Maneki Neko - Lucky Cat

Maneki Neko (招き猫) is a traditional Japanese figure, which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. This figure is usually displayed at the entrance of shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses.

Literally translate as "Beckoning Cat," Maneki Neko are usually moving one paw. If the cat figure is raised the left paw it means that is trying to attract more clients, on the other hand if it is the right paw, it means that is attracting money, although some believe the opposite.

Let's Play With the Japanese Wordplay

One unique feature of the Japanese language allow you to use numbers to create phrases that are easy to remember. What is it??

Japanese double entendres have a rich history in Japanese entertainment, because of the way that Japanese words can be read to have several different meanings and pronunciations (homographs). Also, several different spellings for any pronunciation and wildly differing meanings (homophones). Often replacing one spelling with another (synonyms) can give a new meaning to phrases.

Itasha: Otaku Car Modification

What happens when anime otaku and petrolheads combine?

Itasha (痛車) is a Japanese term for an otaku decorating the bodies of their cars with fictional characters of anime, manga, or video games. Predominately "cute" female characters, usually involve paint schemes and stickers. Automobiles are called Itasha, while similar motorcycles and bicycles are called itansha (痛単車) and itachari (痛チャリ).

humour : School Test

It was the first day of school and a new student, the son of a Japanese businessman, entered the fourth grade.

The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American history. Who said "Give me Liberty, or give me Death?"

Introduction to the Japanese Folklore

Japan have so many foklore which is heavily influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism, the two primary religions in the country. It often involves humorous or bizarre characters and situations and also includes an assortment of supernatural beings, such as, kami (gods and revered spirits), yōkai (monster-spirits), yūrei (ghosts), and animals with supernatural powers such as the kitsune (fox), tanuki (raccoon dog), and bakeneko (transforming cat), as well as sacred objects and possessed objects. Nonetheless, these are stories handed down for many generations that have a basis in fact with perhaps a little fiction and superstition thrown in over time. 

Bushido: the Way of the Warrior

When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; 

if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.

Samurai have been the most powerful social class in Japan for centuries. From the 12th century, the warrior class known in Japanese as ‘bushi’ or ‘samurai’, started having power within the social structure and even within the political sphere. Samurai followed a lifestyle, an ethos, certain rules, a code, which spread to all levels of society and even today it affects the way Japanese people think and behave.