NationStates Jolt Archive

I've noticed a few people in the avatar thread had links to anime style pics. :D I'm just wondering how many people here are into anime/ japanese games/ movies etc?

Oh, so you wanna know who are Japanophiles and Otakus, not really about Japanese culture.

I have absolutely no interest in Anime at all. Also, I completly fail to see why anyone would. That's just me though.

Oh, so you wanna know who are Japanophiles and Otakus, not really about Japanese culture.
Thats not what I meant :(
I couldn't think of any other name for the thread... But I'm just curious having recently discovered anime myself :rolleyes:

On that note though, if anyone knows anything about Japanese mythology, I would be more than happy to hear it :D

Also, I completly fail to see why anyone would.Completely?
Surely you can see why someone might like cartoons..

I'm probably what you would call an anime nerd. I have a fairly large anime collection, as well as a lot of games.

I'm probably what you would call an anime nerd. I have a fairly large anime collection, as well as a lot of games.
What's your favourite anime?:D

Completely?
Surely you can see why someone might like cartoons..
Hmm yea. I meant that I can't understand why an English (or any other non-Japanese language for that matter) speaking person could be so into a Japanese cartoon. Or are some in English with just anime pictures? I really don't know. I should probably just leave it lol.

I like Japanese games, and I like some of their music and movies, as well as speaking a bit of the language...but i'm not otaku.

What's your favourite anime?

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Other favorites are:
Hunter X Hunter
Saint Seiya
Hellsing
X TV
Secret of Blue Water
Rose of Versailles
Excel Saga
Slayers
Lain


EDIT: Forgot a couple:
Princess Tutu
School Ghost Stories

Hmm yea. I meant that I can't understand why an English (or any other non-Japanese language for that matter) speaking person could be so into a Japanese cartoon. Or are some in English with just anime pictures? I really don't know. I should probably just leave it lol.
Hmm... to me, anime doesn's quite fall under the same category as "cartoon". Cartoon implies it is intended for children only, whereas many anime have adult content that a child would not understand...

I only watch it if it has English subs:D

Hmm yea. I meant that I can't understand why an English (or any other non-Japanese language for that matter) speaking person could be so into a Japanese cartoon. Or are some in English with just anime pictures? I really don't know. I should probably just leave it lol.

Most of the stuff avilable in the west has been translated into english, but soemtimes its beetter just to wathc it with subtitles.

As to why people like it, well generally because it offers things you are not going to get from western cinema/cartoons and i by that i don't just mean tentecales...

Subtitles is the only way to watch most anime. Hearing good anime slaughtered by dismal American voice actors angers me to no end.

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

Other favorites are:

Hunter X Hunter
Saint Seiya
Hellsing
X TV
Secret of Blue Water
Rose of Versailles
Excel Saga
Slayers
Lain


Lain... I don't get that anime at all! If you understand it, please explain to me! lol

I confess I like the girly animes (yes, I am a girl), Chobits, Paradise Kiss, Sailor Moon (:eek: ) but not the English dubbed version, School Rumble, Onegai Teacher, Tsukuyomi Moon Phase... Other than that, I've nearly finished watching Inuyasha, and I loved GTO- my first anime ever:p

Hmm yea. I meant that I can't understand why an English (or any other non-Japanese language for that matter) speaking person could be so into a Japanese cartoon.Same reason non-english speakers can be so into english cartoons and movies, and music. When it's good, it's good. Even if it may need subtitles.

Or are some in English with just anime pictures?Yeah, that too. Many titles are dubbed, of course 'real' anime fans snub at such things.

I have absolutely no interest in Anime at all. Also, I completly fail to see why anyone would. That's just me though.
Let me guess. You've only seen Pokemon and Digemon(sp?) right? You poor poor fool. We need to educate you in the fine art of REAL anime. It actually is very cool. It's not just cartoons...though I do have a sweet tooth for it.
Really, if you download anything you need to download anime!
Edit: With English subtitles, of course.

