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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 by Ayako and Steven Archer or . 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 , , or the manga section of .
Of course, there also are sites focusing on more traditional aspects of Japanese culture, like the , , , or .
Academic literature on Japan is easily accessible through the and , 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' by subject guide.
You also can keep up with what's going on in Japan with English-language newspapers like , , , and , and radio—listen online to .
How about learning about Japanese culture firsthand? UB also offers a number of study abroad programs to Japan. The lists all of them and features a of the Kanazawa University Program, created by alumnus Ken Giese. Before you head off to Japan for study or vacation, online phrase books like and can help you prepare.
For a taste of Japan closer to home, check out for Japanese restaurants in the area and visit the 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