Lost in Translation

   Since I ordered myself some break, I will now, good readers, mention a bit what I'm doing every day. No, not shufflin'. Tranlatin'. It's not as visually catchy (although not new, MJ had this 20 years ago, but some Divas are 'too funky to be old'), yet it displays a full range of emotions. You don't believe? 

This is some kind of story and ramblings. I like to tell the stories, and I like to mock. Those who don't get my sense of humor may pss this.

My adventure called by evil brotherhood "translating" and by 'funky' crowd: "meh-any-cow-can-do-it" started probably during my... let's say first studies, let my past be mysterious, OK? I studied French, actually no, I fought to survive through this French. It was hell, decapitations, French Revolution even. But I can read now almost every article, although with dictionary help, and subjonctif-plus-que-parfait has no secrets from me.

Demons

The funniest thing that happened during that conference? A guy who took upon himself the role of Ockham's Razor and said that it's pointless to do any research for something that doesn't exist. OK, I don't believe in demons either, but it's not the point. I conduct the research on their ontic status IN Heian period (and a bit earlier) based on Konjaku. Actually, the true topic is a bit different, but it's no time and place to discuss it. I try to establish their place in the world. Between human and otherworld. I like to read about the stuff. I enjoy it. I want others to enjoy it as well.

This is why I transformed (sounds ominous, almost as demons that could transform themselves into the beautiful lady, ekhem, and here where the similarities end...) small part of my presentation into a movie^^.

Music by: Tearliner.

Personal Demons (?)

   Nah, nothing like that, I don't have much from my past that may haunt me. No dead dogs... OK, a dead cat, my first one, I loved her and I watched her die. The truth is, there are some things that may still linger in the back of my memory, I just sorted them out and decided not to cry over them. I won't change the past, I don't have the time-travel machine, I can't fix what has been broken long time ago and all I see now it's just some pieces. Of course, even though I got rid of all "what if" thinking from my life, there is still this bon'yari shita fuan, as Akutagawa once said. But "what if" thinking leads to nothing, leads to blind alleys, leads to guilt. It's better to regret doing something than regret not doing something. And most of all, do not regret anything. Pain? It is inlaid in our life pattern, and all feelings are just right. Love, hate, remorse, humility, pride, fear, boldness, devotion, betrayal (wait, I wrote about Queen Seondeok, right??).

Demons I intended to write a bit are just those existing in the minds and literature world.

As some may know, this is my field of research.

Nouryoku Shiken

We all know this year the exam will be different. What's the difference? 5 levels instead of 4, with N-3 as the most difficult. It is something between old 2 and 3. Hence here the difficulty lies.
For everyone who wants to prepare oneself for it, book for the old 3 kyuu. It will help, but you need to go through all of it very minutely.
Take alook here for more info on this new system:
http://www.jlpt.jp/e/about/new-jlpt.html

Asian Fashion

Hm, don't get me wrong, I admire the boldness of Asian fashion (Japanese and Korean, I know nothing on Chinese one, sorry), but the latest trends especially in men's clothes just make me wonder: who are they designed for? And it seems everyone in Asia follows the same trend.

First, the lightest matter: pants above the ankle. Actually if a guy has long legs, it just looks good on them, but short people look shorter. At first I saw it in Personal taste. Every young character was wearing those. It started to grow on me, especially when I saw it on LMH's legs. Then I saw pictures from the press conference for Bad Guy, and I was like, Oh My Gods of Blood and Lust!  don't really care how KNG dresses. But I guess it was just one-time accident. He usually dresses with much taste (wait, few minutes for fangirling*_*). OK, I'm back to my senses.

Short pants are not the worst what can happen.

Tight pants are much, much worse, and from what I read in GQ Japan, this season, again, skinny men's pants... Brr... I believe I will see some guys sporting them this summer. As it was said once on Robert Plant's pants: "you could tell his religion" while he was wearing those. Exactly.

Apart from pants, shirts: tight shirts are OK under one condition - guy has to be lanky. We got this over.

The other kind of shirts: V-necks...

Kitsune

   

 

 

     Fox in Europe serves as an example of shrewdness and cunning, nothing more can be stated on this animal except for that. On the other hand fox in Japan, and also in Korea, is an animal that can be located between worlds – the world of humans, and the otherworld. Fox (kitsune) can be just an animal, a prankster, shape-shifter as well as a mighty demon wrecking havoc in every country.

    Kitsune as a benevolent animal serves at the shrine of Inari. It is Inari’s messenger and protector of the holy ground. Those foxes are beyond any suspicion as they belong to the deity. Stone figures of kitsune stand in front of every Inari shrine in Japan, sometimes decorated with red scarf (red is the color of Inari). 

Asian MV: light years ahead

Now, when I think of it, I have to admit one thing: I may not be a big fan of Asian pop music (which I am btw), but their MVs are simply beyond everyone's else. Example?

Luna Sea: Gravity. This was made in 2000! Some artists never achieved such visual perfection in 2010. Lady Gaga claims to be something different. Yes, she is, she's better in visual department than anyone else right now. Except for Asia (I mean Japan and Korea, I know nothing on other countries pop music, and I'm not gonna change it. Sue me!). She's good enough for America and Europe, but no big whoop in Asia, really.

The latest video from Big Bang (alright, I'm not a BIG fan of the boys, but I do admit: they have talent, good management, and one of the best MVs!) shows how to make a little movie within appr. 5 minutes. This is why I liked Lee Soo Young videos (with JJY^^) and Shin Ha Kyun. They were beautifuly shot and told us some stories. Twisted and sad ones, to be sure, but I remember them well even in the dead of night after few shots, hehe.

