baby in me

baby in me... but not myself ;) he he he
My co-worker is pregnant right now. She looks so hard to come to work every day.

The other day I heard from her about the badge which is designed for expectant woman. When you find a woman with the it in the train, it would be nice , if you can make room for her. To be honest , I never saw a woman with the badge. My co-worker said she feel ashemed a little bit to get it on.

It will take more time to be known about it ,even it is a nice idea...

IKEA

IKEA........they are famous furniture stores , aren't they?
Right now there are no IKEA in Japan, but it is coming soon on 24th of this month . Many people seem to be waiting so eargly . I heard about IKEA from some of my friends who love IKEA. I have been to many countries ,but I didn't know IKEA.

The other day I had a chance to talk with man who came from Denmark, he said to me he was so happy to coming IKEA to Japan ,and IKEA have a great deal with ther employee. It's a very nice comapany.

IKEA -such a nice place? I have just check their Japanese website. Much to my surprise, what a cool stuff they have! They look so simple , but cool , and reasonable price. Especially I am so interested in the food section. They will have a nice swedish restaurant and swedish food market. We can have mearballs, sermon filet, princess tart!

I am sure I am going definitely;)

[IKEA JAPAN Website in ENGLISH]

Tegami (letters)

Recently I rarely write letters , althouth I used to write letter often.

When I was a junior high school student, I had a penpal in U.K. Since I have just started learing English, it is difficult to write letters in English, so I was just trying to copy the same sentenses of the text. When I got the first letter , I was checking the stamps , envelope as well as letters. It was the first time to feel overseas. I had been to Korea before, but Korea is simlar to Japan. Whenever I found the letter from her in the mail box, -I could find out her letter soon , because she use the airmail envelopes with red and blue border -I was so excited!!!

As I entered the university in Tokyo, I wrote many letters to friends in my homtown. At first living in Tokyo by myself made me feel lonely. I made phone calls sometimes , but it was expensive. After I got used new life, I traveled many countries, I sent many postcards from outside Japan.

But nowdays email is much easier and faster to communicate. Always using computer, sometimes I can't remember the spell of chinise character. I can read it! but sometimes I can't write it .(In Japan we learned more than 2000 chinise characters at least , when we were kids!)

Yesterday I watchd one program about letters onTV. Some people think a great deal of writing letters. They choose very nice own stationeries like fountain pen and letter pad. There is a TEGAMI cafe( letter cafe ) in Kyoto , which you can spend whole day to write letters and get some nice stationeries.

I feel like writing letters to someone!

more sakura photos

I took many many pictures of Sakura (Cherry blossoms) this year. I just want to show some.

ruokala lokki

ruokala lokki- they are the words in Suomi which is sporken in Finland.If they are translated in English, they mean "Seagull diner".

Now the movie "Kamome syokudou(Seagull diner in Japanese)" is popular amoung young women. I have just watched it the other day. The story is not excited one, but make you feel better. Very heartwarming story.

One Japanese woman opened Kamome syokudou(Seagull diner)in Helsinki by herself. At first nobody came to her place to eat. But a Finnish young man who love Japanese cartoon came there as a first customer. After that two Japanese women, one came to Finland as a tourist and another had lost her lugguage, started to help Kamome syokudou. Those three women were having many experiences with locals. Those three Japanese actresses play the unique characters. To my happiness, I could see them in the theater, because that was the first day of show.

In the movie, Onigiri which Sachie wants to serve is introduced as Japanese soul food.It is interedting, too. You can see many Japanese food. If you are hungry, it might be heard to watch this movie.

I heard they are going to put the movie on the screen in Finland.

ruokala lokki official site in English

Yokohama fun night!

Last night I went to Hard Rock Cafe in Yokohana for my friend's Birthday Party, where they offer the same taste as in U.S.A, like potate skin, nacho etc. It was very tasty, although it it impossible to eat them everyday. When I arrived there, they have already decolated the table with ballons. Cute!

I had been Hard Rock Cafe several times in Roppongi(Tokyo) and Orlando(Florida). But if my memories are collect, I never saw somebody's birthday celebrated. So yesterday
was first time. They made announcement of the birthday by monitars! Cool!

