Tofugu - Latest Comments

Re: Badass Chicks in Japanese History: Queen Himiko

sam — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 12:49:45 -0000

This is one of the few articles I enjoyed reading, well done to the writer!

Re: Why the Japanese Countryside Is Emptying

Gianni — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 17:50:20 -0000

In Italy many people do nothing all day (the big mama socialist State takes care of them), but the birth rate is almost as low as the one in Japan.
And in most developed countries the birth rate is low.

The only viable solution is to be open to immigration. But Japanese people really do not seem to be ready for this step yet. Maybe in 2060 they will change their minds. :-)

It's not easy to accept immigrants, I am not a racist, but I can't stand the attitude/violence of most black guys that immigrates to Italy. So I can't say I am that happy to open to immigration, but at the end of day I understand they are the ones who will pay with their jobs for my retirement and the ones who will pay with their taxes for the huge Italian sovereign debt.
They are consumers/workers and they make thousands of children that are more consumers/workers.

Moreover immigration in Italy is not under control (as most things in Italy), but Japan is known to be pretty good in managing things, it could open to a controlled immigration flux that incentivate only the races more suitable/compatible with Japanese people.

For example in Italy Philipinos immigrants are more compatible with our habits than black guys from north-middle Africa. If immigration fluxes were under control we could let come in many Philiponos and only few people from Africa.

Re: Why Do Japanese People Say Moshi Moshi on the Phone?

Milo — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 04:10:10 -0000

I have a question... does this apply when answering your building intercom phone too?? or calling through Line or Skype too?

Re: Why Do Japanese People Say Moshi Moshi on the Phone?

Jonathan Harston — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 19:05:18 -0000

So... moshi moshi could well be the equivalant of "talk to me".

I think you may as well say that 'oi!' translates to 'oi!'. ;)

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

3nzo — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 12:19:07 -0000

Wow. Really really complete post about this great japanese food. Thank you so much for your effort.

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Teka the Budgie — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 21:20:05 -0000

Argh it's so nostalgic! Now I want okonomiyaki sooooo much. I lived about ten minutes walking from Okonomimura in Hiroshima too. And I think the guy who owns one of the other restaurants (Lopez Okonomiyaki) went to my church there.

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Denngar — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 21:46:31 -0000

You can get Okonomiyaki almost anywhere, especially during a festival. Monja is harder to find imo. Tokyo's more known for it, and Osaka people usually ask me what I think of it when they hear I like okonomiyaki but (sadly) live in Kanto.

Re: A Geek in Japan

Eric Odle — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 14:54:22 -0000

Good review. I found the book itself to be slightly pandering, but maybe that's just because I've lived in Japan for a while and I didn't learn anything new. For someone who hasn't been to or lived in Japan, it's a fascinating read for sure. "Geek" actually reminded me of another good read, "Hitching a Ride with Buddha" (I think that was the title).

Re: A Geek in Japan

HUOG — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 10:45:05 -0000

I do believe that language makes people think differently. Our brains may be the same, but the social construction of our beings is directly connected to our relations with other humans and these relations are possible through language, through our human ability of verbally communicating. Diferent languages work differently and that shows when you try to learn a new language, but it goes beyond that. Our native language is burned in our minds and its logic will affect our way of speaking, writing and understanding. Reading what Jacques Lacan, a french psychoanalyst, has to say about language is a better way of understanding what I'm unsucessfully trying to express here.

Re: Why Do Japanese People Say Moshi Moshi on the Phone?

Karl's liberei — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 01:54:33 -0000

http://www.amazon.co.jp/QUe...

Re: A Geek in Japan

stickythumb — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 05:53:03 -0000

Thank you for the caveats, Linda. I have read a few extracts from a web bookshop and I could easily find evidence of what you mentioned. I am probably not the intended reader, but I congratulate the writer for his success. Which shows not all geeks are made the same ;)

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Mescale — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:24:12 -0000

