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Archive for the ‘culture’ Category

Tokyo Life 7 – Daikanyama 代官山

22 Jun

Tokyo life – a daydream that I have somehow deluded myself into. When I was staying in Tokyo some years back, I snapped up a tonne of cityscape hoping to revisit them again. And I did in later months,  but usually couldn’t locate where I have walked before simply because I was lost half the time and had let my feet do the leading instead of my brains.

So before I start growing senile and forgetting all about my wonderful Tokyo life, I’ve decided to put it up here! … but that’s not the point.. the point is Daikanyama代官山 is one of my favourite places in Tokyo and it’s worth mentioning.

Anyway, Daikanyama lies in the Shibuya ward. Despite being in so near Shibuya, it is nothing like the can of sardine Shibuya is. Continue reading “Tokyo Life 7 – Daikanyama 代官山” »

 
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Posted in culture, japan, tokyo life, travelogue

 

Kyoto – Arashiyama 嵐山

17 Jun

嵐山 arashiyama - Kyoto

Arashiyama 嵐山 offers a breath of fresh air when the many similar temple-visits in Kyoto City gets a little humdrum. Located in the western part of the city, Arashiyama is often said to be a less explored area since most tourist guidebooks do not offer much explanation. True enough when I reached there last winter, there were a gazillion Japanese tourists mulling around and very little gaijin.

My first stop was the much talked about Bamboo Forest. Located just about 5 mins on foot from the JR Saga-Arashiyama station, the bamboo forest offers a sanctuary of greenery and peace. Yes green even in the dead of winter.

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Posted in culture, japan, travelogue

 

Shirakawa Go 白川郷

01 Jun

白川郷 | Shirakawa Go

I have something to announce! I am officially a NEET now. And that’s probably why there will be updates again and I should probably change the name of this blog to something more appropriate. Something like The Long Overdue Posts perhaps..or Everything Outdated haha.

Anyway the post’s not about my complaints and rantings. More importantly, Shirakawa Go needs a better mention.

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Posted in culture, japan, tokyo life, travelogue

 

Japanese Emoticons 2

18 Dec

Ψ(｀∇´)Ψ　ヽ(´―｀)ノ　(*´д｀*) 　(´・ｪ・｀) 　ヽ(;´Д｀)ﾉ

Japanese Emoticons on Mac OS X (Snow Leopard)

For those who switched to Mac and wondered how you can input Japanese Emoticons, here’s how you do it. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, please head over to Japanese Emoticons 1 for an interesting read on Japanese smileys.
01. Head over here and download kaomoji.zip.
02. Uncompress the archive and you’ll get a directory called “かおもじ” and a PDF file called “かおもじ.pdf”. All you need is the “かおもじ” directory.
03. Copy or move the “かおもじ” directory to /Users/yourusername/Library/Dictionaries
04. Open the input menu on the top right hand corner of your screen and select Kotoeri Preferences.

Continue reading “Japanese Emoticons 2” »

 
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Posted in culture, japan, technology

 

Japan Travel – Miyajima at Hiroshima

25 Apr

Travel.dice8

It dawned upon me that I’m not staying in Tokyo anymore and hence shouldn’t be using that Life in Tokyo title every time I blog about Japan. LOL. So  I’ve been intending to change that for moons and here I sat till the cows came home and yet all I could master was an unoriginal “Japan Travel”  How boring!

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Tokyo Life 6 – Japanese Train Etiquette Ads

07 Mar

japanese_train_ads_01

The advertisements in the trains of Japan never fails to entertain me. They’re either covered with text or bombarded with colorful images. When I was staying there, I always notice some public service ads that sometimes sarcastically reminds us commuters to mind our own manners and so I randomly snapped up a few for keepsake.

These ones are generally found on the JR line and I’m already guilty of the first one!

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Posted in culture, japan, tokyo life

 

Happy White Day!

14 Mar

Exactly one month after Valentine’s Day, comes March 14th – White Day ホワイトデー.  Don’t ask me why its white and not purple or teal or mahogany.  It is a celebrated “holiday” in Japan  and white day basically means that the guys will get to decide whether they’re going to return the favor to the female of the species who gave them honmei-choco” [chocolate of love] or “giri-choco” [courtesy chocolate] on Valentine’s Day… Naturally, my not-so-glamorous V-day confession won’t get a favourable return.

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Posted in 18+, culture, japan

 

Hataraki Mode ON!

07 Mar

This is it – my not so official announcement of me leaving the N.E.E.T society. It’s high time to put the thinking cap back on. The mere CASHLESS society that I’ve been dwelling in is making me deprived & desperate (major pun intended aka. CREDIT).

Continue reading “Hataraki Mode ON!” »

 
4 Comments

Posted in anime, culture

 

Rejected on Valentine’s Day

15 Feb

Happie V Dae guys! .. I know I know I’m a little late. But only because I’m feeling so dejected and so I thought I’m entitled to claim the benefits from Operation Total Rejection… you know pout, grumble, stare, stone, drink, complain and then experience the wonders of insomnia.  But then I guess I procrastinated for 26 hours too, before this came live. I’m just so terrible at being on time sometimes. I blame hormonal imbalance.  I mean hey, what’s a girl to do?! My “confession” failed.. LOL  so here goes…

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Posted in culture

 

Japanese TV ads

12 Feb

All about Japanese TV ads. The good, the bad and the I-don’t-know-what-happened. The one thing I like about Japanese commercials is … well , how bizarre they can be. While I’ve been in the advertising industry all my life (well, since I graduate that is) I try to link it back to the theories my professors have enlightened me with. But I guess sometimes, even the most culturally sensitive neurotransmitter in me has to acknowledge that Japanese commercials simply refutes all common senses.

