Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have revolutionized modern lighting and display technology, offering energy efficiency, durability, and versatility. Among the myriad colors they can emit, the blue LED holds particular significance due to its pivotal role in advancing LED technology. This essay explores the fascinating history and development of the blue LED, tracing its journey from theoretical conception to practical realization and its transformative impact on various industries.
Early Discoveries The journey towards the blue LED began with fundamental research into semiconductor physics and materials science. In the 1950s and 1960s, scientists were exploring the properties of different materials and experimenting with semiconductor junctions to understand their behavior. It was in this era that researchers first observed electroluminescence, the phenomenon of a material emitting light when subjected to an electric current. In 1972, Herbert Paul Maruska and Jacques Pankove at RCA Laboratories achieved the first demonstration of a blue-emitting LED using zinc-doped gallium nitride (GaN:Zn). However, the efficiency and practicality of these early blue LEDs were limited, and they remained a scientific curiosity rather than a commercially viable technology. Breakthroughs in Materials Science The quest for a commercially feasible blue LED gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s as researchers delved deeper into materials science and semiconductor engineering. Shuji Nakamura, a Japanese engineer working at Nichia Corporation, made significant breakthroughs in this field. Nakamura focused on developing gallium nitride (GaN) based semiconductors, which had the potential to emit blue light when appropriately doped and fabricated. In 1993, Nakamura succeeded in creating the first high-brightness blue LED using gallium nitride. He achieved this breakthrough by inventing a new method for growing high-quality GaN crystals, known as metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). This innovation significantly improved the efficiency and reliability of blue LEDs, paving the way for their commercialization. Commercialization and Applications The commercialization of blue LEDs marked a turning point in the lighting industry. Blue LEDs, when combined with red and green LEDs, enabled the creation of white light, opening up new possibilities for energy-efficient lighting solutions. The development of blue LED backlighting also revolutionized the display industry, leading to thinner, brighter, and more vibrant displays in devices such as smartphones, televisions, and laptops. Moreover, blue LEDs found applications beyond lighting and displays. They became essential components in optical storage devices like Blu-ray discs, which utilize blue laser diodes for high-density data storage. Additionally, blue LEDs have been instrumental in the advancement of medical and scientific instrumentation, including fluorescence microscopy and photodynamic therapy. Recognition and Impact In recognition of his pioneering work on blue LEDs, Shuji Nakamura was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014, alongside Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, who also made significant contributions to LED technology. Their groundbreaking research not only revolutionized lighting and display technology but also contributed to energy conservation and sustainability efforts worldwide. The history and development of the blue LED exemplify the power of scientific inquiry, technological innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. From humble beginnings as a scientific curiosity to becoming an indispensable component of modern technology, the blue LED has illuminated our world in more ways than one. As we continue to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering, the legacy of the blue LED serves as a beacon of inspiration for future innovations yet to come.
0 Comments
Chinese sporting authorities have cancelled next month's friendly international between Argentina and Nigeria amid a growing backlash against Lionel Messi's failure to play in an Inter Miami match in Hong Kong last week.
