Japanese Life & Culture
"Burning Water Ceremony" in Niigata
This is Nathan Shiga, and today I have an episode on a rare, ancient ritual in Niigata of the "burning water" from a pond in Tainaishi. No savez? Well, this is what it's all about.
July 3, 2016 at 1:58 am
A "Cow Belt" to Drive Wild Bears Away
Japan is a tiny country with relatively many inhabitants sharing life with animals. Animals - I mean wild animals living on their own away from humans.
June 8, 2016 at 6:00 am
Violinist Ayana Tsuji Reigned MIMC
The Montreal International Musical Competition is unique in that the three disciplines, violin, piano and voice rotate over a three-year cycle, and this year's edition featured violin.
June 8, 2016 at 5:47 am
More Indians Turn to Ramen
India is a curry land and its people are said to mind little having three curried meals a day the year around. I love curried rice but once a week will do. Well, it's culture - more power to curry.
May 19, 2016 at 9:11 am
The Aoi Festival in Kyoto
They say the world's most famous "3 Big Rivers" are the Amazon, Nile and Mississippi. Here in Kyoto, Japan, we celebrate "3 Big Festivals in May, June and October - Aoi, Gion and Jidai, in that order.
May 11, 2016 at 9:02 am
Meet a Friendly Dolphin offshore Shimane
The home of myths Shimane is also a favorite home of marine life. A report from that part of Japan tells of a friendly dolphin offshore Aotani, a popular sea bathing site.
May 11, 2016 at 8:45 am
Somegoro in Las Vegas: Kabuki "Lion King"
Some folks may remember an episode early in January on Kabuki performance in Las Vegas (Kabuki in Las Vegas to Stay: Are You Serious Somegoro? By Nathan Shiga, January 18, 2016).
May 10, 2016 at 8:49 am
Hachi, the Faithful - the Legendary Akita Inu in Limelight
I wonder how many of you folks recall a legendary Akita dog "Hachi, the Faithful"?
May 10, 2016 at 8:05 am
Constitution Day in Japan, Why the Fuss?
I'm curious whether Japan is the only country to remember the day the Constitution was promulgated - May 3rd.
April 27, 2016 at 2:05 am
400-Year-Old Arita Porcelains Charm Dutch National Museum
Porcelains from Arita, Saga, otherwise known in Europe as Imari, celebrate 400th anniversary in the Netherlands where a grand exhibition has just opened at the Rijksmuseum (National Museum) in Amsterdam starting April 21.
April 27, 2016 at 1:31 am
Yayoi Kusama Made TIME's "The 100 Most Influential People"
Another good news, folks, of a 87-year-old Japanese woman artist picked among TIME's "The Most Influential People" this year.
April 13, 2016 at 3:49 am
G7's Hiroshima Declaration Calls for Visits to Hiroshima
Hiroshima was host to the foreign ministerial summit "G7" in prelude to the Ise-Shima Summit next month.
April 13, 2016 at 3:17 am
American Student Kabuki in Portland, Oregon!
This episode has to do with what's happening "on" Japan, so barely clears the norm. It's something on Japan happening in Oregon, U.S.A. So, here we go.
April 12, 2016 at 10:20 am
"Buster Shinjuku" Now Tokyo's Key-Spot of Tourism
Buster Shinjuku? A queer name, don't you think? Let me break it down this way: Bus + ter(minal).
April 4, 2016 at 10:35 am
Award-winning Writer Restricted Near US Camp Schwab, Okinawa
Here's a rare piece of episode from Japan about an Akutagawa Award-winning writer restricted by the US Army while rallying in protest against the relocation of the Futemma Military Base to Henoko.
