Erwin Miyasaka

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! We could wax lyrical all day about why Japan is so wonderful in autumn, but sometimes photos speak louder than words. Last October, Ursula travelled through the beautiful Tohoku region, snapping the warm hues of autumn’s turning leaves as she went. Autumn in Tohoku, Japan Oirse Gorge […] The post Autumn in Tohoku, Japan: A photo blog appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

Since I am teaching Early China this semester, I am drawing from Yuri Pines, Envisioning Eternal Empire: Chinese Political Thought of the Warring States Period (University of Hawaii Press, 2009) Pines points out a really good story to use in teaching about who the shi， 士 were. They were, of course the new class of literate experts who started running China in the Warring States. In 1910 China was still being run by people who called themselves shi , although the social class referred to had of course changed a lot. He gives us a great, much later quote , from Fan Zhongyan on their self-identity. The heart of the ancient benevolent persons . . . was neither to be delighted in things nor to feel sorry for themselves. At the loftiness of [imperial] temples and halls, they worried for their people, in the remoteness of rivers and lakes they worried for their ruler. Hence entering [the court], they worried; and leaving it, also worried: so when did they enjoy? It must be said: they were

Since someone asked me if Qing women went to opium dens, I thought I would answer and put up some of my evidence. Short answer – I don’t think so, at least as customers. Certainly in the Republic, when they started registering opium “addicts” only a very small number of women registered (although their seem to have been women registered everywhere) In Qing pictures, like the ones below, opium smoking places seem to be male spaces, although we do get a picture of a wife showing up at one looking for her husband. There seem to be female attendants/possible prostitutes smoking with men in the classier place. I also include the picture of Mr. Conspicuous Consumption, which students always like. These are all from Dianshizhai huabao. Sorry they are reversed. I think I took these from the transparencies I used to use before Powerpoint   Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Japan isn’t short of special places to lay your head. Perhaps you’ve heard of Benesse House, the renowned hotel/museum on Naoshima Island. Or traditional farm-stays at Brown’s Field or Jiji no Ie. But, what about the modern cabins at the Hoshinoya Fuji? With a vastly different experience […] The post Luxury Japan: Staying at the Hoshinoya Fuji appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Close to the sea and the mountains, Osaka has always been a city with abundant ingredients, helping shape its strong sense of food culture. These days it’s known affectionately as ‘Japan’s Kitchen’ – you won’t leave empty bellied! Travel consultant Holly takes to the streets to find […] The post Japan’s Kitchen: Best food in Osaka appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! History helps to understand culture in context, and this is never truer than in Japan, where complex and unique traditions and rituals continue to shape the country today. Tour leader Marky Hobold brings us up to date. History in Japan At some point, hopefully I’ll have a […] The post Crash course in Japanese history appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! While the tranquil, quiet mountain valley of Hakuba is popular with hikers and nature enthusiasts all year round, in December it tranforms into a world-class ski destination. Best Hakuba resorts Hakuba first gained international recognition as host of the 1998 Winter Olympics and has since developed into […] The post The Ultimate Guide to Skiing in Hakuba appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! In the latest issue of east magazine, British comedian, television presenter, novelist, and playwright, David Baddiel gave us the lowdown on his family trip to Japan. Download east magazine online, or subscribe to receive it to your door twice a year for free! east meets David Baddiel 1. We’ll kick off with […] The post Interview: David Baddiel on Japan appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Fukuoka, the largest city on the southern island of Kyushu, is famous for its food. From the freshest seafood to grilled mochi, this is where the Japanese go to eat. After living for almost 4 years in Fukuoka (and picking the brains of our Fukuoka-based tour leader, […] The post Top 5 foodie experiences in Fukuoka appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente

The subtitle to this article tells you most of what you need to know: Christobel Hasting, “How Onna-Bugeisha, Feudal Japan’s Women Samurai, Were Erased From History: While most Japanese women were subject to rigid social expectations of domesticity, onna-bugeisha women warriors who were known to be to be every bit as strong, capable, and courageous as their male counterparts” https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/a383aj/female-samurai-onna-bugeisha-japan My reaction when I saw this on twitter was “Oh, no, Stephen Turnbull has another book. Massive conflation of eras and classes (Tokugawa-era samurai women described as ‘protecting their villages’!), uncritical use of sources (Tomoe Gozen, of Heike monogatari fame, of course), emergency measures as norms, etc.” Obviously, I can’t tell until I see the book itself how many of these errors are built into the book and how many of them are the fault of the article-writer (It’s not a review, so much as an uncritical rehash). But I’ve

The anime version of this decades old property is ubiquitous, the big-budget movie was a hit in 2004, but we're no longer able to protect you all from the horrors of the largely forgotten late 60s live action kids TV series. You've been warned... Ver fuente

Like this post? Help us by sharing it! In Japan it’s not uncommon to visit maid cafés as a way to wind down after a long day. But where did this fascination start, and is it as sinister as it could seem? Marky Hobold investigates. Maids in Japan This may sound like a weird question […] The post Maids in Japan: From geisha to kawaii culture appeared first on InsideJapan Blog . Ver fuente