Contest is now closed. We will announce the winners in a few weeks. Thanks for all the interest! Tuttle Publishing and JP have joined forces to make you work! Just kidding. Have you ever wanted to write or illustrate your own Japanese fairy tale? Now’s your chance. Before I get into the rules, lets talk…
Author: Chris Kincaid
Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad
Long, long ago in the province of Tango there lived on the shore of Japan in the little fishing village of Mizu-no-ye a young fisherman named Urashima Taro. His father had been a fisherman before him, and his skill had more than doubly descended to his son, for Urashima was the most skillful fisher in…
The Battle of the Books Memoirs of a Geisha vs Geisha, A Life
I am a bit behind the times with this article. Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha came out in 1997, with a movie of the same name back in 2005. I recently read the autobiography of the woman Memoirs was based upon, Mineko Iwasaki. In her book, Geisha, a Life, Iwasaki paints a very different…
Retired Husband Syndrome
It afflicts women in their 50s and 60s. It moves into their homes and makes demands on time, autonomy, and every aspect of daily life. The retired husband. Japanese women of the baby boomer generation struggle with Retired Husband Syndrome (shujin zaitaku sutoresu skokogun). This syndrome is characterized by common symptoms caused by the added…
Samurai Baseball: A Look at the History of Japanese Baseball
“…there will never be a war with Japan.” –Connie Mack “…hope every Jap that mentions my name gets shot – and to hell with all Japs anyway.” — Babe Ruth In 1853, Admiral Commodore Matthew Perry forced Japan to open to the United States. Just 20 years later, baseball crossed the Pacific. Japan has not…
47 Ronin
John Allyn’s version of Japan’s classic story shows some of its age. Originally published in 1970, Allyn’s writing has some jarring elements common to books published at that time. Modern readers are used to seeing through the eyes of a single character with chapters or scene breaks marking a change of viewpoint. 47 Ronin jumps…