Subtitles is the only way to watch most anime. Hearing good anime slaughtered by dismal American voice actors angers me to no end.

True some tiems it is almsot as bad as watching a decent honk kong action movie and the sheer silliness of Jackie Chan, Jet Li or Chow Yun Fats perfectly good english beign replaced with some really bad american voice actor.

Lain... I don't get that anime at all! If you understand it, please explain to me! lol

I confess I like the girly animes (yes, I am a girl), Chobits, Paradise Kiss, Sailor Moon (:eek: ) but not the English dubbed version, School Rumble, Onegai Teacher, Tsukuyomi Moon Phase... Other than that, I've nearly finished watching Inuyasha, and I loved GTO- my first anime ever:p

Lain is indeed a bizarre anime that takes a lot of analyzing to understand. It's been too long since I last saw it for me to explain, and I will admit that I didn't really get all of it either.

I like Sailor Moon, too, probably since it was the first real anime I saw (not counting Mysterious Cities of Gold). I enjoy GTO and School Rumble, too, though I've only seem them in manga form, not anime.

I only watch it if it has English subs:D
Good boy/girl. *pets head* You've done good! :fluffle:

Let me guess. You've only seen Pokemon and Digemon(sp?) right? You poor poor fool.There's nothing wrong with digimon. Aside from that most of us probably aren't in the target adience. I liked it anyway (more than pokemon or dragonball Z).

We need to educate you in the fine art of REAL anime.What do you define as "REAL anime"? And why do you get to decide what is and isn't "real anime". Any japanese animation, no matter how good or bad, is per definition anime. Not just the stuff targetted at adience from 15-30, but also that targetted at kids or any other group.

Really, if you download anything you need to download anime!I think most people would say porn. Although, you can combine the two.. :rolleyes:

I have absolutely no interest in Anime at all. Also, I completly fail to see why anyone would. That's just me though.
Because the rest of us don't pretend we are some sort of I'm-better-than-you mock mature so no one will make fun of us for watching "cartoons."

Thats not what I meant :(
I couldn't think of any other name for the thread... But I'm just curious having recently discovered anime myself :rolleyes:

On that note though, if anyone knows anything about Japanese mythology, I would be more than happy to hear it :D
Well, if you want to know more about Japanese history, an excellent place to start would be the novel:
Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa.
It's about the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was born as a commoner and rose from lowly servant to become the 2nd most powerful man in Japan (after the emperor). In so doing he unified Japan, invaded Korea and left many cultural legacies on Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi
It's a damn good read too, btw.

Another book of his is Musashi, about the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi who was the greatest Japanese swordsman ever. It was the most popular book in Japan (might still be). I haven't read it, but if it's as good as Taiko, it'd be worth hunting it down.

Another book of his is Musashi, about the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi who was the greatest Japanese swordsman ever. It was the most popular book in Japan (might still be). I haven't read it, but if it's as good as Taiko, it'd be worth hunting it down.

Miyamoto Musashi was one weird dude. And to think that he never bathed...!

I love anime, at least some of it. A lot of it is crap, but there are some really good series out there, like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Elfen Lied.

I love anime, at least some of it. A lot of it is crap, but there are some really good series out there, like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Elfen Lied.

I'm partial to Cowboy Bebop and Trigun. The Dragon Ball Z series is pretty good, even if it's got thousands of episodes (wait, wouldn't that make it more of a reason to watch?).

Samurai Champloo is good, too.

Miyamoto Musashi was one weird dude. And to think that he never bathed...!
Really?
Man, and they always have the cliched 'smiling at a white guy and saying in Japanese that they wish whitey would bathe as he smells like a pig' in pretty much every single bloody historical movie made about Japanese/West meeting.

I am not into anime and stuff, but I like Kurasawa's movies...Rashomon, Hidden Fortress, Ran etc are my favorite movies...

I don't like any asian stuff at all....

