-brazil-'s New Writeups

i ro ha (thing)

2003-10-16T11:18:22Z

The creation of the iroha uta (as it is called in Japanese), along with the hiragana alphabet itself is generally credited to Kukai, who also founded the Shingon school of buddhism in the early 9th century.

The poem's form (four sets of seven-and-five syllables) is called imayo and was most popular during the Heian period. Its content elegantly describes the basic ideas if buddhism, namely that our worldly existence is fleeting and meaningless (called mono no aware in Japan), and that one should instead strive to achieve transcendence.

Trekker (person)

2003-10-15T12:48:32Z

"Trekker" is what some hardcore fans of Star Trek, who don't like the expression Trekkie for one reason or another, call themselves. Depending on whom you ask, this is either a meaningless distinction, a protest against derogatory connotations with groupie, a sign that one is not a totally obsessed fanboy(or fangirl), or a snobbish self deception about that very same thing.

Autobahn (thing)

2003-10-15T11:52:47Z

It is an often-heard myth that the Autobahn was the invention of Adolf Hitler; usually this is claimed by Nazi apologists to have been an important measure to reduce unemployment and an example that Hitler was a great man and "not all was bad" in the third reich.

In truth, the Autobahn network was not originally planned by Hitler, nor did he begin its construction. Plans for a countrywide network of highspeed roads came up already during the Weimar republic and detailed technical planning started in 1924. However, most of these plans could not be implemented due to political instability and railway industry lobbying. In fact, Hitler's NSDAP actively opposed the building of Autobahns only a few years before they came into power in 1933.

Nevertheless, the first short Autobahn (or at least Autobahn-like road) was built between 1929 and 1932 from Cologne to Bonn, on the initiative of Konrad Adenauer, who was at that time mayor of Cologne and chairman…

miai (idea)

2003-10-07T15:25:33Z

見合い

Composed of the kanji for "see" and "meet", a miai is a formal first meeting between prospective partners in a Japanese arranged marriage. These are extremely common in Japan even today; about 20% of all marriages still begin with a miai, and it's a common theme in dorama or manga that unattached men and especially women approaching 30 are pressured by their parents to go to a miai. Strange as it may seem, the institution of miai was created when the idea that love should play a role when determining marriage partners first became widely accepted during the Meiji era. In earlier times, such matters were decided by the family heads or parents, and the future bride and groom had little influence on the decision.

A miai is arranged by a matchmaker, typically an older women who does this semi-professionally. Interested candidates submit and are given short profiles (age, education, hobbies, a photograph) of potential…

Futari Ecchi (thing)

2003-10-07T14:44:41Z

ふたりエッチ

Extremely popular long-running manga series by Aki Katsu (Aki is the given name). Lacking a better term, I'd call it edu-porn. To say it with the original japlish cover text of this Step Up Love Story:

MAKOTO had been "Cherry boy" for twenty-five years. YURA had been "Virgin" for twenty-five years, too. They try having sex. They succeed in making love¹. New comic for all love love core generation!

Makoto is a 25-year old young man with no sexual experience. He meets the drop-dead gorgeous, but also virginal Yura at a miai, they go out for a while and marry. Then comes the wedding night. Both are too scared to initiate anthing. When they finally manage to work things out, they slowly progress from lights-out vanilla sex to more "risque" stuff (all pretty tame, really). Add in sidestories about Yura's highly promiscuous and nosy little sister and Makotos oversexed (but…

Kingmaker (person)

2003-10-07T12:28:42Z

"Kingmaker" is an expression used in gaming in general (not necessarily computer games, it is in fact more common among players of board game) to describe the role of a player who, although he has no chance of winning anymore, is able to influence or even outright decidce which of the other players will win. Obviously, this can only occur when there are more than two players.

An typical example would be this: a Monopoly player who is losing but not yet bankrupt may trade properties to another player which that player needs to complete monopolies, not because the trades are in any way beneficial to the losing player, but simply because he wants to help the other player against a third (probably leading) player.

A potential for kingmaking is generally considered an undesirable quality in games because it is frustrating to lose a game you were winning by skill to someone holding a grudge. Worse yet, it can be used as a threat by spoilsports: "Attack me now, and I'll make sure you don't win,…