Unique Japan

The masterful art of Japanese calligraphy turns stiff letters into swift brush strokes, creating powerful movement and revealing an elusive energy. Unfortunately for those of you who use the English alphabet, the Japanese writing system can be rather complicated. That’s why I’d like to share a few secrets about Japanese writing.

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Many of you might have seen the Disney movie Mulan, which depicts a young Chinese maiden, Mulan, courageously disguising herself as a Chinese warrior in order to protect her father. It’s very exciting to see a female character such as Mulan aspiring to be her best in a male-dominated world. I’m not sure if Mulan is based on a true story, but here in Japan, there was a story of a female samurai who outsmarted many of her opponents and was known for her legendry archery skills. Her name was Tomoe.

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On March 24th, the Samurai Japan was awarded the championship trophy at the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC). The players were beaming with victory smiles so big that even the multi-colored confetti looked a little faded. The news caused a sensation across Japan and turned the players into heroes.

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