Noah Oskow
@noahoskow
JPN translator, Global Studies MA, former JET. 10年間以上日本に滞在。Minnesotaיהודי מ. 🇺🇸🇯🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹 Ghibli stan. EiC/writer at Unseen Japan, head of UJ Tours. Writing/making videos on intercultural meeting points and lesser-known historical junctures in Japan.
The Odyssey doesn’t come to Japanese theaters until mid-September - but I just so happen to be in Peru, where I availed myself of the earlier release date. And yes, it was very worth it. The movie rocks.
Hola from Lima, Peru! My first time in South America. Here for a few days doing some research for an upcoming article/video - if anyone in la Comunidad peruano-japonesa would like to chat, send me a message!
Very glad I’ve had a chance to visit Dug recently. Very few jazz kissa of its pedigree left, and tragic to hear that it’s closing not by the owner’s choice - but because its historic building is being demolished. Farewell to a Shinjuku icon.
Interesting seeing this book from 2011 on Japanese architecture describe the Mori tower megaprojects as akin to Trump Towers. They have some similarities - conspicuous internationalist structures that feel apart from their surrounding built environment. At least the Mori towers are less gaudy?
My grandma bought me a copy of the Lupin III Part 2 soundtrack from Suncoast Video when I was an 8th grader; it wasn't just an intro to Lupin's music, but to a very specific sort of 70s vibe as a whole. Ohno's music has meant a lot to me ever since. The afterlife just got a bit jazzier.
This is why avoiding Enoshima during Golden Week is probably a good idea:
The dollar rate sitting at nearly 160 yen over the past few days - still hard to believe the overall trend is this high, and may go higher. Great for inbound tourists, but very difficult exchange rate for anyone getting paid in yen here in Japan.
I'll make sure to ask Takaichi about this next time I see her at synagogue.
Wait, two 2025 Oscar-nominated films are period pieces about self-destructive men in sports with put-upon romantic partners traveling to Japan to compete in a big event? And the film that actually put effort into properly portraying Japan in its period era is the vastly superior film? Huh.
More of the beautiful 2026 Tokyo snowpocalypse, as seen from Shinjuku. Some major train shutdowns now in effect.
You know you’re in the U.S. when an off-brand Jonnie Bravo is hawking gas and convenience store sundries
This reminds me of an insightful comment we recently got on this video. Good demonstration of having the point hover so far above your head that it's in the stratosphere - like when far right Star Trek fans get angry that the franchise is "woke."
Just when I'd thought I'd encountered the funniest of historical British names, I discover this guy.
Back in Hiroshima for the second time in four days, and actually staying on the island of Miyajima for the first time. Watching the tide come in at Itsukushima Shrine is something special.
Recently, really treasuring each time I get to go down to Osaka. Enjoying reconnecting with Japan’s great second city.
There's something about Airbnb using an (admittedly well-made) bit of art depicting, of all things, the "Shibuya Yokocho" in Miyashita Park as their representational image of Tokyo. A corporate bit of faux-Showa nostalgia that apes real yokochos, with among the more mediocre kitchens in the region.
Yui made an apple pie for Rosh Hashanah - real Jewish-American new year here in Japan! 😆🍎
A rather, shall we say, interesting headline for an article in the free magazine found on a Shinkansen route frequented by international visitors: “The Rapid Ascent of Issues with Foreigners - Don’t Speak So Easily of ‘Multicultural Coexistence”
Absolutely beautiful hand-made challot at Shabbat dinner last night courtesy of @sheepchase.net .