THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA: A SHORT STORY is about a man who has lost the love of his life. Sorrow engulfs his agonized mind. And delusions threaten to shatter his fragile hold on reality. The Girl From Ipanema @ amazon.com

Amazon.com now features for sale the “Seven Samurai” inspired design by Toyo Hashi and Associates. This emblem is available on a variety of products, with the black t-shirt being the most popular. Seven Samurai (Inspired Design) @ amazon.com

The Christian history of Japan began long before the famous Christian century of the 16th century. Nestorian Christians from Persia are said to have built churches as early as the 7th century in Nara, and even converted the Empress Komyo to Christianity. This collection of studies explores the often forgotten accounts of this religion and faith in the ancient Asian country. Japan and Christianity @ amazon.com

The stories in this volume were first recorded in 1918 by Richard Gordon Smith, who spent twenty years traveling in Japan and collecting vintage folklore related to supernatural events. This edited and updated version of the century-old text preserves a timeless and contemporary theme for a modern audience to explore. Over 50 stories are documented in this rare collection that once again shines a light on Japanese myths and the haunting tales of ghosts in its ancient culture. Ancient Japanese Ghost Stories @ amazon.com

OF GOBLINS AND SAMURAI: THE KOJIKI is the oldest chronicle in Japan, dating from the 8th century. Composed by Ōno Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei, the collection contains myths about the origin of the four home islands of Japan and the gods (known as Kami). These legends are part of the inspiration behind Shinto practices. Originally translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain and edited by Toyo Hashi. Of Goblins and Samurai @ amazon.com

hatakikomi @ metaplace Metaplace.com is the virtual home of several Hatakikomi related worlds. Created by Toyo Hashi and Associates, these 3D environments offer a new realm of exploration.

Toyohashi @ metaplace

In 1590 AD the Hōjō clan was overthrown at the Battle of Odawara by the forces of Taikō Hidéyoshi. His second in command, and future Shogun of all Japan, Tokugawa Iyeyasu, was given authority over the captured territory. Over time, the glory of conquest became overshadowed by the lingering stories of haunted occurrences. This collection of traditional Japanese horror stories is comprised of two volumes, Yotsuya Kwaidan and Bakemono Yashiki. Included in this version is the adventure of a girl who, along with her friend and the ghost of...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi Photographic exhibit “Japan In Pink” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/4611694 Baby Buggy Bike Park Bridge Lanterns Boy Prayer Castle Bloom Construction Danger Drive Flag Road Gate Row Girl Prayer Graduation Green and Pink Happy Squid Historic Doorway Imperial Blossom Meal Under Sakura Nagoya Sakura Park Walk Pink Bloom Red Girl Rope Gate Sakura Bridge Shrine Steps Speed and Stillness Station Passage Stone Covers Temple Market Train...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi Photographic exhibit “Japan In Gray” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/4486179 Boarding Buddha Cave Cable Clutter Castle Keep Castle Tower Empty Station Family Memorials Goddess Row Hand Wash Imperial Roof Emblem Keep Door Marker Messages Mini Warriors Ningyo Old Pump Overhead Sign Parking Lot Prayer Railway Crossing Remove Shoes Sake Shrine Lantern Shrine Path Smile Street Bike Street Mirror Temple Pond Wall Wood...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit “Japan In Red” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/5269118 Japan In Red 01 Japan In Red 02 Japan In Red 03 Japan In Red 04 Japan In Red 05 Japan In Red 06 Japan In Red 07 Japan In Red 08 Japan In Red 09 Japan In Red 10 Japan In Red 11 Japan In Red 12 Japan In Red 13 Japan In Red 14 Japan In Red 15 Japan In Red 16 Japan In Red 17 Japan...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit in Japan “Roof Emblems” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/7728370 Roof Emblems 01 Roof Emblems 02 Roof Emblems 03 Roof Emblems 04 Roof Emblems 05 Roof Emblems 06 Roof Emblems 07 Roof Emblems 08 Roof Emblems 09 Roof Emblems 10 Roof Emblems 11 Roof Emblems 12 Roof Emblems 13 Roof Emblems 14 Roof Emblems 15 Roof Emblems 16 Roof Emblems...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit in Japan “Stone Faces” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/7728400 Stone Faces 01 Stone Faces 02 Stone Faces 03 Stone Faces 04 Stone Faces 05 Stone Faces 06 Stone Faces 07 Stone Faces 08 Stone Faces 09 Stone Faces 10 Stone Faces 11 Stone Faces 12 Stone Faces 13 Stone Faces 14 Stone Faces 15 Stone Faces 16 Stone Faces 17 Stone...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit in Japan “Carved Words” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/7731341 Carved Words 01 Carved Words 02 Carved Words 03 Carved Words 04 Carved Words 05 Carved Words 06 Carved Words 07 Carved Words 08 Carved Words 09 Carved Words 10 Carved Words 11 Carved Words 12 Carved Words 13 Carved Words 14 Carved Words 15 Carved Words 16 Carved Words 17 Carved...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit in Japan “Rail Life” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/7732328 Rail Life 01 Rail Life 02 Rail Life 03 Rail Life 04 Rail Life 05 Rail Life 06 Rail Life 07 Rail Life 08 Rail Life 09 Rail Life 10 Rail Life 11 Rail Life 12 Rail Life 13 Rail Life 14 Rail Life 15 Rail Life 16 Rail Life 17 Rail Life 18 Rail Life 19 Rail Life 20 Rail Life 21 Rail Life 22 Rail Life 23 Rail Life 24 Rail Life 25 Rail Life 26 Rail Life 27 Rail...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit in Japan “Signature Sites” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/7732359 Signature Sites 01 Signature Sites 02 Signature Sites 03 Signature Sites 04 Signature Sites 05 Signature Sites 06 Signature Sites 07 Signature Sites 08 Signature Sites 09 Signature Sites 10 Signature Sites 11 Signature Sites 12 Signature Sites 13 Signature Sites 14 Signature Sites 15 Signature...

