Sushi Fights Back at Last October 22, 2012
Posted by stuffilikenet in Awesome, Japan, Mutants, Octopus, Video.add a comment
Cute, Isn’t It? September 14, 2012
Posted by stuffilikenet in Awesome, Hello Kitty, Japan, Mutants, Uncategorizable.add a comment
I’m pretty sure words fail at this point.
Kanjidamage.com July 17, 2012
Posted by stuffilikenet in Brilliant words, Japan, Uncategorizable.add a comment
If I ever had the mistaken idea that Japanese could be learned by an average American middle-aged man (like myself, for wretched example), I can happily dismiss it with a visit to kanjidamage.com. This site offers terrific insight to the surrealistic nightmare that is the standard approach to learning kanji. I’m not here to complain about learning kanji (this is a happy blog, dammit), but to raise a (dozen) glass(es) to the author, who has seen through the veil of lies about teaching kanji told by idiots who try.
Kanji education is a mess. Let’s not kid ourselves; if I had to learn everything else the same way this is taught I would be (more of) an idiot (than I am). Because there are sooooooooo many exceptions, exclusions, inclusions, synonyms, repetitions, multiple meanings, lookalikes and other monsters under the bed of kanji lessons–and this is over and above the general weirdness that is the Japanese language itself.
Kanjidamage.com does not attempt to comfort you about this recurring nightmare; it merely points out the scarier bits, leaves out the stupider things and makes fun of the rest in rather coarse language and cheap “yo’ mama” jokes. Somehow, I am oddly comforted by this, although I admit I never, ever intended to learn kanji in the first place, having been forewarned by a dear friend who almost went mad trying. And a stepdaughter. In fact, the intellectual landscape is littered with the corpses of fools who tried.
If you or someone you love MUST learn kanji, have them start here. If no gun is to your head, stay away from kanji. It’s just not worth it.
Typical Day in Japan July 14, 2012
Posted by stuffilikenet in Japan, Photography.add a comment
I like how nobody finds this unusual.
Given My Obsession With Japanese Culture and Language May 3, 2012
Posted by stuffilikenet in Japan, Toys.add a comment
what did you expect?
Exciting update:
KanaFlash, a WinCE Kana Flashcard Application December 15, 2011
Posted by stuffilikenet in Applications, Awesome, Brilliant words, Geek Stuff, Japan, Toys.2 comments
KanaFlash displays hiragana and katakana characters and shows their English equivalents, and even pronounces them for you unless you toggle the sound off with the English/syllable name button. An updated version will have pronunciations of yet more syllables…really it will. I promise. Honest.
Korean Hello Kitty Cafe November 10, 2011
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In Seoul.
Ouch.
Oh, gods.
Hello Kitty Bus October 24, 2011
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I have nothing to add to this, obviously. Some things are good just as they are.
From an article about busses in Japan.
Wasabi KitKat September 20, 2011
Posted by stuffilikenet in Japan, Mutants, Uncategorizable.add a comment
God, I love Japan. I mean, they mix and match things the way Hollywood mixes and matches plots/actor/special effects.
Think of this as the Avatar of the food industry.
Exciting update:
That’s 80 kilos of KitKat, my children. Go thou and do likewise.
Gods bless Japan; a whole country dedicated to making me smile.
Poor Helpless Creature February 15, 2011
Posted by stuffilikenet in Japan, Photography, Publishing Tools.add a comment
It’s PhotoShopped, but the little guy looks purrfectly forlorn.
