Just a small detail that I wanted to highlight from Netflix’s One Piece. Even though this is clearly a Western production of a Japanese series, as you can tell from the more Hollywood-ish dialogue and action, the series isn’t completely divorced from its Japanese roots. For example, in the first episode, you can clearly tell Koby and Luffy are eating with chopsticks. And the little girl serves chocolate onigiri to Zoro.
It feels like the reverse of how anime used to be treated in the early 2000s. Remember when Pokémon had to change the name of the food to stuff like donuts and pizza? Now we have a Western show that’s based on an anime, and they’re making sure not to erase the Japanese influence in the series.
Harajuku Street Style Interview with Future Japanese Buddhist Monk Rei
Harajuku Street Style Interview with future Japanese Buddhist Monk Rei. Known in the Harajuku scene for mixing traditional Japanese fashion with modern elements, 19-year-old Rei comes from a family of generations of Buddhist priests. He's studying theology now, intending to become a monk and follow the path of his ancestors. Interview by Ticomeba.
The modern Japanese word for October is 十月 (literally "10th Month), however in the old-fashioned calendar is was known as 神無月, or "the month with no gods".
In October, all the gods in Japan (there are believed to be 8 million of them) go to Izumo Shrine in Shimane Prefecture for a meeting, thus leaving most of Japan with no gods.
Middle Jomon Miniature Pottery Mushrooms, 5000 years old, 'Circles of Stone: Stonehenge and Prehistoric Japan' Exhibition, Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Wiltshire
Printing-block of Japanese mountain cherry wood. Outline block (omohan) cut for a modern fascimile reproduction of "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai. (above)