Framed prints from the MatsuRi photography exhibit in Japan “Shadow Types” http://www.cafepress.com/hantranslation/7732430 Shadow Types 01 Shadow Types 02 Shadow Types 03 Shadow Types 04 Shadow Types 05 Shadow Types 06 Shadow Types 07 Shadow Types 08 Shadow Types 09 Shadow Types 10 Shadow Types 11 Shadow Types 12 Shadow Types 13 Shadow Types 14 Shadow Types 15 Shadow Types 16 Shadow Types 17 Shadow...

Works of fiction that includes a ghost, and can refer to any kind of scary story. It is also a form of supernatural fiction, and is often a horror story. amazon.com | Ghost Stories

This type of science fiction, alternate history, and fantasy stories take place in an era or world where steam power is still widely used, usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain. amazon.com | Steampunk

A collection of well written books and short stories that have been converted from their original printed paper versions into digital editions for Kindle. amazon.com | Kindle

Humor is an escape, however brief, from so many social pressures. A sanctuary to where the purest form of emotional expression, laughter, can blossom. amazon.com | Comedy

Sumo is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force one another out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally. The Japanese consider sumo a modern Japanese martial art, though the sport has a history spanning many centuries. amazon.com | Japan Sports: Sumo

Christian scriptures, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. In addition to study guides and support texts. amazon.com | Faith: The Bible

Alternate history is a subgenre of science fiction and historical fiction that is set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally known. Alternate history literature asks the question, “What if history had developed differently?” Most works in this genre are based in real historical events, yet feature social, geopolitical, or industrial circumstances that developed differently than our own. amazon.com | History: Alternative Reality

Zhang Yimou is part of China’s Fifth Generation of filmmakers, who began making films after the Cultural Revolution. His movies are among the greatest of the modern Chinese cinema. amazon.com | China Film: Zhang Yimou

The Chinese cinema had a modern renaissance in the early 1990s. After ten years, that period is now considered a Golden Age because of the caliber of work accomplished in that time. Two directors, Zhang Yimou and Kaige Chen, and one actress, Gong Li revitalized the lost art of film-making in China and inspired a new generation of talent. amazon.com | China Film: Top 25 Classic Movies of Modern Chinese Cinema (1990-2000)