We had many, actually I don't remember ,but anyway many alcohol. Jim beam, Sauza shilver, cran-a-kazi, lemondrop....and more. It is Amrican style of celeblating , isn't it????:)

After that we went to the amusement park called Cosmo world. After having many cocktails, it is more exciting and so fun to take a ride with screaming, but It was so so cold, as if the winter came back.

It was such a wonderful night of fun!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Hana yori dango

Last night I went to see another sakura(cherry blossoms) in special scienic park Rikugien. It is the waka poetry garden created in 1702.Usually they open from 9 to 5. But special season like now they open longer. At the moment a big weeping cherry tree is lighted up. It was so beautiful, and fantastic. I took many pictures as usual.

Then walking around the park, I found Dango shop in the park.. Dango is Japanese sweets which was made by the rice powder, tasted by soy sause, miso, and sweet beans.

We have one saying.
"Hana yori dango."
Hana means "flower"
yori means "than"
dango , you already know.

I have just checked my dictionary.
Similer meaning of
Praises [Fair words] fill not the belly.
Bread is better than the songs of birds.
Better fill a man's belly than his eye

Many people was enjoying their dango.
Me? Of course.

a rip-off ??

One of my friends lives in Dubai now for her work. As she has just came back to Japan for two weeks vacation, I saw her the other day. I like travling so much, but I never been to aroung there. I don't know so much about those countries. Dubai, UAE, a rich country, camel, desert? My knowledge is limit.

I am so curious about other culture, I was so excitied to see her. I heard some interesting stories of living in UAE.Those are about fun, tasty food, friendly people.... I've got one more place which I wanna go.

But she said,when she is shopping , they always ask "Are you Japanese". At that time she always pretend to be another nation. If she says I am japanese, the price gonna be a rip-off. This happens everywhere, especially tourist places, even inside Japan...

Another friend has just been to Fukuoka , Kyushu where is famous for many boothes, stalls called Yatai. In fact it is my hometown. In yatai you can eat noodle ra-men, oden(a japanese pot). Especially winter season, it is nice to eat in Yatai.

When she went to there, she had to pay much more than she guessed. It maight be not ordinary case, I have heard in some place , the prices differ whether the person speaks dialect or not.

As I can speak dialect fortunately, I don't know truth.....

sakura sakura sakura

I feel spring through the Sakura (cherry blossoms) so much !

The cherry blossoms have been brooming day by day. Yeasterday as it was so nice and warm weather, I walked by the river to see Sakura(cherry blossoms.) Not only myself, many people was walking , some peple was eating their lunch under the tree. Really Japanese people love sakura, I think. In my case, when I see the pink color of them, I feel very happy.








I like Japanese-style goods, for exmple something which is used kimono cloth. In my favorite store where I can buy those stuff, I found many sakura patterned dishes, stationaries, and so on.








I found this sakura watch in internet, isn't so cute? I decided to buy it so quickly.










Well, this is one kind of Japanese sweets called Sakura mochi. I made it. Inside is sweet beans paste, outside is a kind of rice colored pink by food red , wrapped by cherry blossoms leaf which is pickeled by salt.

WBC

Wow, we have a great moment, thanks for the victory of WBC(world baseball classic). Since the day before yesterday, the moment they became winner, all television stations have been broadcasting their sprints many times.

As I wrote before , I like watching baseball. I like Ichiro and Munenori Kawasaki -both of them are the player of japanese team at WBC. Really cool, and touching!
Thank you team Japan!!


http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/sports/news/20060322p2a00m0sp007000c.html
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/sports/news/20060322p2a00m0sp005000c.html

Kamakura

Kamakura is well known place as a historical city. The other day I went there for the first time.There is a huge statue of Buddha whose sitting height is 11.39 meter. Even we can go inside its body. It built more than 700 years ago, but the notice board says it was designed not to collapse even earthquake. Great isn't it?

As the season of cherry blossoms has just started, they are selling Sakura(cherry blossom) icecream! How can I discribe the taste of it? It is sweet, but not much, and taste reminds me of the smell of cherry blossoms. Anyway it is ok, yummy.