Argentina were scheduled to play Nigeria in the Chinese city of Hangzhou next month before facing the Ivory Coast in Beijing, but Messi's failure to take the field for Inter Miami in Hong Kong on Sunday caused widespread anger among fans. The organiser of the Hong Kong match said they would give fans a 50 percent refund for tickets after the Argentine did not take the field due to injury, but played in Japan days later. The backlash grew on Friday, with Hangzhou sports authorities saying that Argentina's friendly against Nigeria would no longer take place. "As a commercial event, a company and the Argentinean soccer team negotiated that the team would play a friendly match in March this year in the city of Hangzhou," the Hangzhou authorities said in a statement. "In view of the current well-known reasons, according to the competent authorities, conditions to hold the friendly match are not mature, therefore (we) have decided to cancel it." It was not immediately clear if Argentina's other friendly against Ivory Coast in Beijing would also be cancelled. The Chinese FA did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment sent outside normal business hours. The Argentine FA also did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Tatler Asian, a privately owned publishing and lifestyle company, said in a statement on its Instagram page that it was "deeply sorry" and "heartbroken" that fans were let down after Messi stayed on the bench during Sunday's match. The match in Hong Kong drew 40,000 fans, with some spectators paying up to $1000 per ticket. The cost of all match tickets bought from official channels can be 50 percent refunded, Tatler said, adding that it had been in discussions with the Hong Kong government to resolve the issue. Inter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said Messi was deemed unfit to play in the friendly in Hong Kong, but he came on as a 60th minute substitute against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday. "When we learned that Messi would not be playing, we pleaded with Inter Miami CF ownership and management to urge him to stand up, engage with the spectators and explain why he couldn't play," Tatler said. "He didn't. The fact that Messi and (team mate Luis) Suarez played in Japan on Feb. 7 feels like another slap in the face." In the match in Tokyo, entire blocks of seats at the Japan National Stadium were unoccupied, with just 28,614 tickets sold. Chinese state media, Hong Kong politicians and some fans swiftly condemned Messi's participation in the Japan match, with state-controlled Global Times writing that his absence posed many questions on the differential treatment for Hong Kong. In a statement, Hong Kong's government said Tatler Asia had made its best effort to arrange a refund, adding that many people had questions about the incident. "The government hopes that the Inter Miami team will eventually provide a reasonable explanation to Hong Kong citizens and fans who came to Hong Kong to watch the game." Tatler Asia said Inter Miami had committed to ensuring that their top players, including Messi and Uruguay's Suarez, would play for 45 minutes unless injured. It said it had hoped to create an iconic moment in support of the government's efforts to remind the world how relevant and exciting Hong Kong is. "That dream is broken today for us and all those who bought tickets to see Messi on the pitch." Canon’s R3 and R5 are its highest-performing full-frame cameras and as such they each carry a high asking price. That is poised to change, however, as the R5 price will come down by $500 while the EOS R3 will be $1,000 cheaper.
While these discounts are coming, they weren’t visible everywhere at the time of publication. While Canon had been running a promotional discount on both cameras through the end of January, Japanese camera store Map Camera today published a blog post highlighting what it calls a “price revision” on both the R3 and the R5, specifically calling them a price drop that isn’t associated with any kind of temporary promotional discount. “Until now, there have been cashback campaigns, but it is rare for the price of the product to drop,” Map Camera writes, translated from Japanese. The biggest drop is the EOS R3 which previously had an asking price of 792,000 yen (including tax). After the price reduction, Map Camera has the full-frame professional sports camera listed for 712,800 yen (including tax). With tax excluded from the equation, the Japanese camera retailer says it’s a price drop of about 60,000 yen, or about $411. Japanese customers can expect to save closer to 79,200 yen after taxes though, which is closer to $540. The R5 is also seeing a reduction in price. It was previously available for 539,000 yen (including tax) but that has dropped to 485,000 yen (including tax), another rather significant savings of 54,000 yen, or about $370. Of note, both of these reductions see the cameras drop to prices lower than the most recent promotional discount that ended on January 31. When reached for comment about an impending permanent price reduction, Canon USA tells PetaPixel that a price reduction for the two full-frame cameras has been approved by Canon’s headquarters but when those will be visible in specific regions is up to each retailer. “Canon initiated a price drop on EOS R5 ($500) and EOS R3 ($1,000) in the U.S. on Jan 1. Each individual Canon sales company determines the timing of price drops,” a Canon representative writes in an email to PetaPixel. Based on this statement, retailers could have dropped the price on these two cameras much sooner, but since Canon was already running a promotional discount on the R3 and R5 that ended on January 31. Odds are high that retailers choose to let the first discount expire before revealing that the prices would fall even further. Obviously, this price cut will lead to speculation that something more impressive than either the R5 or the R3 is coming down the pipe, but Canon has not commented on that possibility (and PetaPixel did not expect it to). However, signs do point to the fabled R1 dropping this year at the very least and there have been rumblings that an R5 Mark II is also on the way. Ukrainian model Karolina Shiino has ignited controversy by winning the Miss Japan 2024 beauty pageant. Although Shiino is a naturalized Japanese citizen, she has no Japanese ancestry and her win has angered some viewers in the ethnically homogenous nation.
