Category: Anime
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Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe – Exploring Themes of Society and Awareness
Read more: Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe – Exploring Themes of Society and AwarenessWe watched Birth of Kitarō: The Mystery of GeGeGe with my wife. Though I had heard of GeGeGe no Kitarō, the famous manga by Shigeru Mizuki, I had never read it. I knew the central theme revolved around yōkai, a fascinating class of Japanese folklore creatures—spirit-monsters with deep cultural roots. The movie serves as a…
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Spirited Away: A Timeless Reflection on Consumerism, Environmental Impact, and Japanese Culture
Read more: Spirited Away: A Timeless Reflection on Consumerism, Environmental Impact, and Japanese CultureI’m anticipating a short trip with my wife, where we will stay at a traditional Japanese hostel in a hot springs region of Japan. This inspired me to write about Spirited Away, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released by Studio Ghibli in 2001, as the main story takes place in a bathhouse. The Dōgo Onsen…
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Case Closed: The Power of Stories in Shaping Mindsets
Read more: Case Closed: The Power of Stories in Shaping MindsetsWe recently attended an event organized by the local police department. The purpose was to showcase their activities, especially for children, with a school group seated in the front row. A police orchestra performed arrangements of well-known songs, including the iconic theme from Case Closed. This renowned manga, written by Gosho Aoyama, began in 1996…
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Castle in the Sky: A Reflection on Environmentalism and Collective Awareness
Read more: Castle in the Sky: A Reflection on Environmentalism and Collective AwarenessI was recommended to watch Castle in the Sky from Studio Ghibli, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 1986, while I was studying Japanese at university in Paris. I had already seen Princess Mononoke and The Cat Returns from the same studio, but I had not yet watched this one. It was a delightful…
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Unlocking the Power of Fitness, Nutrition, and Sleep for a Thriving Life
Read more: Unlocking the Power of Fitness, Nutrition, and Sleep for a Thriving LifeI couldn’t properly exercise when I went back to France for a few days, and yesterday marked two weeks since I last visited the bouldering gym. I woke up feeling a bit tired despite the short break from my routine. This highlights the importance of regular fitness practice. Inspired by watching Invictus recently and my…
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Love Hina Christmas Special: A Tale of Romance, Growth, and Brain Health
Read more: Love Hina Christmas Special: A Tale of Romance, Growth, and Brain HealthToday is Christmas Eve, and while Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan, the celebrations and marketing surrounding the occasion are surprisingly vibrant. In 2000, the Love Hina X’Mas Special: Silent Eve was released as a special OVA (Original Video Animation) to mark the festive season. This heartwarming episode brings back all the beloved…
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Rediscovering Nature and Harmony: Lessons from Princess Mononoke
Read more: Rediscovering Nature and Harmony: Lessons from Princess MononokeI just realized that this marks my 100th post on Instagram, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to share something close to my heart. During my first year of high school in France, I watched Princess Mononoke (1997) in the movie theater. It was the first Studio Ghibli film I encountered, as…
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How a Manga, a Middle School Friendship, and a Global Perspective Shaped My Vision
Read more: How a Manga, a Middle School Friendship, and a Global Perspective Shaped My VisionMy short trip to Paris to visit my dad also gave me the chance to reconnect with my best friend from middle school. We met at a prestigious middle school in Paris, located near the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by stereotypically wealthy French students. He comes from Algerian ancestry, and I am of Chinese descent, which…
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Exploring Cultural Perspectives in “The Cat Returns”
Read more: Exploring Cultural Perspectives in “The Cat Returns”I met some friends from high school yesterday, and it reminded me of the time we watched The Cat Returns, a Studio Ghibli movie, together in theaters. Back then, I didn’t know any Japanese, but I noticed something fascinating: the English and French titles of the movie were not literal translations of the original Japanese…
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Chihayafuru: A Tale of Friendship, Growth, and Brain-Boosting Lessons
Read more: Chihayafuru: A Tale of Friendship, Growth, and Brain-Boosting LessonsWe recently watched the live-action movie series Chihayafuru (a trilogy) with my wife. She asked me if I had heard of Carta before seeing it. Surprisingly, I hadn’t even come across the name. Carta is a Japanese game where two participants duel on a tatami floor, aiming to be faster than their opponent in finding…