Living in Japan
Understanding the Culture
Turning Japanese
– an original haiku
My name is Marie and I am a Japanese student. I am very interested in Japanese culture and would like to share what I know with other people and learn more about Japan, too. I am not an authority on anything Japanese but I love living in Japan, I love the Japanese people and I love Japanese food.
よろしくお願い致します
Konichi wa Marie :o)
My name is Dirk, and I am a psychology student studying in Belgium, Europe. I am in my last year and I have to do a research to get my degree. I am asking myself how the look we people bring upon Japanese animation changes depending on the culture we live in. So, I want to compare different populations by asking them to look at an extract that I choose (from the anime BLEACH) and to respond at a questionnaire afterwards.
My problem is that it is difficult for me to find asian people or asian internet pages (in English), where I could post a link to my page where the extract and questionnaire will be put in 1 – 2 weeks.
While browsing through the net, I found your blog, and asked myself if you could and would help me? Do you, by any chance, know any anime sites (in English) where I could post my link? Could I post a link at your site? Or, do you even know any people that could and would share 20 minutes of their time with me and help me?
For more information and further questions, I give you my e-mail again : venaris@hotmail.com. Arigatoo gozaimasuu, sayonara
Hi Dirk!
Wow, that sounds very interesting! I am an avid fan of Bleach myself and I’d love to help you with that questionnaire.
There are also a lot of Bleach and other anime fans on this blog I read regularly.
http://www.dannychoo.com
You can also go find other anime fans on this site:
http://www.japanforum.com/
Good Luck with your research, and I’d be glad to put a link on my site!
Hello again :o)
The site is ready. The address is : http://www.toba.lu/memoire , in case you want to have a look and maybe even try the questionnaire ;o) That would help me a lot.
Hi Dirk!
I just put up the link to your site. Hope it works! Good luck!
はじめましてMarieさん、元気ですか。私も日本語の学生です。But my Japanese is very very basic. I think I could afford JLPT fourth level but should study a bit more for third. 🙂
I’ve found your nice blog thanks to your post on Mari’s one… 😉 and I think I’ll read it also. Very nice posts. Thank you.
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, Marco!
I’m glad you like the posts! Thank you. And Good Luck with the JLPT!
I saw some reference to common Japanese names on your site and continue a search.
Given you immersion in Japan, I thought maybe you could help.
My wife is from Japan and we live in the US now. We have a boy 2 and a half. His name is Kai.
Now we have another boy on the way (2 more months to go).
We can not find a good name.
Kai is a great name. We like it because it is an English (or atleast western) name as well as a Japanese one. We want to give our next son the same kind of magic . If the name is too japanese or too english I don’t think it will have the same subtle balance (and I hope plant the same hint that growth/life in more than one culture is richer)
So far all we can come up with is Ken and Joe (I think those are nice names but not with the same exotic flair as Kai. In fact Joe has the connotation in English of “just your average Joe”)
Unrelated to your field but I thought you might have an idea.
Best,
Christian Collins
Arlington, Massachusetts, USA
email: chinacollins@yahoo.com
Thanks for visiting the site, Christian and thanks for asking me, I’m really flattered!
There are really cool Japanese names, like Taira, Kenji, Taro, Ryo, Renji, Osamu, Kazuki. I think a lot of the popular animes have characters with really cool names.
Also, the names of people here in Japan seem to have an effect on their overall personality. I’ve noticed that kids with “-ta” (like Shota, or Kenta) or “-ji” (like Kenji) in their names are a little more athletic than kids with older, more traditional names. It’s not always the case, but somehow there seems to be a very strong connection between the child’s personality and his or her name and its meaning.
I agree, Kai is a super cool name! Good luck!
🙂
Hi, bibomedia, thanks for leaving a 🙂
Hi Marie
Poppin in your blog… lovely photos… i’d love to be able to take photos like that…unfortunately that is hubby’s talent..not mine 😦 will be popping in again.. if you dont mind.
Hi jyankee!
Thanks so much for dropping by! I’d love for you to keep visiting my blog!
Thank you for saying so, I’m not near really good but I do enjoy taking photos!
Thanks!
hello, Marie san
This is my site http://mynamein.jp/
よかったら、ご紹介して下さいね。
Thank you,
Junji
Hello Junji!
