Archive for the ‘Announcements’ Category

Nipponster Web Search Widget. and Video Search Widget

On September 26, 2008 in Announcements, On the J-web, fun

For anyone interested, there are some new widgets for you on Nipponster. I removed the logo off of the top of the widget code so that you can label them as you like.

The goal is to give you a widget that gives your readers/users Japan-specific search results. As always I am all ears for you feedback. Let me know what you think!

The old one looked like this (with the Nipponster branding on it):

The new web search widget:

Here’s the code:
<br /> <!– THE NIPPONSTER SEARCH BOX SCRIPT STARTS HERE –></p> <p><!– Nipponster Searchbox –><br /> <script charset=”UTF-8″ type=”text/javascript” src=”http://swicki.eurekster.com/sidebar?groupkey=93055b12-0e08-4600-bb8f-dfc883dc52f5&target=_self&numresults=20&format=js”></script><noscript><font size=”-1″>check out <a href=”http://nipponster.com”>Nipponster.com</a>: The Japan-Enthusiast’s Search Engine</font></noscript></p> <p><!– THE SEARCH BOX SCRIPT ENDS HERE –><br />

And here is the video search widget

Here is the code:
<br /> <!-- THE NIPPONSTER VIDEO SEARCH BOX SCRIPT STARTS HERE --><br /> <!– Nipponster Video Searchbox –><br /> <script charset=”UTF-8″ type=”text/javascript” src=”http://swicki.eurekster.com/sidebar?groupkey=123e5d1b-bd56-4c39-89ae-4382546704f4&target=_self&numresults=20&format=js”></script><noscript><font size=”-1″>check out <a href=”http://nipponster.com”>Nipponster.com</a>: The Japan-Enthusiast’s Search Engine</font></noscript></p> <p><!-- THE NIPPONSTER VIDEO SEARCH BOX SCRIPT ENDS HERE --><br />

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Relationships: the glue of the j-web. And a widget

On September 25, 2008 in Announcements, Blog Improvements, Community building, fun

Some months ago I posted about an RSS feed of posts by past DailyJ interviewees.

And I posted script for widget so that others could put it on their blogs, etc., if they wanted to.

Chris from Waikiki2Yanai mentioned that the widget’s colour didn’t match his site, so I’ve made a new one (finally!) that is clear.

I wanted to make it into a widgetbox widget but widgetbox is not as easy as they claim.

Anyway, here it is:

And here is the code for it:

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://www.google.com/reader/ui/publisher-en.js”></script>
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://www.google.com/reader/public/javascript/user/01310610213837056251/label/Daily J?n=5&callback=GRC_p(%7Bc%3A%22-%22%2Ct%3A%22%22%2Cs%3A%22true%22%2Cb%3A%22false%22%7D)%3Bnew%20GRC”></script>

Also I added it to the left-hand sidebar.

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81 To Dos and Feeling Good

On September 22, 2008 in Announcements

(Just a quick post today as I work on some other upcoming things.)

About two weeks ago I posted about being tired.

I think I had forgotten how much fun DailyJ can be; how much fun it is to talk to others on the Japan-related web and hear about what motivates them.

Looking back over the year cured me of that. Even I cannot believe that DailyJ interviewed 21 sites last year! It was a great experience.

There is much for me to do for DailyJ and Nipponster. I have a long list of to do items (really mini & major projects). Right now I have 81 items on my list! But they are all exiting things. I can’t wait to roll them out!

-DailyJ

p.s. I am getting better at managing things, I take my gmail inbox down to zero every week now (for the last three weeks).  See inbox zero

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Web 2.0 expo, in Tokyo

On September 20, 2008 in Announcements, Resources, fun

The webmaster over at altsearchengines.com sent me an email about the Tokyo Web 2.0 Expo.

It looks interesting.

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Ninja lessons for J-bloggers

On September 18, 2008 in Announcements, Helping Japan Bloggers, Resources

Attention Japan-bloggers and webmasters: 

Nick over at Longcountdown.com recently posted about a collection of over 70,000 video tutorials!