I've noticed a few people in the avatar thread had links to anime style pics. :D I'm just wondering how many people here are into anime/ japanese games/ movies etc?I like mango

The Dragon Ball Z series is pretty good, even if it's got thousands of episodes (wait, wouldn't that make it more of a reason to watch?).
Not when you realize 3-5 whole episodes are just the people standing around powering up and talking really crappy smack to each other before a fight that last like 3 episodes before they go back to 2-4 episodes talking and powering up some special shit.

If your interest is anime I would recommend the following:

Twelve Kingdoms - very nice political-themed fantasy show, a more realistic turn of the "girl whisked away to another world" plot.
Haibane Renmei - bittersweet, emotional slice-of-life show with commentary on the afterlife
Now and Then, Here and There - a depiction of war in all its brutality, very hard viewing but well worth it.
Neon Genesis Evangelion - has something for everyone; comedy, romance, angst, and idealist philosophy wrapped up in a giant mecha plot.
Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal OVAs - tragic love story of the highest calibre IMO, quite different from the series for which it is a prequel.

Some others also that I enjoyed are Berserk (beware the ending), Last Exile, Martian Successor Nadesico, Paranoia Agent, RahXephon, Record of Lodoss War, and Serial Experiments Lain.

Not when you realize 3-5 whole episodes are just the people standing around powering up and talking really crappy smack to each other before a fight that last like 3 episodes before they go back to 2-4 episodes talking and powering up some special shit.

True. But, there are a lot of good episodes. It's a shame that they went and did the series the way they did, though. It could've been better.

There's nothing wrong with digimon. Aside from that most of us probably aren't in the target adience. I liked it anyway (more than pokemon or dragonball Z).

What do you define as "REAL anime"? And why do you get to decide what is and isn't "real anime". Any japanese animation, no matter how good or bad, is per definition anime. Not just the stuff targetted at adience from 15-30, but also that targetted at kids or any other group.

I think most people would say porn. Although, you can combine the two.. :rolleyes:
I'm not in pokemon and digimon's target audience and in comparison to anime in my age group it is very...childish(for a lack of a better term). I admit I kind of liked pokemon but only a little.
I didn't mean "Real Amine" as in everything else is fake. I meant it as there are better anime out there. He just has to broaden his horizons. There is adult oriented anime. Not just the childish.
You just took my perky, happy post a turned it into an insulting post. Get a sense of humor. :mad:

Some others also that I enjoyed are Berserk (beware the ending)...

:eek: Seriously. When I saw this series, I was fine until the end. Then it was like, "whoa. WTF just happened?!"

Some others also that I enjoyed are Berserk (beware the ending), Last Exile, Martian Successor Nadesico, Paranoia Agent, RahXephon, Record of Lodoss War, and Serial Experiments Lain.

Ugh, RahXephon, too much of a copy of Eva if you ask me and combination of Wagnerian opera and Mayan mythology didn't mesh too well. Paranoia agent was cool, though.

Lain... I don't get that anime at all! If you understand it, please explain to me! lol

Lain my favorite! if you want to understand it, watch it one more time and then read some analysis of it. google "Toughts experiments: Lain" for a good one.

It have many, many references, and i guess you have to be some bit of a nerd - one of the nerds that loves programming, math and *nix-operating systems :) - to get them all. But you need to read a whole bunch of secundary literature, specialy someones "eight circles of consuoness", (and a book i would recommen, "the spiritual machine" by Ray Kurzweil... he is a very wellknown pro-tech scientist), something about "gaia", shoumann ressonance, collective subconciuness, and having a bible handy would properly be good, altough i guess you have already smelled the obviuos chrstian references :)

or you could just rewatch it, and enjoy it one more time :D

I think it raises questions like "Does you need a body to be human?" "can a AI be as human as human?" and all that stuff :)

:eek: Seriously. When I saw this series, I was fine until the end. Then it was like, "whoa. WTF just happened?!"
Yeah really. That's why you need to pick up the manga to see what happens next, though personally I could have done without the porn elements.