Thank you for visiting my site! I’ll check yours out, too!
Hi comrade
I love your blog because I love Japan culture, I read many book about Japan, I really like to continue my life in japan.
I always like to have japanese friend ,I find you Now.
Please read my blog but if you like : Navidkam.wordpress.com
I write about Modern Slavery
I really be glad if you be allow me to be your friend
i hope to read your message soon
Thank you
Navid Kamali from Iran
Hi navidkam! Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for the kind words… and I’m glad you like my blog. Feel free to comment and add some insights to my posts. I’ll visit your site soon, too!
Thank you
I will stay for you On my blog
Navidkam.wordpress.com
Thanks again for visiting, navidkam!
Hello Marie,
just a newcomer here but I really enjoy your posts and the beautiful pictures.
Keep up the good work, I’ll sure drop in here a lot!
Hi vassili! Thank you for visiting and commenting!
I’m really glad you like the site! Thank you for the kind words! 🙂
Hi Marie,
Started to get interested again with the Japanese culture and decided to look for a blog that mostly tell stories how life in Japan would be, somehow manage to find what I’m looking for. (lucky!)
Your blog about Japan really inspire me to someday look for a work opportunity there. Perhaps its only a matter of time for me to start looking.
I notice majority of the place you’ve been is somewhat like a tourist spot? Is it possible if you could share your experiences to us on your day to day activities. Something like how the city look like and what are the things that we gaijin might face on our first few months living in your country.
Looking forward to hear from you again Marie- san.
Thank you.
Hi edward!
Thanks so much for visiting! I’m so glad you like the site. I haven’t been updating in a while, am busy with Golden Week and all that, but I’ll be back in a few days and I will do several pieces on daily life and such. Thanks for the suggestion!
Good luck to you! Hope you do come to Japan.
Hi marie,
My officemate told me that there an event in Japan called Golden week, not sure what’s the event for but im sure its important.
Looking forward for your update.
Take care 🙂
ed
nice blog!
i m learning japanese language now.
And the Japanese Learning Site is helpful for me.
Thanks!
Hey there,
Great site! Absolutely gorgeous pictures! I’m wondering if you’d like to exchange links with me so we can get some more traffic going between our sites.
Have a look at my site and lemme know. In the meantime I’m going to read up on some of your posts.
Cheers,
Andrew
Hi edward!
Thanks so much for visiting! Golden Week is a series of holidays, including Children’s Day on May 5th. It starts on April 29th. A few days in between are still work days, but mostly people use the week to travel and visit home. I love the holiday because the weather is great for traveling and sightseeing!
Hope you continue to comment!
Hello xcloudeweb!
Thanks for the compliments! Good luck with your Japanese! I’ve been meaning to add more Japanese learning related posts… 🙂 Soon, I hope…
Hi Andrew!
Thanks for the kind words! I’ve just added you to my blogroll! Interesting site! I’ll check out more of your posts, too!
Hi there :o)
I don’t know if you remember me ? It’s Dirk, the guy who did the study on anime to get his degree in psychological science. Well, I finished the study and wrote the paper. It was a tough piece of work, but it is all done. So, if you are interested to know the results, and to put them on your website, send me an email, with YOUR MAIL in it (which will allow me to know from which website the email comes from), then ill send you a brief version of the main results and the conclusions I was able to make.
See ya :o)
Hello Marie!
I’ve just found your blog by a sweet accident since Im planning to visit Japan and the Far East for the first time in my life and was surfing the net for some answers to alot of questions in my mind about Japan, would you kindly help me out with some?!
It’s my first time to Asia since Im fed up with Europe and the US but Im afraid because it just seems a big step to me change destinations, you know?
What about language difficulties? high prices of everyhting as everybody is talking about?
What cities should I visit for between 10-14 days tour and what are the must’s you yhink I should do there?
Should I spend my money on reserving in superior hotels or save it for shopping there or for travelling between cities and regions? what about booking in some of the B&B like hotels that offer Japanese experience as claimed to on the web?
Im coming on late Oct/early Nov and my only source to Japan is through the net only!
Thanx alot and your feedback will be VERY much appreciated.
