Mark McBennett: Person behind Japan-Zone.com
Japan Zone has been long time one of the most popular web sites about Japan & Japanese culture. The site includes information about different aspects of Japan, such as traditional entertainment, arts and food in Japan. Also the site tells interesting aspects about royal family and famous people.
End of each article there are useful links related to the topic. Japan Zone also includes active discussion forum and Japan Zone Friends service. Today I interviewed the person behind www.japan-zone.com.
Welcome Mark! Please tell me a bit of yourself
I'm 41 and was born in the year of the Tokyo Olympics, 1964. Although I was born in London, my parents moved back home to Dublin, Ireland when I was still a baby, so I grew up there.
I became interested in the Internet when I was working at a software development company here in Tokyo in 1998.
Actually another staff member was putting together the company's first web site and I just kind of watched over his shoulder every now and then. Like with the educational software we were making, it was very rewarding and exciting to write some code and see the results right away - even though I had never really been interested in computers before.
Japan Zone was started in the summer of 1999. At the time there were very few general sites about Japan and Japanese culture that were any good. There are probably even fewer now, except ones that focus more on one area. Myself and a friend had a vague idea of making this site and somehow making money from it. We had no business model (or business sense!) and so the site was never properly designed to make money. It still isn't really.
It's been a hobby for more than six years now. But these days, it has up to 200,000 people visiting it every month. So it is possible to make some money through affiliate programs. Japan Zone Friends in particular has been very popular, with an average of 50 people signing up every day.
I'm hoping to be able to start developing Japan Zone into something bigger and better in the near future, with more regular updates of content and more in-depth info on some key areas (anime/manga, travel, language etc).
What parts of Japanese culture you like yourself most?
If you live in Tokyo like I do, you sometimes think there is no real "Japanese culture." Because there is so much
western influence here, from the fashion and food to the music and movies. No geisha, samurai or ninja and you certainly can't see Mt. Fuji from most places in Tokyo like in the old woodblock prints. But when it comes time for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) or matsuri (festivals), the old customs and culture come to the surface.
For example, I'm used to the language, the local food, the daily customs like taking off your shoes ten times a day. So I sometimes forget I'm in an "alien" culture and just feel at home. But when I go to a matsuri or watch a kabuki performance, I'm seeing people really into something that I can't quite connect with. And so it's exotic and I feel like a newcomer again. I've been here since 1989, so it's nice to get that feeling again now and then.
On a completely different note, I like the service industry here, especially after having lived in Europe and traveled in the US and elsewhere. Some people say that it's not really friendly or personal, but it's just so nice to have people at the cash register or behind a counter or in a store who are so eager to please and be of service. They wrap things so beautifully if it's a gift, and the delivery people actually run everywhere!
Japan Zone has became a place hard to miss, when looking for Japanese information from Google. What has been the key points for your success?
Japan Zone ranks highly for some keywords like "anime movies" or "modern Japan" but not so well for just "Japan" or "Japanese." That's something I have to fix. In fact, optimizing the site for the search engines is my big project right now. But the site is already so big that I just don't know where to begin!
How popular is the Japan Zone Friends meeting & dating place?
Japan Zone Friends started just over a year ago and has been very popular, with millions of page views a month and an average of 50 new people signing up every day. We've had more than 18,000 people join, and Japan Zone Friends is just one part of a huge network, fed by dozens of web sites. So members get access to hundreds of thousands of members, including many who join through Japanese sites.
What would be your advice for a person traveling first time to Japan?
Be prepared for the shock of the new. If, like me, you arrive not knowing the language, everything around you looks so exotic, you feel overwhelmed by the weird writing everywhere. And yet, so much of what you see is somehow familiar. Familiar icons, familiar logos, familiar cartoon characters. But all in a different context, given a slightly different flavor.
If you arrive in Tokyo - or any of the big cities, really - you'll be overwhelmed by the crowds. And the lack of English information, unless you tune your eyes to find it, half hidden away and usually misspelled! But what you may be surprised by most is just how friendly the locals are to visitors. You're "o-kyaku-san" (honored guest) and will be treated as such.
Of course it's hit and miss, but so many people leave Japan with stories of how they were treated to lunch and offered a place to stay by someone they just asked for directions to the station. Japanese at home and Japanese abroad are almost two different species. Don't judge them till you meet them on their own turf.
Although doing things cheaply has become much easier and more common these days, Japan can still be very expensive. So plan your trip well, do your research and, if possible, speak to people who are here or have been here recently. Learning the Japanese phrases in one of the standard guidebooks (I like Lonely Planet) will go a surprisingly long way.
Oh, and of course, read Japan Zone cover to cover before you come! You'll have a great time in Japan.
Thank you Mark McBennett! Now, lets visit Japan Zone: www.japan-zone.com
Georgian forces have resumed shelling in South Ossetia, ending a
ceasefire declared by Tbilisi on Thursday. Fifteen people are reported to
have been killed in overnight attacks. At Russia’s request, the UN
Security Council is holding an emergency debate on the escalation of
violence.
