Archive for September, 2007
The Next J-Net
On September 30, 2007 in Announcements, Future of the J-web, Suggestions Please
If there are any Business 2.0 fans out there this title should ring a bell. Their “The Next Net25″ is basically a top 25 list.
We want to copy that idea with a new application that let’s users submit j-sites that they like and then all of the users can vote on which ones are their favourites!
What do you think?
Another drunken interview?
On September 29, 2007 in Interviews we'd like to do
One of my favourite story-tellers
On September 28, 2007 in Interviews we'd like to do, Suggestions Please
Firefly. @ yourjapan
This guy did a great series of posts on his life in Japan.
I’ve talkedwith him before. I’mplanning to contact him for aninterview.
He has worked in IT in Japan (and had a few crazy experiences with that) and he does martial arts. He also has a HILARIOUS post aboutone of hislanguage mistakes.
I think most of my questions are going to center around those topics. If you have any questions you are dying to ask him let us know in the comments below!
Know Cool Tools?
On September 27, 2007 in Interviews we'd like to do, Suggestions Please
As those whohave perused Nipponster’s official blog know, we want to make the web a better place for Japan-enthusiasts. That is why weLOVE innovatorswho make cool tools and resources for Japanese language students, especially free ones.
Know any good ones? We’d love to hear your suggestions!
Here are some that we like:
(We’ll be trying totalk to some of the people behind theseutilities soon.)
- RepeKanji
- NJstar
Already mentioned
- Rikai
- Rikai-chan
- Jim Breen’s Dictionary
I’m sure you guys can do a better job at a list. Let us hear your suggestions below! 
Daily J Wants You! - to suggest some interview questions
On September 26, 2007 in Interviews we'd like to do, Suggestions Please
Trying something new… letting you do the interview!
We are contacting two very interesting people for interviews:
Tyler McNiven (Kintaro Walks Japan)
And
Rich Pav (HerroFlomJapan)
And we want your help with extra questions. Here is your chance to as these guys the questions you’ve been dying to ask!
Here are the questions we have so far:
For Tyler -
What was the best part about walking Japan?
- Did you have any physical problems while walking? What kind of training did you do to prepare?
- Did you have a camera man or did you film the whole thing yourself?
- What is your favourite place in Japan and why?
- Do you still keep in touch with any of the friends you met on your trip?
- When people aren’t watching do you still dress up geisha?
- I know that your film has won some awards, can you tell us about that?
- Since KWJ you’ve been on amazing race and you did I Ran Iran, can you tell us a bit about that? And are there any other projects in the works?
For Rich -
- How did you come up with the name HerroFlomJapan?
- What motivated you to start blogging?
- Who would love your blog/podcasts/videocasts and why?
- What is the most interesting experience you’ve ever had in Japan?
- What is your favourite post/cast and why? (let me know the link so I can include it in the post)
- What would you say is the mission (serious or otherwise) of HFJ? What is your favourite subject to post about?
What do you think? I bet you guys can come up with better. Give it a go!
Upcoming Interviews and a teaser
On September 25, 2007 in Announcements
We will be interviewing:
One ole time J-blogger (he has been blogging since ‘02)
One Japanese girl who blogs about her life in Tokyo
One media project presenting alternative J-news
One online Japanese language teacher
AND
We have some news that you need to hear.
So stay tuned
NOTICE: Interview Hiatus and Future Interviews
On September 25, 2007 in Announcements
We are taking a little break from our daily interview posts (no longer than a week). This is so we can get ahead of ourselves as far as the editing work that needs to be done.
So for the next couple of days we will only be talking about upcoming interviews we are working on and people we are contacting for future interviews. And of course we want your feedback and comments!
Finish line - interview with KeepingPaceInJapan
On September 24, 2007 in Interviews
This past week we’ve been having a marathon chat with Turner, the multi-talented author of Keeping Pace In Japan
So far, he…
- sounded a call to action for all foreigners,
- gave you info to help you know before you go,
- told you “the truth about AEON”
- and gave you a crash course on Japan in Space.
Today in this last installment we’re going talk with him about his adventures and athleticism in Japan.
On your marks, get set, go!
Daily J: How often do you participate in marathons? Is there a marathon in particular that is your favorite?
Turner: As you may know, the term “marathon” in Japan is just a name, written in katakana characters, ????. It can be any distance, up to and including 42.195 km. That being the case, I’ve participated in a few running races in Japan, sometimes called “marathons”, but haven’t gone the actual distance yet (at least, not in this country): Hiroshima Peace Marathon (10K), Hiroshima Seniors Cross Country on Miyajima (11K), and another 8-mile race on Miyajima. I’m in the lottery for the Tokyo Marathon in February, and will consider doing the Nagasaki Bayside Half Marathon in October. In the US, I first ran the Austin Freelance Marathon in 2005 (3:00:57), which qualified me to run the Boston Marathon in 2006 (3:04:46).
Daily J: It seems you have done a lot traveling. What are your favorite places to visit in Japan? And why?
Turner: I have a terrible time deciding favorites; there are so many amazing places to see in Japan, especially around my new home in Kagoshima. I really like to stay away from the major tourist destinations; I’ve only been in Tokyo for a few days, Kyoto one night (Maruyama Koen to see the shidarezakura during cherry blossom season), and even my time in Osaka was limited.
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to small islands that barely register on a tourist’s radar: the Mishima group just south of Kagoshima Prefecture, Tanegashima, Yakushima, a plan is in the works to visit one of the Tokara islands as well.
Some of my more noteworthy adventures include staying in a hot springs ryokan at Kurokawa Onsen village, dining on Shiroi Koibito chocolate while looking at the Sapporo Snow Festival sculptures at night, kneeling in a Buddhist temple while listening to the monks chant and absorbing the smell of incense after a long day of hiking on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. I also think the town of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture is underappreciated; it has a great landmark (the Kintai bridge), it’s beautiful during cherry blossom season, there’s a great park for relaxing, and an excellent restaurant serving the best yakitori in Japan is nearby (Irori Sanzoku).
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/04/shikoku-hachijuhachikasho-meguri-part-i.html
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/05/ikkoku-mairi-temples-1-6.html
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/05/ikkoku-mairi-osettai-and-harassment.html
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/05/ikkoku-mairi-getting-hit.html
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/05/ikkoku-mairi-behind-veil.html
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/05/ikkoku-mairi-breathing-free.html
http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com/2007/05/ikkoku-mairi-keeping-pace.html
Ahhh. I hope to visit some of these places someday. But until then, thanks to KeepingPaceInJapan, you and I can read about them! A big thank you to Turner for the interview and all of this great content. Be sure to visit his site and take full advantage of it.
And have a great day,
From Daily J
Walking Japan
On September 24, 2007 in Interviews we'd like to do
Our next post will be the last part of our interview with Turner from KeepingPaceInJapan.com and hopefully the first of many interviews related to outdoor activities in Japan.
I can’t think of a better way to introduce these post than with the next video:
Kintaro Walks Japan
(And, yes, we are contacting “Kintaro” for an interview )
Apology
On September 23, 2007 in Announcements
Hi All. I’m sorry to say that today we will not be posting as planned. There’s a little crisis that has been keeping us busy. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Look forward to hearing about KeepingPaceInJapan Turner’s adventures tomorrow!
