Category: Awareness
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Finding Connection and Resilience in Toumei Ningen by Tokyo Jihen
Read more: Finding Connection and Resilience in Toumei Ningen by Tokyo JihenTokyo Jihen’s Toumei Ningen (Invisible Person), released on their 2006 album Adult, portrays the delicate, sometimes paradoxical journey of someone who feels invisible to the world around them. The Japanese band, led by vocalist and lyricist Sheena Ringo, is known for blending various musical styles and complex lyrics. Toumei Ningen is no exception, weaving difficult…
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Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before You
Read more: Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before YouMe Before You, directed by Thea Sharrock, delves into the transformative relationship between Louisa “Lou” Clark (played by Emilia Clarke) and Will Traynor, a once-successful banker and adventurer who, after a tragic accident, is left as a tetraplegic. Though the film falls into the typical tropes of a romantic drama, it raises relevant issues of…
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Finding Enlightenment Through the Journey of Growth in Vagabond
Read more: Finding Enlightenment Through the Journey of Growth in VagabondVagabond, a masterpiece by Takehiko Inoue, offers a fictionalized portrayal of the life of Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel Musashi. The story begins with two 17-year-old warriors, Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon’iden, wounded on the battlefield after the Battle of Sekigahara. Determined to achieve greatness, they pledge to become “Invincible Under…
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Embracing Change and Growth in Final Fantasy VIII
Read more: Embracing Change and Growth in Final Fantasy VIIIThe 8th installment of Final Fantasy by Square Enix has been both celebrated and criticized, primarily for its romantic storyline featuring Squall Leonhart, a “SeeD” from Balamb Garden, and Rinoa Heartilly, a member of a resistance group against Galbadian forces. This game marked a major shift in the series, from the character design featuring realistic…
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“Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and Family
Read more: “Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and FamilyDepartures by Yōjirō Takita, originally titled Okuribito (“one who sends off”), follows a cellist who loses his job and returns to his hometown with his wife. He unexpectedly finds work “assisting departures,” which he assumes is in travel. Instead, he prepares bodies for cremation ceremonies. This thought-provoking film examines themes of prejudice, our relationship with…
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Exploring Romance and Self-Growth Through City Hunter
Read more: Exploring Romance and Self-Growth Through City HunterCity Hunter, a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1991. The story follows Ryo Saeba, a “sweeper” and flirtatious gunman, who runs the “City Hunter” business in Shinjuku, Tokyo. At first accompanied by his partner, Hideyuki Makimura, Ryo’s world changes dramatically when Hideyuki…
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Living with Purpose: Reflections on Steve Jobs’ Life Lessons
Read more: Living with Purpose: Reflections on Steve Jobs’ Life LessonsSteve Jobs, known for founding and reviving Apple, reshaped our world with innovations like the iPhone and iPad. His worldview and approach to life contributed to his success, and he famously shared his insights as a Stanford commencement speaker. In his speech, Jobs highlighted a powerful lesson: “Remembering that you are going to die is…
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Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver Hermanus
Read more: Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver HermanusIn Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus and adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, Bill Nighy portrays a bureaucrat in a public works office who, upon learning of his terminal illness, confronts the monotony that has defined his life. Once called a “Zombie” by a former colleague—a woman he admires for her lively spirit—he realizes he’s lost…
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Embracing Passion and Authenticity in a Conformist Society
Read more: Embracing Passion and Authenticity in a Conformist SocietyIn Beck, a manga by Harold Sakuishi, we follow the journey of Yukio Tanaka, a 14-year-old whose ordinary life is upended when he meets Ryusuke Minami, a charismatic rock musician. A chance encounter with Ryusuke and his dog sets Yukio, or “Koyuki,” on a transformative path, drawing him into the world of rock music. Through…
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“Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Embracing Life with Passion and Purpose
Read more: “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Embracing Life with Passion and PurposeFrom their 2002 album By the Way, Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) has become one of the band’s most iconic songs, renowned for its electrifying energy and creative spirit. Like much of RHCP’s work, it merges an upbeat, high-octane sound with lyrics that invite introspection. Anthony Kiedis, the band’s lead vocalist,…