RahXephon, too much of a copy of Eva if you ask me and combination of Wagnerian opera and Mayan mythology didn't mesh too well.
Heh, funny, that's why I enjoyed it. Well, that and Haruka~ <3

Not to be immodest, but if you're looking for info on Japanese culture ask away - I'm probably going to be the best source here on NS, except for cartoons. I've lived here 15 years and have studied quite a bit of various aspects of Japanese historical and popular culture. Of course there'll be some things I won't be able to answer, but chances are I can tap a neighbor or friend. NEVRUN, who'll most likely pop in anytime, also lives here and can answer lots of good questions.

On that note though, if anyone knows anything about Japanese mythology, I would be more than happy to hear it

Japanese mythology is pretty cool. The Japanese gods make the Greek gods almost look like prudes. My favorite story is the feud between the sun goddess Amaterasu and her brother Susanoo. To make a long story short, Amaterasu ended up hiding in a cave (thus hiding the sun). The other gods tried to coax her out, but finally, Ame-no-Uzume, the goddess of merriment, put on what amounts to a striptease for the other gods, and all the commotion made Amaterasu curious so she came outy to see what was up. At least one version I've heard says that what actually happened was a gang-bang...

Miyamoto Musashi was one weird dude. And to think that he never bathed...!
Really?
Man, and they always have the cliched 'smiling at a white guy and saying in Japanese that they wish whitey would bathe as he smells like a pig' in pretty much every single bloody historical movie made about Japanese/West meeting.

The subject of Musashi's bathing is highly debated. It is my opinion that he may not have bathed regularly, due to various circumstances (his travels and his hermitage), but he almost certainly did bathe on occassion. That being said, the whole "westerners stink" bit was partly due to differences in hygene, but was (and is) also partly due to diet.

Also, DH, I've read Eiji Yoshikawa's Musashi but not Taiko. That's one I do mean to get around to.

[QUOTE=Daistallia 2104]Not to be immodest, but if you're looking for info on Japanese culture ask away - I'm probably going to be the best source here on NS, except for cartoons...QUOTE]

Oh! Awesome! I've studied both Roman and Greek mythology, but I know very little about Japanese. :) I gather there are spirits in Japanese mythology, are there spirits for everything, or only particular things? Also, do you know any more fun stories like the one about Amaterasu? :D

Some others also that I enjoyed are Berserk (beware the ending), Last Exile, Martian Successor Nadesico, Paranoia Agent, RahXephon, Record of Lodoss War, and Serial Experiments Lain.
I thought the creator of FLCL was on drugs until I saw Paranoia Agent.

I thought the creator of FLCL was on drugs until I saw Paranoia Agent.

I thought I was on drugs when I wathced Lain ;)

:eek: Seriously. When I saw this series, I was fine until the end. Then it was like, "whoa. WTF just happened?!"

I'll tell you what happened. What happened is that whoever did the anime lost interest/ran out of money to continue it. Read the manga. It goes on a heck longer.

I only like some selected anime-type things. For example (god only knows why, probably the same reason I like WWE wrestling) I like the Pokemon TV show.

Argh, I can't believe I admitted to that!

Oh yeah, and I saw the movie "Spirited Away" WHILE DRINKING ABSINTHE. Talk about overkill...I didn't need substances in my bloodstream to get the same effect from that movie. Namely, the doubting of my sanity.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - has something for everyone; comedy, romance, angst, and idealist philosophy wrapped up in a giant mecha plot.
Let's not forget all that fanservice, either.:p

Let's not forget all that fanservice, either.:p
Oh my, yes. :D

I'll tell you what happened. What happened is that whoever did the anime lost interest/ran out of money to continue it. Read the manga. It goes on a heck longer.
I think that was intentional as a way to drive interest in the manga, which is typical for many anime series since manga is such a cash cow.

