Alice Gordenker - The Japan Times

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Alice Gordenker

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Alice Gordenker

Alice Gordenker writes the "So, What the Heck is That?" column, providing in-depth, carefully researched explanations of the things foreigners find so puzzling about Japan. Her work has been modified as a textbook for Japanese university students called "Surprising Japan" (Shohakusha, 2012).

For Alice Gordenker's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Jan 16, 2015

Coffee-cup placement

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Nov 21, 2014

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Oct 9, 2014

The Yamatane Museum presents a brilliant show

Gold and silver have long been used in Japanese painting for their decorative value, on works ranging from intimate handscrolls to large-scale screens. But as the current exhibition at the Yamatane Museum of Art makes amply clear, in the last century or so tradition has been improved upon as modern and contemporary painters developed innovative and creative new ways to use these precious metals.

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Sep 19, 2014

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Aug 14, 2014

The bright sparks of photography

Photography, because it is both familiar and accessible, is an excellent medium for young people to use for self-expression. With this as a guiding principle, the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (K*MoPA) in Yamanashi Prefecture has sought since its founding in 1995 to contribute to society by purchasing the work of promising young photographers.

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Jul 18, 2014

Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!

Jun 15, 2014

State-of-the-art dog shelter opens in Kansai

A new ARK facility to house rescued dogs in Hyogo Prefecture sets a new standard for animal welfare centers in Japan.

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

May 19, 2014

Shocking baths of Japan

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Apr 23, 2014

Endless inspiration to be found in Mount Fuji and spring flowers

It's often said by Japanese painters that the most difficult subject of all is Mount Fuji. How is it possible to come up with an original take on a theme that has been painted so often and by so many talented artists? Yet for all their angst, artists clearly manage, as demonstrated by the sheer variety of beautiful images of Mount Fuji currently on display at the Yamatane Museum of Art.

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Apr 14, 2014

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Mar 26, 2014

Shimooka Renjo, back in focus

It's not surprising that the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography has organized a retrospective on Shimooka Renjo, one of the first commercial photographers in Japan. What is surprising is that it didn't happen sooner.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Mar 26, 2014

Japan's early masters of Alpine photography and their breathtaking views

'Valleys and Peaks' introduces the stunning alpine photography of Matsujiro Kanmuri (1883-1970), who broke new ground with his climbs in the Kurobe Gorge of Toyama Prefecture and Misuo Hokari (1891-1966), who worked to make mountaineering more accessible.

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Mar 17, 2014

Proof-of-purchase tape

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Feb 17, 2014

Coastal shipping

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Jan 20, 2014

It's hard when our children decide we're past our prime. Let's prove we've still got a little shelf life sorting out an admittedly tricky subject.

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Dec 16, 2013

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Nov 18, 2013

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Oct 21, 2013

Elevation signs

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Sep 16, 2013

Oversized trash

Japan Times

Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT

Jul 15, 2013

Dear Alice, I have lived in Japan for almost 30 years, and nothing says 'summer in Japan' to me like the sight and smell of those once-ubiquitous green mosquito coils.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

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