Noah Oskow
@noahoskow.bsky.social
JPN translator, Global Studies MA, former JET. 10年間以上日本に滞在。Minnesotaיהודי מ. 🇺🇸🇯🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹 Ghibli stan. EiC/writer at Unseen Japan, head of UJ Tours.
Writing/making videos on intercultural meeting points and lesser-known historical junctures in Japan.
Writing/making videos on intercultural meeting points and lesser-known historical junctures in Japan.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Kitano Takeshi's films range from masterpieces to head-scratch inducing duds, but he's only made one "so bad it's good" film - 2000's "Brother." The film co-stars Takeshi opposite recognizable US actor Omar Epps, with a plot laser-targeted for cringe. Learn more in our ranking! youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
December 2, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Kitano Takeshi's films range from masterpieces to head-scratch inducing duds, but he's only made one "so bad it's good" film - 2000's "Brother." The film co-stars Takeshi opposite recognizable US actor Omar Epps, with a plot laser-targeted for cringe. Learn more in our ranking! youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
The past is a foreign country, and the reality that just a few generations ago almost half of all children perished before puberty is almost impossible to wrap one's head around. Things out of living memory can be too easily taken for granted.
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
The past is a foreign country, and the reality that just a few generations ago almost half of all children perished before puberty is almost impossible to wrap one's head around. Things out of living memory can be too easily taken for granted.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Don't settle for the same sights as everyone else - see a side of Japan that non-Japanese speakers usually can't. Design your custom itinerary and let us be your tour guides and personal interpreters, connecting you to your surroundings.
buff.ly/oG0177y
buff.ly/oG0177y
December 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Don't settle for the same sights as everyone else - see a side of Japan that non-Japanese speakers usually can't. Design your custom itinerary and let us be your tour guides and personal interpreters, connecting you to your surroundings.
buff.ly/oG0177y
buff.ly/oG0177y
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Supporters of marriage equality in Japan faced a setback on November 28th that surprised many. After a series of favorable court rulings across the country, the Tokyo High Court ruled that the lack of recognition of same-sex marriage was constitutional.
buff.ly/HlG6HWe
buff.ly/HlG6HWe
Surprise, Anger, and Frustration as Tokyo’s High Court Rules Against Marriage Equality - Unseen Japan
Supporters of marriage equality in Japan were met with an unexpected setback after a series of affirmative rulings.
unseen-japan.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Supporters of marriage equality in Japan faced a setback on November 28th that surprised many. After a series of favorable court rulings across the country, the Tokyo High Court ruled that the lack of recognition of same-sex marriage was constitutional.
buff.ly/HlG6HWe
buff.ly/HlG6HWe
Reposted by Noah Oskow
For a second I didn’t read this as “Christmas cake and Christmas chicken” but as a heretofore unknown eldritch abomination named “Christmas cake chicken,” and in that moment, I knew true fear
November 30, 2025 at 7:24 AM
For a second I didn’t read this as “Christmas cake and Christmas chicken” but as a heretofore unknown eldritch abomination named “Christmas cake chicken,” and in that moment, I knew true fear
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Japanese prime ministers tend to have a shockingly short tenure in office. At the extreme end, we have Uno Sōsuke: In 1989, he burst onto the scene as the new PM. Only 69 days later, he'd resign - and all because of a geisha named Nakanishi Mitsuko. Learn more, in our video!
youtu.be/G_Gpm4u3djc
youtu.be/G_Gpm4u3djc
The Geisha Who Took Down a Prime Minister
YouTube video by Unseen Japan
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Japanese prime ministers tend to have a shockingly short tenure in office. At the extreme end, we have Uno Sōsuke: In 1989, he burst onto the scene as the new PM. Only 69 days later, he'd resign - and all because of a geisha named Nakanishi Mitsuko. Learn more, in our video!
youtu.be/G_Gpm4u3djc
youtu.be/G_Gpm4u3djc
Reposted by Noah Oskow
This would be hilarious if it didn't make me want to puke into the mouth of whoever pushed for this.
The only thing less human than these AI dub performances is the decision to sign off on them
A company this big can pay human actors a decent wage, not produce slop that intentionally removes the human element.
A company this big can pay human actors a decent wage, not produce slop that intentionally removes the human element.
