To set the tone of this series of articles straight away: the Japanese culture does not exist. Despite many ‘scientific’ attempts, all under the banner of nihonjinron, to describe and prove the uniqueness of Japanese culture and its people, there is no unique Japanese essence, passed on from time immemorial, that units each and every…
Category: Culture
歌舞伎の導入 (culture introduction)
[These culture introductions are short introductions of Japanese cultural aspects written in easy Japanese.] 歌舞伎の導入 歌舞伎(かぶき)は、日本固有(にほんこゆう)の演劇(えんげき)で、17世紀(せいき)に始(はじ)まりました。歌舞伎(かぶき)は歌(うた)や踊(おど)りのある芝居(しばい)です。
Culture Files: Introduction
Introduction Each person has their own way of travelling. For some nature is important, for others culture is most important. Some organize their trips around regional dishes. And some like a mixture of all those things together to create a balance that satisfy their needs. Nevertheless, the greater part of the people who travel to…
Erotic photopraphy: Critical introduction to Gravure/グラビア and Gradols/グラドル
Introduction This article is written as a critical response to an article written by Shinshi Okajima for Tokyo Girls’ update. His article, in our opinion, provides an unsatisfactory explanation of the phenomenon of gradols/グラドル [gravure idols] for male subjects. By misrepresenting the use of fabric in the world of gravure/グラビア, he fails in our…
Foodfiles Nagoya: RedRock
Introduction Can Nagoya really be considered “the most boring city in Japan”, as Philip Brasor ( 2016/10/08) puts it, or is this general thought about Nagoya making the city bleaker than it really is? We are convinced that the latter is the case. In our view, if your focus is either on regional cuisine, Japanese…
Yūgen and Iki, the radical beauty of women a psychoanalytic perspective (Part 2).
Iki and the question of Yūgen. One might wonder what the concrete situation was that revealed the value of the Japanese aesthetics to me. It all happened on a rather quiet evening in Dotonbori street, while I was waiting for my friend. In this moment of waiting, this moment of inhaling (with various senses) the atmosphere…
Yūgen and Iki, the radical beauty of women: a psychoanalytic perspective (part 1)
Introduction This short article is written as a sort of response to, or even better, as a sort of thanks for the two-day Japanese event that was held in Bruges. This event made me realize once again – the first time was in Osaka, the value of the Japanese aesthetic categories, but only if they’re…
Mono no aware: An addendum to Umimachi diary in springtime
“The poetry of Yamato has one heart as seed and myriad words as leaves. This kokoro is the one that knows mono no aware.” (In preface of Kokinshū, see note 1). An Introduction for springtime. The Sakura trees are blossoming, the casket of nihonshu has been broken, the time to enjoy Ohanami with friends, lovers,…
Selection of photographs of Japanese Art (London, Summer 2014)
Introduction In the summer of 2014, I visited London. While I was there, I took the time to visit the Japanese hall/room in the Victoria and Albert museum and The British Museum. Today I’m presenting a selection of photographs. Enjoy.
