Cultivation of the Mind: Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita Episodes 3-4

“Ah… Yeah, we’re living monuments to culture.”

-Mediator/Watashi, Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita Episode Three

In the fourth episode of Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, the individual jabs at the manga industry are numerously applied with scalpel-like precision, neatly getting their cuts in before moving on to the next target. They come so furiously that one can hardly be blamed for missing the line above, which is more akin to being bludgeoned with a surprisingly sneaky baseball bat.

Spirit of Okinawa: Asobi ni Iku yo! and Ryukyuan Folklore

How familiar is the modern foreign anime fan with Japan as a place? From the bustling streets of the mecca of moé, Akihabara, to the temples of historical Kyoto, some parts of Japan are well-trodden backdrops. Watch enough anime, and a viewer will have no trouble recognizing the sight of… well, the Tokyo Big Sight, or the familiar red torii that mark the entrances of shrines across Japan. However, there are many parts of Japan that fall into the fringe, and subsequently get little coverage in popular media.

Let them know:

Our friend Yi, over at the anime blog, Listless Ink, was kind enough to host this little post I wrote regarding Japanese attitudes towards bathing, and finding familiar creature comforts even when in a foreign place, as it relates to the anime Ikoku Meiro no Croisée. Listless Ink always has a unique and interesting perspective on anime, and Yi herself is fantastic, so please give it a look!

Ne Me Quitte Pas: Atmosphere and Culture Differences in Ikoku Meiro no Croisée

Down in Paris they walk fast
That is, unless they’re walking slow
And in cafes they look away
That is, unless they look right in
And in the gardens I get lost
That is, unless I’m getting found
And if you are the ghost of New York city
Won’t you stick around?

-Regina Spektor, “Ne Me Quitte Pas”