According to reports Georgia is currently leading an offensive land
operation in the Tskhinvali region.
Artillery strikes are being carried out by large-caliber weapons. Reports
say the center of Tskhinvali has been hit hard, and electricity to the
city has been cut.
A short time ago, a spokesperson for the South Ossetian government, Irina
Gagloyeva, brought us the latest.
“From midnight Tshinvali is being fired on from heavy artillery. The
commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion has officially announced
the strike and the intention to force the citizens from their city, which
means an official declaration of war. The situation in Tshinvali is very
serious, there is no electricity. There are victims but as the fire is
very intense it's impossible to get close to them and even tell the
approximate number, but there are reports of dead and wounded. As I was
informed, there is destruction in the centre of the city, the government
building has been hit. Several houses are on fire,” Gagloyeva said.
Several South Ossetian villages have also reportedly been taken by
Georgian troops.
Yuri Popov - co-chairman of the joint control commission of the Russian
Foreign Ministry for settling the conflict - called Georgia's actions
treacherous.
"I class Georgia's actions as treacherous. I can't understand how it is
possible to trust Georgian promises and assurances after that. In this
case we see open aggression against South Ossetia. It's important to hold
Georgia back from any further escalation of the conflict," Popov said.
Russia's Foreign Ministry is holding an emergency meeting in Moscow over
the events in the conflict zone. The United Nation's Security Council is
currently holding an emergency session, initiated by Russia, over the
situation in South Ossetia.
The security council of South Ossetia's neighbouring republic of Abkhazia
has also called for an emergency session over the situation. Abkhazia’s
President Sergei Bagapsh has said that a group of Abkhazian forces are
moving towards the Georgian border.
It's also reported that thousands of volunteers from the republic are
also heading to South Ossetia in support. The President of bordering
North Ossetia-Alania, Taymuraz Mamsurov says hundreds of its citizens are
also heading to South Ossetia in support and can not be stopped.
Georgia says it was forced to break the ceasefire, ordered by President
Saakashvili earlier in the day, after South Ossetia opened fire.
Tbilisi says it's acting to protect its citizens and has announced it's
starting to restore constitutional order in Tskhinvali.
“South Ossetians started the shooting. They have heard our statement,
about a unilateral ceasefire and our invatation to join peace
negotiations. But in return, we are seeing the opposite reaction and the
continuation of fire from the Ossetian site. Georgian forces have taken
the decision to restore constitutional order in the entire region,”
Georgian Commander of Peacekeeping Operations, Mamuka Kurashvili said.
South Ossetia, meanwhile, says it's pulled out of peace talks, which had
been set for Friday.
Earlier Georgia and its breakaway republic of South Ossetia had declared
a temporary ceasefire in order to hold talks, which Russia had agreed to
mediate.
The President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity has said: “we are going to
win and discredit Georgia by our own forces and so far have no plans to
call for Russia's support”.
Journalists under fire
A group of Russian journalists got into the crossfire in Tshinvali. The
shooting was initiated by Georgian forces and is taking place close to
the peacekeeper's headquarters.
According to Rusiya Al-Yaum correspondent Mahmud Kanbar, South Ossetian
capital is almost on fire.
“The artillery strikes are being delivered from all directions.
Journalists working in Tskhinvali were urged to hide in bunkers and
shelters. The city is empty right now. We hear constant shelling. There
is no electricity in the city. I can say that the South Ossetian capital
is almost on fire. We see blazes coming out of several buildings in
Tskhinvali's center,” Kanbar reported from Tshinvali.
Georgia resumes bombardment of South Ossetia
Georgian forces have resumed shelling in South Ossetia, ending a
ceasefire declared by Tbilisi on Thursday. Fifteen people are reported to
have been killed in overnight attacks. At Russia’s request, the UN
Security Council is holding an emergency debate on the escalation of
violence.
According to reports Georgia is currently leading an offensive land
operation in the Tskhinvali region.
Artillery strikes are being carried out by large-caliber weapons. Reports
say the center of Tskhinvali has been hit hard, and electricity to the
city has been cut.
A short time ago, a spokesperson for the South Ossetian government, Irina
Gagloyeva, brought us the latest.
“From midnight Tshinvali is being fired on from heavy artillery. The
commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion has officially announced
the strike and the intention to force the citizens from their city, which
means an official declaration of war. The situation in Tshinvali is very
serious, there is no electricity. There are victims but as the fire is
very intense it's impossible to get close to them and even tell the
approximate number, but there are reports of dead and wounded. As I was
informed, there is destruction in the centre of the city, the government
building has been hit. Several houses are on fire,” Gagloyeva said.
Several South Ossetian villages have also reportedly been taken by
Georgian troops.
Yuri Popov - co-chairman of the joint control commission of the Russian
Foreign Ministry for settling the conflict - called Georgia's actions
treacherous.
"I class Georgia's actions as treacherous. I can't understand how it is
possible to trust Georgian promises and assurances after that. In this
case we see open aggression against South Ossetia. It's important to hold
Georgia back from any further escalation of the conflict," Popov said.