Included in the collection are video tutorials for web developers (html, css, php, javascript, etc.)

These, young grasshopper, are your lessons in the ancient art of J-blogging.

Enjoy.

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September’s Japan Blog Matsuri - deadline is 9/20

On September 17, 2008 in Announcements, JapanBlogMatsuri, Uncategorized

(It’s just 3 days away so I am a little late with this post)

Tae Kim of GuideToJapanese.org is hosting this month’s Japan blog festival.

This month’s topic is on “The Language of Japan”

Tae writes:

“While I’d like to hear about the Japanese language and your experiences with it in particular, you can write about any topic as long as it’s related to languages in Japan.”

“Languages in Japan…”

I wonder if we will see any posts about sign language or maybe a post about love (etc.) as “the language of Japan?”

We’ll just have to wait and see.

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Launch! Slash! Burn! Repeat! - DailyJ turns 1 !

On September 16, 2008 in Announcements, DailyJ Mission, Interview Highlights

It was one year ago this month that DailyJ was launched.

I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of the generous people who took the time to give interviews. You rock!

In the pre-launch build up dozens of J-bloggers and webmasters were contacted for interviews and once the first ten (or so) interviews were initiated DailyJ was ready to, as its first post declared, “Launch! Slash! Burn!”

To boldly go where no blog has gone before….

ok, maybe not.

But we’re still really excited!!

Welcome!

This blog is a place for us to showcase some great j-blogs and j-sites.
These are the sites that are bringing you unique views of Japan, amazing experiences, solid advice, great language tools and materials, and all the wonders a J-enthusiast could ever ask for!

But most importantly we will talk to the people behind these sites and projects.

Yes sir! This blog will not only feature information about great j-sites. Oh No. It will be full of behind the scenes, exclusive interviews with the people themselves!

To get the ball rolling…
To start it all off…
This week we will take a stroll with Adam Douglas from Slash And Burn and find out what makes him tick and what makes his site cool.

So now it is time….

to Launch! Slash! Burn!

Enjoy!

My favourite part was “This blog will not only feature information about great j-sites. Oh No. It will be full of behind the scenes, exclusive interviews with the people themselves”

And DailyJ has definitely had a lot of fun with “the people behind the scenes.” Here are all of the interviews from year 1! :

Adam Douglas from Slash And Burn

1. The Humble “Slash And Burn” - an exclusive interview
2. Slash And Burn - exclusive interview part II

Raof from GaijinTonic

1. Gaijin Tonic - A drunken I mean, exclusive interview
2. Gaijin Tonic - exclusive interview part duo: “an invigorating, tequila-laced chicken soup for the soul of the adventurous drunkard”

Jamaipanese

1. Jamaipanese - Interview with an “otaku”
2. Jamaipanese - exclusive interview part II, with a twist

 Rising Sun Of Nihon’s Bill Belew

1. RisingSunofNihon - Find out why Bill Belew is my hero
2. RisingSunofNihon - an exclusive interview with Bill Belew: why his posts should be at an ESL school near you..
3. Who’s the real Bill Belew?
4. Cute girls vs. Business and Culture - Which will win on RisingSunofNihon?

Turner from KeepingPaceInJapan

1. A great interview coming up! Why this rocket scientist needs your support
2. Why KeepingPaceinJapan is a perfect site for Japan-enthusiasts
3. “The truth about AEON” - interview with KeepingPaceInJapan
4. Keeping Pace with Japan IN SPACE! - interview with an aerospace engineer
5. Finish line - interview with KeepingPaceInJapan

Mari from Watashi To Tokyo

1. You, Me, and Mari - Interview with “Watashi to Tokyo”

Harvey from JapanNewbie

1. Chatting with JapanNewbie - an exclusive interview
2. Harvey on housing, travel, and skinny girls - an exclusive interview with JapanNewbie