November 29, 2025 at 12:44 AM
This would be hilarious if it didn't make me want to puke into the mouth of whoever pushed for this.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
surprised it took this long for a publisher to try this with a 'real' series. next we'll see a series with an AI-created original Japanese dub.
you folks would not BELIEVE how much the production companies want to do this. they want to never hire actors SO bad!!
ok maybe you WOULD believe it ☹️
you folks would not BELIEVE how much the production companies want to do this. they want to never hire actors SO bad!!
ok maybe you WOULD believe it ☹️
Hey just so you know Amazon decided to give us an AI ENGLISH DUB of Banana Fish instead of actually hiring real voice actors
it is fucking hot garbage
#bananafish #anime
it is fucking hot garbage
#bananafish #anime
November 28, 2025 at 10:06 PM
surprised it took this long for a publisher to try this with a 'real' series. next we'll see a series with an AI-created original Japanese dub.
you folks would not BELIEVE how much the production companies want to do this. they want to never hire actors SO bad!!
ok maybe you WOULD believe it ☹️
you folks would not BELIEVE how much the production companies want to do this. they want to never hire actors SO bad!!
ok maybe you WOULD believe it ☹️
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Communities need used-book shops.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
November 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Communities need used-book shops.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
Recently listened to a (quiet old) episode of the Important Cinema Club focused on Takeshi, and heard that declouxj.bsky.social and @willsloanesq.bsky.social actually love Getting Any! Apologies for placing it so low - sadly, Takeshi only has two films that personally give it a run for its money.
Look, every list has to have its low point. And Getting Any? – when it’s acknowledged at all – is almost universally regarded as Kitano Takeshi’s biggest dud. Does that mean it’s completely worthless? Well… you can find out, in our new video ranking all twenty of his movies!
youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
November 28, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Recently listened to a (quiet old) episode of the Important Cinema Club focused on Takeshi, and heard that declouxj.bsky.social and @willsloanesq.bsky.social actually love Getting Any! Apologies for placing it so low - sadly, Takeshi only has two films that personally give it a run for its money.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
![A float of Goku from Dragon Ball Z, smiling and holding his hand to his head with two fingers extended. There is a caption that says [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] overlaid on top of him.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r3jz2av542vhxbsouxvzrwe2/bafkreigoci7n3zt72bjp6xhr7g7g7h5gbte2bovkgomwmd5ircmjersx4m@jpeg)
I already feel this in my bones
Kids are home and my posting schedule has taken a hit. Better late than never!
November 27, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I already feel this in my bones
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Kitano Takeshi’s filmography varies in terms of quality. Even his most ardent fans have at least a few of his films that they have a hard time enjoying. Zatoichi, Hana-bi, the Outrage series, his trio of self-referential biographies - see how they all place in our new ranking! youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
Kitano Takeshi: The Complete Ranked Filmography
YouTube video by Unseen Japan
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Kitano Takeshi’s filmography varies in terms of quality. Even his most ardent fans have at least a few of his films that they have a hard time enjoying. Zatoichi, Hana-bi, the Outrage series, his trio of self-referential biographies - see how they all place in our new ranking! youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
Reposted by Noah Oskow
After 22 years, Japan has a brand-new top live-action box office record holder in the form of Kokuho, an epic kabuki drama. Learn about the massive records being set at the Japanese box office in both live action and anime form.
unseen-japan.com/kokuho-becom...
unseen-japan.com/kokuho-becom...
'Kokuho' Becomes Biggest Live Action Hit in Japanese Film History - Unseen Japan
Japan has a brand-new top live-action box office record holder in the form of Kokuho, an epic kabuki drama.
unseen-japan.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
After 22 years, Japan has a brand-new top live-action box office record holder in the form of Kokuho, an epic kabuki drama. Learn about the massive records being set at the Japanese box office in both live action and anime form.
unseen-japan.com/kokuho-becom...
unseen-japan.com/kokuho-becom...
Reposted by Noah Oskow
in my own experience only, as LLMs get “better,” all I am seeing is the production of texts that are just as wrong as they ever were, in ways that are just as fatally bad, but which now appear more consistently plausible to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about
November 26, 2025 at 12:20 AM
in my own experience only, as LLMs get “better,” all I am seeing is the production of texts that are just as wrong as they ever were, in ways that are just as fatally bad, but which now appear more consistently plausible to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about
Reposted by Noah Oskow
New video! Kitano Takeshi, otherwise known as "Beat" Takeshi, is one of the most famous entertainers in Japan. He's also beloved abroad as a film director. Join us as we examine and rank every one of his 20 varied, amazing, frustrating, but rarely boring movies.
youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
Kitano Takeshi: The Complete Ranked Filmography
YouTube video by Unseen Japan
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New video! Kitano Takeshi, otherwise known as "Beat" Takeshi, is one of the most famous entertainers in Japan. He's also beloved abroad as a film director. Join us as we examine and rank every one of his 20 varied, amazing, frustrating, but rarely boring movies.
youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
youtu.be/uDB5mZfzSEc
Reposted by Noah Oskow
The La Brea Tar Pits translates to The The Tar Pits Tar Pits
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 4:42 AM
The La Brea Tar Pits translates to The The Tar Pits Tar Pits
Just when I'd thought I'd encountered the funniest of historical British names, I discover this guy.
