Oscars !!!

Recently, we have had almost only bad news on TV, for example the news about economic and politic so on. Maybe just same as in many countries.

Like that time, having a great news about own culture is marvelous. Well, it might be already well known news with much surprise, which two Japanese works got Oscars at Academy award in Kodak Theater, California U.S.A. At the moment this is the biggest and happiest news in Japan.


One movie is "おくりびとOkuribito (Departure)" that is winner of the Oscar “Best Foreign Language Film"

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Últimamente hemos tenido casi solo malas noticias en la tele, como por ejemplo problemas de economía o política. A lo mejor es igual en otros países.
En este caso creo que sería maravilloso tener una noticia muy buena.

A ver, ya ha de conocer por los Oscars las obras japonesas que se mostraron en el teatro Kodak en California, EEUU. Ahora, esta historia es más grande y más feliz.

Una película que se llama "おくりびとOkuribito (Departure)" ganó como mejor película extranjera.Aunque todavía no la he visto y por eso no puedo decir nada, una amiga mía tiene muchas ganas de verla así que pronto iré al cine.Tal vez pueda escribir algo después de que la vea.

Pienso que hay varios aspectos de la cultura japonesa, pero solamente alguna parte es muy conocida en extranjero.

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Well, I haven't watched yet actually ,so that I can't say it is blah blah. But should be good=) one of my foreign friend wants to see that movie, but she can't understand Japanese, but as I checked one theater is showing it with English subtitles. So I am going to there with her in a few days. Maybe I can write my impression later.

I think Japanese culture has many aspects, but is known only some part in overseas. To be honest, for me , as a Japanese, I don't know some part. Especially about “die ” and “funeral.” Maybe I am little bit young to speak those things; I still haven’t experienced so much those, only a few times. The movie is based the job for sending the dead. I think the way of thinking toward “die” depends on the culture, religion. I am not sure one way of ours are accepted or no, but after they got Oscar , is thought more easy.
Anyway I am looking forward to seeing it soon.

The movie is due to be released in 36 countries, and now they have been gotten many offers from many other countries.

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A ver,aunque todavía no la he visto y por eso no puedo decir nada, una amiga mía tiene muchas ganas de verla así que pronto iré al cine. Tal vez pueda escribir algo después de que la vea.

Pienso que hay varios aspectos de la cultura japonesa, pero solamente alguna parte es muy conocida en extranjero.Honestamente yo tampoco sé sobre varios de estos aspectos aun siendo japonesa. Especialmente acerca de la “muerte” y de ”un funeral”. He tenido pocas experiencias.

La base de la historia es un trabajo que se relaciona con los muertos.Creo que la forma de pensar de cada individuo depende de su cultura o religión. No estoy segura si nuestra manera de pensar es aceptada o no, pero después de conseguir un Oscar, será más fácil. Entonces espero verla muy pronto.

Esta película se estrenará en 36 países y ahora los directores reciben muchos ofrecimientos en otros países.



Another movie is “つみきのいえ　Tsumiki No Ie (LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES)” of the “Best Short Film (Animated)”. Japanese animation is already popular worldwide because of Osamu Tezuka and Hayao Miyazaki. I know many people are studying Japanese for those works.

The website of the Academy says “In a world gradually flooding with water, an old man adapts to changing circumstances and looks back on his life.” If I have a chance I wanna see it , too.
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Otra película, llamada " つみきのいえTsumiki No Ie(LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES )", es ganadora del mejor corto de animación. La animación japonesa ya es popular en todo el mundo, gracias a Osamu Tezuka y Hayao Miyazaki. Sé que muchas personas están estudiando japonés para entender los dibujos animados.

En la página web de la Academy dice: "Mientras el mundo va progresivamente inundándose de agua, un viejo hombre se adapta a las circunstancias cambiantes y mira atrás hacia su vida." Si tengo una oportunidad, me gustaría verlo también.
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Apart from these two Japanese movies, as I am studying Spanish, I was very happy the Oscar for Penelope Cruz, too. Although I like her more in Spanish.

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Aparte de estas dos películas japonesas, como estoy estudiando español, también me sentí muy feliz por el Oscar que ganó Penélope Cruz, aunque me gusta más ella en español.

The Myth of Tomorrow

There was an artist whose name was "Taro Okamoto (岡本太郎・おかもとたろう)". I don't know how much he is well known in other countries. But in Japan he is one of famous artists. Above all “Tower of the sun” that was the symbol of Expo 70 of Osaka is very famous. Not only his works , but also his unique character was loved by Japanese people. He was sayiong so often "Art is Explosion." Although he already died in 1996.

The other day I went to Shibuya that is one big city in Tokyo, I was so surprised, because one of his works was on the wall of Shibuya station. I didn't know about it, but I recognized at once it is his work, because his works are so characteristic.

After I got home, I checked about it. According to the internet, the picture was originally painted for the one Mexican hotel owner, but after that his business went bad, so that it was missing until found in Mexico City in 2003. After then it has been repaired by one project group, after all 18th of November 2008 it is put on view eternally at Shibuya station. Because Shibuya is close to Aoyama area where Taro spent at elementary school time.


This is very big(height: 5meters length: 30meters), so I couldn’t take a nice photo. But it is really powerful with a lot of colors , named “ashita no shinwa（明日の神話）” means “The Myth of Tomorrow”.　It is worth to watch.

Official web page of "Ashita no shinwa " rebirth project in Japanese
http://www.1101.com/asunoshinwa/news.html

Korean taste /El sabor de Corea

The other day I went to the Korean town in Shinokubo. In Tokyo many Korean people is living , I think. Shinokubo is a city that have very different atomosphere. There are a lot of the signs which are written in Korean letters. I can hear the people are spoken in Korean. Besides I feel smell of the city is not same as other city in Japan.