++kamakura++
http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/english/spot/kamakura/

St. Patrick's Day in Japan

Ireland is one of my favorite countries, I am interested in their culture. On 17th of March they celebrate St. Patrick's Day all around the country. I have seen St. Patrick's Parade on 2002 ar Dublin. It was very cold ,actually was chilly I and some friends was freezing. But parade was great. Everywhere and everyone was so green! I could see Mick McCarthy -ex manager of Irish natonal football team.

Well, Ireland and Irish culture is getting popular here. Now we have St. Patrick's Day parade in 5 places. I went to 2of them , Yokohama and Tokyo, with wearing my green T-shirts. To my luck, I had a chance to have a great Irish food at the party!!
I had really good time to know their culture more.

doughnuts!!!

Really , really we can eat many kinds of food from the world!
Here is one...doughnutplant from new york.

When it cames to doughnuts, we japanese remember at once "mister doughnut" which is like Dunkin doughnuts has shops only in Japan , but nowdays this new doughnuts shop is getting popular. Now they have ten stores already. bit expensive, but filled with many young women!

http://www.doughnutplant.jp/eng/index.html

Karaoke

Last Sunday I went to Karaoke. Maybe you know karaoke, it is popular word. But do you know it is originally from Japan? "Kara" means empty in Japanese, and connected with the word orchestra, was created the word Karaoke. There are so many place celled Karaoke box where we can sing with own families or friends.

To be honest I think it has passed alredy more than 5 years since I went to Karaoke last time. The song books are much more thicker then before, the macine is more complicated with new fanction. I was surprised that!

strawberry picking

Today I went to strawberry picking. Recently it hadn't been bad wether here, but today it was so beautiful day. As you can see the pictures, the color of strawberry was very red, was very sweet. The taste of fresh-picked strawberries is best!!!

Today is "Hinamatsuri"

Today is "Hinamatsuri" means doll's festival. We say 3rd of march is girls festival. If you have a girl in your family, you would prepare Hina dolls peach blossoms for her. We had one set of dolls in my parents house. I don't remember when we decorated last time.


This is a very big hina dolls set.

[hinamatsuri]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri

rare cheeze cake

rare cheeze cake of "shirotae" in tokyo.
It is so simple taste, and looks small, but as it has heavy taste, enough for me. "shirotae" is very famous of this cake. when I went to there (although the store is not big)many people was waiting.

Aquarium

The other day I went to the acuarium. I want to show these pictures, because I took by a camera of my mobile phone. Quite good, aren't they?
Actually it was not so big aquarium, they have dolphine show, I really enjoyed. If I live more close, I would have annual passport.

Sakura

Today Meteorological Office annouced flower forecast of cherry blossams. This year it will be few days earlier than last year. I like to see the full bloom of cherry trees. I think all Japanese like cherry. When they are full of bloom, many people have picnic under the trees.

As I wrote before, here in Japan school year starts April. March is the time of grasuation, April is the time of entrance ceremony of school. Since kids, these most impressive season have been with cherry blossams.

"Sakura" is cherry blossoms in Japanese. The word of Sakura is used in many songs, especially the songs about graduation. I really like the season of Sakura. I feel we are so luckey that we have four seasons which have own characteristic here.

[sakura]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura

WBC ....and Ichiro

World baseball clasic...it is called WBC to dicide No.1 country of baseball among 16 countries. It is like World Cup. Baseball is very popular sports as well as Sumo. During season many games would be broadcasted on TV.

I like baseball, too. Oh actually I like watching sports game.
As my parents have been watching baseball game often, I really like baseball game. Especially this time very famous player Ichiro of Seatle Mriners. It must be intersting!

Just over olmpic games, but still I have fun from 3rd of march when asia league will start.

WBC
http://www.wbcar.com/
Ichiro
http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=400085

automatically ...

I think one of surprising things in Japan for foreigner is taxi. Like most of the countries, when you want to take a taxi on the street, just wave your hand to the taxi, so it would stop soon. After that it is the time to be surprised. The door would open automatically, and close automatically, too. Is it only in Japan? I heard it is before. Please be careful!

