SUIDOBASHI ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE! IT'S TIME FOR A GIANT ROBOT BATTLE!
Last week, MegaBots hailing from the USA issued a giant robot duel challenge to Suidobashi Heavy Industries of Japan: Kogoro Kurata, CEO/Founder/Creator Suidobashi Heavy Industries' response was AWESOME: "It's interesting. I'll give them that. But my reaction? Come on guys, make it cooler. Just building something huge and sticking guns on it. It's... super-American. We can't let another country win this. Giant robots are Japanese culture. Yeah, I'll fight. Absolutely. But you
Real-Life Giant Robot Battle
"Suidobashi, we have a giant robot, you have a giant robot. You know what needs to happen. We challenge you to a duel." Actually, what needs to happen is that MegaBots' MkII and Suidobashi heavy industry's Kuratas need to have a baby. And here's why: TL;DR version: VERDICT So, if Suidobashi Heavy Industries' Kuratas and MegaBots' MkII had a baby, it would combine the technological advantages, mobility, and innovation of the Japanese Kuratas with the brute force power, tonna
Extra Credit Japan #3: Avoiding "Yeah Syndrome"
Greetings everyone, here are some extra things that you can do to 1) live more comfortably in Japan, and/or 2) learn a little bit more Japanese faster. Today's tip is about something I call "Yeah Syndrome," which is essentially when we as Japanese language learners get a bit stuck and lost when Japanese people are speaking to us, and we end up just saying はい/うん/そうです(hai/un/sou desu), or any other Japanese variation of the phrase "Yeah" and sort of soft-agreeing to whatever wa
Extra Credit Japan #2: It's all about context
Greetings everyone, I'm here today with some extra things that you can do to
1) live more comfortably in Japan, and/or
2) learn a little bit more Japanese faster.
Today's tip is about context. You can use the context of related-words and situations to get yourself out of linguistic trouble.
We've all had times where we just can't explain things in the target language. While gestures and drawings definitely go a long way, oftentimes the human mind is always still seek
Extra Credit Japan #1: Karaoke for Japanese Study?
(Note: this article was originally written and posted to the "Learn Japanese Pod" forum: http://learnjapanesepod.com/forum/index.php)
Greetings everyone, this is the first of what will hopefully be an ongoing mini-series of posts regarding some extra things that you can do to 1) live more comfortably in Japan, and/or 2) learn a little bit more Japanese faster.
My hope with this post series is that I can add one little helpful activity on a regular basis.
Of course, the
Happy Harajuku
One of my hobbies is people-watching. I love to wander around the city and just look at all the different sorts of people that are out and about. I could sit in a cafe all day and just marvel at the variety and I often do so while wondering, "What's your story?" Spring is probably the best time to people-watch, and the people who made this video certainly capitalized on that to great effect. #lifeinjapan
One of the best guitarists I know
Lately my motivation and morale has been down because sometimes the process of writing a thesis can seem like trying to show certain people how you're not a failure. However, this morning I received some wonderful notifications. In 2007, I had the honor and privilege of teaching a talented 7-year-old Japanese boy how to play the guitar. Despite having a full-adult-sized electric guitar, he managed extremely well. Reflecting back on the experience, to say that I actually "taug
THEクワガタ事変 / The Kuwagata Incident
Only about an hour or so into the day and this happens.
A "Kuwagata" (or "Stag Beetle" in English) makes a momentary cameo on a window screen and the whole lot of us turned into a frenzied group of primary school kids again.
You see how easily our concentration falters? #naist #lifeinjapan #lab
Somen Summer Afternoon
Chronicles of working in a lab in Japan during summer: For lunch today the M1 students organized a semi-impromptu somen party. #lab #lifeinjapan
Magic Dust, Paid for with a Smile
Thank you to Faii Na, Noey Hole Cheek, and Yuk PamSeven Warit! Found this on my desk at the lab when I came in this morning. This was a great surprise during a busy week of seminar preparations. ホンマにありがとうございました。 When things like this happen, it reminds me that there are actually a lot of reasons for me to smile more often these days. Here's to new international friends, new international foods, and more smiling in general. #lab #lifeinjapan #gradschoollife
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