The Offtopicest Post EVAR!!!

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I'm not really bragging about this.

But.

I know lossa people here are interested in culture stuff, or even Japanese stuff particularly; as tomorrow is the eve of the Emperor's birthday, I'm celebrating by opening up my blog for questions.
 So, got any fun questions about Japan I might be able to find the answers to? Any discussion provoking ideas?

Just want to carry salutations from the Annux-to-be to the current world's only emperor? (As crown prince he represented Japan at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. For some reason that amazes me.)



[Mods, you can spank me if you have to. I'm just game for a try.]

~Clarification: head over to my personal blog tomorrow for this. Unless you want to reply here, that's fine...but I'm inviting you to an Event at "anachred".~

Comments

in which Rosie says nothing much.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Questions, questions...

You know, it sounds really interesting and fun, but I can't think of any questions at the moment. Gah. My brain is tired, I think.

Re: in which Rosie says nothing much.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow's good. Come on in!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Go for it. The comm's been pretty quiet lately.

[appellations.livejournal.com]

It's the deep breath before the plunge (OF DEC 30 MADNESS)

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I have an umbrella stick of insanity

[dh684.livejournal.com]

Here's an on-topic link:


http://tinyurl.com/2hmr8h

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

I'm always so happy when people discover how wonderful these books are! XD Thanks for sharing. :)

the randomest question EVAR!

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Ok, heres my question. What is the coolest thing you know about Japan that you want to tell all of us? :D

I'll reply here for you, but put this on my blog, too.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Well... the feudal defense tactics involved in capitals is a pretty neat thing.

I lived in a city that grew up basically when a lord was exiled after Sekigahara, a very important battle you may just see mentioned again sometime in your life if you ever read about Japan's history. The old city, the streets part of the actual feudal town as established by the Uesugi lords (blacksmith street, etc...) are Never Straight.
That is, they go crookedy so no road goes directly into the heart of the town...where the castle was.
I believe that in the castle I visited in Osaka (the museum Osaka Castle) the floorplan exhibited a similar tactic.

Come to think of it, that sound like Attolia would totally do, if she built a new capital. Doesn't it?

I was just reading a really good [in Japanese fashion=tragic] historical "fantasy" called Across the Nightengale Floor.
Apparently there was also such a thing in Japan as a "nightengale floor" which was built so that everywhere you stepped on it, it made a note of some kind. This was a preventative measure, so that no one could cross it undetected.

I think that's pretty cool stuff...

Re: I'll reply here for you, but put this on my blog, too.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Hey, that is pretty cool!

Re: I'll reply here for you, but put this on my blog, too.

[hikari-cyhan.livejournal.com]

I've heard of that book! The, um, Tales of the Otori?

Re: I'll reply here for you, but put this on my blog, too.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Yep. And you know what's handy? The whole sequence has been written, and my library has the ones in the main series.

I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind grim war/feudal society stuff and loves historically deep fantasy.

It more to the feel of a historical novel than a fantasy. Magic is negligable. Just a good book.

Re: I'll reply here for you, but put this on my blog, too.

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I've read them. also, the prequel has just been published, i think.

[filkferengi]

Here's a Japan question for you: have you ever read Katherine Patterson's novels set in Japan? How's her research?

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I've read quite a few.
I'm not a scholar of Japan (yet; I plan to remedy that eventually) just experienced there, but for the cultural aspects, she has it down to the way Japanese people talk while making it sound like fluid English.
I think she's great.

I'm pretty sure she's put a lot of study into it; but I can't quantify that for you--sorry!

[filkferengi]

That was the impression I had, too; she's a great writer.

What are your plans?