Cezary Jan Strusiewicz, Author at Tokyo Weekender

This Tokyo Bar Will Hypnotize You, Literally

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:47:46 +0000

The Wonder Belly Button (Fushigi no Heso) is a hypnosis café & bar in Shinjuku, named so because “the belly button is where we were once connected to our mothers via the umbilical cord. It’s a symbol of the center of the body, its core,” explained the bar’s proprietor and hypnotist Mr. Endo. “It’s also […]

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Who Was The Elusive Samurai? The Real Life of Hojo Tokiyuki

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:45:34 +0000

The Elusive Samurai from CloverWorks has been hailed as one of the highlights of the summer anime season. Based on a manga of the same name by Yusei Matsui, it tells the story of Hojo Tokiyuki — a young samurai noble with a near superhuman ability to flee and dodge attacks — as he tries […]

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5 Japanese Movies and Shows About Summer You Can Stream Right Now

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:18:44 +0000

Summer in Japan can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be scorching and sweaty. As with all great things, Japanese summers contain multitudes, which is one of many reasons why the season makes such a rich topic for plots of movies and television shows. If you would like to explore all the facets […]

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Yoshiko Yamaguchi: The Singer, Actress and Politician Who Loved Japan and China

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:35:59 +0000

She was one of the most popular singers in all of China and Japan. A friend of Charlie Chaplin, she was also a well-known actress, appearing in a number of Akira Kurosawa movies. On top of all that, she was also a trailblazing politician who advocated for Palestinian rights over 50 years ago and a […]

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The Legends of Suzuka Gozen: Bandit, Demoness, Angel

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 08:58:54 +0000

Japanese folklore is full of tales of daredevil bandits, terrifying demons and celestial beings descending from the heavens to aid humanity. Most of them are not about the same character, though. In fact, only one figure from Japanese myths and legends has been portrayed as a thief, an oni and an angel. Her name was […]

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5 Things You May Not Know About Evangelion’s ‘A Cruel Angel’s Thesis’

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 05:52:56 +0000

“A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” might just be the most popular anime song of all time. In both Japanese and Western surveys, the opening theme from Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion performed by Yoko Takahashi is often ranked at the very top by anime fans and karaoke goers. Even people who aren’t really into Japanese animated […]

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5 Netflix Picks To Watch in July

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:50:31 +0000

Thanks to Japan’s record-breaking temperatures and humidity, going outside currently feels like showering with your clothes on. There are some upsides to it, though, like having a great excuse to stay home and veg out with a streaming service of your choice. If that choice includes Netflix, here are some recommended shows and movies you […]

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One Piece: 25 Years of Sneaking Japanese Myths and Legends Past Viewers

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:17:40 +0000

On October 20, 1999, anime history was made with the premiere of the first episode of One Piece. Based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda about superpowered pirates, One Piece would go on to become a record-breaking franchise known the world over. Interestingly, though, as it became the face of modern Japanese culture, it also […]

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Dogs: The Not-So-Good Boys of Japanese Mythology

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:15:37 +0000

On May 24, the “doge meme” Shiba Inu passed away. Her real name was Kabosu, named after the Japanese citrus fruit. The internet knew her for her endearing, goober smile and general similarity to a real-life cartoon character. The fact that her image was later used to peddle cryptocurrency is not her fault. She was […]

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3 Non-Japanese Samurai You Should Know About

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:34:16 +0000

Recently, Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows, its upcoming game set in feudal Japan, will feature a character based on Yasuke, the real-life Black samurai in the service of warlord Oda Nobunaga. Then there’s the popular Shogun miniseries about the fictionalized life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Englishman William Adams (renamed to John Blackthorne), who […]

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