Below is the letter that I enclosed in this year’s Christmas cards.
With the holiday season fast approaching, I hope this letter finds you well.
It’s quite unlike me, but this year I’d like to talk a bit about my work.
My current job involves
Tag: japan
The Pointless Japanese Art of Business Cards (Part II of II)
It's not just the sheer frequency of business card exchanges that causes inefficiency. The way it's done doesn't help, either.
Soon after I returned to Japan, I got a crash course in business card etiquette from a good friend of mine. She'd grown up in America but had
The Pointless Japanese Art of Business Cards (Part I of II)
If you're reading this, the odds are extraordinarily high that you don't walk around carrying business cards. That's because they're a lost art where English is the primary language.
On the other hand, the tradition is alive and well in Japan.
I learned this the hard
The Peculiarities of Japanese Movie Watching (if you’re an American) (Part II of II)
Then there's the difference in the months of the year that the Japanese and Americans go watch film.
Summer, to be sure, is the period for blockbuster movies in Japan as it is in America, but the definition of "summer" differs quite a bit between the two markets. In
The Peculiarities of Japanese Movie Watching (if you’re an American) (Part I of II)
The United States is undoubtedly the king of the film market, but it turns out Japan is no slouch. Until being passed by India recently, Japan was the third largest film market in the world in terms of revenue.
Considering that Japan trails only the United States (of Hollywood), China (of 1.3 billion people) and
Considering that Japan trails only the United States (of Hollywood), China (of 1.3 billion people) and
I’d Rather Fly Economy on a Japanese Airline Than Business on a U.S. Airline
Despite my affliction with Airplane Incidents Obsession Syndrome, I enjoy traveling by air. I've flown domestically and internationally, in business and in economy, and on U.S. and foreign airlines. What I've discovered through all that flying is that U.S. airlines are unbearably, unbelievably awful.
In fact, I'd rather fly 14 hours on economy class from New
In fact, I'd rather fly 14 hours on economy class from New
“Silence” (2016) is a Deeply Reflective Journey of Contemplation into Faith
9/10
It is 17th century Japan, a bad time and place to be a Christian. The feudal government is committed to eradicating Christianity through the torture and killing of believers, convinced that the religion is unfit for the Japanese people.
In the Portuguese colony of Macau, the Jesuits receive news that Father Cristóvão Ferreira (Liam Neeson), who is living in Nagasaki, Japan, renounced his faith after being tortured.
It is 17th century Japan, a bad time and place to be a Christian. The feudal government is committed to eradicating Christianity through the torture and killing of believers, convinced that the religion is unfit for the Japanese people.
In the Portuguese colony of Macau, the Jesuits receive news that Father Cristóvão Ferreira (Liam Neeson), who is living in Nagasaki, Japan, renounced his faith after being tortured.
The Amazingly Different Remarkableness of Japanese and Americans
Japanese and American people are truly remarkable people, although they amaze in entirely different ways.
The Japanese excel in order and discipline.
My favorite example to illustrate this is the shugaku ryokou, which is like a field trip for an entire grade over a couple nights at some exotic location like the historical city of Kyoto or Tokyo
The Japanese excel in order and discipline.
My favorite example to illustrate this is the shugaku ryokou, which is like a field trip for an entire grade over a couple nights at some exotic location like the historical city of Kyoto or Tokyo
2014 Was An Uneventfully Fulfilling Year
I hope this letter finds you well.
It is hard to believe, but this past September marked three years since I transferred to Tokyo. I am entering my seventh year with my current employer, meaning that I have now worked in the Tokyo office longer than I did in New York.
How time flies.
Life is interesting in that
It is hard to believe, but this past September marked three years since I transferred to Tokyo. I am entering my seventh year with my current employer, meaning that I have now worked in the Tokyo office longer than I did in New York.
How time flies.
Life is interesting in that
Godzilla Looks Good in “Godzilla” (2014), but Not Much Else Does
5/10
The last attempt by Hollywood to adapt Godzilla into a film of its own was the equally clueless and disastrous “Godzilla” (1998), a big-budget flick that had Matthew Broderick running around New York City trying to destroy 200 eggs that a hideous-looking Godzilla laid in Madison Square Garden. With the point of comparison being so
The last attempt by Hollywood to adapt Godzilla into a film of its own was the equally clueless and disastrous “Godzilla” (1998), a big-budget flick that had Matthew Broderick running around New York City trying to destroy 200 eggs that a hideous-looking Godzilla laid in Madison Square Garden. With the point of comparison being so
Let’s Have More of the Winter
There are so many things that make winter the best of the four seasons, and what would make it even better is more of everything.