I've noticed a few people in the avatar thread had links to anime style pics. :D I'm just wondering how many people here are into anime/ japanese games/ movies etc?

I love anime and manga. It's almost impossible to find any anime that's worth buying here though. :(

[QUOTE=Daistallia 2104]Not to be immodest, but if you're looking for info on Japanese culture ask away - I'm probably going to be the best source here on NS, except for cartoons...[QUOTE]

Oh! Awesome! I've studied both Roman and Greek mythology, but I know very little about Japanese. :) I gather there are spirits in Japanese mythology, are there spirits for everything, or only particular things? Also, do you know any more fun stories like the one about Amaterasu? :D


I'd recomend you check your local library for a copy of the Kojiki (often translated as Records of Ancient Matters. It's the book of Japanese mythology. The Donald L. Philippi translation (ISBN 0-86008-320-9) is supposed to be one of the best.

(Here's an online translation: http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kj/index.htm)

One of the intersting bits of Japanese mythology is that it's still actively practiced (at least to some degree). Shinto is pretty much a syncretic mix of native animistism, with elements of shamanism, Chinese folk religions, Taoism, Confucianism, and various strains of Buddhism. One of the native names for Shinto translates "as the eight million kami" - and eight million is used simply as an old term for uncountable. Kami can be translated as either "spirits" or gods.

As for naughtyness/earthyness, the Japanese myths are full of
no nonsense screwing and drinking.]

In Japan there are still a fair number of fertility shrines today. The festivals associated with these shrines usually involve parading a huge fallus or vulva around town. A 3 meter long, 1 meter diameter prick carved out of wood and a giant **** are quite the sights. :p

In Japan there are still a fair number of fertility shrines today. The festivals associated with these shrines usually involve parading a huge fallus or vulva around town. A 3 meter long, 1 meter diameter prick carved out of wood and a giant **** are quite the sights. :p

Hahahahaha. Leave it to the Japanese to make some weird festivals. :D

In Japan there are still a fair number of fertility shrines today. The festivals associated with these shrines usually involve parading a huge fallus or vulva around town. A 3 meter long, 1 meter diameter prick carved out of wood and a giant **** are quite the sights. :p
Modelled after the mighty Chuck's impressive schlong.
The twat's there to try to entice him back, but Chuck don't like japanese poontang.

*pop*

I got mentioned as the other resource for Japanese culture. ;)

And yes, Shinto legends are entertaining and probably features the only creation myth that went wrong the first time around because 1. The God and Goddess who created all things couldn't figure out how to have sex until they saw a bird. 2. They did it wrong the first time and gave birth to an island.

Which just says something about Japanese culture right there.

Most of Japanese culture these days is hijacked from other cultures and perverted until it makes no sense. Case in point: My friend visited Japan during the holidays a couple of years ago. In a store window he found, and took a picture of, a crucified SANTA CLAUS.

Anime is about as good as any other country's animation. There are some brilliant bits, and a lot of crap. I've gone through animation college and it's funny every year seeing people come in thinking that they'll get a job drawing anime for a living. Here's a quick warning: Japan is saturated with animators, many of which are just college students who walk in, draw for a week and take their paycheck. We had one girl who actually flew to Japan and tried to peddle her wares, and found out that they were worth about a bowl of rice each to the people there.

Most of Japanese culture these days is hijacked from other cultures and perverted until it makes no sense. Case in point: My friend visited Japan during the holidays a couple of years ago. In a store window he found, and took a picture of, a crucified SANTA CLAUS.
Exactly, Japan fucks shit up so bad that it becomes Japanese.

I like some anime/manga, and I don't like some anime/manga. That's pretty much all there is to it.

Most of Japanese culture these days is hijacked from other cultures and perverted until it makes no sense. Case in point: My friend visited Japan during the holidays a couple of years ago. In a store window he found, and took a picture of, a crucified SANTA CLAUS.
*dryly* Are you sure he didn't go to snopes.com and pull the picture from here: http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/cross.asp

And Japan is doing doing what it has always done, taken things it liked and implanting a Japanese heart to make it Japanese.

