More than Tokyo travel tips. Anime and figures, noodle reviews, and speculative fiction. 2024 edition of Tokyo guidebook available and new novel coming.
Mar 13, 2025 • Subscribe
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Kumotawa Confluence, My Urban Fantasy Set In Modern Japan Is Finished!
Wow! It has been a long haul to finish this novel, but it is done. This is my second completed novel and third completed book (I have a…
Cover Designs For Kumotawa Confluence, A Japanese Urban Fantasy Novel
Sword Princess battles evil forces in a magical modern Japan! That would be a headline tag for my novel, but it stars an ensemble cast that ...
Modern Military Portal Fantasy Novels and Kumotawa Confluence
Modern military portal fantasy is a subgenre of speculative fiction where contemporary armed forces—soldiers, vehicles, tactics, and technology—are transported through a portal or dimensional rift into a fantastical…
Urban Fantasy Novels, Anime, Games Set In Japan
Urban fantasy is very common in Japanese pop culture. There are popular literary novels, light novels, manga, anime, and video games, all fe...
A Short Book Trailer For Kumotawa Confluence
Kumotawa Confluence An urban / portal fantasy set in modern Japan If you want episodic adventure that starts more slowly with action in most...
Kumotawa Confluence - Yuriko, Convenience Store, and Map
While I wrote Kumotawa Confluence, my urban fantasy novel set in modern Japan. I also tried out various ways to visualize the environment an...
My Writing Methods For My Novel Kumotawa Confluence
I completed the draft for my second novel, Kumotawa Confluence, last month. There wasn't a big celebration or fireworks - but there should b...
My Novel Kumotawa Confluence Is On The Home Stretch
While I'm not blogging or working, I've been writing my second novel, Kumotawa Confluence. It has been a long haul on this project as it ha...
Kumotawa Confluence at the Edmonton Local Authors Book Sale!
Hi everyone!I'm going to be participating in the Local Authors Book Sale being hosted by the Edmonton Public Library at the Stanley A. Milner (Downtown). It will take place…
Piranesi: A Modern Fantasy Classic?
Hi friends! I hope you’re all doing very well. Today I wanted to talk about a book I recently read in a two-and-a-half-hour sitting AKA binge read called…
Doing A Book Signing For Kumotawa Confluence and Tokyo Intro at Indigo
Hi everyone,For those folks in Canada's northernmost large city, Edmonton. I will be doing a book signing this Sunday at the big Chapters/Indigo bookstore on 170 ST, north…
My Top 5 Urban Fantasy Anime
I love urban fantasy and I also love anime. So what could be better than urban fantasy anime? Here are 5 I happen to enjoy.
Urban Oasis: How to Enjoy a Swimming Pool in Japan
Dive into a quick guide to swimming pools in Japan, from where to find them to what to wear.
13 Contemporary Fantasy Anime With Magic in a Modern World
There is magic in a good chunk of anime these days. While there is certainly some charm to enjoying fantasy anime set in a fantasy land filled with…
A Certain Magical Index, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Flying Witch, The Irregular at Magic High School, Witch Hunter Robin
This Fantasy just Set a New Standard
SUMMONING FANTASY FANS GOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Also, Witch Hat Atelier's pretty fire. You should go read it. 0:00 Intro 1:39 Plot 4:19 Magic 6:45 Art 7:57 Fantasy #anime #videoessay #WaifuBait #witchhatatelier #fantasy #magic
Even Urban Legends are Scarier in Japan 2!
Every year I do an Even X is Scarier in Japan post during October: Even Urban Legends are Scarier in Japan Even Creepypastas Are Scarier in Japan Even…
Rōnin: Why Being a “Masterless Samurai” in Modern Japan Sucks
Saying "rōnin" in English conjures up images of cool, lone-wolf samurai. But in modern Japan, being a rōnin kinda sucks.
Workshop - Gendering War & Peace in Modern Japan
In this workshop, Dr. Barbara Molony (Santa Clara), Dr. Sabine Frühstück (UCSB), Dr. Sharalyn Orbaugh (UBC), and Dr. Hillary Maxson (Oregon) present their recent research and discuss the…
That Combini Life: Convienence Stores in Modern Japan
Convenience stores ("combini") in Japan are everywhere. But what do people use them for? A look at combini and everyday life in Japan.
Urban Exploring in Takeo, Saga
An abandoned onsen exhibition reflecting the results of the Third Impact in Saga, Japan. After having a fabulous day in Fukuoka exploring local shrines and temples, seeing the…
Magic From The Margins: HIGH SPIRITS NEOMA’s supernatural urban fantasy
For this week's Magic From The Margins, we explore the exciting and terrifying supernatural urban fantasy High Spirits Neoma.
