Why Japan Still Surprises Me

 

I was born and raised in Tokyo. Yet even now, I continue to be surprised by small cultural details and subtle social behaviors. This blog is where I try to capture those moments of rediscovery, both personal and cultural.

The purpose of this blog is twofold. First, to preserve my thoughts as written text rather than leaving them floating in the neural circuits of memory. Through writing, I hope to understand myself more clearly. Second, to share my reflections with others.

I aim to explore various aspects of Japanese culture, whether obscure or widely known. In my view, culture is made up of behaviors that people perform unconsciously—how they eat, dress, greet others, walk, speak, move their eyes or hands during conversation, nod, maintain physical distance in social settings, or how shopkeepers treat customers. These patterns, often unnoticed, are passed down through generations—unless they pose an existential threat. Many of the people I describe in this context are nameless, ordinary individuals whose lives embody these quiet traditions.

I also reflect on individuals whose names are recognized—some Japanese, some not—whose actions or ideas have shaped or mirrored elements of Japanese culture or society.

Another category includes my reactions to movies, novels, and video clips that resonate with me.

Finally, I plan to document the development of a mobile app I am creating to help people (foreigners and Japanese) learn Japanese characters.

The target audience of this blog includes non-Japanese people interested in Japanese culture and society, as well as those aiming to work in Japan and learn the language. Of course, Japanese readers are warmly welcome, too.

All posts are written in English in hopes of reaching a broader audience. Naturally, some of my interpretations may differ from the original intentions of the sources I refer to. And since English is not my first language, I ask for your patience if my phrasing is sometimes awkward or unclear.

Blog Categories

General

Discovering Hidden Gems of Japan

My Perspective on Notable Figures

Book/Movie/Video Review and Reaction

My App for Kanji Learning

Name Convention

Traditionally in Japanese, the family name comes before the given name. However, in English, the order is often reversed. In this blog, I use the English naming order (given name first) when referring to contemporary individuals. When discussing historical figures, I follow the Japanese order. For example, I write Oda Nobunaga, not Nobunaga Oda, as the latter would sound unnatural.