Torino....

Recently many TV program on Torino olympics have been broadcasted. As I grew up in south district in Japan , I don't play any winter sports so much. But I feel we are so luckey to have many place where we can enjoy them. I have been enjoying watching TV.

This morning we had a really good news here. Shizuka Arakawa a figure skator won a gold medal in Torino, since we haven't any medal since them it was so exciting and had a great moment. She was so beautiful. I cant't wait the exhibition.

Shizuka Arakawa
http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/5072356/detail.html?ib_oll=Headline
news of gold medal
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200602240253.html

Relaxuma

One character is very popular among young girls as well as Kitty.
Its name is "Relaxuma."I haven't known about it since 3months ago when my friend showed me picture book of it.

There are so many goods of Relaxuma. Now degital audio player is coming soon.


Have you known Relaxuma?


http://www.geocities.com/tarepanda_fanlisting/Relaxuma/

Happy news

If you watch TV news often, you might know our happy news of Japanese Royal family. We had an anouncement on Tuesday that Princess Kiko is pregnant.

As for this news, we have a big problem of imperial revision, since no boy has been born for more than four decade. It is going to be very different a new baby is a biy or a gurl. But anyway it is good news! I am happy to hear this news. We can see baby in Autumn.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060207p2a00m0na025000c.html

to know our culture

The other day I talked people who came from Kyrgyz Republic. To be honest, it was the first time for me to talk with somebody from Kyrgyz Republic. As I haven't known about their country at all , I asked many quesitions. I am so curious. They looks very similar to Japanese, even though we have many different something, for exmple food, language and so on.

Sometimes especailly when I knew different culture ,I can not help feeling my common sense is not the one for somebody. But at the same time I feel that I don't have enough knowledge to show our culture. Since I have started this blog, I have been trying to find details. FOr example, A few days ago, I wrote about "Setsubun" . Of course I know it. But it was so difficult to explain it.

The people who came from Kyrgyz Republic knew so much about their country, maybe they are often asked abut their culture. Like them , I have to know and understand Japanese culture more.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival has been taken place since Monday. It is one of the very famousu festival, most famous winter festival. Sapporo is the biggest city in Hokkaido, which is the island in northen part of Japan.

The number of the tourist coming to Sapporo is getting increasing. Nowadays more then 2million people enjoy the snow sculptures. This year fifteen teams from many countries have taken part in International Snow Sculpture Contest. See the web site of snow festival, you will see the many beautiful sculptures.

In this season , TV news broadcast the aspect and atomosphere of this festival.
I have never been to the this festival, to be honest I have'nt been to even Hokkaido itself. Everybody who went there likes Hokkaido. I know the food is very tasty especially in the winter and the seanary is beautiful. My parents love it, too. I want to go someday. Oh I have too many place where I want to visit.


[Sapporo snow festival]
http://www.snowfes.com/english/index.html

Turin Olympic

Recently many TV programs of Torino Olympic have been broadcasted. Many athletes have already arrive in Torino. According to the prediction of U.S. magazine, it will be two bronze medals that Japanese athelete will get. We will see what happens. Always olmpic season I am excited. Five more days. I will stay up late at night.

[Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games Official site]
http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/OlympicGames/home/index.html

more way of Furoshiki

As I wrote a few days ago, Furoshiki is a soft square shaped cloth to wrap something. Today I learned how to wrap more. I just want to show you.

for the bottle














for the round shape like a watermelon














for the books





Nice, isn't it?

Setsubun and Ehou-maki

Today, 3rd of Febrary is Setsubun in Japan. Do you know it? If I translate the word "Setsubun", it means the day before a change in seasons. Setsu means season , bun means division. We say tomorrow is new season , spring in calender.

We have some rituals for Setsubun. We throw roasted beans from inside and outside our house. When we throw them, we shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (" Go out devils, come on happiness.) After that we eat beans same number of your age. when I was a kid, I wanted eat more.



