When Confusion Rises to New Heights
Twice recently I have felt confused about Japanese. Well, I should probably inflate that number by an order of 10 or 100, just to account for all the puzzlement I experience in an average week. But I can remember only two episodes of note. Both had to do with height.
For my forthcoming essay on 杉 (すぎ: cedar), I examined a photo that gave the vitals on an enormous and ancient cedar on...
READ MOREEssay 1821 on 墨 (black inkstick; black ink; Mexico) Is Up
Essay 1821 on 墨 (black inkstick; black ink; Mexico) is now up and available for purchase. Here's a preview:
Black ink has left an indelible mark on Japanese culture. People have used it to dye clothes,...
Essay 1467 on 杉 (cedar) Is Coming Next
Here's what you can expect in coming weeks on Joy o' Kanji:
June 21:
Essay 1467 on 杉 (cedar)
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READ MOREAswirl
After many months in which I've had nothing to say whenever I saw friends (because it's hard to chat about kanji, which is pretty much all I think about), things have shifted. Everything happens at once. Stasis tilts into periods of high energy and change. All is aswirl.
Essay 1593 on 嵐 (storm) Is Up
Essay 1593 on 嵐 (storm; mountain air) is now up and available for purchase. Here's a preview:
Whether you're discussing a literal storm that uproots trees or a figurative tempest that blows...