The Russo–Japanese War (February 10, 1904–September 5, 1905) was a conflict that grew out of the rival imperialist ambitions of the Russian Empire and the Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea. The major theatres of operations were Southern Manchuria, specifically the area around the Liaodong Peninsula (Dairen/Dalian) and Mukden, and the seas around Korea, Japan, and the Yellow Sea. amazon.com | History: Russo-Japanese War

The Metaverse is a virtual world where humans, as avatars, interact with each other and software agents, in a three-dimensional space that uses the metaphor of the real world. The word metaverse is a compound of the words “meta” and “universe” amazon.com | History: Virtual Reality

Aside from Samurai and Anime features, the Japan motion pictures industry produces many interesting pop culture movies. Because these are not well known outside Japan, yet give a detailed look into modern Japanese culture, this list has been created. The following movies are not yet in the Amazon.com database: Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t (Shiko Funjatta), Waterboys, Give It All (Ganbatte ikimasshoi), Go-Con! Japanese Love Culture, Stereo Future, Tokyo Biyori, Swing Girls, Collage Of Our Life (Renai Shashin), Sumomo Mo Momo amazon.com | Japan Film:...

Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese singer-songwriter and former actress. Also known as “Ayu” to her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the “Empress of J-Pop” due to her popularity and widespread influence in Japan. She is Japan’s top female solo artist with the most number-one singles. amazon.com | Japan Music: Hamasaki Ayumi

Akira Kurosawa (23 March 1910 – 6 September 1998) was a prominent Japanese film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His first credited film (Sanshiro Sugata) was released in 1943; his last (Madadayo) in 1993. His many awards include the Légion d’Honneur and an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. amazon.com | Japan Film: Akira Kurosawa

The cinematic work of Japan’s most famous actor and native of Dalian. amazon.com | Japan Film: Toshiro Mifune

Originally established by Russia, then later occupied by Japan, Dalian has a long history as an international sea port supporting commerce and tourism from Japan, Korea, and other traditional Asian regions for over a century. amazon.com | Dalian

Vintage Publishing For The Digital Age. amazon.com | DigitalKu

Xuemei Han brings this children’s story to life with her unique and inspirational hand drawn illustrations. Her internationally award winning style is an innovative blend of traditional Chinese cultural paintings and Japanese Manga comics. This magical combination is the perfect match for a new generation of young readers interested in fables and fantasy stories from Asia. amazon.com | Xuemei Han

Pikku ピック now offers a live chat community, as an extension of the social bookmark services, for all things Japanese. Pikku @ Facebook

Pikku ピック @ metaplace

Less traditional but equally popular Japanese sports also have many loyal fans. Major international Football (Soccer) games have been known to cause offices to close in Japan so workers can view the event on television. An original Nippon fantasy league was created, complete with fan apparel, for each Prefecture in the country. Please visit the official online store at: http://www.hatakikomi.com/football

Due to the devastating scandals in the ancient sport of Sumo, we have suspended our translation service of tournament results (http://twitter.com/tsukiotoshi). When the sport reclaims its lost honor, we look forward to resuming this service for Sumo fans in English. Until that time, please visit the official sumo website for match results in English, or follow the live feed in Japanese here: http://twitter.com/sumo Fans and supporters of the beloved sport can continue to purchase Sumo inspired products and merchandise here: Sumo Store

Kimarite (決まり手 kimari-te) are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament (or honbasho), a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner. It is possible (although rare) for the judges, or shimpan to modify this decision later. Records of the kimarite are kept and statistical information on the preferred techniques of different wrestlers can be deduced easily. For example the a pie chart of the kimarite used by each sekitori in the past year can be found on the Japan...

azukari (預り) Hold. A kind of draw. After a mono-ii, the gyōji or the shimpan “holds” the result if it was too close to call. In 1927, the system was abolished and a torinaoshi (rematch) now takes place instead. banzuke (番付) List of sumo wrestlers according to rank for a particular grand tournament, reflecting changes in rank due to the results of the previous tournament. It is written out in a particular calligraphy (see sumo-ji) and released two weeks prior to the tournament. banzuke-gai (番付外) Outsider to the list. A...