I went to one Korean restaurant where all waiter and waitress are Korean , although they speak Japanese very well.　Normally I can't eat spicy food , so I don't eat so much Korean food, but Korean BBQ is another story , I love so much. Well, I have been to there several times , but they are always with my Japanese friends. But this time I went one Korean friend. It's much better, she know the food, how to cook ,and she could order that is not in the menu.
They were so delicious. I was really satisfied. =)
At the end , we got the discount of our check. ha ha he

I have been to Korea three times , it's so close from here. I feel like going there again!!!

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El otro día fui al barrio coreano en Shinokubo. Creo que la gente coreano viven mucho en Tokio. Shinokubo tiene ambiente muy special. Hay muchas señales se escribe en Hangul . Puedo eschar la gente hablan en coreano. Además huelen diferente.

Fui al restaurante coreano donde todo los comareros son coreanos, aunque ellos pueden hablar japones muy bien. Normalmente no puedo comer la comida picante, por eso no como la comida coreano, pero me encanta carne asada coreana. A ver, he ido allí varias veces, pero siempre con mis amigos japoneses. Pero esta vez fui con una amiga coreana. Más mejor, ella sabe la comida, por eso la pidió especial . Muy delicioso. Estaba muy contenta. Finalmente el camarero hacía algún descuentos. ja ja ja
He estaco en Corea tres veces . muy cerca de aquí . Me gustaría ir ya!!!!






Samgyupsal BBQ
They cut pork with scissors!!


sea food Jijimi
I love it . We have similer food called Okonomiyaki in Japan , but taste is differ.


Tteokbokki
We ate this in the street!! taste at first sweer and then spicy!!!

Festivals in Tokyo/ unas fiestas en Tokio

As I wrote many times in this blog, we can taste many kinds of food in Tokyo. Yes, we are luckey! Not only in restaurantes, but also in festivals!
Last weekend two festivals were hold.
One in Vietnam festival in Yoyogi park , Tokyo, and the other one is Mexican festivai in Odaiba , Tokyo.

I went Vietnam festival on Saturday , and Mexican festival on Sunday. Both were interesting , they sold thier typical foods, and showed some cultural aspect like dancing , singing and so on.

I just show you some photos.

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Como escribí unas veces en esta página, podemos encontlar diferentes sabores en Tokio. Sí, ¡tenemos suerte! Hay muchas fiestas aquí.
El fin de semana pasado hubo dos fiestas en Tokio. Una fue la fiesta vietnamita en el parque Yoyogi , y la otra fue la fiesta mexicana en Odaiba.

Fui a la fiesta vietnamita el sábado, y a la fiesta mexicana el domingo. Me interesaron ambas. Se vende la comida tipica, y puede divertirme el baile o la musica. Aquí unas fotos!!


【Vietnam Festival/La fiesta vietnamita】
Only I had a few time, quickely I bought some food and ate. But it was so nice. Recently I am a bit crazy of eating vietnamies food!!! I really like it! There many women put on their nacional costume called "ao dai (áo dài)". They were so beautiful. One of my friends is going to Vietnam for her vacation. Lucky her!!

Sólo tuve un poco de tiempo , compré y comí la comida de prisa , pero estaba muy delicioso . Últimamente estoy loca por la comida vietnamita. Me encanta.
Vi unas mujeres vestidas con la ropa nacional que se llama "ao dai (áo dài)". Ellas son muy bonitas. Una amiga mía va a viajar a Vietnam de vacaciónes. ¡Qué envidia!


Spring Roll!/Rollito de primavera!



So many people!/Mucha gente!




【Mexican Festival/La fiesta mexicana】

I can't eat spicy food, so it made me a bit difficult when I went to Mexico, but the Mexican people were always nice to me. That's one of the fascinating point of them. Listing music like Mariachi reminds me of my mexican friends!
Well, unfortunately the day I went , it was heavy raining, but still I could enjoyed a lot!

No puedo comer algo picante. Cuando estaba en México de vacaciones, fue un poco duro para mi.
Pero los mexicanos eran muy amarbles, creo que esto es una fascinante de esta páis. Escuchando la musica en la fiesta ,recordé a mis amigos mexicanos. Lo pasé muy bien , aunque llovía mucho.


Tacos, please , but without spicy sause!!! PLEASE!
Un tacos , por favor ,pero sin salsa, POR favor.




I can't wait!!!/No puedo esperarlo.



Mariach!!

Kanmi-ya～Japanese sweet paｒlor

I love to going to a Kanmi-ya which is difined "Japanese sweet parlor."

The other day I went to one with cozy atomosphere. The name of the parlor is "Irori" which means fire place in old Japanese houses. Recently there are only houses having Irori. Let me show you some photos.


Wow , there were many samples of the sweets, which made me difficult to decide.


This is the Irori, but normally it would be on the ground.


I had "Mitsumame" which is similar to Anmitsu , but without red bean paste called Annko.
Some fruits , some agars, cream some beans with syrup... Ummmm yummy. Decent time , isn't it????

"Turbaned Noguchi"

The Japanese 1000-yen bill has a depiction of Hideyo Noguchi on it.
Here it is.

He was a doctor and bacteriologist who discovered the agent of syphilis disease.When I was a kid, I would read his biography.


Recently folding bills is popular among some young people.
This is one kind.
"Turbaned Noguchi"



It is said , if you keep it in your wallet, you can save up your money. I don't know truth.... It may be a of urban legend...