Japanese Cinema and History

Unfortunately people who write books on some peculiar topics think the world ended some time ago, because they are lazy. Yes, lazy. The same goes for some professors. They end up lecture on times 30 years ago because they are lazy. There is a good book in my mother tongue on Japanese history, but it ends on 1972. So, every teacher who has lecture on Japanese history, ends his/her own teaching on the Seventees. I'm sorry, but nothing happened between Okinawa-in-Japan-again and Yukio Hatoyama's victory? This sickens me. I want to be different. 

Actually one of the books I'm referring here on movies ends in Seventees. Like if there were no movies after all.

I know, it is called A 100 Years of Japan Cinema, but it's not the case.

No publications on dramas.

No publications on variety shows.

Why?

Because it is difficult. It's not repeating the words of others but actual, hard work to gather all data necassary, to understand it, to achieve some conclusion.

Japan Culture

There is some downloadable magazine published monthly by Asahi, called Highlight Japan, two editions: either Through Pictures, or Through Articles. Right now, I'd like to introduce nr 49.

One thing bothers me though. Many items, I mean articles, and the whole books are available on Korean official websites for free, and there are 2-page leaflets from Japanese websites that are charged. I would love to read something each month, but I won't pay an astronomical sum of money just for few pages. Like Aera, I really like it, OK, I have some paper issues, but I would like to see Aera in downloadable pdf. That wouldn't be so bad idea, right? Some people prefer paper versions. Hell, if I lived in Japan, I would buy it, not download.

Or there is some place like this, and I'm not aware of it.

Kamikakushi 神隠し

Ok, this time a longer essay on kamikakushi. 
This is basically a shortened, condensed version of the article I researched for. I don't really mind if someone takes it, but in this case, as in any other "written" case, please quote. Yes, this is my habit.
I don't mind being not credited for video files (even not "thank you-ed", if that matters), audio files and all, but this is part of my work.
Hope you'll enjoy it^^

阿修羅：ビデオと写真

Because I'm obsessed.
Few videos showing how graceful and beautiful this sculpture from Nara period is.

Japan - Silk Road

A collage made by me from different pictures: map of Northern tracks to Japan via Korea, below from left: part of the hilt, Silla period crown, glass bowls from Shosoin.

The period I'm focusing on is called Unified Silla in Korea (668 - 935), and Nara in Japan (710 - 794). Actually I'm more interested in Nara period especially the sculpture from it. Yes, Ashūra, my lovely, beloved Ashūra from 興福寺. So gracious, so beautiful... wait, where was I? Ah, yes. I don't want to write on Silk Road actually, but focus on the relations and influences between those two countries. Japan has just established herself as a country based on law (adopted from China, pity it didn't work out), Silla was in full bloom.

Japan and Asian Studies

I would like to give some links where you can browse and download articles legally. They are all on Japanese (sometimes Asian) religion, society and culture (that's my field of work, that is why I have mostly them). I'll try to update this post in the near future.
Eh, I wrote it few times and still...
No time.
Oh, some are either in Japanese or have texts in Japanese.

Meiji Jidai 明治時代 (1868 - 1912): update April 18

                                                                        Rokumeikan

   Meiji (明治: Enlightened Ruling) is a particular era in Japanese history. Not a one before and after (with small exception for Showa first half) was so differently perceived and judged. For some, this is just an era when Japan wake up from a 250 year's sleep, for some a bright past when Japan was powerful and almighty. But then for some Meiji means nothing more than 3 Ms: Modernization, Maintenance, Military. These three Ms need some more elaborated explanations. Why did I choose words like these?
   Firstly, I don't think I need to present the whole complicated linen of events and persons woven together. For those of you who want to read more detailed texts on Meiji, take a look not into the Internet, but books. Real books. They don't bite.

William G. Beasley: The Meiji Restoration,  1972
Walter Wallace McLaren: A Political History of Japan During the Meiji Era, 2007
Gerald A. Figal: Civilization and Monsters: Spirits of Modernity in Meiji Japan
Julia Meech-Pekarik: The World of the Meiji Print: Impressions of a New Civilization
Hilary Conroy: The Japanese Seizure of Korea, 1868-1910: A Study of Realism and Idealism in International Relations

Japanese Culture

So it goes like this. I've seen few videos from NHK on Japanese Culture, and I find them very interesting and well done. The only よくない点? They have Chinese hardsubs in.
But worth to give a try^^

Asian Music

And why Delispice Bombom  as a picture tag? The answer is simple. Because they are the best. This album is the best. My commitment is so deep I'd ordered their albums from Korea. Everything written below is based on my personal preferences and taste, not everyone has to agree.
And I guess it won't.

Tono monogatari

In case anyone is interested in Japanese folklore. Yanagita Kunio is considered to be a "father of japanese ethnology". Nothing new, due to Kojiki mark on older generation's minds.

Kamikakushi - updated March 22

Since I don't like posts without pictures, this one, completely unrelated to the post. Oh, no I know, it's because Nataku was my favorite character in manga. That is why he popped into my mind and I could find a pic of him on my HD.
I really don't have time for doing this, but I would do anything that could give me a break. I'm currently writing an article on kamikakushi. And it's going extremely good, considering those 2 glasses of wine.
What the hell, today is that one saddest day in a year and I can drink!
I will try to write something more here on kamikakushi when I'm done with two articles I need to write.

Japanese Culture - Architecture Influence & Origin

I posted it on DA, but in case anyone comes across it here, I will give a link to the file.
The whole documentary is in Japanese with English subtitles harsubbed. I wish someone would do the same with Korean documentaries. There are here and there (Clubbox, here I come^^), but without any subtitles.

Japanese learning

There is a website where you can download many, many things, like books, videos, and dictionnaries. It's all in Rapidshare or MU links though, so not everyone will be happy with it.