BL does not stand for Bacon Lettuce; or the bad LGBTQ+ representation in Japanese media

2021年12月9日2021年12月14日 ivayumeLeave a comment

I wrote this back in February and was always scared to post it. I love this piece and want to share it, even if it is months later. All the feelings in this are very much present and I hope it can open something.

When I saw that members of a certain male idol group were doing a movie about them being in love, an uncertain feeling got into me.

If you are into anime/manga, you must have stumbled upon “BL”, which is an acronym for “Boys Love” or as it used to be called and is sometimes called on English fandoms “Yaoi”. They are romantic stories about gay men targeted at women.

Could “gaijin” ever become the “n-word” for foreigners in Japan? Or the power of words

2021年11月6日2023年11月4日 ivayume1 Comment

I wrote this back in February and was always scared to post it. While some feelings are still present, as I am not in Japan anymore or that even wrote this in moments I thought of leaving the country, some might feel the weariness I felt with the country. There’s hope in it, but now reading it back, there’s a hidden bitterness.

Anyhow, I love this piece and want to share it, even if it is months later.

There’s nothing quite like the word “n***a” and the connotation it has in English. That is all because of the heavy history starting with slavery and continuing in our years with discrimination from White people towards Black people.

What I find remarkable about it though, is the way Black people now own the word, made it ours and made sure no other ethnicity can say it without repercussions. In a way, it’s beautiful.

5 things I’ll definitively miss from Japan and 5 things I’ll definitively not miss

2021年7月3日 ivayumeLeave a comment

As written in “Iva Is Not Okay“, Iva will soon not be in Japan. When you are about to leave a place, people always ask: “What are you going to miss?”

Of course, this particular subject had been in my mind ever since I decided that I would leave Japan. It’s good to think back about the good things, the things that irritated and remember them fondly. This is why I decided to a proper list. Also so I can refer to people and stop repeating myself.

Therefore:

5 things I’ll definitively miss from Japan

Tea Shop Royalty

2021年6月15日2021年6月15日 ivayume1 Comment

My friend’s parents own a tea shop called Rose Town Tea Garden and I had the chance to visit!

To be honest, I’m not big on tea or tea shop in general: it all feels too expensive for what they give, especially as someone who only drinks tea occasionally.

But I’m happy my friend brought me.

First, the location is amazing. It just a few minutes from the Hinatawada station on the JR Ome line (connected to the Chuo line). It is very countryside and full of small local restaurants.

My biggest culture shock was because of a Jdrama (I know, I’m weird)

2021年5月25日 ivayume1 Comment

I wrote a similar blog post in Japanese but in honour of Hoshino Gen and Aragaki Yui getting married, I thought I’d relate the story here.

I think a lot of people know this about me, but I love Japanese tv shows, also called Jdramas or simply called dramas.

Though they are sometimes very cliche and predictable, I found them enjoyable in a way I cannot find with North American/Western tv shows. There is something about the innocence of it, especially romantic drama. It is only recently that dramas show passionate kisses or even bed scenes. Sex scenes still are most likely to fade in the dark more than showing some “action” like in what North Americans are used to in North American shows.

Even if I love dramas, there are still times that I look at them with a “WTF” face.

“逃げるは恥だが役に立つ” or “The Full-Time Wife Escapist” in English is still up to this date the drama that got me the most confused.

The Places I Go For My Book

2021年5月13日 ivayumeLeave a comment

As you may or may not know, I’m writing a book.

Yes, I am still writing this damn book. I am getting there.

And while the entire story is happening in Japan, I had 2 specific scenes where I knew exactly where in Japan I wanted them to occur.

I had the chance to go to one of the places the other day.

It is the Yakyu Inari Shrine in Higashi-Matsuyama in Saitama Prefecture (pictured above). It is a shrine dedicated to the god Inari Okami.

Why Japan’s army is not made of mecha robots yet?

2021年4月7日 ivayumeLeave a comment

The other day, I had the chance to go to Gundam Factory in Yokohama.

Before any of you say: “iva, this is about anime, don’t you have a blog to fangirl?”

Let me say this: I am not a Gundam fan. I barely even finished Gundam Wing back when it was playing on YTV (yes, feel old with me). But it doesn’t mean I cannot enjoy a giant robot moving.

Because it is a GIANT. ROBOT. MOVING! Just that is insane!

🌸SAKURA🌸

2021年3月23日 ivayumeLeave a comment

If you know anything about Japan, you must know about the famous cherry blossom trees also known as Sakura (桜、さくら).

And while sakura trees are in full bloom as of yesterday in the Tokyo area, the rain made it harder to enjoy sitting down and watching the flowers.

Well, that and COVID-19.

Because Japan’s whole culture with sakura also comes with Hanami (花見) which translated means watching flowers but it is not only watching flowers. It is also about meeting up with people on a picnic, with food and alcohol overflowing. So you can see why most parks are closed this week as a COVID prevention.

But it doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy sakura this year. And here I’m not even talking about the flowers, I’m talking about all the sakura flavoured/fragranced things you can find in the market starting early March.

White Day Is Not That Clean

2021年3月13日 ivayumeLeave a comment

I told you guys about Valentine’s Day in Japan. If you thought Valentine’s Day was already commercial, behold for White Day.

What is White Day, people not in Japan or not into anime will ask? Just the follow-up of Valentine’s Day.

I kid you not.

As Wikipedia has written, it “is on March 14, one month after Valentine’s Day, when people give reciprocal gifts to those who gave them gifts received on Valentine’s Day.”

So you might guess, more spending.

Japan Don’t Joke with Valentine’s Day

2021年2月13日 ivayume1 Comment

Most anime fans would know this, but Valentine’s day works differently in Japan than it does in North America. There are 本命チョコ honmei choco favourite (person) chocolate and 義理チョコ giri choco obligation chocolate, which by the name tells you to which one girl (yes, because it is girls that give chocolate in Japan) will give her chocolate. In recent years there is even the 友チョコ tomo choco friend chocolate to give in between girl friends.

As you might already sense, there is this whole marketing going on, and it is going strong. Valentine’s turn into an even bigger commercial event. I will always remember going to the “Chocolate Expo” last year in Osaka and feeling like it was an out of body experience. There were so many people, so many booths, and so many people truly buying.

iva In Japan

All about a black girl in Japan