Tag Archives: Japan

A Jesuit on Japan

Posted on November 27, 2022 by JC

An infrequent topic on this blog has been Japan and the Japanese who for a variety of reasons remain fascinating to me. The main being that I am married to a Japanese woman with whom I have children and I … Continue reading →

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Paying for Pleasance

Posted on November 27, 2021 by JC

One of the many cultural curiosities about Japan that I was never able to understand while living there was the existence of hostess bars and clubs. Such places are found all over the world but tend to be hidden from … Continue reading →

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The Fascinating Backdrop

Posted on July 9, 2021 by JC

Lost in Translation is a 2003 film directed by Sophia Coppola and starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. From 1998’s Rushmore onwards, Murray transitioned into more dramatic roles and this is already one of his best remembered since this transition. … Continue reading →

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The Setting of the Rising Sun

Posted on May 9, 2021 by JC

Rising Sun by Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf Inc, January 27th, 1992 Rising Sun is a novel written by Michael Crichton while he was still at the height of his literary powers. It was published after Jurassic Park and before … Continue reading →

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Civilians aren’t Combatants

Posted on October 24, 2020 by JC

Edward Feser had written a response to a recent article by George Weigel trying to justify the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in the Catholic Herald. It is well worth reading though you could take or leave the article he … Continue reading →

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Sake Doesn’t Age Well

Posted on September 6, 2020 by JC

Ōkami was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006 and is probably best known as the best of the games developed during the brief but prolific existence of Capcom’s Clover Studio. Although not selling very well on release, it was … Continue reading →

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The Bridge of Dreams

Posted on July 12, 2020 by JC

A few months ago I finished reading The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikubu. At over a thousand dense pages with plenty of footnotes, it was no small undertaking but absolutely worth the effort. This post will be something of … Continue reading →

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Observations on Face Masks

Posted on May 2, 2020 by JC

I began writing this as an email but it ended up being a lot more detailed than I initially expected so I have turned it into a post. These are just some of my observations from my time living in … Continue reading →

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All You Need Is Kill

Posted on April 18, 2020 by JC

More and more when I watch films I find myself opting to watch something I’ve already seen. This may be due to my age, my changing interests or something else entirely. But I mostly think it is because films are … Continue reading →

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Raging Harpies

Posted on March 14, 2020 by JC

Not softlier pillowed is my head That rests by thine, unloving bride, Than were those jagged stones my bed Through which the falls of Nuki stride. The Flower Feast, The Tale of Genji, Part 1 Although I am intimately connected with … Continue reading →

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