So that's what they do on the other side of the world... Interesting...

Ahh I remember those days well. The 2005-2008 period where anime was king and falloutboy and jpop were on my mind. Yep that's probably why I started liking japan because of anime and stuff. Glad I got out of the whole sterotypical weebo mindset pretty quickly around 2006. Still have friends like thatand it gets kind of annoying. Reminds me of the snl skit.

Too bad a skit that would be more relvant 5 years ago is made today.

Oh, believe me, I know. I've been watching NHK world for awhile now, and some of the programs they've shown about the devistation, along with the people affected (some even recent developments), have been some of the most heart wrenching stuff I've ever seen, and made me think about the event in a way I never have before.

@Sony, Fallout Boy is still pretty awesome even though they broke up

Still like to blast the carpal tunnel of love and the takeover breaks over from time to time. A lot of that emo era music still holds upwell.

I don't know why but Japanese has some of the best sounding words that just seem right to say.
As for music Aya Hirano is so cute looking and sounding
Ahhhhhhh my Kokoro is on fire <3

Good to hear, I have a nerdy friend who married a japanese girl and is living over there right now, I'd hate to think he'd be looked down on for things like that.

I think the weebiest I ever got was wanting to learn the japanese language, though I never did go too far in it beyond the words you pick up in anime. Still prefer that general aesthetic and certain japanese values in my entertainment compared to western ones, but not with the same fascination as middle school and high school.

Am I the only who thinks of a Japanese festival from this song?

Too bad my iPod isn't working, otherwise i'd look up some of her music.

Have you heard about Morning Musume or Cº-ute? J-Melo (television program) had both on last week, and I thought they were both pretty good.

This week they have Zeebra (a popular Japanese Rap/Hip-Hop artist), and the only thing I can be sure of is that I now know I don't like Rap, no matter the language (although, I found it interesting when Zeebra said that before Rap/Hip-Hop came to Japan, there was no rhyming in the Japanese language).

Ever since FLCL I've gotten into the pillows, and not just the stuff they had on the show. I really love their neo-beatles kind of vibe. I also listen to Spitz and Suga Shikao, and I've been trying to get into J-Rock but there's no easy way to find it except from anime insert songs haha....

As for the culture, I'm Chinese by descent and so I know that a lot of the metropolitan areas in the major Asian countries are pretty much exactly what it's like in the west (except a bit more crowded). According to one of my old Chinese teachers it's possible to flub your way across japan by only writing down the kanji characters. I don't think I've ever gotten to the point where I'd consider moving there, but I certainly appreciate their culture. Just the way everything is so ordered and peaceful, it seems like a welcome change from where I am now.

edit: and the videogames of course, I can't believe I forgot this one. I still remember how up until the release of the Xbox, japanese gaming was pretty much entirely dominant, and it was awesome. I kind of see what they mean when they say there is a slump in their industry, and I really hope they recover.

C*-ute is another one of my favorites, also rhyming in Japan is considered a mistake.

Watching a cooking show (Itadakimatsu! Dining With the Chef), and they're talking about popular Izakaya (Japanese pub) foods.

They're making Ham-Katsu (ham cutlets), and Onigiri (rice balls). Looking pretty tasty

I had habachi shrimp today to a Japanese resturant in my town its always good to have something tasty there

Oh, I had that once at our local Japanese steakhouse (Sakura). It was really good (I would go there more often, but it's quite expensive). We had a less expensive Japanese dining option (Tokyo-San), and I used to get some sushi once a week there, but it wasn't open long.

I've only found disgusting Japanese whiskeys in the l international market down the street from where I work. They're dangerously behind in the only category that matters.

@Fox... Ah hummmmm sure they are...

I've heard the culture is pretty harsh. It's mega-important to fit in the narrow social definitions or you will be completely ostracized, you endure ridiculous competition in your selected fields, and your life can amount to Failure with a capital "F" if you don't suceed in your chosen field. Liking nerdy things like anime and video games is huge social stigma (though playing portable video games during a commute is accepted).

You should listen to smarter people

I've only found disgusting Japanese whiskeys in the l international market down the street from where I work. They're dangerously behind in the only category that matters.

Yeah but Japanese beers are so far ahead of the rest of the world it's embarrassing for the rest of the world.

...

I married a Japanese woman, so as a consequence I've become quite familiar with the culture, and been to Japan quite a few times.

Here's the big, magical secret about Japan: It's a country. The culture shock in visiting Japan is virtually non-existent because 99.9% of the country is normal people living normal lives. The problem is that the west is so gung-ho about forcing Japan to be "weird" that visitors scour the country looking for weirdness to prove themselves right.

Pretty much anywhere else in Asia will produce a greater culture shock.

As for going to Japan - do yourself a favour and don't if your only interest in the country is the anime/ manga/ videogames. That part of the tour is over in a day trip to Akihabera - and it's an expensive trip for one day. The real magic in Japan is going to places like the outskirts of Kyoto for the shrines and temples, Kita Kamakura and Enoshima for the beach culture, Ueno for the museums and Sapporo for the winter festival.

I agree. If I ever get the chance to visit Japan, I'll admit that I'd go to Akihabera, but there's just so much more I'd want to do.

I'd try to stay at a ryokan, go to a Giants game, visit Akiruno, visit a shrine, and look up a few museums. I'd also dine in an izakaya, ramen-ya, and a sushi shop.

Ah Japan you are so neat, but if I go there I might move there, rather then just visit.
Oh and about Japan being weird... I think they are normal and were the weird ones

I agree. If I ever get the chance to visit Japan, I'll admit that I'd go to Akihabera, but there's just so much more I'd want to do.

I'd try to stay at a ryokan, go to a Giants game, visit Akiruno, visit a shrine, and look up a few museums. I'd also dine in an izakaya, ramen-ya, and a sushi shop.

The Giant game is an absolute must. Amazing atmosphere at those events.

A trip on the Shinkansen is also a must-do.

I'm not a fan of Osaka as a city, but the castle there (the scene of the final battle before Iyasu Tokugawa took complete control over the nation) is spectacular.