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Posted in culture, japan, video

 

Tokyo Life – Part 3

01 Sep

Okay this comes as a “little” late as I dawdle about suffering from summer holiday withdrawal syndrome. I went to a few places over the last couple of WEEKS and snapped up a quarter of a tone of images and then conveniently tucked them in one yellow folder in my memory stick and they’ve been screaming “PUT US AWAY WOMAN!” Procrastinator Number One, I tell you!

Continue reading “Tokyo Life – Part 3” »

 
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Posted in culture, japan, tokyo life, travelogue

 

Danny Choo – Chicken Soup for the Soul(less)

24 Aug

Japan’s been having some erratic weather recently. The sky’s been cooling the grounds intermittently between days and I’m starting to wonder if the weather’s working it’s enigma on me lately. I woke up feeling anything but refreshed and then I conveniently blame it on the weather that I’m feeling rather sedate.

Continue reading “Danny Choo – Chicken Soup for the Soul(less)” »

 
6 Comments

Posted in cosplay, culture, japan, tokyo life, travelogue

 

Comiket 74 – The Sexy, The Moe & The I-Don’t-Know-What-Happened

22 Aug

I have a question. I have an underlying, unquestionably questionable question.

Actually, I have been questioned to question simply because I just wonder.

Continue reading “Comiket 74 – The Sexy, The Moe & The I-Don’t-Know-What-Happened” »

 
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Posted in anime, art, cosplay, culture, food, japan, technology

 

Tokyo Life – Part 2

27 Jul

You know it’s Summer here in Tokyo when suddenly the whole state’s super hyped up about festivals. Japan itself boosts quite a number of festivals yearly and the heat of summer ain’t gonna stop the locals from some sort of celebration.

I was blessed enough to attend a few of these festivals and experience some traditional local culture in my short weeks here.

Continue reading “Tokyo Life – Part 2” »

 
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Posted in culture, japan, tokyo life, travelogue, video

 

Tokyo Life – Part 1

15 Jul

My “All American Breakfast” here in Tokyo (strange isn’t it?) but that’s what I usually eat for breaky and lunch (cause that’s all I know how to cook anyway haha).

My first week here hasn’t been that much fun acutally. Been really busy getting lost, settling down and trying to get my immigration stuff ironed out (which is a real pain in the ass and perhaps can be written as a thesis itself). Anyway 2 weeks just zoomed by like that. So here’s what been happening so far and a sneak peek of my place.

Continue reading “Tokyo Life – Part 1” »

 
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Posted in culture, food, japan, tokyo life, travelogue

 

Kyoto – Kinkakuji (金閣寺) Rendezvous

17 May

I went to Kyoto on the 3rd day of my trip. This is the 2nd time I’ve been there actually and I think I prefer it more than Tokyo. Kyoto is ooooold – and she sweeps a sense of nostalgic ancient history through its streets. That’s what I love about it. It’s exactly a well blended mix of classic &  modern culture,just less haste & waste. Established in 794, Kyoto retains its unique position as the country’s historical and cultural heart and believe it or not, its the birthplace of the spirit and technology of traditional Japan.

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Posted in culture, japan, travelogue

 

Happy Mother’s Day

11 May

Nekoguchi wishes everybody a fabulous Mother’s Day!

Mother’s day falls on the 2nd Sunday of May for most countries. This day was decided to commemorate all mothers for well, just being a Mom! It’s not an easy “job” considering its a 24 hour, no salary, no over time pay, no annual and medical leave entitlements and definitely no mobile phone subsidy kindda job. So common, give your mom 2 hugs today!

I truly admire and appreciate mine! Just this morning she was still sweeping and mopping the floor away and like all mothers, when I extended my help, she brushed me off asking me to go get breakfast instead.

It’s my mom’s birthday today too and I’m not gonna squirm by combining 2 presents into one for her. I bought her curry and butter crabs (her favourite) instead LOL. ok so does that count as two separate gifts?

What did you get for your Mom on Mom’s day?

 
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Posted in culture

 

Itasha – Pink Mario Airwave

12 Feb

itasha-pink-mario-01.jpg

I received an email with this super pink & terribly cute Honda Airwave Itasha [痛車(い たしゃ)] attached. Kinda proud that there’s a significant increase in such interest in our small market now.

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Posted in art, culture, game, japan, technology

 

Cell Phone Strap: Golden Unchi – Golden Poo

11 Feb

cell-phone-strap-golden-poo-00.jpg

I’m really not too sure about this. Golden poo cell phone strap as a symbol of luck? According to Strappy World, the symbol of crap is very auspicious! I really give it to the Japanese to churn a mundane product into a money tree. In Japanese, your “output” or excrement is called “unko” and in the same pronunciation, it means lucky kid! Though I’m no Feng Shui 風水 expert I’ve read just about enough to understand the kinds of geomancy elements and symbols. But Poo? So far, I’ve really never heard of crap being a symbol of good luck. Well, at least not here~ So when I chanced upon this in my quest to blog about something I have zero affinity to . . . I almost fell off my chair.

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Posted in cell phone straps, culture, japan

 

Cell phone straps: Hello Kitty

08 Feb

cell-phone-strap-hello-kitty-01.jpg

I’ve always thought that cell phone straps are quite pointless. Well, I still think so! Other than a money making ideology, what other logical and fundamental function do they really serve? I could really write a thesis on their functionality actually. But having said that, the rebellious side of me wanted to prove myself wrong. (Actually I’m just bored. . . to death) So here I am, trying to post about something cute. . .

Continue reading “Cell phone straps: Hello Kitty” »

 
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Posted in cell phone straps, culture, japan

 
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