Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren (1222–1282) was a Tendai monk who decided that all the existing schools of Buddhism were heretical and needed to return to the correct practice as expressed in the Lotus… Read more »
Category: Japanese Culture
Zen Buddhism
“Zen” is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word “Chan”. Chan Buddhism was supposedly founded by an Indian monk named Bodhidharma who traveled to China in the early 5th century… Read more »
Shingon Buddhism
Shingon Buddhism was founded by a monk named Kuukai, who is more commonly referred to by his posthumous name of Koubou-daishi (“Great Teacher of Buddhist Doctrine”). In the year 804… Read more »
Early Japanese Buddhist Sects
I’m not sure whether anyone is interested in any more long posts about Japanese Buddhism. This doesn’t even have too much relevance to anime. Anime often has references to Buddhism… Read more »
A Visit to the Chuang Yen Monastery
The Chuang Yen Monastery in Kent, New York doesn’t really belong in this blog’s “Japanese Culture” category since it was built by Chinese immigrants. However there is a huge amount… Read more »
Now You Too Can Have Nekomimi
Though the brand name is apparently “necomimi.” via.
“Nuclear Boy” Explains Fukushima Crisis to Children
Supposedly this was broadcast on Japanese television. (via) UPDATE: Japan Times describes the origin of the video here.
Apocalyptic Fantasy vs. Reality
Kylaran, who experienced the Sendai earthquake firsthand, muses on the differences and similarities between real life and depictions of catastrophic earthquakes in manga and anime (specifically the manga Kanojo wo… Read more »