Sayaconcept music

Apart from Miki Ariyama and Sown, I have now been introduced to another upcoming band (it is so hard to call them Japanese since the membership is global -- Japan, Europe, and Vietnam) called Sayaconcept. What is interesting about their music is that it is an eclectic mix between traditional Japanese music and modern music. Listen to this clip below:

Angelina Jolie for Shiseido cosmetics

The dirty little secret of Hollywood celebrities is that they star in advertisements in Japan but not so in Hollywood. Why? The money in Japanese advertising business is just too big to say no. Almost every star has pitched a product to Japanese consumers who are often obsessed with American celebs. Watch the commercial of Angelina Jolie pushing Shiseido cosmetics.

Japanese obon dance

Fans of Japanese culture know that dance is an integral part. Of course, many gaijins think of Roppongi nightclubs as a window into dancing in Japan or even para-para, but obon dancing is what I am talking about here. This is a form of dance that is embedded into the Japanese culture for centuries and this dance is performed during summer to honor the dead loved ones. Here is a one brief clip of the dance.

Life in Japan video

Life in Japan is different and there are parts of Japanese life that you can never find out if you are just visiting as a tourist. You might even stay in a traditional "ryokan" (Japanese style inn) or even have a Japanese friend be your guide. I lived in Japan for years and despite my being immersed in Japanese culture and society, I continue to discover that there are so many things about Japan that I know nothing about. While excellent knowledge of the Japanese language helps, it is not everything.

But what if you were curious about Japan but didn't have the time to do all of the above? Watch this video clip that within a matter of minutes gives you a snapshot of what life in Japan is like. Forget the lyrics and I thought the music was nice.

Video of Japanese movers

One thing that Japanese do very well is to serve their customers. There is something else that do even better. Make a fool of themselves on Japanese television. Watch this funny clip of how a bunch of employees have a great time helping a Japanese cutie move out of her apartment.

The video is in Japanese but shouldn't matter - these Japanese men are hilarious.