There's still no excuse to putting hotdogs in burritos though, I'm still not sure who thought of that one.

Anime follows the 99/1 rule, that is, 99% of it is dreck, and 1% is not, just like everything else. (Except country music, which follows the 100/0 rule. ;))

Most of Japanese culture these days is hijacked from other cultures and perverted until it makes no sense.

All culture is "hijacked" from it's predessors. If you wanted to find a "pure" culture you'd have to go back to the very first incipient culture.

Case in point: My friend visited Japan during the holidays a couple of years ago. In a store window he found, and took a picture of, a crucified SANTA CLAUS.

Having lived here 15 years, I've heard most of the variations on this one. The story has all the standard hallmarks of an urban legend - it's always a FOAF and the story morphs as to location and time.

The only crucified santa I know of is Robert Cenedella's. http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles2005/Articles0605/RCenedellaA.html

Anime is about as good as any other country's animation. There are some brilliant bits, and a lot of crap. I've gone through animation college and it's funny every year seeing people come in thinking that they'll get a job drawing anime for a living. Here's a quick warning: Japan is saturated with animators, many of which are just college students who walk in, draw for a week and take their paycheck. We had one girl who actually flew to Japan and tried to peddle her wares, and found out that they were worth about a bowl of rice each to the people there.

Yep. As CthulhuFhtagn says, it follows Sturgeon's Revelation (aka Sturgeon's Law)

I got mentioned as the other resource for Japanese culture.

Of course you did - "boots on the ground" intel trumps second hand anytime. Cats Eye and a few other's would as well, if they were still here or on regularly.

[QUOTE=NERVUN]And yes, Shinto legends are entertaining and probably features the only creation myth that went wrong the first time around because 1. The God and Goddess who created all things couldn't figure out how to have sex until they saw a bird. 2. They did it wrong the first time and gave birth to an island.

Which just says something about Japanese culture right there..

Or the story about how rice, millet, barley and soy beans got started - Oho-ge-tsu-hime-no-kami (the Princess-of-Great-Food) pulled soybeans out of her butt and barley grew from her privates. http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kj/kj024.htm#fn_416

Personally, I think this explains natto perfectly.

There's still no excuse to putting hotdogs in burritos though, I'm still not sure who thought of that one.

You're lucky. You got a hotdog. I used frequent a "Tex-Mex" place here in Sakai. The cook managed about 50% spot on good stuff and 50% unspeakable horrors that would cause a riot back home in Texas. His "burritos" were burrito on the outside and pure Aussie/British meat and potato pie on the inside. Tasty for sure, but NOT a burrito.

But yeah, the Japanese often do strange things to western foods. But western countries do strange things to Japanese food. Taking a Japanese person to a "Japanese" restaurant in the US is a hoot.

*dryly* Are you sure he didn't go to snopes.com and pull the picture from here: http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/cross.asp



Nope. This one was display window sized. Like a six-foot dead-ass Santa.

so nobody else here has Ranma 1/2 on their favourite list? It's one of the few manga series that can really make me laugh. Slayers is another one, but it's been mentioned.

Anime rocks! So does manga! Anyone ever done any cosplay before? And how come no one here loves Naruto? I thought it wouldve been overrated all around the world by now. LOL.

Anime rocks! So does manga! Anyone ever done any cosplay before? And how come no one here loves Naruto? I thought it wouldve been overrated all around the world by now. LOL.

See the "Whatcha look like" thread for pics of me in neko mimi. Thats as far as my cosplaying has gone thus far tho :(

Ooh I saw that one.. haha well, you gotta start somewhere and the neko mimi is always a cute thing :D

;) What about you?

Nope. This one was display window sized. Like a six-foot dead-ass Santa.

