A gorgeous plastic-bodied TLR that shoots medium format-style square images on 35mm film. Want one, but it looks like you can only get them in Japan.

"This discussion paper proposes that the medium of digital photography inherently displays qualities of Japanese aesthetics." Hmmn. No.

Interview and photos about loopwheel machines. (Is 'loom' the right word for knitting cotton?)

1970s Japanese dubplater cutter. For kids!

An educational comic strip produced by the US army in 1942. Weird reading.

Great MeFi post on Yukio Mishima.

"...refers to a movement in J-Rock... characterised by bands using dramatic costumes and visual imagery to grab attention"

"At elementary schools, kindergartens, and preschools all across Japan, kids are losing themselves making hikaru dorodango, or balls of mud that shine."

American grandees play kissy-kissy with Geishas in 1974. Includes Rumsfeld with chopstick moustache. Really.

"2channel (2ちゃんねる, pronounced "ni-channeru", 2ch for short) is the largest Internet forum in the world.1 With over 10 million visitors every day (as of 2001), it is gaining significant influence in Japanese society"