaii, or cute things (loose translation). Kawaii has been around for decades and I am sure that most everyone is aware of it although perhaps not by name.

Anyhow, I found a great article on online stores featuring kawaii items.

Sweet Kitty the Anime Store is located in Kent, Washington. You can visit the store in person at 18111 E. Valley HWY S. #103; otherwise, you can purchase items directly from the store at: SweetKittyAnime.com. The store specializes in Japanese items, and it carries brands from Harajuku Lovers to Hello Kitty. The store has the best selection of Sanrio products in Washington State. The owners love their customers and encourage visitors to come to the store. Below are some of the hot items that are in-demand.

ShopKawaii.com is the web store for both Kawaii Gifts and Kawaii Avenue since April of 2006. However, ShopKawaii.com is dedicated to our imported gifts. You can visit the stores personally at Kawaii Gifts, located at 5413-B Walnut St. Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Kawaii Avenue is located at 5413-A Walnut St. Pittsburgh, PA 15232.

Thanks to Katrina-Kasey Wheeler for these wonderful pieces of information.

Japanese Car Makers And The F1

As I write this post, people in Japan are eagerly awaiting the start of the Japanese Grand Prix. In twenty minutes or so, the green lights will light up and the F1 cars will be revving up their engines, F1 drivers totally focused on finishing first. Though not many might be aware of it, Japan has a considerable role in the F1. I have already written a post on Nakajima, the sole Japanese driver. Then there is the Japanese Grand Prix. But there are also other Japanese players, namely two car manufacturers.

I just read a feature article on how Honda and Toyota play their own roles in the F1. I never really paid much attention to them, to be honest, but this article has changed my perspective.

Today, both teams are on the threshold of change. Which one surfaces victorious will help determine their programs for the future, for they each approach Formula One in fundamentally different ways.

“We all know that the Japanese culture is non-confrontational,” said Ross Brawn, the director of the Honda team. “Racing European culture is often confrontational. It’s finding the balance in all those different elements that to me is the fascinating thing of being part of this team.”

Blending the Japanese culture into how they perceive the racing world puts a whole new perspective. Honda and Toyota may not be as high profile as Ferrari and McLaren but the F1 will not be the same without them.

Japanese Night Race In The Books?

We’ve all experienced the hype about the first ever Singapore F1 night race. Some of you might even have experienced it yourselves. We had planned on going to watch it but certain things came up that disallowed that possibility. We had to content ourselves on watching the events unfold on TV.

Here’s another bit of news to you F1 enthusiasts out there, though. It is rumored that the big boss of F1, Bernie Ecclestone, is planning on making the Japanese Grand Prix into a night race as well. BBC
has this report:

And asked if more floodlit races were planned, Ecclestone told BBC Radio 5 Live: “If we have more races in this part of the world, yes.

“We’re going to try to get Japan to do it. I hope when people see Singapore they realise it wasn’t a stupid idea.”

I am quite happy to hear this piece of news due to several things. For one, I know that a lot of people have always had this fascination for the country and its culture. For people who are interested in both the country and F1 racing, this turn of events is definitely a cause for celebration! Another reason is that we all know how technologically advanced Japan is. Perhaps it is even safe to say that they are the best when it comes to technology. If the Singapore night race was a success in many areas – including technology – can you just imagine how much better a night race in Japan would be?

The Passion For Ferris Wheels

If you have ever been to Osaka, you would know about one of the first things that people notice upon arrival – a gigantic red ferris wheel. Dubbed the Hep Five Ferris Wheel, this structure is at the roots of the Japanese people’s passion for this ride. Come to think of it, not too many people would probably know about this passion. That’s why I thought to share excerpts from a feature article in Yomiuri Shimbun:

The Hep Five Ferris wheel is one of the first such rides in the nation to be installed not in an amusement park but in the heart of a city.

The advertisement was carried on a guide map for an exposition held from April to June 1906 at Tennoji Park in Tennoji Ward to commemorate victory in the war. The ride was one of the expo’s featured attractions.

Today, this ride is an ubiquitous part of amusement parts and fairs – in Japan and other parts of the world.

Visit The Asahiyama Zoo

Japan has so many things to offer her visitors and for those who are animal lovers, there is also something for you. The Asahiyama Zoo is located in Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is also the most popular zoo in all of the country. So why are people flocking to this zoo?

The animals of course! And the zoo has taken things one step further. According to Japan Now:

In the past, Japanese zoos focused on displaying only the animal’s figure. But Asahiyama Zoo started to design its facilities so that the animal’s habits and behavior can be seen as well.

