Weekly Links 21 June 2009

This weeks links are a little out of left field. It has been a big week.

• Why Japanese are negative regarding love | 世論 What Japan Thinks
  It makes me a little sad to hear that Japanese people report they have no self confidence. Maybe it's because they're never taught what it means. There are benefits to this attitude that are less apparent when seen through the lens of a Western mindset.
  
  
• ‘1Q84′, the new bestseller by Haruki Murakami
  I'm really looking forward to getting a copy of this book. I'm currently reading ‘Kafka on the Shore′, about a boy who runs away from home but is haunted by dreams and the death of his father in peculiar circumstances.
  
  
• Learning a language is like having a pet
  A fun analogy to run with (or to pun with) from Thomas at babelhut. You can also follow Thomas and Peter on Twitter.
  
  
• Tadpoles falling on Miyagi: witness
  Is some strange coincidence that I just so happen to be reading a book where fish fall out of the sky? What does it all mean?