Tag Archives: Culture
Gaijin Space
Gaijin space, if you don’t know, is the space left on the sides of foreigners on the train seats. I’ve experienced it plenty. Often people will stand rather than sit next to me. One time a fellow, even though there … Continue reading
July McAtee, Global R&D Disaster
Sigh. In several places on that form I was complaining about a few blog posts ago, I entered my title as 惨事 (“disaster”) rather than 参事 (“councilor”). I’ve only been studying Chinese characters for thirty years. In the online review … Continue reading
Escher’s Dream
Like a hundred thousand pieces of a living jigsaw puzzle, we walk in silent columns, men in black suits and white shirts going to the Company, speckled with a few women in colors. In the other direction come the elementary … Continue reading
Osaka Breakdown
Last Wednesday, I found my people. Actually, my friend Kelly found them and took me to them. They gather for Osaka Bluegrass Night at Live House: Another Dream (www.an-dream.com, a basement bar near Namba station) on the second Tuesday or … Continue reading
Rock On, Omoware
Last night a typhoon hit Japan, crossing the Honshu island west of Osaka. Two people died and many lost their homes. Today, in Osaka at least, the wind has died down and we’re left with a steady gray rain. But … Continue reading
Who’s That Lady in the Bathroom?
The new water heater talks to us. She’s a little scary. The old one was broken when we moved in, and when I called the landlord, a series of phone calls and visits began. Mostly, they were calls telling me … Continue reading
Gimme One of Those Happy e Time Plans
“Can’t I just say, ‘please turn on the power,’ pay some money, and be done with it?” I wailed at the screen. I was setting up my electricity online for my Osaka apartment with Kepco (Kansai Electric Power Co., not … Continue reading
Even in “I Give Up” Mode, You Have to Turn the Water On
No, this is not the navigation console for the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek, the 47th Generation. This is the control panel for my washer/dryer, a National NA-VR1100, which was installed along with all my rental furniture and equipment two … Continue reading
Kando-san and Nodo-san
In the past few years, I’ve several times worked with men who irritated me no end when I first met them. I’d quickly find myself in a battle of wills. And then something would settle. They would do me a … Continue reading
Parasol Days
In Osaka, there’s no shame in being, or acting like, a woman (at least for women). When I move there, I’m going to buy a parasol, and I won’t be afraid to use it. I’ll be careful not to smirk … Continue reading
July's Culture Medium 