Archive for December, 2007
What Japan Thinks reviews DailyJ - and - yes to the next JapanBlogMatsuri
On December 31, 2007 in Announcements, Community building, JapanBlogMatsuri, On the J-web
Ken YN over at WhatJapanThinks has been reviewing the runners up for the Japan Blog of the Year Award, and DailyJ is “grateful bewildered” to have a place on that list. His review of DailyJ is below.
More importantly, after a bit of childish “Are-we-there-yet?” style nagging, we have word from Ken about possible future J-blog matsuri!
Daily J. This blog is centred around Japan blogger interviews, and is trying to foster, no, make that build a Japanese blogger community, something I feel should exist, and I hope that this Japan Blog of the Year vote has somehow helped towards that goal. Oh yes, and about the Japan Blog Matsuri - I have an alternative yet cunning plan, and I’ll have to talk to you soon regarding one or the other matsuris!
I am sure that Deas from RockingInHakata and Bill at RisingSunOfNihon will be happy to hear that! The credit goes to them for supporting it in the past and talking to DailyJ and others about having more of them.
I don’t know about you, but I am excited already!
A little break
On December 23, 2007 in Announcements
Hi All. I will be posting randomly (not everyday) until the 1st of the year.
I hope you all have nice breaks as well!
When Japan-bloggers put their minds together beautiful things happen - follow up to our interview with JapanBlogList
On December 21, 2007 in Announcements, Blog Improvements, Community building, DailyJ Mission, Future of the J-web, On the J-web
Three heads are better than one.
Chris had a brilliant idea, Shane expanded on it (see below), the JapanBlogList fit the bill perfectly and now…. the ball is rolling to create a “blog search tool” that will let you search all of the Japan-related blogs online!
Nipponster and DailyJ are giving full support to the JapanBlogList project and partnering up with them to create this new search tool.
So from now on you will see an extra tab at the top of DailyJ for the JapanBlogList. And soon (once we do the tech work) our blog search widget will be on their JapanBlogList page so that users can search through all of the blogs on the list.
None of this would have happened without the great feedback from DailyJ readers like Chris and Shane so a BIG thanks to both of you!
Shane S Said, As far as the blogroll goes I think that this is a great idea - why don’t you create a page behind home and about titled Japan blogs and start the list with those that are regular contributors to Daily J and those that you have interviewed. You could then take suggestions or add based on the comments that you got on your previous top Japan Blogs…you could have two columns - one for blogs and one for resources sites like japan-guide.com etc…. (link to original comment)
Have a great day
DailyJ
Man Down
On December 21, 2007 in Announcements, On the J-web
 
Turner from Keeping Pace In Japan had a bad bicycle accident and broke his right wrist, I mean, hurt himself while saving some orphans.
(He gives some details of the ordeal and the Japanese O.R. experience).
Why not take a moment to leave him an encouraging comment?
Happenings on the Japan-web
On December 21, 2007 in On the J-web
Mari from Watashi To Tokyo chimed in on the Japanese government’s “Great UFO Debate”
Like Mari, I too believe in the existence of UFOs. They are delicious and can be found in your local convenience store (see video).
RisingSunOfNihon adds a bit more detail to the mix, but says:
“Do you believe in UFOs?
I don’t. No way they exist.
Ask me why. “
Obviously a ramen noodle denier. 
How you can contribute to amassing the greatest list of Japan Blogs in the world! - an interview with JapanBlogList
On December 20, 2007 in Interviews
Yesterday we had a little chat with Gerry from JapanBlogList and learnt a bit about his mission. If you missed it, you might benefit from reading it first and of course look at the JapanBlogList itself.
Today we are going to take a closer look at what this project has to offer and how you can help make it even better.
Daily J: How do you feel your project can benefit people interested in Japan?
Gerry: Sometimes trying to find a good blog on Japan is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Some of the smaller blogs don’t get the exposure they deserve, so the Japan Blog list can help those people. They can learn more about life in Japan and other Japan-related topics.
Daily J: How might others be able to contribute to the project?
Gerry: Of course! There are so many blogs out there, I alone cannot keep track of all of them. That is why I ask readers to feel free to email their submissions and I will add them to the list. I make sure each site is not SPAM before I add it to the list–quality control, baby!
(DailyJ Sidenote: Quality control is one of the things I really like about this project)
Daily J: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Gerry: Right now The Japan Blog List has gotten out of the gates a little slow, so it could use some help from the blog community. If you feel that the list is worthy enough to grace your site, I would appreciate it if you could link back to The Japan Blog List! Also, please help by submitting more blogs that are not listed (thanks to those who have helped create the initial list!). Cheers, and keep up the fantastic blogging everyone!!!
Last but not least, special thanks to Daily J for giving us the opportunity for an interview! Cheers! =)
(emphasis added)
Chris and Nick commented yesterday and made some good points. 1) It is a good thing that should be taken further. 2) With such a huge list it is a little overwhelming trying to look at it all.
Well, the plan is, it will go further! And we hope it will be amazing. So come back tomorrow and find out why!
Until then, help your fellow Japan-enthusiast out and spread the word.
Have a great day.
