Must see: Japanese talent show for gaijin (foreigners)

Posted on Oct 4, 2013 in Must see, News |

                  They say that fortune favors the brave and this Saturday, in Fukuoka, brave non-Japanese residents will get the chance to feel like a star. The sign-up period to take part in Gaikokujin Star Tanjo has passed, but you can still get in on the fun by heading down to the party to cheer on other hopefuls. The talented bunch will be competing for the prize of being Fukuoka’s “most talented foreigner.” Gaikokujin Star...

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Festivals and Events for October 2013 in Japan

Posted on Oct 4, 2013 in Daytrips, Japanese customs, Must see, Things to do, Weekend trips |

5-6 October 2013 Event: Oda Nobunaga Festival in Gifu Location: Downtown Gifu City Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Price of Admission: Free The festival honours the feats of Oda Nobunaga, a samurai warlord who used Gifu City as a base on his mission to unify Japan during the Warring States (Sengoku) period of Japan. It is a celebration of his contribution towards the construction of Gifu City and the legacy that he has left behind. The must see events are the memorial ceremony at...

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Where to see all the famous movie sights in Kyoto

Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Daytrips, Must see, Things to do, Weekend trips |

Kyoto, the city of samurai moviesIntroduction of Kyoto, a city associated with the master of classic Japanese cinema, Kenji Mizoguchi, and his movies, that even those who are new to Japanese cinema can enjoy Kyoto is the Hollywood of samurai movies so to speak, with many temples and shrines in the city being used for shooting movies and having a studio for Japanese period dramas. Moreover, the city is noted in connection with Kenji Mizoguchi, one of the greatest movie...

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Japanese love their vending machines. Now there is even one for games!

Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Japanese technology, Must see, News, Stories about Japan |

Vending machines are quite popular in Japan, and Google recently put up a few of its own to distribute mobile games to Android users. Engadget reports that the machines offer 18 different games—some of which are free while others require payment—and transactions are made by resting an NFC-enabled phone running Android 4.0 or higher onto a tray below the large touchscreen. Photo credit: Engadget If you don’t have a compatible device, the vending machine lets you take...

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Japanese housewives; mostly faithful, sometimes frisky

Posted on Sep 27, 2013 in Japanese customs, News, Stories about Japan |

Frustration within the married state is as old as the institution itself. Sexless marriage? You’ve heard this story before. Condom maker Sagami Gomu, following an in-house survey, has concluded that nearly half of all marriages in Japan are sexless. Simultaneous developments in other spheres promise, you’d think, riotous extra-marital goings-on. More and more wives work. At work they meet people. In the warm glow of fresh encounters, home and family are another world. No...

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