Japan Pulse

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• Kan presses the reset button (from Overserving Japan): Prime Minister Naoto Kan attempts to wash Ozawa out of the DPJ’s hair, but how long will public approve of the new look of the cabinet?
• Over-active memories of China’s past (from Shisaku): How China clung to a bitter memory and set up a no-win situation.
• Singing cops throw away retirement plans to serenade fellow seniors (from Japan Subculture Research Center): Move over AKB48, there’s a new group coming to town and they’re all retired cops!
• How to write about Japan (from Our Man in Abiko): YES, you TOO can write about Japan’s unique sararimen by simply following these 10 kantan steps!
• Omuta: The shopping arcades of a thousand bankruptcies (from Spike Japan): This town is coming like a ghost town.
• Shibuya 109-2: The Wild Party is Over (from An Eternal Thought in the Mind of Godzilla): A moment of silence, please, for the recently deceased Gyaruo and Center Guys.

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• Eikaiwa Underworld: Lessons Taught, Lessons Learned (from Japan Subculture Research Center): Repeat after us: “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.”
• Paying and Avoiding NHK (from Mutantfrog Travelogue): Tired of NHK knocking on your door from NHK? Click on.
• The Lead Poisoning Thesis (from Frog in a Well): Did toxic makup reeeally contribute to the fall of the Tokugawa regime? Do tell.
• Addictive ads (from Pink Tentacle): Pre-Don Draper advertising in Japan: “Defense for country, tobacco for society”
• The Premium Pricing “Problem” (from Néojaponisme): Japanese are renowned for paying top dollar for imported luxury goods, but is it their fault?
• Modern Times (from Ampontan):  The Terminator needs Japan’s support for the California bullet train project, but should a country be lending money it doesn’t have to a “deadbeat subnational government”?

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• Trying to Understand the DPJ Leadership Race (from Mutant Frog Travelogue): The facts about the DPJ race, from one confused observer to another.
• Real Harajuku Girls, For Real (from Neojaponisme): Dedication in girl’s fashion can never be taken too far in Japan.
• Japanese food and beverages for diabetics and low-carb eaters (from Just Hungry): A-Z for calorie-watchers. Sugar-free sake, anyone?
• A guide to sanitary napkins in Japan (from Surviving in Japan): From heavy to light to night use. Guys, you can skip this one.
• More inspired musical goofiness from Japan (from Ampontan): Be sure to watch the Appalachian shamisen, which sounds right at home.
• Hane (from Sleepy Tako): A short journey to the lesser-known destination of Hane in Nishinomiya.

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• R.I.P. Shibuya HMV (from Neojaponisme): The planets once aligned for HMV’s flagship store, but it couldn’t last. (And from a different angle at our sister site, Yen for Living.)
• A DPJ Disenfranchisement (from The Diplomat): Whether it’s lead by Kan or Ozawa, can a party plagued by a inner power struggle lead Japan out of the darkness?
• Long Hot Summer for Kan, Ozawa, and DPJ Coming to an Early End? (from GlobalTalk 21): It’s only the beginning of a long, drawn-out battle in the DPJ.
• Takekuma Festival (from Tokyo Scum Brigade):  For his 50th birthday, manga author Kentaro Takekuma hosted a roundtable discussion on indie anime.
• Lies, damn lies and the Nikkei (from Mutant Frog Brigade): Numbers sometimes do lie, at least in this case.

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• Comiket 78: Day 3 (from Tokyo Scum Brigade): Chronicling the third day of Comiket 78 and featuring elaborate costumes that require true devotion in the intense summer heat.
• Matsuri da! (114): Angels with Dirty Faces (from Ampontan): Something only the most impish of kids would enjoy.
• The Line (from Kirainet.com): Another addition to Tokyo’s endless collection of lines.
• Abandoned Ginza (from Mike’s Blender): Ever wondered what a post-apocalyptic Ginza might look like? Here’s a slightly spooky first look . . .
• Comparing bento box materials (from Just Bento): For those who want lunchtime perfection.

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• Sendai-shi: This isn’t just one post . . . it’s one whole blog of WWII photos, taken by Abraham Lincoln. Intrigued yet?
• Generation gap in Japan (from What Japan Thinks): Japan, here’s looking at you, over four key generations.
• soba rocks @ Fuji Rock – and other festival food faves (from tokyo food file): Japan Times’ wandering food writer surveys festival chow.
• Don’t Suffer – Live Life Positively – Learn! (from Kurashi): You too can learn how to overcome the black thoughts with these expert-approved mental techniques!  Let’s re-team together!
• George Psalmanazar, the famous fraud of Formosa (from Mutant Frog Travelogue): OK, so it’s only tangentially about Japan but a fascinating tale nonetheless.
• Using Kid’s Songs to Learn Japanese (from Tofugu): Because it’s so much more fun that way.
• Awesome Gundam Statue Time-Lapse Videos (from Altfista.com): And a little eye-sweet for dessert.

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• Japanese kyotei camaraderie (from Tokyo Times): Brothers in betting on boats.
• Successful fundraising with Kickstart & the (re)making of Art Space Tokyo (from Craig Mod): How to pull yourself up by your bootstraps in the naughties.
• Putting the ume out to dry (from hanabi d): The birth of umeboshi – you can’t resist pinching the newborns’ “soft little cheeks.”
• Hikikomori update: Some light upon the subject (from Shisaku): A statistical look into Japan’s elusive hikikomori.
• Touring Japan on the 18 Kippu 2010 (from Gakuranman.com): Adventures on Naoshima include large scale recycled art and a uniquely decorated bathhouse.
• Aera: 10% or 30% consumption tax? (from Kurashi): To consume, or not to consume? Japan’s potential consumption tax increase raises questions.

Here are the latest Pulsations, links to fresh stories and visuals about Japan, shout-outs to fellow bloggers, and highly clickable stuff that we think you might enjoy.

In no particular order, they are . . .

• How dare he dislike my gadget! (from Durf.org): Digging a little deeper in Hayao Miyazaki’s views of iPads.
• Love Minus (from AltJapan): A fact-check of the virtual girlfriend hype finds something lost in translation.
• World Cup Coverage: 4-0 to Twitter (from Tokyo Digital Journalism): Our Man’s memo to old  media: Stop the presses and get your tweet on.
• Raiders of the Lost Subterranean Shrine (from Gakuranman.com): No Ark of Covenant, but cool, nonetheless.
• Radio Exercise (Radio Taiso) and the Japanese summer (from Just Hungry): NHK keeps people of all age groups fit and happy.
• Tokyo Sky Tree, Construction Site Photo Report (from Muza-chan’s Gate to Japan): Look, up in the sky! It’s Tokyo’s next colossal tower!