Eastern Wisdom in a Modern Context
The wisdom of Japan and China remains valuable for us today. Like the wisdom of Stoicism, we can look toward the past for lessons on how to live…
How To Set Up Utilities In Your Apartment in Japan
Have you just moved to Japan? Here's how to set up your electricity, gas and water for your new apartment.
Stalking Incidents, Restraining Orders in Japan Set New Record
The ominous spike could be a sign that police in Japan are finally starting to take women's allegations seriously.
Creating a Classic JRPG in the Modern Era: An Interview with Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
"I write a certain amount every morning, but I do it while I'm engaging in "gameplay" within an imaginary world."
Tamura Toshiko: The ‘New Woman’ Feminist in Early Modern Japan
In Taisho era Japan, Tamura Toshiko emerged as one of the preeminent writers of the "New Woman" movement. Her legacy extends beyond Japan's borders.
Samurai Cultivator: the Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan
Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning days of the samurai.
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
In/Spectre – The Birth of a Modern Ghost
I’m a bit of a repeating record lately but there’s a lot to say about myth and magic. And sure, it’s fun to think about the classics but…
10 Unique Character Shops in Tokyo
Find your next cute or quirky obsession with this list of 10 best under-the-radar-themed unique character shops in Tokyo.
What’s your favorite anime set outside Japan?
Favorite directly adapting a foreign work? Favorite anime set outside Japan? How has anime gotten better at depicting outside cultures? Where can it still improve?
Yu-Gi-Oh! English Dub set the tone for Modern Anime Adaptions
RIP Kazuki Takahashi. Last summer, Internet Pitstop and I talked about a wide variety of topics ranging from retro anime, to fashion, video games, to balancing content creation with…
Secret Urban Legends GN
Have you heard the story about the abandoned house where a girl still waits for her friends to finish their game of hide-and-seek? And what if mosquitos can…
Ink & Passion: Modern Women Writers Who Changed Japan
The faces behind Japan’s post-war turbulence, restlessness and extreme passion. Learn about 10 influential modern women writers.
United In Stormwind Set Discussion
The latest set of Hearthstone has had its up and downs, competitively speaking.
Abortion In Japan: A History
A look at how abortion in Japan evolved throughout the ages, from a financial necessity to a call for the acknowledgment of women's rights.
Fruits Basket – 57 – Caught Up In a Fantasy
“I wonder how much time and effort it’ll take for you kids to find your answers…” Those are the words Kyouko said to a young Kyou. The answer?…
More Scary Japanese Urban Legends
Discover chilling Japanese urban legends. From the haunting Cow Head to eerie phantoms, delve into these modern scary tales.
OtakuGeneration (Show #470) Urban Square
Shownotes :: (show 470) :: () :: () :: () :: () With Urban Square, recorded live June 8th, 2014. This week we watched another short film Urban…
Busou Shinki: Armored War Goddess, Date A Live, Deltora Quest, Ringing Bell, School Days
Modern Transience in ‘The Morning Schedule’
An examination of the theme of transience and value in Susumu Hani’s ‘The Morning Schedule’.
Every RETCON in Modern Dragon Ball
Before we get to Every Retcon in Modern Dragon Ball, I wanted to correct the record on my last list and retcon it so to speak. This was…
Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, Dragon Ball Z
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Is A Modern Classic
Cyberpunk Edgerunners after a year is still a beloved and recognized anime while only having 10 episodes. Not only becoming a modern classic, but also becoming one of…
Mob Psycho 100: A Modern Classic
Hey Guys, Bad anime takes here. Just had some opinions about Mob Psycho 100 that I wanted to share. Mob is a amazing show, that I consider as…
Kuro | A Modern Classic Mystery Manga
Kuro is a fantastic supernatural mystery manga by Somato. The definition of a modern classic for its genre, Kuro has incredible art and a touching story that can…
Win A Unique Samurai SENDAN no ITA Keyring
Our friends at KATCHU JAPAN are delighted to offer 3 lucky winners a choice of three designs of SENDAN no ITA Keyrings, with FREE shipping worldwide. For your…
OmOneko Review – A unique, mysterious take on catgirls
There aren’t many notable pieces of Western media featuring catgirls, and in all corners of the world, they’re often portrayed as submissive, tacky, lovey-dovey anime girls who happen…
A Weekend in my Life (in Japan)
While the vast majority of my uploads these days are my diary entries instead of travel posts, I recently realised that I could make things even more personal.…
Putting the ‘Zen’ in Zenless (Zone Zero) – ZZZ’s Urban Exploration
Regrettably, I have not only gotten into a new gacha game, but the game in question is by Chinese gacha powerhouse MiHoYo. Daily check-ins, obsessive stat building, and…