Takanori sensei from learn-japanese-kanji-hiragana-katakana.com

1. Learn Japanese With Takanori Sensei! - an exclusive interview with learn-japanese-kanji-hiragana-katakana.com

Shioyama from Gyaku.jp

1. Alternative perspectives on Japan - an interview with Gyaku.jp
2. What translated documents on gyaku.jp have to do with you and the fingerprinting of all foreigners in Japan

Mark from Digital World Tokyo

1. “Alright Kids, Who Wants to Write for DigitalWorldTokyo?” “I do, I do!”
2. Mothers, lock up your USB ports… Digital World Tokyo has let the dogs out
3. Interview with Digital World Tokyo
4. The Good Stuff, from Japan - an exclusive interview with Digital World Tokyo

Deas from Rocking In Hakata

1. Rock Out! Why this site is one of my favourites - an exclusive interview with Rocking In Hakata
2. Bloggers, Let’s Make Sure the Next Japan Blog Matsuri Rocks! - an interview with Rocking In Hakata

Tyler MacNiven star of “Kintaro Walks Japan”

1. Kintaro Goes Geisha - a teaser from our exclusive interview with Kintaro Walks Japan
2. The Making of the Film - an interview with Kintaro Walks Japan
3. Wrestling 100 Mongolians! - an exclusive interview with Tyler from hit film Kintaro Walks Japan (and a bit of breaking news)
4. When Harvey met Tyler - an update to our interview with Tyler MacNiven

(This interview for me was just great because I had been a huge fan of Tyler even before starting DailyJ)

Chris from Waikiki2Yanai

1. Total Control - an interview with Chris from Waikiki2Yanai
2. What makes Chris Ballard a serious language teacher - an interview with Waikiki2Yanai
3. Why Daily J may need more pictures and widgets - an interview with Chris from Waikiki2Yanai

(Chris is also one of the most active and beloved commentors on DailyJ - a good way to get an interview . Or maybe not, since Nick from Longcountdown comments all the time now and still no interview . But I plan on an interview and I know it will be spectacular)

Thomas from NihonHacks

1. Baby Noah vs. The Elephant - an interview with Thomas, proud father and blogger @ Nihonhacks
2. Why I want every Japan-related blogger to blogroll NihonHacks, right now! - an exclusive interview with NihonHacks.com
3. How we can all help ourselves by helping NihonHacks - an exclusive interview with NihonHacks.com
4. How the NihonHacks idea was born - an exclusive interview

Japan Blog of 2007 (Not an interview but definitely a highlight of the year)

1. Japan blogs of the year 2007

Gerry of JapanBlogList

1. A simple bloglist, a powerful mission - an exclusive interview with JapanBlogList
2. How you can contribute to amassing the greatest list of Japan Blogs in the world! - an interview with JapanBlogList
3. When Japan-bloggers put their minds together beautiful things happen - follow up to our interview with JapanBlogList

“The Japan-related Web” Guest blogging on Rising Sun Of Nihon (not an interview but still good.)

Gaba Teachers Association

1. Why this site is the onion.com of ESL news- an exclusive interview with Gaba Teachers Association
2. What GTA has to say about Gaba and ESL in Japan - an interview with “Gaba Teacher’s Association”
3. How you can make GTA happy - an interview with Gaba Teachers Association

SouthOfReality

1. A blogger with too much time on his hands? - an exclusive interview with South of Reality
2. What South Of Reality has to say about ESL and Nova - an exclusive interview
3. “Remember, this is Japan” - an intervew with South Of Reality

Koichi of Tofugu

1. Submit or suffer the wrath of Segata Sanshiro! - the official Tofugu world domination interview
2. Why interest in Japan is cool again - an exclusive interview with Tofugu
3. Why Koichi is embarrassed about the Japan Humour Blog of the Year Victory - an interview with Tofugu
4. How Tofugu was born - an exclusive interview

Smoother from JapanItUp

1. Why Japan It Up? - find out in this exclusive interview
2. Why Smoother loves Japan - an interview with JapanItUp
3. How you can Japan It Up with the man behind the site - an exclusive interview with JapanItUp.com
4. When in Japan… an interview with JapanItUp

Jim Breen, the creator of the famous Jim Breen online Japanese dictionary

1. Words Jim Breen wrote to me.

Garrett and Ken from Trans-Pacific Radio

1. Finally some grown-up Japan content! - The Message Garrett & Ken are broadcasting about Japan and why you, J-blogger, should listen - An exclusive interview with Trans-Pacific Radio

Wow!

