Soundtrack: Mozart's Requim Mass in D Minor VI
Softbank, Apple's iPhone carrier in Japan, recently annouced that due to struggle sales, they will now be giving the iPhone away for free.
Before the iPhone landed in Japan, there was alot of debate about how it play out in the savviest of tech markets. It looks like we have our answer now.
I hang out with alot of オタク (to be defined later) and the iPhone has not permeated this niche, which should have been the easiest target. After the week long lines in Harajuku were done, the hype was exhausted. People were unwilling to sacrifice the capabilities of the "normal" Japanese handsets: credit cards functionality, ewallets, auto-charging RFID etc... These are mostly hardware functions that the iPhone does not offer (yet). Even the software functionality has a few holes, most notoriously, the lack of emoji (which was later rectified by an app).
All in all, even for a Gaijin like me, the iPhone has some key Japanese features missing, but the strengths and sheer ingenuity of the device mostly make up for this.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The House of Small Cubes: Le maison en petits cubes: つみきのいえ
This film was shown at the National Gallery here in Roppongi, and I thought it was beautiful. It went on to win a well deserved Oscar, here is a little clip:
Friday, February 20, 2009
Definition of Konjoe: 根性
Optional soundtrack: The Rolling Stone's Street Fighting Man
根性 【こんじょう】 (n,vs) will-power; guts; temper; nature; spirit; (P) (From WWWJDIC)
I found this kanji when first came to Tokyo and was absorbing Japanese business books. After exhausted the supply of books I found in the US, I moved on to Tokyo bookshops. All of these books tended to follow a form, where they contained tips and keywords to describe characteristics and praiseworthy traits. 根性 was one of the keywords that stuck with me.
Recently, 根性 has been negatively associated with militarism but is also used in association with sports. Originally derived from the Buddhist tenant that "根性はその人間が持って生まれた性質" or that "Spirit is an innate feature of human nature." (This is my own translation, so I'd appreciate suggestions to improve it).
根性 is also used in numerous idioms, such as "かむ根性が無いなら、歯を見せるな" or "If you cannot bite, do not show your teeth." It's not always used in a positive fashion though, as the absence or perversion of this trait can be quite negative. For example, 泥棒根性 means a "thieving nature."
To help with kanji I carry a notebook (now in volume 4) and I used to write some of my favorite ones on the top of my hand under my watch (alla S.P.E.C.T.R.E). This was the kanji that carried to my first sleepless day of work a lifetime ago.
根性 【こんじょう】 (n,vs) will-power; guts; temper; nature; spirit; (P) (From WWWJDIC)
I found this kanji when first came to Tokyo and was absorbing Japanese business books. After exhausted the supply of books I found in the US, I moved on to Tokyo bookshops. All of these books tended to follow a form, where they contained tips and keywords to describe characteristics and praiseworthy traits. 根性 was one of the keywords that stuck with me.
Recently, 根性 has been negatively associated with militarism but is also used in association with sports. Originally derived from the Buddhist tenant that "根性はその人間が持って生まれた性質" or that "Spirit is an innate feature of human nature." (This is my own translation, so I'd appreciate suggestions to improve it).
根性 is also used in numerous idioms, such as "かむ根性が無いなら、歯を見せるな" or "If you cannot bite, do not show your teeth." It's not always used in a positive fashion though, as the absence or perversion of this trait can be quite negative. For example, 泥棒根性 means a "thieving nature."
To help with kanji I carry a notebook (now in volume 4) and I used to write some of my favorite ones on the top of my hand under my watch (alla S.P.E.C.T.R.E). This was the kanji that carried to my first sleepless day of work a lifetime ago.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
To Blog or Not to Blog
Optional soundtrack: RJD2's The Horror
Good evening blogosphere! It is your lord and master, SAGE!
Yes, contrary to what you've heard, I am very much alive! Is this enough exclamation points for you!?
It has been many moons since we last spoke, and much has changed. But enough about me! I am hear to write about something much closer to my heart: my brain and its thoughts. This entry is announcing my grand return to blogging in order to expand the breadth of audience. That is all.
Where are you going? I have more to say! But not right now, fore it is late and the cafe isn't open all night.
Good evening blogosphere! It is your lord and master, SAGE!
Yes, contrary to what you've heard, I am very much alive! Is this enough exclamation points for you!?
It has been many moons since we last spoke, and much has changed. But enough about me! I am hear to write about something much closer to my heart: my brain and its thoughts. This entry is announcing my grand return to blogging in order to expand the breadth of audience. That is all.
Where are you going? I have more to say! But not right now, fore it is late and the cafe isn't open all night.
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