Now watch closely, everyone. I’m going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him. – Lady Eboshi, “Princess Mononoke” A common and compelling trope in anime is of characters challenging God. In Princess Mononoke, for instance, Lady Eboshi attempts to literally kill… Read More How to Kill a God
This probably isn’t news to you if you’re any type of Japanophile, but a recent study by the University of Chicago reveals that out of 30 countries surveyed, Japan had the least number of “strong believers” in God (and it’s on the decrease). Only 4.3% of respondents believed strongly in a God, compared to 60.6%… Read More The Japanese Don’t Believe in God
Tomorrow is May 1. When I think of May, I think “graduation.” Our church emphasizes graduation by a tradition of “sending off” graduating seniors through a wonderful night for the seniors, with each class of students preparing something for the evening (a nice dinner, skit/video, etc.). The seniors sit at the lead table and get… Read More Anime Teachers Are Better Than Real Ones (Sometimes)
Ray wonders what would have happened to him if anime had never come into the picture, and ponders about the connection between his Christian faith and that medium. [Anime Diet] Also on Anime Diet, Monsieur LaMoe laments the lack of nun characters this season, as he graphically explains why is moe for Christian girls, while… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: In the Garden of Yuri, the Significance of Jesus Cosplay, and Hindu Anime Cola
One of bloggers here, Zeroe4, recently completed a “media fast” in which he abstained from the Internet and other carriers of media for a week. It’s an interesting concept. After doing some research, I found others who’ve fasted from media and more specifically, anime. Fasting is especially topical in light of Easter, when many Catholics… Read More Not So Fast, My Friends: Fasting from Anime and Other Concerns
Hello everyone. I am writing this blog post at a Pause Cafe in Ikebukero, Tokyo. I am in Tokyo as part of a Discipleship Training School (DTS) run by Youth With A Mission (YWAM.) I left Anchorage, Alaska on the morning of the 29th of March. I flew to SEA/TAC (Seattle Tacoma International Airport). Then… Read More Light Invades Darkness – Japan: The Start of My Journey
Two week ago, among the booths and busyness of the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention (MTAC), one vendor’s artwork stood in contrast to the rest. While the OEL manga he promoted featured beautiful artwork, like you’d expect to be displayed at a con, it was the piece’s purpose that was surprising. Tony Bradshaw’s manga, Iota Soul,… Read More Iota Soul: Manga for Orphans
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