In the days and weeks following the earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku region of northern Japan on March 11th, a feeling of self-restraint prevailed as a nation came together to lend its support to those individuals affected by the disaster.

You may have seen that Japanese pour drinks for others at parties. It is more polite to use both hands when you pour sake and to hold your glass while the drink is being poured to you.

I visited the ninja village of Iga in Mie Prefecture. There were (are?) two major ninja clans in Japan: Iga Clan in Mie and the Koga clan in Shiga.