The 26-year-old model was crowned the winner of the 56th annual Miss Japan Grand Prix on Monday, becoming both the first naturalized Japanese citizen – and the oldest woman – to do so. Shiino was born in Ukraine to two Ukrainian parents, and moved to Japan aged five when her mother remarried. ”I live as a Japanese person, but there have been racial barriers and many instances where I wasn’t accepted,” she said during Monday’s ceremony, according to Reuters. “I’m just filled with so much gratitude that I have really been accepted as a Japanese person today,” she added, speaking in fluent Japanese. Japanese commenters on social media were less accepting. “So, someone who doesn’t have a drop of Japanese blood and has no trace of Japanese-ness is going to represent Japanese women?” one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote. “If she was half [Japanese], sure no problem. But she’s ethnically 0% Japanese and wasn’t even born in Japan,” another wrote, while one user worried that “Japanese people naturally [would] get the wrong message when a European-looking person is called the most beautiful Japanese.” Some commenters claimed that the judges had chosen Shiino to send a signal of support to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. “If she were born Russia, she wouldn’t have won. Not a chance. Obviously the criteria is now a political decision. What a sad day for Japan,” one person wrote. Pageant organizer Ai Wada told the BBC that the judges had chosen Shiino with “full confidence.” The Ukrainian model “speaks and writes in beautiful and polite Japanese,” Wada said, calling her “more Japanese than we are.” Japan is widely regarded as the world’s most ethnically homogenous developed country, and while its government does not keep track of its citizens’ race or ethnicity, it is believed that 98% of the country’s population is ethnically Japanese. Although the government no longer pays immigrant workers to return to their home countries – as it did in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis – immigrants must meet strict criteria to become citizens, and birthright citizenship is not awarded. Shiino is not the first controversial winner of the Miss Japan title. In 2015, Ariana Miyamoto, whose parents are Japanese and African-American, became the first biracial woman to win the pageant, triggering a national discussion about whether mixed-race contestants should be allowed to enter the competition. Tokyo has been expanding its security ties with multiple Southeast Asian countries ahead of a Japan-ASEAN summit that analysts see as a forum to offset China's aggressive behavior in the region.
Japan is scheduled to host the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo from Saturday to Monday, marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation. Japan and 10 ASEAN countries seek to expand ties at a time when "the free and open international order based on the rule of law is under serious challenge," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday. Kishida said challenges in the Indo-Pacific include "attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force" in the East and South China seas and "North Korea's increasing nuclear missile activities." Saying that ASEAN is "the key for the realization of Japan's vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida added that the economic prosperity of ASEAN's 10 members "can only be achieved if the peace and stability of the region are protected." Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said on Thursday that "China is glad to see relevant countries and regional organizations develop friendly and cooperative relations." He continued: "But we hope that such relations would not target a third party and should contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity." While China will not be at the summit, analysts said it is likely to figure prominently in the talks. "Japan regards China's regional hegemonic ambitions as a grave threat to its security and has actively worked to upgrade security partnerships … to contain China in line with the U.S.-backed free and open Indo-Pacific," Jeff Kingston, professor of history and Asian studies at Temple University, Japan Campus, told VOA in an email. In Japan, 76% of adults see China as a bigger threat than North Korea's nuclear weapons, according to a survey that the Pew Research Center conducted from June to September and released on December 5. Just as the Philippines and Vietnam have maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, Tokyo has a long-standing territorial dispute with Beijing over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, known in China as the Diaoyu Islands. The Japanese Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concern" on Wednesday about clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, supporting the Philippines' "long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities" in the area. In the run-up to the summit, Japan has held meetings with several Southeast Asian countries to broaden their security ties. On December 7, Japanese Ambassador Atsushi Ueno met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh and discussed forging closer security ties, including organizing joint naval exercises and army working group meetings. Kishida held talks with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong on November 27 in Tokyo and, in upgrading their ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," agreed to expand defense exchanges and transfers of defense equipment. Whisky is perhaps Scotland’s finest export. However, in the Far East, whisky of the Japanese variety has been making a name for itself. At first these whiskies were murmuring in the background, then the ripples gradually became larger and now today, Japanese whiskies are highly sought after and revered worldwide. The history of Japanese whisky is one of fascination and charm, beginning in 1854. Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan by command of US President Millard Fillmore. The aim of Perry’s mission was to reverse Japan’s 220-Year-old policy of national isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate and to secure new trading routes. After concluding the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Peace and Amity, Commodore Perry held a banquet on the deck of his flagship, USS Powhatan. Many of those in attendance were invited Japanese guests and this is where these guests first tasted the water of life. Other trade agreements consequently followed, and Japan officially opened for business, at least to the West. Imports flowed into Japan including beer, wine and spirits. Whisky inspired the Japanese people, but imports were expensive and in short supply. Domestic producers began creating products to try and capitalise on demand by mixing alcohol with sugar, spice and other flavourings, but these were a long, long way from authentic whisky! The Settsu Sake Company saw a gap in the market for authentic whisky so, in 1918, they sent chemistry student Masataka Taketsuru to Scotland to learn whisky distilling first hand. Taketsuru enrolled on a chemistry course at Glasgow University, then headed to Elgin to find the author of The Manufacture Of Spirit: As Conducted in The Distilleries Of The United Kingdom, J.A. Nettleton. Taketsuru translated the book into Japanese and when he located Nettleton, he asked for around £15 per month for training and accommodation. £15 per month might not sound like a lot of money, but it was a stretch beyond Taketsuru’s budget.This might have been the end of the story however a determined Taketsuru went on a quest with a map of Speyside’s distilleries to find an apprenticeship. The second distillery that he called at, Longmorn, took him for a short while and Taketsuru recorded every single minute detail in his journal before heading back to Glasgow to continue his studies. During his first year of study Taketsuru befriended medical student Ella Cowan and was soon invited to her family home where he then became their lodger. Taketsuru went on to form a strong relationship with Ella’s older sister Rita based on a shared passion for music and literature – just over a year later the happy couple got married in Glasgow. However, it wasn’t plain sailing at first as both sets of parents disapproved. Unphased, they started their married life in Campbeltown, around 100 miles west of Glasgow, beyond the Isle of Arran. The newlyweds eventually moved West over the Atlantic Ocean via steamship and across the United States, ultimately arriving in Taketsuru’s homeland. By this time The Settsu Brewery Co. was facing adversity due to a destabilised economy, inflation, and the recession that took place after World War I. Taketsuru continued to work but was left in a difficult place as Settsu considered it too much of a risk to act on Taketsuru’s knowledge. Taketsuru consequently parted ways with the company and went to work as a chemistry teacher at a high school. Meanwhile Shinjiro Torii had founded Torii Shoten (now Suntory). They were fairly successful with port wine being their staple product. They were also manufacturing cheap imitation whiskies due to the popularity of US and Scotch imports. Torii saw the gap in the market and knew that there needed to be an authentic whisky distilled in Japan. He approached Taketsuru to set up the country’s first whisky distillery – Yamazaki. Five years later, in 1929, The Yamazaki Distillery's first real malt whisky, Shirofuda 'White Label' went on sale. White Label didn’t sell well – its speculated that the smoky flavour wasn’t to the taste of the Japanese, who simply weren’t used to that sort of drink. In order to ensure his firm would be a success Torii wanted to create an expression more to the taste of the Japanese consumer. Taketsuru was against this idea and wanted to stay true to his passion – creating whisky the ways he had learned during his time in Scotland. At the end of Taketsuru’s 10 year contract his partnership with Torii dissolved. As a result, Taketsuru began a new chapter by forming Nikka. Staying true to his cause, Taketsuru chose the small town of Yoichi as the perfect spot for a distillery on Japanese soil, with the climate and crisp air of the region about as close to the climate of Scotland as he was going to get. Taketsuru started distillation in 1936 using the first pot still he designed, and in 1940 Nikka's first expression Nikka Whisky Rare Old was released. This was the beginning of the great Japanese whisky rivalry between Nikka and Suntory, a rivalry still going today. Moving forward, Japanese whisky became much more than an imitation of its Scottish cousin. There are so many elements that make Japanese whisky a completely different dram: some things that might explain the differences are the clear mineral-rich water of Japan; the Japanese climate and distinct seasons, which are thought to help the aging process due to much quicker maturation; and even the distinct flavours of Japanese oak– mizunara, with Japanese whiskies often matured in bourbon or sherry casks and then moved to mizunara casks to develop the flavour further. As Japanese whiskies grew in popularity more and more were awarded prestigious accolades, such as the Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 being awarded World’s Best Whisky in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015, whisky connoisseurs and investors bought up stock, and push up the value. With a finite amount of aged whiskies in circulation, Japanese distillers needed to innovate with what they had and go beyond age statement single malt and single grain whiskies. Due to this some of the most exquisite blended whiskies came out of Japan. The rapid spike in popularity of Japanese whiskies has meant that some varieties are being discontinued as there simply isn’t enough liquid to meet demand. Suntory announced in 2018 that it would halt selling Hibiki 17 Year Old and Hakushu 12 Year Old for this reason. Traditional Japanese culture, attention to detail and ‘Kaizen’ – the philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement – can all be linked to the art of whisky making in Japan. This would go some way as to explain the subtle and delicate yet powerful characteristics of many Japanese whiskies. With more and more Japanese whiskies receiving international awards we expect their popularity to continue to grow. This is likely to send valuations up even further as supply tries to meet the global demand. Now certainly seems like the perfect time to either taste or invest in Japanese whisky.
