Tag Archives: japan & asia
Children of U.S. military arrested for attempted murder in Japan
I should just shake my head and mutter, “Kids these days, what were they thinking.” But I have deeper feelings than that, and I’m terribly saddened by the ongoing news coverage out of Japan, where four teen-aged dependents of U.S. military personnel were arrested over the weekend for attempted murder. The three boys and a […]
“Ninja Assassin” updates the ninja image for the 21st century
The new movie “Ninja Assassin” just might spark a new wave of fascination with Asian martial arts, but instead of kung fu, the fad will be for ninjutsu, the art of the ninja warrior. The film updates the image of the silent, stealthy assassins from Japanese history, and suggests that ninja clans still exist, sending […]
My obsession with the Maneki Neko, the Japanese Good Luck Cat
On our recent trip to LA, and a previous trip to San Francisco, I’ve been obsessed with buying various versions of the Maneki Neko, the iconic Japanese cat statues with upraised paw, holding on to a gold coin with the other paw. “Maneki Neko” translates literally to “welcoming cat,” and its paw beckons to people […]