皆さん こんにちは、
始めまして 和夢詩(ワムシ)です。インドで日本語の勉強しており、日本と日本の文化非常に興味が持っています。ええと、三年間から日本語勉強していますが今年日本語能力試験の二級をとりたいです。
このブローグで皆と一緒に日本と日本語なら何でも取り替えられます。
これで宜しくお願いします
和夢詩。
=]
Hello
How are you? I’m George. had a look at your site today. I’m interested in doing a banner exchange with you. drop me a message if you are okay with it. Cheers!
My site: e2046.com
My email: exchangebanner@e2046.com
To: https://japanqna.wordpress.com/
Hi, Marie! My name Hafiz Fizalia (Hafiz Fizalia). i am Indonesian and i like japan with their Sakura trees (so beautiful). Now i am study at University of Indonesia in Faculty Medicine. I like draw and make comic (Manga) so much. Now i try to search way to go to Japan.I don’t have a lot of money for travel to Japan. Do you have idea how i can go there? Thanks 4 your answer^^
Hello Marie (my mother’s name is Marie too) I’m from Guadalajara Mexico and I’m a big fan of Japan my self. I enjoy very much your site but you haven’t post anything for a long time…
I suppose that you are very busy.
I hope to know more about your life in that amazing country soon.
Hi Marie,
I was wondering if you would like to add this to your website/blog
It’s an experimental photography animation set in Japan with a Donnie Darko type rabbit 🙂
thanks for your time
Dave Lee
http://www.davidleedop.com
e : davidyclee@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Marie,
i would like to place a link to your website from our travel guide.
please reply back to me or send me your email that i could send you a further details.
Because i cannot place it into your comment box.
Best regard
Sivaluk
xxteetiexx@hotmail.com
To whom it may concern:
I am the editor for the largest tourism newspaper here in Japan called, “Japan-i” (www.japan-i.jp) and I am actually looking to trade links with websites worldwide to increase our website visibility. We’re looking for any links that are relevant to Japan, Japanese culture, and Japanese tourism. I came across your website and I thought your website would be suitable for the link exchange. If possible, I’d like to send you a PDF about our link exchange campaign and hope this interest you.
Many thanks, I hope to hear from you soon.
I wanted to draw your attention to a recent launch in Japan. Alex-Net Corporation operator of the Japan Online Shop (http://www.japanonlineshop.jp) is Japan’s first and largest English-language online shopping portal site links more than 200 stores with over 30,000 items encompassing clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, accessories, books, food, sports and games.
They have just released their new marketing vehicle e-catalog Japan Trend-E-Book for shop owners who want to effectively promote and sell their products to overseas customers. Japan`s first e-book targeting the overseas market in English has selected nine of our stores with the highest sales from overseas in 2009 to showcase their products for the upcoming holiday season and attract consumers worldwide as has been achieved in Japan.
http://www.japanonlineshop.jp/ebook/
The e-catalog features various items from jewelry, toys and sports goods to engraved Japanese kitchen knives and “yukata”.
Feel free to add to your blog site as I feel your readers may be interested in the below press release:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Alex-Net-Corporation-1083077.html
I look forward to your contact.
Kind regards,
Anthony
Hello! I stumbled across your blog while doing a random search about Japanese culture, and I must say that it’s a very informative and well put together site. I am highly interested in all things Japanese, and I’ve been wanting to learn the language for so long now. I also plan to live in Japan some day, but I worry about it, because I’m a very shy person. I wanted to know, are they welcoming to outsiders, or would I have a hard time living there? Is there anything in particular that I should really know before moving there? I have been told that living in a foreign country helps you learn the language faster and easier, because of your interaction with its people. I’m an American, so I am a bit unsure of myself. I’d really love to go to Japan though. The people are beautiful, the language is beautiful, and the food is amazing. Everything about Japan fascinates me.
Anyways, thanks for listening and have a wonderful day!
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
Can I simply say what a reduction to seek out somebody who truly knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know how to convey a difficulty to light and make it important. Extra people must learn this and understand this side of the story. I cant imagine youre no more fashionable because you positively have the gift.
I hope someone may be able to help me. I have film of various areas in Hokkaido from 1956, but I am having much difficulty contacting these places since most sites do not have e-mail addresses. If you know anyone in Hokkaido, especially older people, or someone who deals with history, please have them look at the film at the following You Tube link and contact me through You Tube! Thank you very much!