This is a Sushi roll, maybe as you know,it's very famous. But today it has special meaning. It is called "Ehou-maki" which is uncut. When we eat it with facing Ehou direction which is supposed to good direction of that year.(It changs every each year.)This year's ehou direction is south-southwest.

Tonight I was making Ehou-maki by myself , but when I went to the supermarket, I found seafood Ehou-maki in which sermon , tuna, and squid. It looked so yummy, and I bought it;)

nice furniture

Today I went to the furniture showroom. I never been these kinds of showroom. So I didn't know that , but it was so exciting. They have very trend furnitures and excellent displays which made me feel nice.

We saw many, the most impressive stuff of all is named "Trunk station", whose shape is a very big trunk ,and inside the trunk the desk and shelves placed. So unique!!!at the same time so expensive, too!

[Japanese only ,but you can see photo]
http://www.itoki.jp/home/soho_trunkstation.html

used to be....

According to the survey, Tokyo is used to be the highest cost of living in the world. After fourteen years has passed since Tokyo became the most expensive city, this year it was taken over to Oslo, Norway.

As for me, I feel less the price of many things ,compare with before. We have many reasonable restaurants, can buy cloths less price than before, there are many good quality of100yen shop(including cousumer tax 105 yen).

I have a friend from Norway, she said to me before, everything in U.S. is cheeper than Norway!! Because they have very good social welfare. I think .

I want to travel to Norway someday, at that time I have to prepare for much money.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060201p2a00m0na004000c.html

more about wedding

Already one month has passed in this year... So fast!!

I am still tired because of my friends wedding on last Sunday. From afternoon to night I had many glasses of alcohol;)I like drinking with friends , but it lasted too long for me this time. Haven't I mentioned so much about wedding?

In Japan the wedding ceremonies take place in many ways, depend on religions, area, and personal interests. But I guess , in general, they are less casual than Western style. Actually I never attend the wedding ceremony in other country and of non-japanese couples wedding. So I can't compare but, my French friends said so , we have many rule like oshugi which I wrote a couple days ago.

Nowdays many couple have a ceremony in a charch , even though they are not christian. But still some people prefer the ceremony of Shinto or buddist style in shrines.

My friend had the ceremony in like a memorial hall which is popular place same of banquets of hotels, resturants. They were married in front of their friends or relatives , which is called "Jinzen-shiki(Jinzen-style)" , hold nevertheless religions.

After that ,the reception wedding party was hold.
It depends on couples. For example, they introduce their profile, Someone-usually the boss of the couple have a speech, they cut a big cake , the friends sing some songs.

wedding +Furoshiki

As I wrote, I attended my friend's wedding. It was so nice, I really enjoyed, i had wonderful dinner , it was so touching ,but just I drunk too much, I think I am gonna sleep now!

But before going bed I want to show you "Furoshiki" which I wrote a few days ago.It is traditional cloth to wrap something. I haven't before. But today at my friend's wedding I got "Hikidemono(the present from couple)" wrapped by "Furoshiki" . The design is so cute. Here it is!

valentine's day

As you know, 14 th of feb is valentine's day.
In Japan it is supposed that women give chocolate to men. It is a good chance for women to express their feeling love to men. Today when I went to the mall, it has already started to sell many kinds of chocolate . I don't remember exactly , but I guess in Europe it is not like that. maybe everybody to everybody like family.

Anyway it is so commercialistic like other events.

strawberry

The season of strawbwrry is coming soon. Most of the food company have produced something strawberry taste stuff. In the stores we can find those kinds of stuff so many. Some of them are seasonal. I found the article about strawberry buffet, which you can eat strawberry cakes and deserts. I like strawberry a lot.

Oshugi

These are cute envelopes, aren't they? They are special envelopes called "oshugi-bukuro". I have just bought them today for my friend's wedding on this weekend. I am going to write my name on the front bottom of the envelop to bring it.

In Japan , person who is attending wedding ceremony is expected to bring some cash in the special envelop "oshugi-bukuro" for the wedding gift. This custom is called "oshugi".

