AKB48 has dominated the Japanese music charts for numerous years and while many may recognize the main core members of the group, there is one former AKB48 member who has shined thanks to her talent of singing enka songs. Her name is Misaki Iwasa, known Read More …
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo cautions U.S. citizens that Typhoon Lan (currently situated east of the Philippines), could strengthen between Friday and Saturday as it passes east of the Philippines and Taiwan and may impact Japan this weekend. The official forecast from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center is that Typhoon Lan could Read More …
Back in 2011, I had the opportunity to interview actress Penelope Lagos about a film that she starred in and also discuss her career as an actress and a model. In 2017, I am interviewing Penelope once again, but not as an actress or model, Read More …
I have to admit that “Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company” was a difficult actuality film to watch. As impressed as I am with Allan King’s “Cinéma vérité”, this one hits my family pretty hard as my grandfather is now at the final stage Read More …
When it comes to antique handbooks and price guides, Judith Miller’s “Antique Handbook & Price Guide” are one of the best out there. With that being said, it’s not perfect nor will it please everyone, including long time Antique Handbook & Price Guide readers. The Read More …
With Jean-Luc Godard spearheading the French New Wave after many of his other contemporaries have been forgotten, Italian film producer Carlo Ponti and Jean-Luc Godard began work on the film “Le Mepris” (Contempt) in 1963. A film that would be an adaptation of Alberto Moravia’s Read More …
You often hear about novels that are not possible for a film adaptation. And for author Raymond Queneau’s successful 1959 novel “Zazie dans le métro”, who can portray a novel about a young girl who knows way too much for her age and is so Read More …
Originally featured in J!-ENT Feb. 2013: In Japan, AKB48 member Yuki “Yukirin” Kashiwagi is one of the more popular and highly ranked members of the group. A member of AKB48 and the side-group French Kiss, Kashiwagi has had solo songs featured on the French Kiss Read More …
As a traveler who loves to visit locations in different seasons and as a photographer who loves to capture city life, one thing that I have not yet experienced is snow in New York or the East Coast. Often wanting to experience it through the Read More …
These last six months have been an interesting experiment. I wanted to move away from my meal plans and see what happens if I slowly started to incorporate things that I stopped eating, incorporate more carbs and to see how my body would react in Read More …
Hi everyone! I get asked a lot of questions in regards to traveling, so once in awhile, I’ll feature a Q&A on the site! So, let’s begin… Q: Is it true that people in Japan are overworked and work very long hours? I want to Read More …
On September 23rd, DC Comics and many comic shops around the world celebrated BATMAN DAY. As #BatmanDay was trending on social media, I was interested about this event as it would celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Harley Quinn. You know…the fem fatale bad ass that Read More …
For those who love Japanese culture and are learning the language, will definitely want to check out Tokyo FM World’s “Dempa ch. ~Tokyo Dempa International~” weekly show. The show is hosted by former Seattle resident Matthew Masaru Barron along with Dempagumi Inc. members Mirin and Read More …
In Japan, there are very few female pop stars that has not only had a long lasting music career, continually pump out chart topping hits and have a significant role in Japanese pop culture than Amuro (last name) Namie (first name). Born in Osaka and Read More …
The album I am featuring in today’s “Discovering Japanese Music” is My Little Lover’s second album, “PRESENTS”. My Little Lover is a group that began back in 1995 with vocalist Akko, guitarist Kenji Fuji and producer/songwriter Takeshi Kobayashi (best known for producing hits for The Read More …
For the past five years or so, I’ve often receive a lot of questions in regards to how I take photos close up of insects, flowers, a watch, food, dioramas, etc. The answer is that I use macro lenses. Macro lenses work as regular lenses Read More …
For anyone who has watched the epic film “Himalaya”, one can easily feel nothing but respect for filmmaker Eric Valli and the film crew for attempting something so challenging and also dangerous. Eric Valli has lived in Nepal but he was not filming in a Read More …
