Ayumi Hamasaki

The defining moments of our lives are remembered by specific details. The memories of these moments can easily be triggered when least expected. Good or bad, a particular sight, a distinct scent, a familiar noise, or a sweet taste can bring back a moment as if it was being relieved. Esmeralda Santiago faced an experience that took her back to the days of her childhood in the short story “Guavas”. Santiago passed through a fruit display in the local grocery store when she was caught off guard.…

Life has plenty of ups and downs along the way. Some of them are permanent such as losing both of your arms or becoming paralyzed due to a snow tubing accident. Others can be colossal but temporary, such as, the heartbreak losing a family member, or having to wear skin wraps due to a fire. All of us will have an obstacle whether it’s big or small during our time on this planet. My obstacle was not permanent, but it was a course that lasted 3 long years. The most challenging obstacle I have had…

Everyone faces two major types of situations in life: those you prepare for and those that you are thrown into without any forewarning. A major part of my life was centered around a “tough break” to quote the words of Lou Gehrig. My father had been recently diagnosed with the terminal disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a name that was coined by the fans of Lou Gehrig, a New York Yankees baseball player, after his death from the disease. Gehrig’s…

People have been using the internet for communication, research, marketing, and entertainment since it became a part of daily use for most of the world. It is undeniable that the internet has improved life, but at the same time, it has spawned many sales issues for the entertainment markets, specifically the music industry. The record industry “accounts for a small, but valuable percentage of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and plays a large role in fulfilling the entertainment needs of…

Japanese Popular Culture Japanese culture, particularly traditional Japanese culture has plenty of roots in traditional Chinese culture. However, Japanese culture is rich and diverse, dating back to 10,000 BC when the Jomon people first settled in Japan. It is widely known for its traditional arts and its contemporary pop culture. Nowadays in Japan it is still possible to notice kimono-clad women shuffling down the street with umbrellas overhead and oversized sumo wrestlers battling competitors…