With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States found itself preparing for the unthinkable: what would happen if Hawaii fell under Japanese occupation? One of the […]
Hawaii’s Special Wartime Currency
After Escaping Cannibals, Dealing With Politicians Was Easy
In September 1944 nine US airmen were shot down over Chichi Jima, a small island 700 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. Of these nine men, only one evaded capture by the Japanese. […]
Did One Wrong Word Cause the Hiroshima Bombing?
Readers of Commonplace will not be surprised to learn that one little mistranslation from one language to another can be embarrassing. Whether it is one misplaced letter when cheering General Douglas MacArthur, an incompetent […]
It’s Not Easy Being Green in Japan
Japan is the largest exporter of frog legs.
Under the Same Management for Over 1,300 Years
In the Western world hotels frequently attract customers by advertising “Under New Management.” The family that owns the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan hotel hasn’t been able to do that for more than 1,300 […]
Pucker Up and Kiss Your Allergies Goodbye
Countless songs, poems, and dramatic works have been written about the power of a kiss. You may have been unaware of one of the additional benefits of the exercise: allergy reduction. Dr. […]
Have a Finger-Lickin’ Good Christmas!
While visions of sugar plums may dance in the heads of children in most of the world on Christmas Eve, in Japan the dreams are more likely to be filled with images […]
Two-Wheeled Commute
If you are traveling in Tokyo, Japan, and the trip is for fifty minutes or less, a bicycle is, on average, faster than an automobile. source
The Last Soldier
Officially, World War II came to an end on September 2, 1945 with the surrender of Japan. For Teruo Nakamura, the war would continue for another 29 years, 3 months, and 17 […]
Lucille Ball: Mistress of Comedy and Counter-Espionage
Lucille Ball (1911-1989) was not only one of the undisputed geniuses of comedy, starring in I Love Lucy, Life With Lucy, and more than 80 motion pictures, but she also played an […]
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream
Got a craving for ice cream? Try one of these distinctive flavors from around the world: Honey Jalapeño Pickle from Sweet Action Ice Cream in Denver, Colorado Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel from […]
Turn Baby Mice Whines into Baby Mice Wine
If you like mice — particularly the baby kind — you might enjoy the traditional drink in China and Korea: baby mice wine. Manufacturers take baby mice from their mothers before they […]
Divine Wind
A Japanese scroll art created 200 years ago during the Edo period (1603-1868) is dedicated to gas warfare, but not the kind of gas traditionally used in combat. The He-Gassen (literally […]
Slow and Steady Completes the Race
Shizo Kanakuri, a Japanese marathoner at the 1912 Olympics in Sweden, quit the race part way through and went home without telling race officials. In 1966 he was invited to compete the […]
One Little Letter Makes All the Difference
Japanese speakers frequently have difficulty differentiating between the English letters “L” and “R”. This was particularly evident in 1950 when supporters of General Douglas MacArthur (then serving as military governor of Japan […]