When I lived in the United States, winter always began on Thanksgiving week, just when the temperature outside starts to get comfortably cold in the Northeast. Thanksgiving means a lot of
When I lived in the United States, winter always began on Thanksgiving week, just when the temperature outside starts to get comfortably cold in the Northeast. Thanksgiving means a lot of
There is So Much to Love About Autumn
For me, the fall will always mark the beginning of a new year. For nearly two decades, September is when I progressed one year in the educational ladder. Now that I'm working, fall is when I tack on another year in my experience as a working professional. I've always loved this season because it's when
Summer is the Memories of Discontents
There is only one good thing about the summer, and it's that it is followed by the most pleasant season of the year.
I was born in August, right in the smack of the summer, no doubt on a hot, humid and miserable day. My mom always wonders why I hate so much the season in
I was born in August, right in the smack of the summer, no doubt on a hot, humid and miserable day. My mom always wonders why I hate so much the season in
Why I Hate the Season Everyone Loves
Of the four seasons, I hate spring the most. I try to live by the words, "Never hate, sometimes dislike," so I have reserved a very special place in my heart for the season we are currently in.
There are many reasons to hate spring, but topping the list is the fact that it is a
There are many reasons to hate spring, but topping the list is the fact that it is a
In Memory of John Ezzard (1984-2012)
John was a couple years behind me at Boston College. I don't exactly recall how we initially met, but we quickly became close friends because I was Japanese and he was interested in Japan.
John had a great laugh. He and I come from a different political mold, he of the moderate left and I of
John had a great laugh. He and I come from a different political mold, he of the moderate left and I of
Music Tied to My Life Moments
My life consists of obsessions and it's no different with music. When I buy new music, I listen to it over and over (and over and over) again until it is playing in my head and driving me insane. I then find the next music to obsess about. Because of this, many of the songs
How Coins Became the Bane of My Existence in Japan
I think I was in sixth grade when I first engaged in a debate. It was at my weekly Saturday Japanese school and for reasons unclear, the topic de jour was which is better: coins or bills. For reasons even more unclear, I took the side of vigorously defending the existence of coins while my
Great Food But Portions, Not So Much
The food is great in Tokyo. By that I mean the taste, not the portions.
Compared to America--where they feed you like a horse--the portions at Japanese restaurants are ridiculously small. It's pretty much assured that whatever dishes the restaurant trots out as a full-course meal is insufficient to satisfy your hunger. That's why I
Compared to America--where they feed you like a horse--the portions at Japanese restaurants are ridiculously small. It's pretty much assured that whatever dishes the restaurant trots out as a full-course meal is insufficient to satisfy your hunger. That's why I
“Antoki no Inochi” (2011) is a Stunning Cinematic Failure
2.5/10
"Antoki no Inochi" (2011) is what you get when the producers, the screenwriters and the director think the audience is too shallow to appreciate the original material and conspire to dumb down the material to the point the film loses any meaning.
"Antoki no Inochi" (2011) is what you get when the producers, the screenwriters and the director think the audience is too shallow to appreciate the original material and conspire to dumb down the material to the point the film loses any meaning.
The Train System in Tokyo is Great, Unless You Have to Transfer
The rail system in Tokyo is so reliable you wonder how New Yorkers ever function with the disaster that's the MTA. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a subway, regardless of the time of day or day of the week. There's certainty because a display tells you when the next train
Let’s Stay in Touch
I am starting my new life in Tokyo, where new challenges await. I'm really excited, but the move still feels quite surreal. I don't think reality has quite sunk in.
Twenty-one years, 3 months and 10 days passed between my residency in Japan. That's a long time. I haven't felt nostalgic yet, but I've started to
Twenty-one years, 3 months and 10 days passed between my residency in Japan. That's a long time. I haven't felt nostalgic yet, but I've started to
Growing Up White And Dealing With an Identity Crises*
I grew up in a quintessential, middle class New Jersey suburb. My parents, who went to college in America, were not typical Japanese expatriates. They cared little for socializing with Japanese people or Japanese pop culture and thus, I grew up with very little Japanese around me. Except for insisting that I attend Japanese school
What the Earthquake Tells Me About Life
The pictures and videos are all you need to understand that Japan has a long and painful road ahead even before the recovery can begin. But for now, I am thankful that family, friends, and everyone I know in Japan are safe.
When something like this happens to a place and people you know very well,
When something like this happens to a place and people you know very well,
To Tokyo, for New Challenges
At the end of August, I will be transferring to my firm's Tokyo office.
The change is dramatic and spontaneous.
I'm really psyched.
The change is dramatic and spontaneous.
I'm really psyched.