Sorry, but unless your friend has pictures that you can post, and that differe significantly from Robert Cenedella's, I'm calling bull shit. As I said above, the story is a common urban legend. Either you or your friend are trying to pass it off on the unsuspecting as the truth.

Sorry, but unless your friend has pictures that you can post, and that differe significantly from Robert Cenedella's, I'm calling bull shit. As I said above, the story is a common urban legend. Either you or your friend are trying to pass it off on the unsuspecting as the truth.

Well, call bullshit all you like then. I suppose I can call him up and say, "Hey Jim, post crucified santa on the interweb so I can justify it to people on a web forum", but he'll probably just tell me to buy more Warhammer 40k stuff and get stuffed.

On that note though, if anyone knows anything about Japanese mythology, I would be more than happy to hear it :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_mythology

about the anime stuff,the only anime i like is old school animes,captain tsubasa,doraemon,etc

Or the story about how rice, millet, barley and soy beans got started - Oho-ge-tsu-hime-no-kami (the Princess-of-Great-Food) pulled soybeans out of her butt and barley grew from her privates. http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kj/kj024.htm#fn_416

Personally, I think this explains natto perfectly.
Sadly, you're right.

But yeah, the Japanese often do strange things to western foods. But western countries do strange things to Japanese food. Taking a Japanese person to a "Japanese" restaurant in the US is a hoot.
Yup, my fiancee complains a lot whenever we eat at a Japanese resturant in Nevada, and what Edo (Mall fast food) calls sukiyaki is an affront to all decent people.

so nobody else here has Ranma 1/2 on their favourite list? It's one of the few manga series that can really make me laugh. Slayers is another one, but it's been mentioned.
Would it help if I explain that normally my Internet handle is Jusenkyo Guide? ;)

Would it help if I explain that normally my Internet handle is Jusenkyo Guide? ;)

Very tragic story.

Well, call bullshit all you like then. I suppose I can call him up and say, "Hey Jim, post crucified santa on the interweb so I can justify it to people on a web forum", but he'll probably just tell me to buy more Warhammer 40k stuff and get stuffed.
Gonna have to agree with Daistallia on this one. As much as weird culture clashes happen in Japan, this one really just doesn't fit.

Now having Santa-san show up in a nativity I can see, but then I've also seen a nativity set with Doraemon as well.

Yup, my fiancee complains a lot whenever we eat at a Japanese resturant in Nevada, and what Edo (Mall fast food) calls sukiyaki is an affront to all decent people.

My last girlfriend had a good laugh when we went to my SIL's favorite "Chinese" buffet in Des Moines, which features nice traditional Chinese "sushi", pad thai, and roast beef and mashed potatoes.

My last girlfriend had a good laugh when we went to my SIL's favorite "Chinese" buffet in Des Moines, which features nice traditional Chinese "sushi", pad thai, and roast beef and mashed potatoes.

Now that is funny.

I just went to Benihana in New York. Why do they even pretend its Japanese food? It didn't taste bad, it just wasn't Japanese food (steak, calamari, and a noticible lack of real sake were all featured on the menu) , and no one that I saw working there was Japanese.

Best part about Japan:

ANIME PORN!!!

:D :D :D

and no one that I saw working there was Japanese.
That goes without saying. One time when I went to a Japanese resturant with my family I was asked to speak Japanese (I was in classes at the time) to order the food. Since the waitress was from Mexico, it didn't work to well.

That goes without saying. One time when I went to a Japanese resturant with my family I was asked to speak Japanese (I was in classes at the time) to order the food. Since the waitress was from Mexico, it didn't work to well.

That sounds like a situation I'd be forced into. That's why I don't tell my family about anything I'm currently learning, least of all the Japanese language. :p

That goes without saying. One time when I went to a Japanese resturant with my family I was asked to speak Japanese (I was in classes at the time) to order the food. Since the waitress was from Mexico, it didn't work to well.