Though this concept is not all that new – there are many zoos in other countries with a similar set up. In Japan, however, the Asahiyama Zoo has done it best. I was browsing their web site and I just couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement as I saw the pictures and descriptions. Here is my favorite.

I want to see how a polar bear swims!

La MaMa Features “The Doll Sisters” Yet Again

For many people, Manhattan is the center of many world cultures and who am I to dispute that? Different places mean different things to different people. Anyhow, if you are interested in the Japanese culture and you are in the vicinity of Manhattan, you might want to pay the La MaMa Experimental Theater Club a visit anytime between October 23 and November 2 of this year.

They will be featuring “The Doll Sisters,” a legendary masterpiece that combines the use of puppets and a variety of Japanese performance styles. Expect to experience both ancient and contemporary performance styles as you watch the production.

Together with Atelier Asakura, La MaMa is holding the production in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Praemium Imperiale (Takamatsu no Miya Memorial World Cultural Award). This award is meant specifically for outstanding artists and has been in existence since 1989, at the orders of the Japanese Emperor. This award is so prestigious that it has been likened to the Nobel Prize for art.

This is not the first time that the production has been held at La MaMa. In October of 1978, Setsu Asakura directed a version of “The Doll Sisters.” Though it ran for only 5 days, the production became a hit and has since then been regarded as one of the best cultural productions.

What is the production about? News Blaze reports:

In “The Doll Sisters,” two sisters are paralleled by a doll character, who are revealed finally to be the two natures of the single woman. The younger, more passionate sister is obsessed with finding a man to love her; her older, more reserved sister is obsessed with the man who abandoned her. On the modern psychological level, the play explores opposing qualities, both innate and acquired, of being female. It has strongly feminist tones.

Japanese Designer Found A Model In Sarah Palin

Model meaning someone who shows off a product. And in this case, Vice-President hopeful Sarah Palin has become a model for Japanese designer Kazuo Kawasaki – albeit unintentionally. We have all seen Sarah Palin – she is on TV every single day – and I am sure that you have also noticed her fashion sense, including the eyeglasses that she wears constantly. If you have found yourself wondering where she got those glasses, then wonder no more. They were designed and made by Kazuo Kawasaki.

Dubbed the MP-704, these glasses are made of titanium, known to be ultra light and hypoallergenic. In fact, these kinds of rims have been in the market for many years now but ever since Sarah Palin came into the limelight, more people have become aware of them. As for Kawasaki, he is enjoying thousands of orders from all over the world because of the exposure that Palin brought to his product. If you are wondering if having Sarah Palin as a model is a good thing or not, take a look at these figures. Kawasaki says they normally make about 12,000 units of the MP-704 over an 18-month period. In the last 10 days, however, their orders have soared to 9,000 – with most of the customers coming from the United States!

Political beliefs not withstanding, I am tempted to find myself a pair of these glasses as well. They do look good and with the quality that they are supposed to have, it wouldn’t be such a bad buy.

Maid Cafes Enter The U.S.

Remember the post we had a while back on maid cafes in Japan? I thought that the idea was novel and quirky at the same time. Well, those of you who are in the United States and who are not about to visit Japan in the near future will have the chance to visit one of these maid cafes. A firm has introduced the American version of maid cafes in California, with the aim of sharing the experience across the oceans.

Japan Times reports:

Royal/T maid cafe, shop and art space debuts the “cosplay” (costume play) restaurant idea to U.S. audiences hungry for a taste of the latest in Japanese trends.

Launched this spring, Royal/T in Culver City, Calif., offers not only the maid cafe experience made popular in Akihabara, Tokyo, but imports and introduces “Japanese cool” in the form of art, music, fashion and cuisine.

Susan Hancock, owner of Royal/T, fell in love with Japanese artists like Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara while a collector in New York and wanted to create a space to exhibit her passion for modern Japan.

There are certain differences from the original cosplays in Japan though:

While the cafe certainly caters to the anime and cosplay niche market, the venue equally emphasizes the art space and shop, thus veering from traditional genre cafes in Japan. And, unlike its Tokyo counterparts, Royal/T downplays the fetish aspect that Americans sometimes associate with cosplay restaurants.

Indeed, maids at this cafe will not blow on customers’ food or call them “master.” They will, however, eagerly chat about their favorite anime show and discuss the art collection.

Fun!