So how much you have to send as a gift? What do you think? It is depends on your relationship and position with the couple. I think the average is 30000yen(about$275), if you are friend of the couple. I am going to send my friend 30000yen for the "oshugi". It is OK but when some friends married almost same time, it was so hard to attend.....

this weekend

I am going to attend to my friend's wedding party this weekend. I was thinking to dress kimono at first, but I changed my mind, because to wear kimono , I have to go to hair salon , because I can't wear by myself, it takes a time.

Now on wedding party many youg people prefer western style celemony with white wedding dress and black tie. Some people have a ceremony overseas. The friend who invite me is man , I think he will wear jacket with black tie. So far I have attended friends' wedding perties several times. But I never seen very Japanese style wedding. It might be just coincidence.

I will be able to see some friends whom I haven't seen for a while. I am so exciting!!! It will be llike a reunion.
On Sunday I will write about the wedding party on this blog.

Radio

Recently I am listening radio everyday on my way to work. It makes me feel shorter my way. And one more thing it is very good for me because one of radio station called "inter FM" is sporken in English as well as Japanese.

Now I don't have much oppotunity to use English (actually DJ speak very clear English), even though just listening radio are so useful. I don't know when this radio station opened, but I can say that's because the number of Foreginer in Japan is increasing.

plastic bags or Furoshiki

Here if you are shopping in the supermarkets, they will give you plastic bags free of charge. But the goverment decided to charge plastic bags in near future. When I went to Europe , in some countries they ask do I need plastic bags and if I need, they charged that, but when I went to U.S.A. I have never asked like in Japan.

Everyday, everyday if I buy something, always have to throw away some trash. I think it is good oppotunity to think about our environment more.

Once in our coutry everyone had been using "Furoshiki" ,now only some people espscially old people are using, which is cloth to wrap something. It is good time to review our traditional things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furoshiki

Shikishi

I was going to some pictures of snow, but it was going to melt , as it was not beautiful , I haven't taken any.

Today I want to write about "Shikishi". Because I hadn't known it is used only in Japan until yesterday.

"Shikishi" is thick and square shaped paper, like a big card, is used for the painting , poem, caligraphy , and sometimes for autograph. In famous restaurants you may find many Shikishi of fanous peoples' authography on the wall.

Last night I was watching the TV program that Jodie Foster was taken the interview about her new film "flight plan " by a Japanese TV personality. She was tring to get Jodie's autograph to find out Jodie was kind or not. At last in ten minutes interview she got four of her autographs. When the Tv persomality asked Jody about autograph for the first time she passed "Shikishi", Jodie said "It is only Japan."

http://www.zen-shop.net/shikishi1.html

Snow

It have been snowing all the day. Tomorrow I will take some pictures of snow if it remains. Only afew year time in a year it snows in Tokyo , but northen area is snow ing through the winter. (Japan is a small country , but depends on area climate is pretty different.)Whenever it snows a lot, the train perate less than usual. They say "Tokyo is very weak to snow!" Today I would hang out with some friens, but we cancelled just in case!

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060121p2a00m0na013000c.html

Sarudango

The cold wether goes on and on. Accroding to the news , it is going to snow.
Not only human feel cold, but also monleys !!!


In Japan there are some monkey park called "saruyama" where many monkeys live nearly naturaly. Every year this season the puctures of "sarudango" are taken. "saru" means monkey, and "dango" means a king of Japanese sweet,and rice dumpling.
Monkeys are close together ,because they are so cold! I heard the boss of the group is in the center of the "sarudango" where is the warmest place....

[Japanese only (but youcan see some more pictures of "sarudango")]
http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/animal/an51223b.htm
http://www.sanyo.oni.co.jp/34news/2006/01/12/20060112090957.html

Hatobus

We often see this yellow bus especially in Tokyo. This bus is called "Hatobus". I just don't remember the name in other countries. But there are those kind of bus in a big city or tourist place. Hatobus is a tourist bus with a guide or at least guidance by stereo. Many people who come to Tokyo as a tourist from other city or countries join half day or one day tour by Hatobus. They have many courses for foreigners with the guides who can speak English.

