There is a tradition in the Nabéshima family that, many years ago, the Prince of Hizen was bewitched and cursed by a cat that had been kept by one of his retainers. This prince had in his house a lady of rare beauty, called O Toyo: amongst all his ladies she was the favourite, and…
The Otaku Versus the Sportaku
Society thinks anime fans are uncool. Yet, that same society accepts the sportaku. A sportaku is better known as a sports fan. You know, the people who fill their houses with jerseys, blankets, and everything else stamped with their favorite team’s logo. Really is a sportaku any different from an otaku? Nope. In fact, sportaku…
Symbols of Summer: Power Lines and Cicadas in Anime
Have you wondered why anime shows power lines with cicada chirping in the background? Power lines and cicadas seem to be a strange association, but for many, overhead power lines are a part of home. They are a common sight in Japanese towns and cities . Unlike many countries where power grids are underground, the…
10 Anime Essay Topic Ideas
People often ask me for help with choosing topics for essays and thesis assignments. Anime gives us many, many topics to write about. Sometimes too many. So here is a list of ideas and links to articles I’ve written that have sources you may find useful. 1. Manga and American Comics Contrast the different themes…
Pots, Cats and Lilies, but Nothing Changes?
Japanese Lesbian/Transgender Identities in Contemporary Media. The anime and manga community will probably be familiar with the term okama (literally, kettle), variously translated as ‘transvestite’ or ‘Drag Queen’, which is commonly applied to (effeminately) gay characters, especially in a cross-dressing context. Bentham/Bon Curry from Oda Eiichiro’s One Piece may turn being okama into a martial…
The Ending of Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is one of the reasons why I like anime. It was one of my first exposures to anime for better or worse. It is hard to enjoy Hershey’s chocolate bars after eating Swiss chocolate. I watched Samurai Champloo before Cowboy Bebop. Perhaps this shapes my opinion of the show, but Samurai Champloo is…