DailyJ
A simple bloglist, a powerful mission - an exclusive interview with JapanBlogList
On December 19, 2007 in Interviews
Ladies and gentlefolk, I am very pleased to bring you part one of our interview with Gerry from JapanBlogList! Today we will hear just a little bit about the mission and motivations behind his project. And I’ll spill the beans (a little) about why I like it so much.
Daily J: For our readers that may not know, can you tell us what is the mission/vision of your site?
Gerry: My mission is to create a website where enthusiasts of Japan can come and find the websites they love! Everybody loves discovering a new and fresh blog or site, so hopefully The Japan Blog List can satisfy that thirst!
Daily J: What motivated you to start JapanBlogList? (what problems, etc. where you trying to solve? i.e. Why catalogue all the Japan-related blogs on the web?)
Gerry: Well, I noticed there was a blog list for Korea blogs, and there was no blog list for Japanese blogs! So if Korean bloggers can have a blog list, why not Japan?
Daily J: Where do you see your site going in the future?
Gerry: I hope it can be helpful to people who want to learn more about different cultures, in particular, Japan (and have some fun reading the fantastic blogs out there too).
Daily J: Do you have any other sites/blogs about Japan? Which Japan blogs are your favourites? (no pressure )
Gerry: Well, I would love to follow them all, but a few of my favorites (in no particular order) are Mike’s Blender, Danny Choo, Japan Probe, and Japan Daily Photo. There are many more, but these are the ones I check regularly in my RSS feed!
(Daily sidenote: Japan Daily Photo is by Evan Pike my old schoolmate from uni. One day I should get an interview)
Why I like Japan Blog List:
JBL is trying to compile a list of ALL the Japan-related blogs online. Nipponster is trying to help better organise and enhance ALL of the Japan-related content online. Match made in heaven!
Join us again tomorrow to learn how you too can contribute to the Japan Blog List project!
Until then, check the list out at http://www.japanbloglist.com and have a great day.
Daily J
Friends don’t let friends blog without comment notification ;)
On December 19, 2007 in Blog Improvements, Community building, DailyJ Mission, Helping Japan Bloggers
In my last “Helping Japan Bloggers” post I asked Nick from LongCountdown.com to “share the love,” and share it he did!
Nick gave all of us the plugin that notifies your commentors when someone replies to their comment.
Quicknote - This is a wordpress plugin. If you use Blogger you are lucky and already have this function. If you are on another blog platform leave a comment and hopefully we can find the solution for you too (or switch *cough**cough*).
Nick Ramsay Said,…To notify people of new comments on my blog, I use the Subscribe to Comments plugin for Wordpress.
He also mentioned somethings about RSS that some might not know (more on that next time).
Now this is my commission to you:
If you have a wordpress blog or if you know a Japan-blogger with a wordpress blog, why not tell them today to install this plugin for better blog communication?
And why not spread the word on your own blog too? You don’t have to mention this post, just take this information and use it on your blog help your fellow Japan-bloggers make their blogs better!
Share the love!
Daily J
Japan blogs of the year 2007
On December 18, 2007 in JapanBlogMatsuri, On the J-web
The Olympics of J-blogs!
Ken YN from WhatJapanThinks is having a little “Japan Blogs of the Year 2007″ Contest…
and somehow DailyJ has been nominated. I think that probably had to do with the “beer and darts” selection process
There are quite a few past DailyJ interviewees on there so maybe beer and darts have not gone too wrong. Here is a list of them (I’m not saying that you have to vote for them, I’m just saying that if you want to be my friend… ):
Somehow we were paired head to head and against JapanProbe. No fair! They are pitting us against each other. So I am taking drastic action and saying go now and vote for JapanNewbie so that at least one of us has a chance to kick butt!
We are also running against Trans-Pacific and they are shamelessly trying to bribe their readers into voting for them. We would never do that 
but rumour has it Jnewbie is offering a free round of beer, Osaka bloggers. 
Vote for the underdog!
#2 Gaijin Tonic
It’s about humour. How is Gaijin Tonic not in the lead?!
He is running against some funny sites, I admit (one of them, Tofugu, is an upcoming interviewee on DailyJ). But still, it’s Gaijin Tonic people. Vote!
Is currently second to PinkTentacle. Come on! Digital World Tokyo has USB humping Dogs! No contest! Vote DWT.
Now the heart-breaker…
Best personal blog on Japan
Two past DailyJ interviewees here:
Rocking in Hakata vs. Mari’s diary
This one I’ll leave up to you. But for me, I figure I am probably on this list because of Rocking In Hakata so sorry Mari, I had to do what I had to do…
All in all this has been great fun. And I think that it fosters a bit of community.
There are definitely sites that I’d like to see on there that are not. On DailyJ I believe 100% that each blog and each blogger has their own unique an interesting story to tell and they deserve to tell it and be heard.
Let’s all keep on blogging and sharing the love in our own special way!
DailyJ
p.s. Ken, JapanBlogMatsuri!
Still catching up on my email
On December 18, 2007 in Announcements, Community building
The interview is coming. Just a little delay.
I want to reply to all of the comments and to emails I am getting about DailyJ
To those who have emailed: Sorry if I have not gotten back to you yet. I am trying to get back to everyone and give them my full attention.
Ganbaru!