On the other hand, there are a few Japanese resturants near my home that are completely run by Japanese people. But unless your Japanese, people can't even tell the difference between real Japanese resturants and fake ones. Even if they have Indian cooks. The place I went today had an Indian cook, with an Indian name on his nametag, and someone asked the poor guy to speak Japanese.

I just went to Benihana in New York. Why do they even pretend its Japanese food? It didn't taste bad, it just wasn't Japanese food (steak, calamari, and a noticible lack of real sake were all featured on the menu) , and no one that I saw working there was Japanese.

Well, the founder (http://www.benihana.com/benihana_history.asp), Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki, is Japanese. :D

And teppanyaki is a Japanese style of cooking, albeit a recent innovation. It's just that it's all so westernised there. And no teppanyaki chef I know here would put on that kind of show.

And Japan loves it's steak - wagyu beef is pretty good, if fatty.

That sounds like a situation I'd be forced into. That's why I don't tell my family about anything I'm currently learning, least of all the Japanese language. :p

At least my families pretty cool about that. My folks have been over here a number of times, so they know what's what. And my SIL does like it authentic, but living in rural Iowa, you get what you can. (And that goes for over here as well - the meat pie "burritos" for example.)

I like some anime, just not kiddie shows, or crap like Inuyasha.

Akira and Ninja Scroll happen to be great though. :D

Anime rocks! So does manga! Anyone ever done any cosplay before? And how come no one here loves Naruto? I thought it wouldve been overrated all around the world by now. LOL.

Naruto is okay, but it's not the best or anything. Especially since the onslaught of endless filler arcs.

I like the Katamari gamesif that counts for anything

Ah, here's an article about one of those fertility festivals! There's also a gallery of photos of the festival.

Thousands gather for fertility festival
Revelers at the Kanamara Matsuri Fertility Festival in Kawasaki on Sunday. (Mainichi/Ryann Connell)

KAWASAKI -- Thousands flocked to a small shrine here Sunday to take part in the Kanamara Festival, an event with roots dating back centuries and known for its huge consecrated phallus portable shrine carried mostly by transvestites.

Revelers also watched mostly young women sit atop huge wooden penises made as Shinto totems, each woman sparking a rapid-fire succession of camera flashes from the dozens of mostly middle-aged men armed with digital cameras.

Shinto fertility related items including amulets, prayer tablets and other religious paraphernalia were on sale, as were candies made in the shape of the genitalia of both sexes. Sellers of some candies found it hard to keep up with demand.

"Japan's got so many festivals, but this one has to be one of the more unique ones. They had candies, they had photos, everything. It brought everyone together. It brought together foreigners and Japanese. I guess there were probably more foreigners there than Japanese," Brett Bull, an American from Tokyo, said. "They drew in so many people and it was so packed. And everybody went in with a straight face. It was a very straightforward, business-like procession."

Kanamara Festival is named after Kanamara Sama, or Lord Iron Penis. The festival dates back to the 17th century when Kawasaki was a station town along the Tokaido Road that ran from where the shoguns ruled in Edo, the ancient name for Tokyo, to the ancient capital of Kyoto.

Meshimori Onna, a name meaning waitress but actually the term given to prostitutes who serviced travelers along the Tokaido, began the Kanamara Festival in the Edo Period (1604-1868), when they offered prayers at the shrine for prosperous business and protection from sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea in particular.

Now, the shrine continues to attract worshippers for the same reasons, while operators say visitors can also pray for childbirth, healthy offspring, easy delivery and marital harmony.

Kanamara Festival also campaigns strongly to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS. Members of the Kawasaki Municipal Government set up a booth at the festival and handed out free condoms and material related to the deadly illness. (By Ryann Connell)


http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060403p2a00m0na009000c.html

;) What about you?

I've been to a couple of cosplay events before, but never taken part in any. I did dress up tho haha.

Naruto is okay, but it's not the best or anything. Especially since the onslaught of endless filler arcs.

I agree, I wish they didnt have so much filler episodes grr~