Japanese things that we like

[EC]

dragonboy, help us out if we get stuff wrong.  Here are things that I love that have always made me want to visit Japan:

1.  haiku poems (especially Issa)
2.  Ninjas
3.  Kurosawa
4.  Lone Wolf and Cub (holy.)
5.  Zen Buddhism
6.  Mount Fuji
7.  sushi and most of the Japanese food I've tried
8.  Martial Arts
9.  Ancient History

[dragonboy]

2.  Ninjas

Haha - what a great thread! Sure, happy to help out...
I'm gonna add Japanese animation (anime) & comics (manga) to the list.

[EC]

They're so mysterious and quiet.  And they have ninja stars.  But they're also assassins.

Did you all know that the word hashish comes from the word assassin?  They used to smoke it before they killed.  Not ninjas - it was assassins in the Arabian countries, I think.

Anyhow, back to Ninjas.  Do you think that Ninjas were allowed to get married?  Did any write any autobiographies?  Anybody know?

[dragonboy]

Did you all know that the word hashish comes from the word assassin?  They used to smoke it before they killed. Not ninjas - it was assassins in the Arabian countries, I think.

Something tells me this 'Ninja' might have smoked some Hashish...
Hey is that Tom?!!  ;)

[ali]

looks like tom to me!  ;D

ok.. here's my list

1. tonkatsu (yuuuuum) & bento boxes
2. beautiful textiles & stylised pattern designs
3. origami paper
3. tadao ando & shigeru ban (great japanese architects)
4. the 5 6 7 8's (tarantino's new fav band)
5. fabulous ancient timber temples
6. bonsai
7. hello kitty (seems like a national obsession with cutsie-wutsie things to me - is this right dragonboy?)
8. the tea ceremony

[dragonboy]

7. hello kitty (seems like a national obsession with cutsie-wutsie things to me - is this right dragonboy?)

You're absolutely right. It's crazy...
Girls (& grown women!) are obsessed with 'characters' & all things cute. The word Kawaii (cute) is so over-used here, everything is "Kawaii".
Small dogs are very popular right now. The owners dress them up in silly clothes & take them to 'dog hotels' etc.
Toyko Disneyland is full of adults, not children. Couples, groups of teenage girls & young women.

Time to unleash the Ninjas if you ask me  ;)

[primushead]

I think if I could choose the way in which I die, I would definitely want to be assassinated by a Ninja.  It's a real respectable way to go, almost painless and think of how I could be remembered!!

"My Grandpa died of lung cancer when he was 70"

"Yeah?  Well mine was murdered by a NINJA."

"Geez...he must've been pretty important then".

 ;D

[ali]

it does have a certain ring to it... you'd be pretty much guaranteed a notice in the local paper too  ;)

[BIGVICLBI]

Pat Morita...jim belushi's charachter from snl...toyotas and hondas....nintendo.....bukaki (don't think I spelled that right)...
bonsai trees....the word bonsai...

[Tree]

Sony! ;)

[Jellyfish]

I like Japanese blank CD's. :)

[Mr. T.]

I like Charmed Life by Half Japanese, does that counts me in?

[EC]

Japanese green tea.  mmmm.

[sweatboard]

I think if I could choose the way in which I die, I would definitely want to be assassinated by a Ninja.  It's a real respectable way to go, almost painless and think of how I could be remembered!!

"My Grandpa died of lung cancer when he was 70"

"Yeah?  Well mine was murdered by a NINJA."

"Geez...he must've been pretty important then".

;D

I nearly pissed my pants on this one. ;D

[sweatboard]

Speaking of Ninjas, just in case thier is still someone left in the world that hasn't had the pleasure, you can learn more about Ninjas here.

http://www.realultimatepower.net/index4.htm

[Jaimoe]

Director and actor 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano
Animator/director genius Hayao Miyazaki
Actor Takeshi Shimura
Kurosawa
Actor Toshiro Mifune
Director Seijun Suzuki
Writer Mishima
Animated film Grave Of The Fireflies
Ibanez guitars
Yamaha
Toshiba HD DLP tv's
Mazda cars
Actor Jo Shishido

[dragonboy]

Jaimoe - love your list, you have great taste in movies & anime!

OK here's mine:

My wife Miki
Kyoto & it's amazing temples & shrines





Tokyo - AMAZING city!
Japanese food (Sushi, Sashimi, Tempura, Ton-Katsu, Soba Noodles etc)
The movies of Hayao Miyazaki (Tonari no Totoro is still my fav!)
The movies of Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano (Hana-bi & Kikujiro are my favs)
Akira (the 1st Japanese movie that caught my interest)
Junichiro Koizumi (he's a big Elvis fan!)
Eternal Elysium - the best Japanese band I know of...
Mt Fuji (i climbed it a few years ago & saw the sunrise from the top)
Ninjas & Samurai (my Dad has an amazing pair of swords that I bought him a few years ago)
Toyota Prius
Pat Morita

[whothrewthecake]

i know one japanese thing i like - dragonboy!  :)

[dragonboy]

Thanks Whothrewthecake!!!  ;D ;D ;D

[Form91225]

in no particular order...

Shonen Knife
Cars
Most Extreme Elimination Challenge
sushi
Chibo Matto