Greetings from Anime North, the biggest anime and Japanese culture convention in Canada! We were on the ground in Toronto with seiyuu (voice actor) guest Junko Iwao, a veteran in the industry best known for her role as the voice of Tomoyo Daidouji from the classic magical girl anime, Card Captor Sakura. Sitting in on her Friday evening Q&A panel with fans, and again on … [Read more...] about Junko Iwao at Anime North 2018
The Battle of Sekigahara
October 21st, 1600 marks one of, nay, arguably THE most important battle in Japanese history. This event led to the eventual end of the Sengoku period, and helped establish the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would forever alter Japanese history and culture – essentially making Japan what it is today. It was an ideological battle between two of the greatest Daimyos of the time, … [Read more...] about The Battle of Sekigahara
Iaido–The Ancient Art of Swordsmanship Entering a New Age
For those who have never heard the word, Iaido is a Japanese martial art which trains you, in both body and mind, how to properly use a Katana for self-defense. Despite the world-wide popularity of the iconic Japanese sword, Iaido is one of the lesser known Japanese martial arts, often lumped together with Kendo or even misheard as Aikido by unfamiliar listeners (yes, even in … [Read more...] about Iaido–The Ancient Art of Swordsmanship Entering a New Age
Hachiko – An incredible story of loyalty, love, and friendship
Oftentimes referred to as man’s best friend, dogs hold a very special place in our hearts. Many stories tell of their undying devotion to, and kindness for their “owners”. Yes, I put that in quotation marks because the concept of “owning” another living thing seems downright disrespectful to me. Our furry four-legged companions are every bit as capable of the same emotions we … [Read more...] about Hachiko – An incredible story of loyalty, love, and friendship
Homeschooling in Japan
Anyone who’s visited Japan or seen enough Japanese culture can imagine education in Japan is taken pretty seriously. Kids can be seen in uniform from age 4 all the way up to 18 years old. Japan still boasts annually having a 99% literacy rate. There’s a robust after-school industry called “cram schools” cashing in on the competitive testing environment. But it doesn’t suit … [Read more...] about Homeschooling in Japan