Himono-onna, Minato-ku joshi, Age-Man... You may have overheard these terms or seen them appearing repeatedly on social media. What do they mean, and what have they got to do with women in Japan? Well, this article will answer your questions—and give you a glimpse of not only the women behind those inventive groups but the Japanese society as a whole. If you’ve lived in Japan for a while now you may have overheard people saying things like: “She’s sure an age-man, her husband got promoted right after they got married,” or “That girl is so nikushoku-joshi, she doesn’t care if the guy she has a crush on has a girlfriend or not. She just goes for him,”—or even, “I was a bari-kyari until I got pregnant. Now, I’m a yuru-kyari and earn less than before, but I’m glad I made that decision because everyone in my family is happy!” The list is endless and these are all words and phrases that categorize and describe types of women in Japanese culture. You’ve probably noticed that Japanese women (and men) like to and tend to categorize others--and themselves—based on their personality, actions, and behaviors, as well as how they’d chosen to live their lives. But why so many labels do exist in Japan? This tendency probably has a lot to do with the importance of wa (和, group harmony) in the Japanese society—how one should always belong in and conform to a group, and be both dependent on and responsible to other members of that group. This, I believe, is why there are so many categories/groups out there for Japanese women—and why during a joshi-kai (女子会, women’s get-together) and other similar occasions, you’ll hear remarks such as the ones above made over and over again. Without further ado, let me introduce some common terms and phrases that are often used to depict a certain type of Japanese woman. Some of them have quite a history, but are still commonly heard in daily life; others are buzzwords that have popped on social media and/or appeared in female fashion magazines these last years. ‘Age-man’ & ‘Sage-man’ The term age-man (アゲマン) became a buzzword in the early 1990s, after the movie with the same title directed by Juzo Itami, became a hit in Japan. Called “Tales of a Golden Geisha” in English, this comedy tells the story of a geisha who brings luck to the men with whom she gets involved with. Age comes from the verb ageru, which means “to bring up” or “to raise”—in this case, luck. Where the term man comes from is widely debated, but these two explanations have gained popularity:
‘Bari-kyari’ & ‘Yuru-kyari’ There used to be two big categories separating Japanese women: sengyo-shufu (専業主婦) (full-time housewife) and career women (キャリアウーマン). Nowadays, however, with an increase of women in the workforce—especially working mothers—there are additional terms that express women with jobs. The first one’s bari-kyari, and the other yuru-kyari. Bari-kyari (バリキャリ) is composed of these two words: bari, an abbreviated version of baribari, which describes how one works very hard or does something very energetically; and kyari, which is short for “career women.” So, basically, this term refers to women on a solid career path, who value succeeding in their career over leading a productive personal life. Yuru-kyari (ゆるキャリ), with yuru coming from yurui (meaning “relaxed” or “laid back”), is more or less the opposite of bari-kyari. This is a category of women whose priority is not to work but rather their family, hobby, and/or personal life. As such, they prefer to work at their own pace. As you can probably imagine, a lot of Japanese women shift from being a bari-kyari to yuru-kyari once they have a child—this is because, as I wrote previously, females in Japan have contributed and continue to contribute more to raising kids, compared to their male partners. ‘Yochien-mama’ Recently, I noticed that the other big category of women, sengyo-shufu, has received an “upgrade” too—”yochien-mama” (幼稚園ママ). I first saw this term when flipping through Very, a Japanese fashion magazine for women in their 30s and 40s. The term refers to women, who for the most part, are married (to a high-earning husband), have kids, and leading a fulfilling life. Yochien is a Japanese word for “kindergarten,” so this term directly translates as “a mother who has a child attending a kindergarten.” "Japanese women like to and tend to categorize others—and themselves—based