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Electronic Highways

Published: November 1, 2007

Japanese culture online

Since Nov. 3 is Bunka-no-hi (Culture Day) in Japan and 2007 has been dubbed "Year of Japan in Buffalo Niagara" by the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee, it seems like the perfect time to learn more about Japanese culture.

A good starting point for an online exploration of Japan might be the guide  by Ayako and Steven Archer or Japan-guide . There is a plethora of sites online where you can learn more about specific aspects of Japanese culture. If you're intrigued by pop culture, try the Anime News Network , CosplayWiki , Jpop  or the manga section of Comic Books for Young Adults .

Of course, there also are sites focusing on more traditional aspects of Japanese culture, like the Bonsai Site , Encyclopedia Mythica , Immortal Geisha , Japanese Kimono  or Kendo America .

Academic literature on Japan is easily accessible through the Bibliography of Asian Studies  and JSTOR , which provides full-text from journals like Far Eastern Quarterly, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Journal of Asian Studies, Monumenta Nipponica, and Pacific Affairs. You also can find more detailed information on library resources in the University Libraries' Asian American and Asian Studies Resources  by subject guide.

You also can keep up with what's going on in Japan with English-language newspapers like Asahi Shimbun , Kyodo News , Mainichi Daily News , News on Japan  and Yomiuri Shimbun , and radio—listen online to NHK World Daily News .

How about learning about Japanese culture firsthand? UB also offers a number of study abroad programs to Japan. The Study Abroad Web site  lists all of them and features a virtual tour  of the Kanazawa University Program, created by alumnus Ken Giese. Before you head off to Japan for study or vacation, online phrase books like Japanese Reference  and Japanese Phrases for Travelers  can help you prepare.

For a taste of Japan closer to home, check out Bill Rapaport's Buffalo Restaurant Guide  for Japanese restaurants in the area and visit the Year of Japan Web site  to learn about local events celebrating Japanese culture, including a Bunka-no-hi celebration Nov. 3 to benefit the Japanese Garden of Buffalo and numerous festivities at Gusto at the Gallery on Nov. 9.

—Karen Walton Morse, University Libraries