Russia's Foreign Ministry is holding an emergency meeting in Moscow over
the events in the conflict zone. The United Nation's Security Council is
currently holding an emergency session, initiated by Russia, over the
situation in South Ossetia.
The security council of South Ossetia's neighbouring republic of Abkhazia
has also called for an emergency session over the situation. Abkhazia’s
President Sergei Bagapsh has said that a group of Abkhazian forces are
moving towards the Georgian border.
It's also reported that thousands of volunteers from the republic are
also heading to South Ossetia in support. The President of bordering
North Ossetia-Alania, Taymuraz Mamsurov says hundreds of its citizens are
also heading to South Ossetia in support and can not be stopped.
Georgia says it was forced to break the ceasefire, ordered by President
Saakashvili earlier in the day, after South Ossetia opened fire.
Tbilisi says it's acting to protect its citizens and has announced it's
starting to restore constitutional order in Tskhinvali.
“South Ossetians started the shooting. They have heard our statement,
about a unilateral ceasefire and our invatation to join peace
negotiations. But in return, we are seeing the opposite reaction and the
continuation of fire from the Ossetian site. Georgian forces have taken
the decision to restore constitutional order in the entire region,”
Georgian Commander of Peacekeeping Operations, Mamuka Kurashvili said.
South Ossetia, meanwhile, says it's pulled out of peace talks, which had
been set for Friday.
Earlier Georgia and its breakaway republic of South Ossetia had declared
a temporary ceasefire in order to hold talks, which Russia had agreed to
mediate.
The President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity has said: “we are going to
win and discredit Georgia by our own forces and so far have no plans to
call for Russia's support”.
Journalists under fire
A group of Russian journalists got into the crossfire in Tshinvali. The
shooting was initiated by Georgian forces and is taking place close to
the peacekeeper's headquarters.
According to Rusiya Al-Yaum correspondent Mahmud Kanbar, South Ossetian
capital is almost on fire.
“The artillery strikes are being delivered from all directions.
Journalists working in Tskhinvali were urged to hide in bunkers and
shelters. The city is empty right now. We hear constant shelling. There
is no electricity in the city. I can say that the South Ossetian capital
is almost on fire. We see blazes coming out of several buildings in
Tskhinvali's center,” Kanbar reported from Tshinvali.
Georgia resumes bombardment of South Ossetia
Georgian forces have resumed shelling in South Ossetia, ending a
ceasefire declared by Tbilisi on Thursday. Fifteen people are reported to
have been killed in overnight attacks. At Russia’s request, the UN
Security Council is holding an emergency debate on the escalation of
violence.
According to reports Georgia is currently leading an offensive land
operation in the Tskhinvali region.
Artillery strikes are being carried out by large-caliber weapons. Reports
say the center of Tskhinvali has been hit hard, and electricity to the
city has been cut.
A short time ago, a spokesperson for the South Ossetian government, Irina
Gagloyeva, brought us the latest.
“From midnight Tshinvali is being fired on from heavy artillery. The
commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion has officially announced
the strike and the intention to force the citizens from their city, which
means an official declaration of war. The situation in Tshinvali is very
serious, there is no electricity. There are victims but as the fire is
very intense it's impossible to get close to them and even tell the
approximate number, but there are reports of dead and wounded. As I was
informed, there is destruction in the centre of the city, the government
building has been hit. Several houses are on fire,” Gagloyeva said.
Several South Ossetian villages have also reportedly been taken by
Georgian troops.
Yuri Popov - co-chairman of the joint control commission of the Russian
Foreign Ministry for settling the conflict - called Georgia's actions
treacherous.
"I class Georgia's actions as treacherous. I can't understand how it is
possible to trust Georgian promises and assurances after that. In this
case we see open aggression against South Ossetia. It's important to hold
Georgia back from any further escalation of the conflict," Popov said.
Russia's Foreign Ministry is holding an emergency meeting in Moscow over
the events in the conflict zone. The United Nation's Security Council is
currently holding an emergency session, initiated by Russia, over the
situation in South Ossetia.
The security council of South Ossetia's neighbouring republic of Abkhazia
has also called for an emergency session over the situation. Abkhazia’s
President Sergei Bagapsh has said that a group of Abkhazian forces are
moving towards the Georgian border.
It's also reported that thousands of volunteers from the republic are
also heading to South Ossetia in support. The President of bordering
North Ossetia-Alania, Taymuraz Mamsurov says hundreds of its citizens are
also heading to South Ossetia in support and can not be stopped.
Georgia says it was forced to break the ceasefire, ordered by President
Saakashvili earlier in the day, after South Ossetia opened fire.
Tbilisi says it's acting to protect its citizens and has announced it's
starting to restore constitutional order in Tskhinvali.
“South Ossetians started the shooting. They have heard our statement,
about a unilateral ceasefire and our invatation to join peace
negotiations. But in return, we are seeing the opposite reaction and the
continuation of fire from the Ossetian site. Georgian forces have taken
the decision to restore constitutional order in the entire region,”