Category Archives: Reflections

Dave Carlson on making the Matsumoto Based Japan-o-files podcast

I was really excited when I heard that YoMoYaMa Magazine would be doing an issue devoted entirely to SOUND. Yes! All my life I’ve been fascinated with sound. I remember how, as a little kid, I used to love putting … Continue reading

Posted in 5 Sound. JuneJuly. 2010, Arts and Culture, Reflections, The YomoYama | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Judgement and Justice: A Dialogue

by Justin K. Ellis DOXA: You know Elenchus, I look around the world, and I don’t like what I see. ELENCHUS: You’re not the only one. DOXA: But really, I mean all the war and strife that covers the world … Continue reading

Posted in Arts and Culture, Reflections | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Sixth Scent: How Scents Evoke Memories

by Lauren Koors While walking home from school a few weeks ago, I stopped on a bridge to admire the view. Being a believer in the motto “stop and smell the roses,” the beautiful colors enveloping Mount Asama in the dwindling sunlight … Continue reading

Posted in 4 Smell. April. May. 2010, Reflections, The YomoYama | Leave a comment

A Brazilian Portrait of Life in Japan

All the Colors of My Japan by Nixon Ribeiro My Japan has always been marked by different colors: while they are most often colorful, sometimes they are gray and without much joy. But I like Japan and I feel good … Continue reading

Posted in 4 Smell. April. May. 2010, Arts and Culture, Living Local, Reflections, The YomoYama | Leave a comment

My Tutelage in Japanese Graffiti, aka Shōdō

By Raena Mina I live in a town of about 45, 000, mostly young families and obaa-chans, where you escape to big cities like Osaka and Kobe if you are young and able enough to get out of inaka life. … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections, Traditional Arts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Single Sub Rosa

By JayDee I thought for my first article it would be appropriate to introduce myself. In order to maintain some dignity on my part, some privacy on my friend’s part (who will no doubt become references in future articles), and … Continue reading

Posted in Dating, Reflections | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Third-World Petting Zoos: The Catch-22 of Orphanage Funding

Children need guardians. Orphans are children without guardians. Orphanages provide guardianship. Orphanages, therefore, are the solution. . . right? Wrong. From UNESCO to grassroots NGOs, sources assert that funding orphanages actually creates “orphans”. How can this be? And if the … Continue reading

Posted in 3 Sight. Feb.Mar. 2010, Reflections, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Prospects for Japan’s future

By Tomoko Fujimoto A new year for 2010 has opened.  The newspaper is filled with prospects for Japan’s future by experts.  I challenge myself  to translate their comments, interweaving my humble opinion. Today’s world is too chaotic for even specialists to … Continue reading

Posted in 3 Sight. Feb.Mar. 2010, News, Op Eds, Reflections | Leave a comment

Part of the weekend never dies…

by Soleil Kellar 1. FLASHDANCE We all do it sometimes, some more than others but everyone nonetheless. Dancing in the street. Dancing in the office.  It’s spontaneous, ridiculous and often in synch with a legion of undead folks who also … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Out. Oct. Nov. 2009, Music, Reflections | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Snapshot of the Trans-Siberian Railway

by Matt Little With stuttering thuds, my sleep was broken. From beneath the blind daylight was attempting to creep its way into the cluttered apartment. Staggering to my feet, I throw back the door and blink into sunshine swarming the … Continue reading

Posted in Reflections, Travel | Leave a comment

There’s Just Something About Those Mountains:

There’s Just Something About Those Mountains: A Reflection from the Gay, Jewish Cheerleader by Jon Reimer It occurs to me in writing this that, although it has been only a year since I left the JET Programme to pursue other … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Out. Oct. Nov. 2009, Reflections, Tokyo | Tagged , | Leave a comment