In Real Life

Why Big, Badass Robots (And Mecha) Rule Japan

The heat was unbearable. A group of kids scurried to find shade, but they did’t find it under trees.


July 22, 2011
In Real Life

What Is America’s Fetish This Week? Armageddon

There was supposed to be chaos. There was supposed to be confusion. There was supposed to collapse. There’s wasn’t any, of course.


July 15, 2011
In Real Life

What Is Japan’s Fetish This Week? Catgirls

Damn, they’re cute. Not the girl – her ears. She is a catgirl – a female with cat ears. To underscore their feline traits, some have cat teeth, and even cat eyes. In Japan, the cat ears are called “nekomimi”, and they’re more than a simple personification of cats.


July 8, 2011
In Real Life

What’s America’s Fetish This Week? Guns

In approximately 90 days, walk into any bar in the US state of Ohio. If there aren’t any signs stating otherwise, feel free to carry your concealed weapon in that watering hole. But don’t order a round. You can’t legally drink if you are packing heat.


June 17, 2011
In Real Life

What Is Japan’s Fetish This Week? Foreign… Flair

Someone once told me, “Half-Japanese kids grow up to either be TV celebrities or porn stars.” Flip on the television, and there’s half-British male model Joy selling Samurai Road 4 or singer Becky promoting her latest CD single. Turn on a dirty movie, and there’s half-Brazilian actress and Yakuza star Rio getting naked.


June 3, 2011
In Real Life

What Is America’s Fetish This Week? Great White Teeth

When reality star Angel Porrino stepped out in front of the cameras for a Memorial Day party she was hosting, the starlet stopped and smiled. She tucked in her chin and ran her tongue over her teeth.


May 27, 2011
In Real Life

What Is Japan’s Fetish This Week? Male Daughters

Lipstick. Long hair. Cute dresses. They’re beautiful women, but they’re not necessarily all women. In Japan, they’re called “男の娘”, or literally “male daughter”.


May 20, 2011
In Real Life

What Is America’s Fetish This Week? America

It all started with a middle finger. It was directed firmly at England, and for the next 200-plus years, America’s desire to do things its own way hasn’t changed. The country’s pride hasn’t either.


May 6, 2011
In Real Life

What Is Japan’s Fetish This Week? Trains

“Who’s to say there is a difference?” said the baffled, balding customer in khaki pants and a green windbreaker. I had asked him what the difference between Japanese and Western rail fans where.


April 29, 2011
In Real Life

What Is America’s Fetish This Week? Japan

It’s a country with 120 million people, with a deep and long history, with a complex and beautiful language. Yet, for Americans, Japan often offers something else entirely – a place to project its fears, fantasies, and, yes, even neurosis.