Japansoc.com Goes Down...But Not Gone Forever

One of the most important websites in the English J-blogging community has been shut down. Popular social network site Japansoc.com has been reduced to nothing more than a simple message board after years of repeated spam attacks. This has sent shock waves across the English J-blogging community, as Japansoc.com has become a important meet/share place for many J-bloggers. The lose of mass amount of linkage alone is enough to send some people into fits.


The founder of Japansoc.com, Nick Ramsay, announced that he plans to restart his highly popular social networking site from scratch. The planned restart, which has no official date as of today, will be done using Hotaru CMS. The new CMS is a pet project of Nick and is promised to be more `spam proof` than Japansoc`s current platform Pligg. Nick Ramsay is one of the hardest working people involved in the J-blogging community so there is little doubt that Japansoc.com will return under a great new CMS. You can check-out the latest on the development of Hotaru here and Ramsay`s full announcement concerning Japansoc here.


In the mean time, what does all of this mean for the J-blogging community? How will everyone stay connected during Japansoc`s down time? Looking around the web, there are a few options but none as unique as Japansoc. The best option right now, in my opinion, is TokyoFilter. This site started out as a Japan topic video sharing site from the brain of Billy West. West`s main site 7:10 to Tokyo offers up his unique experiences in Japan. It is always entertaining and sometimes informative. Tokyo Filter has been the `on again,off again` project of West for over a year. Currently it is a message wall in need of membership. Considering Japansoc.com may be down for a while, TokyoFilter is the perfect spot to keep everyone connected and up to date with the J-blogging community.



Anyway, Nick Ramsay deserves all the support in the world for his continued efforts to make the English J-web a better community for everyone. He has done more for the community than most people. I am sure he will keep trucking and offer up an even better Japansoc real soon. 

J-blog of the Week Ed#3 Tokyo Damage Report

I have tried to explain and share the weirdness of Tokyo`s subcultures to others. In most cases I am either not believed or considered a real shit head for having an interest in such things. Well, as I have discovered, there are many things in Tokyo which fall way off the radar of anything mainstream. I often say that a person can find just about any kind of pleasure in Tokyo if they only turn over enough rocks. This week`s J-blog of the week is evidence that I might just be right.

Tokyo Damage Report is kind of like a personal tour/zine of all things vice and underground in Tokyo. I came across this site several months ago, while looking for something different to read. At first, I was a little taken back by the site`s content. The guy who does all the posts is real keen in this descriptions of the various topics. For a while, I was put off by the site, but over time I now understand the point of view he is coming from. You will not get a pretty glossy image of Tokyo with Tokyo Damage Report. Instead, you will get smacked in the head with all the off-beat and down right kinky side of Tokyo.

There are many very good posts on Tokyo Damage report. It is hard to pick a starting point to start exploring damage report. I guess one place to start off would be the TDR kanji lessons. Now as you might have guessed, these are not your regular kind of kanji lessons. TDR kanji lessons are for those who do not have time to learn the ends and outs of learning kanji. If you are working your ass off or attending college, these lessons are for you.

A big help for those you looking to drive into the Tokyo underground head first, the TDR tour guide is for you. This guide features all the dirty little places in Tokyo. You know, the kind of places that your mother would frown on. I really suggest checking out the Kabukicho section of the travel guide for a devilish good time.

Some of the choice posts include Akihabara-culture techno rave party, Cherry Blossoms at the Graveyard, Uyoku raising hell with the police, A La Mode Night, as well as, Gothic Bar Heaven. These are just a sample of the crazy and off beat stuff found at Tokyo Damage Report.

Be sure to also check out Hello Damage which is an earlier version of TDR. It features a lot of other sites worth checking out for sure.

So, if you want to go total Gonzo in Tokyo then TDR is a site you must study up on. It may not be for everyone but it is noteworthy and reports on a part of Tokyo that is over looked way too often.

Choice Cuts from the English speaking J-web

During 2008 my use of the internet has become much more refined. I have taken up feeding my interest of all things Japan by becoming a J-blog addict of sorts. I read a lot of blogs about and related to Japan. I even have my own little blog about life in Japan! It has been a lot of fun reading J blogs and keeping one of my own going. There are so many good blogs out there that I always have something good to read. This creates a slight problem in deciding what is the cream of the crop. Well, as with all blogs there is usually something good about it that keep people coming back for more. Although, there are some blogs, that not only keep me coming back, but also make me check daily for a new post.

Everyone has their favorite J-blog. What one person finds to be crap someone else may think it is pure gold. There are some sites that I only visit when I am really hard up for something to read while others think that same site is great. With these ideas in mind I offer up what I think to be some of the best J-blogs on the net. I hope that you agree that these sites are very good and deserve positive mention.


Escape from New York

I read this blog on a regular basis. It is written by, and about, Benjamin L. Belcher`s adventures as he lives on his own for the first time far from home. He has some pretty good thoughts on many different things. He is also a teacher so he has a few funny stories to tell. Be sure to check out his blog posts about being in a Japanese rock band!

NeilDuckett.com

The one and only Neil Duckett has one of the best J-blogs on the net. He gives readers exactly what they want and then some. The very popular J-babe of the week is a always worth checking out every Friday. I am never disappointed by a visit to neilduckett.com.

JasonKimball.org

I very good blog with plenty of photos. Mr. Kimball takes a lot of photos of Japan. A lot of them are really amazing. I can spend hours looking at the many posts offered by this site. Well, worth taking the time to check out.

Lets Japan

A often funny site which is always a good read. This site has provided me with lots of laughs and useful tidbits about Japan. Good place to learn about the ends and outs of Japanese culture. Lets Japan is also home to the very funny Monkey in The City series.

Tokyo Damage Report

This site goes way off the beaten path to provide a peak into the subcultures in Tokyo. From sex parties to underground punk shows Tokyo Damage Report will delight the freak inside of everyone. Also includes a very useful guide to the top underground spots in Tokyo.

kwech.com

Good blog about a varied range of Japan related topics. Usually has something good to read. The photo posts are really good.

JPopJapan.com

Great social network site all about J-pop. Always full of news and information on all the top acts and upcoming artist as well. All styles of J-pop are represented with daily updates from users. Perfect site for those interested in J-pop.

The Long Countdown.com

The web home of Nick Ramsay. It seems that Nick is quickly becoming a major driving force in the development of the English speaking J-web. A regular on many of top J-blog and Japan related websites Nick dives head first into the J-web everyday. He is the creator of japansoc.com the every growing and highly popular Japan related social bookmark site.

7:10 to Tokyo

A great site from the mind of Billy West. The site itself is kind of like a webzine featuring articles written by J-bloggers. Anyone who wants to showcase some of their best work can submit an article. Some really good stuff appears at 7:10 so it is worth checking out from time to time.

Andy in Tokyo

Interesting look at Japanese culture and daily life in Japan. Always provides a good read.

Tokyo Filter

Another creation of Billy West. Tokyo Filter is a video site kind of like Youtube except all the videos are Japan related. Users can submit videos directly from their youtube account! So far good vids are appearing on site which adds promise of even better vids as the site grows.

JapanSoc.com

The top social bookmarking site on the English speaking J-web. There is always something good to read. A lot of blogs and japan related sites show up daily. The community of users are a wonderful and interesting group of folks.