November 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Just when I'd thought I'd encountered the funniest of historical British names, I discover this guy.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Japan continues debating restrictions on foreign residents and immigration. At the same time, data shows, labor shortages mean some towns here now have foreign populations over 10%, with one even exceeding 36%.
buff.ly/2Z3Qh0o
buff.ly/2Z3Qh0o
A Changing Japan: Foreign Residents Surpass 10% in Some Areas - Unseen Japan
As debate surges around immigration, new data shows some towns in Japan have foreign populations as high as 36%.
unseen-japan.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Japan continues debating restrictions on foreign residents and immigration. At the same time, data shows, labor shortages mean some towns here now have foreign populations over 10%, with one even exceeding 36%.
buff.ly/2Z3Qh0o
buff.ly/2Z3Qh0o
Reposted by Noah Oskow
I'm on strike now with other ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) working in Kyoto Prefecture High Schools via the dispatch company ALTIA CENTRAL. Our salaries, low at 240,000 yen per month, were cut this year to 210,000, and we can't sustain our lives anymore.
Please support us!
Please support us!
November 15, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I'm on strike now with other ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) working in Kyoto Prefecture High Schools via the dispatch company ALTIA CENTRAL. Our salaries, low at 240,000 yen per month, were cut this year to 210,000, and we can't sustain our lives anymore.
Please support us!
Please support us!
Reposted by Noah Oskow
I've read thirty or so pages of this book and I think it's essential reading for anyone trying to understand current trends in Japanese politics.
Religious studies scholar Shimada Hiromi has a new book on Sanseito out this week
He details how Sanseito adopts tactics already proven effective by Komeito (which Shimada has studied for decades)
And by JCP and Reiwa (Furuya Tsunehira’s book from last month is also good on the Reiwa connection)
He details how Sanseito adopts tactics already proven effective by Komeito (which Shimada has studied for decades)
And by JCP and Reiwa (Furuya Tsunehira’s book from last month is also good on the Reiwa connection)
November 14, 2025 at 6:53 AM
I've read thirty or so pages of this book and I think it's essential reading for anyone trying to understand current trends in Japanese politics.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
People have misunderstood Kamiya. He's really just complaining about these machines.
November 11, 2025 at 11:54 PM
People have misunderstood Kamiya. He's really just complaining about these machines.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
We've still got Teruyo Nogami, Kurosawa's assistant-turned-documentarian, and who is 98.
We've got Kyōko Kagawa at 93, youngster Akira Terao at 78.
But for *STARS* - actors who led those hard-hitting dramas and trend-setting genre films of the golden age - this is it. This is the end. RIP Nakadai.
We've got Kyōko Kagawa at 93, youngster Akira Terao at 78.
But for *STARS* - actors who led those hard-hitting dramas and trend-setting genre films of the golden age - this is it. This is the end. RIP Nakadai.
Farewell to one of brightest stars of the golden age of Japanese cinema: Nakadai Tatsuya, who starred in some of history's greatest films, has passed away at the age of 92. Major roles included those in Ran, Hara Kiri, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Kagemusha, The Human Condition, and many more.
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
We've still got Teruyo Nogami, Kurosawa's assistant-turned-documentarian, and who is 98.
We've got Kyōko Kagawa at 93, youngster Akira Terao at 78.
But for *STARS* - actors who led those hard-hitting dramas and trend-setting genre films of the golden age - this is it. This is the end. RIP Nakadai.
We've got Kyōko Kagawa at 93, youngster Akira Terao at 78.
But for *STARS* - actors who led those hard-hitting dramas and trend-setting genre films of the golden age - this is it. This is the end. RIP Nakadai.
Nakadai was so much more than just a Mifune replacement in Kurosawa's final epics. He was a legendary presence working with Japan's greatest filmakers from the 60s to the 90s. I always love watching an older film and having him unexpectedly appear - as in Naruse's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs.
Farewell to one of brightest stars of the golden age of Japanese cinema: Nakadai Tatsuya, who starred in some of history's greatest films, has passed away at the age of 92. Major roles included those in Ran, Hara Kiri, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Kagemusha, The Human Condition, and many more.
November 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Nakadai was so much more than just a Mifune replacement in Kurosawa's final epics. He was a legendary presence working with Japan's greatest filmakers from the 60s to the 90s. I always love watching an older film and having him unexpectedly appear - as in Naruse's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs.
Reposted by Noah Oskow
Good news: Itō Shiori's BLACK BOX DIARIES, her documentary about her sexual assault case, will finally air in Japan over a year after its release. The screening was delayed after some challenged whether Itō had the rights to air certain footage.
buff.ly/RnrAB64
buff.ly/RnrAB64
Itō Shiori's BLACK BOX DIARIES Will (Finally) Release in Japan After Controversy - Unseen Japan
The film, released in October 2024, has yet to screen in the filmmaker's own country due to questions around the footage it used.
unseen-japan.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Good news: Itō Shiori's BLACK BOX DIARIES, her documentary about her sexual assault case, will finally air in Japan over a year after its release. The screening was delayed after some challenged whether Itō had the rights to air certain footage.
buff.ly/RnrAB64
buff.ly/RnrAB64