on their personality, actions and behaviors, as well as how they’d chosen to live their lives" The point here is that the child goes to a kindergarten, not hoikuen (daycare). Because yochien typically runs between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., it’s not usually working-mother-friendly; as such, sending kids to kindergarten is seen as something full-time housewives would do, hence why hearing the term yochien-mama immediately makes one think, “Oh, it must be a chic and trendy way of expressing sengyo shufu.” After all, the latter term is more or less old-fashioned. ‘Nikushoku-joshi’ The term nikushoku-joshi (肉食女子), which was first coined by the columnist Maki Fukasawa in 2006, literally means “carnivorous girl.” As the name suggests, it denotes a type of women who are proactive in pursuing romance and isn’t afraid to take the first step in relationships. They are oftentimes quite sexually open and aggressive too, and don’t normally hesitate to have sex before going through the whole “Would you go out with me?” situation. Nikushoku-joshi was invented as a sort of like an antonym to soshoku-danshi, or “herbivorous guy.” It’s probably easy to imagine the type of men who fit in this category—those who are not really masculine or manly, both on the outside and inside, and do not actively pursue romantic relationships. They tend to not have as much of a sex drive and appear to love spending time with their male friends than with girls. Needless to say, carnivorous girls and herbivorous guys are often said to make a great couple—after all, opposites attract, right? "Nikushoku-joshi was invented as a sort of like an antonym to soshoku-danshi, or “herbivorous guy" ‘Himono-onna’ At the opposite end of the spectrum from nikushoku-joshi is himono-onna (干物女), which translates as “dried fish woman.” The term—first appearing in “Hotaru no Hikari,” a Japanese manga series that was popular in the late 2000s—was used to express the main character, who had no interest in seeking romance and loves to spend her downtime at home alone, wearing pajamas all day and reading manga, drinking beer or sleeping. A lot of female readers sympathized with her, and the term stuck around to this day, but with a slightly wider meaning. It is now used to depict single women in their late teens to 30s, whose love life is dried out (like himono)—yet are not interested in and even feel bothersome to jump back into the dating scene. ‘Minato-ku joshi’ Minato-ku joshi (港区女子), is a word that appears to have gained momentum in the last year or so. These are ladies—mostly university students and those in their early 20s—who love spending time in Minato Ward, one of the most expensive places to live in Japan. By Minato Ward, I mean the chic neighborhoods of Roppongi, Azabu Juban, Nishi-Azabu and Aoyama, where the so-called “high spec guys”—well-educated, good-looking men who earn a lot, such as business owners, doctors or elite salarymen working at big-name companies—live, work and party night after night. Minato-ku joshi’s sole purpose in life is to be around these men, using their youth, beauty, and wit to get what they want—be it free dinner at high-class restaurants, expensive gifts such as designer handbags and jewelry, or connections with celebrities and other rich and famous guys. Many Minato-ku joshi also happen to be kirakira joshi (キラキラ女子), who are leading “shining and glittering” lives. Simply put, they own everything—they’re pretty, have an amazing fashion sense, are cheerful, positive, and fun to talk with. They’re witty and intelligent, and most of them are successful in their careers too.
The above are just a few of the many “labels” Japanese women have invented for themselves or others over time. There will be many more to come for sure and this is by no means a full list of the countless number of categories that exist in the Japanese colloquial dictionary. For now, however, I hope that you will be able to recognize some of the “code words” the next time you’re on a joshi-kai with Japanese women.
2023 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
2023 Formula 1 World Championship Drivers' Standings
FORMULA 1 LENOVO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2023 - Race Results
|
Thank you for choosing to make a difference through your donation. We appreciate your support.
Categories
All
Archives
March 2024
|