Everytime I clicked on the related post; "What is Okonomiyaki and Why is it so Awesome?" I got redirected back to this post, and had to re-read it, then after re-reading the post, I clicked on the "What is Okonomiyaki and Why is it so Awesome?" related post, which took me back to the beginning of this article, at which point I then read the article a third time, and at the end of the article was a section with related posts, there was one titled, "What is Okonomiyaki and Why is it so Awesome?" I clicked on this link, and it took me to an article not entirely unlike this one, so I read it, and at the bottom of that article, much like the bottom of this article, was a section entitled "Related posts", one of the posts caught my eye, it was billed as "What is Okonomiyaki and Why is it so Awesome?" So I clicked on it, at this point I was taken to an article, which was actually titled "Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest", odd I thought, yet I read it anyway, and at the bottom was a link to some related content, called "What is Okonomiyaki and Why is it so Awesome?", so I clicked on it, still not having had enough Okonomiyaki yet. It was at this time a new page loaded, it was also entitled "Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest" with a subtitle "Osaka and Hiroshima represent", it was around this time I started having a certain sense of having already experienced something already...

Infact this situation occurred around 27 times, when fortunately I kicked the plug out of my broadband router.

Considering the danger of such perpetual okonmiyaki link, do you think it is wise to toy with the welfare of your readers in such a way?

Re: Aburaya – Original Edo Period Inn in Haibara, Nara

Larry Houser — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:52:14 -0000

That summary is about as useful as one given by a vegetarian of a BBQ place. "I hate all of this but if you like it you should check it out. And meat is murder you fascist".

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

skyturtles — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:20:22 -0000

Thank you, what a wonderful post! I'm craving okonomiyaki now :] I've only ever had Hiroshima-style, both in a restaurant and homemade. Although Osaka-style seems easier to make, I'm afraid that I'm too in love with Hiroshima style!

Re: Meet The World’s Only Hamburger Idol Group: Hamburgirl Z

Mami — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 23:42:41 -0000

I wanna sprinkle bacon on bacon on bacon on bacon....∞

Re: Meet The World’s Only Hamburger Idol Group: Hamburgirl Z

Mami — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 23:41:39 -0000

Thank you for your comment and concern. I hope all the girls are happy too. Those hamburger idol girls seem to be very happy though(^▽^)ノシ

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Felicity Hughes — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:02:10 -0000

Thank you so much. You sir deserve a medal for all the research you´ve done on this! I´ve been trying to nail okonomiyaki for awhile now, but this is by far the best recipe I´ve seen in English so far. Just made the Osaka style and followed your recipe to the letter (Left out the beni shouga as all they sell in my Chinese supermarket are ginormous bags of the stuff, but I may invest soon). It was sooo fluffy, like never before.

Re: Meet The World’s Only Hamburger Idol Group: Hamburgirl Z

Mescale — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 06:52:46 -0000

Did you know there is a thing called bacon salt, however I don't recommend it, instead just sprinkle bacon on things you want to taste like bacon.

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

gaikokujenny — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 21:50:05 -0000

This was a wonderfully thorough article, and will be a great reference to share with friends. Is there a way you can add a clickable menu at the top of the article divided by the contents? It was a lot to scroll through (if you're looking for a particular section)

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Raymond Chuang — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 21:38:55 -0000

In effect, the modern okonomiyaki as we know it in both Osaka and Hiroshima in 2015 really came into existence right after the end of World War II. This was especially true when wheat flour from the USA was incorporated into creating the dish.

Re: Meet The World’s Only Hamburger Idol Group: Hamburgirl Z

Founder — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 04:08:42 -0000

I really liked this series of articles.
When I've seen idols in Japan, I worry about their safety, both from their fans and their management. The rules they have to follow and the control their management has over them seems severe. If it makes them happy, than I can be happy for them, but I still worry.

Re: Why Do Japanese People Say Moshi Moshi on the Phone?

Noid Hunter — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:15:32 -0000

Oh, yeah, I remember that now. I'm not a native English speaker so I'm not used to the common mispronounciations. Pronouncing the Y's as SH's is the most common error where I live.

Re: Why Do Japanese People Say Moshi Moshi on the Phone?

ktf — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 13:02:44 -0000

I'm not sure if this is specifically what the article is talking about, but I think "mushi mushi" is a pretty common pronunciation mistake for non-Japanese-speakers who know just that one phrase.

I always think of Giovani Ribisi in Lost in Translation... pretty hilarious!

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

ハロー — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 15:59:39 -0000

I made this in Food Tech last year, it's THE BEST.

Re: Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Sophie Lionhart — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 14:16:35 -0000

Wow! That was some intense research into one of my favorite Japanese foods! Good job! 10/10 quality writing!