My math is not so great but that is a lot of interviews! It was a great journey and yet it has just started.

There are still plenty of amazing interviews just waiting to be initiated (see interviews we’d like to do). So…

Stay Tuned!

And Have a great day,

DailyJ

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A new face on Nipponster

On September 14, 2008 in Announcements, Suggestions Please

Well, I did it. Finally.

Nipponster looks prettier now.

Take a look –> http://nipponster.com

I don’t like working with graphics, but somehow I managed.

I bet you’ll agree it looks better than this:

Let me know what you think.

Also I am trying to figure out what I should put in place of the text “search…different” under the logo on the new nipponster.

I was thinking “Japan Search”

‘Japan-specific Search” and “Japan-enthusiast’s Search Engine” are a bit too long.

I’m all ears for feedback.

Well, now that it is pretty, I’m off to make it a better search engine…

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NihonHacks in the news!

On September 12, 2008 in Announcements, On the J-web

There are few blogs that I relate to more than NihonHacks. (One of my main goals when I first started building Japan-related websites was helping fellow foreigners; foreign students in particular).  NihonHacks is a brilliant concept for a website and it just received some very much deserved press!

Our fellow J-blogger and efficiency-guru, Thomas Hjelm, has been featured in The Japan Times!

Back in November of last year DailyJ also had the pleasure of interviewing Thomas. And although the calibre of the JT interview doesn’t quite measure up to ours( j/k ), they did a great job.

The interview coincided (more or less) with NihonHacks’ 1 year anniversary and was another milestone on the journey toward making life a little easier for people living in Japan.

Congratulations,Thomas. We hope you will have many more anniversaries to enjoy in the future!

(That reminds me, I have to finish up DailyJ’s anniversary post…)

Until then.

Have a great day,

DailyJ

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“You are spanking us so thoroughly the least you could do is give us an interview” - and intro and an apology

On September 09, 2008 in Announcements, Interviews

At year end 2007 KenYN of WhatJapanThinks held a contest for the best Japan-blogsin five categories (a friendly contest). DailyJ was paired off against Trans-Pacific Radio, ObservingJapan, JapanNewbie and others, and TPR was beating DailyJ mercilessly. So I emailed the good people over at Trans-Pacific Radio, for an interview, with this subject (which I vainly think was a clever one):

“You are spanking us so thoroughly the least you could do is give us an interview :)”

I guess it was attention grabbing enough because they responded and we sent emails back and forth.

Apology: 

But when Ken and Garrett finished the interview on January 14th I was deep into my month of guest blogging on RisingSunOfNihon and quite swamped. February saw me trying to play catch-up but to little avail. March hit me like a ton of bricks and I had some major time demands on my offline life to boot. That put DailyJ out of commission from mid-March until August.

I kick myself for not having posted their interview sooner. It really is not fair at all to Ken and Garrett. Trans-Pacific Radio is such a great website and they are doing such a great job with it.

Maybe they can forgive me. They definitely deserved better. I only hope that posting the interview now (better late, than never) makes up in part for my shortcoming.

Intro

Tomorrow will bring an interview that is NOT TO BE MISSED! We are going behind the scenes to talk to Garrett and Ken about their motives and aspirations for Trans-Pacific Radio. There is much to learn from them, including some food for thought for everyone who picks up a mic or pounds the keypad to talk about Japan.

DO NOT MISS IT (It will be all in one beefy post). So Stay Tuned!

Until then. Have a great day,

DailyJ

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