Murasaki Shikibu wasn’t her name. Like many female writers in history, we don’t know her real name. Murasaki, however, is a nickname derived from her greatest work The Tale of Genji. She lived during the Heian period, a cultural flowering period in Japan between 794-1192. She was a contemporary with Sei Shonagon and Akazome Emon, two of…
Miyamato Musashi’s “The Way to be Followed Alone” (Dokkodo)
Miyamato Musashi’s work “The Way to be Followed Alone,” or Dokkodo, is the samurai’s lesser known work next to The Book of Five Rings (Gorin no Sho). Musashi is a ronin, or masterless samurai, and considered to be the best samurai who lived. Musashi was born around 1584. His father was named Hirata Munisai, and his mother was called…
Tea Time with Sakuraco
I’m not a subscription box person, but when Sakuraco reached out to me with a demo offer, I thought I’d give it a try. Sakuraco is a company that mails monthly subscription boxes stuffed (and I do mean stuffed!) with goodies from Japan. The box I received was designed for a tea for two. I…
Hinamatsuri, an Anime Review
I rarely find a comedy anime that strikes me as funny. Most have amusing moments amid the tired, over-trod comedy tropes (nude jokes, breast jokes, and the like). but few strike me as funny. Hinamatsuri made me laugh quite often with its antics. Of course, the show has structural problems and over-uses some of its…
Can a Christian be an Otaku?
Recently, I’ve had questions from younger Christians who are conflicted about their obsession with anime and their Christian faith. Liking anime and being a Christian are not mutually exclusive. Yet, many Christians and Christian parents have more concerns surrounding anime than American media content. I’ve already addressed the sexual concerns surrounding anime, so I won’t…
How To Stop Being a Weeb, a 12 Step Program
Weebs or Weeaboo are defined by a lack of social boundaries, social skills, and an unhealthy obsession with Japanese media culture. The label is meant to be derogatory, but over time people have embraced it as an identity label. Weebs, however, lack a healthy outlook on life. The lack of social intelligence can hurt their…