Author: Insights

In the realm of iconic landscapes, Mount Fuji stands among the most photographed and revered in the world. Its near-perfect cone has been the subject of art, poetry, and pilgrimage for centuries, firmly cementing Fuji-san in Japan’s cultural and national identity. While the mountain has slumbered for over 300 years since its last significant eruption in 1707, volcanologists today caution that Fuji is far from dormant. If Mount Fuji were to erupt with the intensity of the catastrophic 1980 Mount St. Helens event in the United States, where much of that volcano’s summit was blasted away, the impacts on...

In a world where technology is increasingly defined by lines of code, microchips, and artificial intelligence, a centuries-old art form stands as a reminder that “mechanization” once had a more tangible, hands-on character. Japan’s Karakuri automata are a brilliant example of human ingenuity that dates back to the Edo period. These exquisitely crafted mechanical dolls perform tasks such as serving tea, writing calligraphy, and even dancing with a fan in hand. Such mesmerizing performances amazed audiences then, and still do so today. But while exploring these charming robotic ancestors, an unexpected link to Milwaukee’s German heritage emerged. Known for...

In the city of Milwaukee, wrestling holds a cherished spot in the cultural memory of residents. It is a form of entertainment that harkens back decades, shaping sporting identities and local athletic lore. There is perhaps no greater symbol of Milwaukee’s wrestling prominence than Reggie “Da Crusher” Lisowski, a barrel-chested figure who quickly became a hometown hero. Yet wrestling’s appeal in Milwaukee was larger than a single individual. It reflected a post-war appetite for both escapism and connection through physically demanding sports entertainment. On the other side of the world, a different form of wrestling exists, that of Japan’s...

The year 1923 stands out as a turbulent moment in modern Japanese history because of the catastrophic Great Kanto Earthquake that brought Tokyo and surrounding regions to their knees. Yet even as tens of thousands perished under collapsed buildings or in raging infernos, a more insidious tragedy unfolded with the systematic targeting and murder of Koreans who lived in the region. The attacks were brutal and widespread, and exposed deep prejudices that had long simmered beneath Japan’s veneer of progress at that time. Even today, more than one hundred years later, the fate of Koreans caught in that deadly...