In Defense of Lawyers
In Japan, lawyers rank right below doctors in the list of most respected professions. In the United States, they rank with politicians as one of the most reviled. The difference is striking.
Part of the problem in this country is oversaturation. Compared to Japan, where the passage rate under the old bar exam was around 3%,
Part of the problem in this country is oversaturation. Compared to Japan, where the passage rate under the old bar exam was around 3%,
What Hatoyama’s Resignation Teaches Us About Responsible Government
In 2003, conservative commentator Billy Krystol spoke at Boston College and foretold the rough road ahead for the Republicans by astutely observing, "There's nothing more difficult than being in power."
The flip side is equally true: there's nothing easier--and more irresponsible--than not being in power. This is a lesson the just-resigned Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
The flip side is equally true: there's nothing easier--and more irresponsible--than not being in power. This is a lesson the just-resigned Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
From Baseball Cap to Handgun: Story of Joe’s Rebellion
My parents are typical Asian parents. They are controlling and overbearing. That I was their oldest--and only--son probably didn't help much.
I think it's psychologically healthy for every child to go through a rebellious period against his or her parents (within means, of course), but I fear I missed out on that experience when I had
I think it's psychologically healthy for every child to go through a rebellious period against his or her parents (within means, of course), but I fear I missed out on that experience when I had
My Relationship With Math: It Was Good, Until It Got Complicated
Last week, I bought a TI-89 calculator. It's like the calculator you used to get by calculus in high school, only this one is better.
I've wanted one for a long time. My freshman year at Boston College, I got a TI-89 because I was well on my way to majoring in math. This union lasted
I've wanted one for a long time. My freshman year at Boston College, I got a TI-89 because I was well on my way to majoring in math. This union lasted
Straddling Individualism and Communalism: Which Am I?
I have a great story that explains how societal norms greatly differs between Asians and Westerners.
The summer after I graduated from college, I went to China on a two week trip composed of college students mostly studying or interested in government. The student composition was geographically diverse, with students from colleges all over the United
The summer after I graduated from college, I went to China on a two week trip composed of college students mostly studying or interested in government. The student composition was geographically diverse, with students from colleges all over the United
Stream of Consciousness on My Trip to Japan
A two and a half week absence from my blog has left me with mixed feelings: the gratification in knowing people follow my blog but resignation in knowing they're only interested in my politics. For those who kindly encouraged me to break my silence as Ted Kennedy died and Japan went through an Obama-esque "change,"
Birthday Musings, Childhood Memories
Today is my birthday, or rather, yesterday was my birthday. Some may say it's sad to be spending the beginning of the anniversary day of your birth at the office and still be at the office when the day ends, but those are people who likely weren't born in August.
With apologies to my mom, I
With apologies to my mom, I
Some Things Are Just Too Difficult – Like Geography
I like history, but not necessarily social science. I don't particularly care for Geography and predictably I'm not particularly good at it.
I find it appalling that 1/3 of Americans can't identify China on an unmarked world map, but then, I'm in no position to critique. I took a mini Japanese Geography quiz at juku, my
I find it appalling that 1/3 of Americans can't identify China on an unmarked world map, but then, I'm in no position to critique. I took a mini Japanese Geography quiz at juku, my
Japanese Is Incomprehensibly Vague–Just Like the People
Japanese is a terrible language. And I'm not saying that just because I haven't been able to master the language due to my elementary school slackery.
Even if you set out to intentionally create the most vague, indefinite language, you couldn't have done better than Japanese language.
It fits the people perfectly.
Even if you set out to intentionally create the most vague, indefinite language, you couldn't have done better than Japanese language.
It fits the people perfectly.
Serious and Humorous Thoughts on Easter Sunday
The church I attended on Sunday was very nice. Of all the churches I've been to, I think I felt most comfortable there.
The pastor who gave the service on Sunday at Saint Frances de Sales Parish on the corner of 96th and Lexington was a man of a booming voice whom God did not bless with
The pastor who gave the service on Sunday at Saint Frances de Sales Parish on the corner of 96th and Lexington was a man of a booming voice whom God did not bless with
25 Random Crap About Me
My sister, that bored nincompoop, created Note in Facebook with a list of 25 random facts about herself and then created a "rule" under which an unfortunate soul who was tagged will have to do the same thing. Presumably this is the most modern rendition of the cursed chain letter so the failure to respond
If You Don’t Eat a Whale, Don’t Complain About Whaling
While I was in Japan, I read a story along these lines about Australian sailors' efforts to stop Japanese whaling practices and an editorial in a newspaper by an European objecting to how Japan is raping their seas.
I can think of no issue that pisses me off more than the Western objection to Japanese whaling,
I can think of no issue that pisses me off more than the Western objection to Japanese whaling,