I have been asked several times about sightseeing in Japan, and I always tell about Hatobus. Oh I just tell you ,I am NOTHING with Hatobus:) Because my sentense is like an advertisement!!!!

http://www.hatobus.com/

Center shiken

This weekend it is very important for the young people (about 550,000 people) who want to enter a public university, because they have a one kind of exam called "Center shiken(center test)" whichi is managed by National Center for University Entrance Examinations. It means the test season will start.They have been studying for a long time.

When I was a high school student , I took this test, too. As for me I wanted to enter a private university , it was imoportant, but not like other people.

Since this year they are going to introduce "lisning test " in English test.It is first trial for the center and entrance test takers , I guess both of them are nervous now. Many of them are worry about function and quality of IC player that they will use.

To enter public university , they have to take another test, and in case they won't pass the exam, most of them will take tests for private schools. Some people take tests as many as they can. It must be hard time.

Schools starts in April here, when the entrance ceremonies take place everywhere, cherry blossom is usually full bloom, and so beautiful. A little bit more....

Body language

I have been watching the TV program about Japanese. It says one book is now very popular around Roppongi where many foreigner hang out and drink in Tokyo.
The title of the book is "70 Japanese Gestures".

We think we have much less and smaller gestures than American people. So I didn't notice that we HAVE many:) which is very common if you are Japanese. For example, before we eat meal, we always hands put together and make a bow , saying "Itadakimasu"!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330015/qid=1137545362/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl14/104-8605411-7491154?n=507846&s=books&v=glance
http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=890

The books from blogs

Since 2 or 3 years ago, the blogs have been popular in Japan. Many of interesting blogs which was written by normal people ,,,I mean , no novelist , famous, or writer, have been getting popular ,some of them were published.

For example;
Densya otoko(Train man)
Seikyou no Shiraishi san(Mr Shiraishi who works in student cooperative, he is always answering questions from students with great humor)
oniyome nikki (diary of the man who is abused by his wife)
and so on.

Those books are sold very good.
I want to know these kinds of books are only in Japan or not.
If you know these kinds of books written in English , let me know, I wanna read them.

Yoga

Today I went to the trial lesson of yoga at the sports club, because recently I don't do any execise at all. Now in Japan execises like yoga and quite popular. The new schools are opening, We can see many articles about yoga in magazines.My impression is that it was so hard for me because I am anatomically inflexible.

I just have write Yoga is NOT Japanese sports. When I was travel Europe 4 or 5 years ago, at the time Yoga was popular around Europe , many people asked me "Show me example", because they knew Yoga were from somewhere in Asia. I think it is mostly from India.

I am thinking to become a member of the sports club. If I can keep going, it is good for my health, otherwise I am getting fat and fat, because during winter season ,food is delicious, there are many oppotunities to drink and eat:)

Mt.Fuji

Yesterday I saw many friends whom I haven't seen for a while. Two of them said to the rest that they climbed Mt.Fuji last summer.

Mt. Fuji....the highest3776m) and most famous mountain in Japan. It is a like symbol of Japan, which is often used as a Japanese souvenir like postcards, calenders , T-shirts and so on. It is known the beautifyl mountain. When I am in airplane, I am always finding it from the sky.

To climb up Mt.Fuji... I can't imagine, how nice or how hard. Usually it need 2days, I mean , to sleep one night there. As my friends said, it is not so nice and cozy the place to sleep, but they were so tired that didn't mind at all.
Accrding to some web page, to climb to the top takes 4 to 8hours, on the way back from top takes 2 to 5 hours. My friends said it was sooooooooo hard, don't want to try again.

I want to try it, it is very cold on the top, so if possible on summer....
Maybe maybe ;)

In a year more than 200,000 people climb to the top of Mt.Fuji. 30% of them are forginers. So you may try it!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Fuji
http://www.mt-fuji.co.jp/index-e.html

Izakaya

Today, I want to write about "Izakaya". What's Izakaya? --places to drink and eat like restaurants or bars. They have large food and drink menu. Because we like drinking while eating. After working , it is very common and popular for Japanese to drink and eat with friends or co-workers. especially on Friday night. Some men go to drinking every night. I heard in Amrica, many people don't like to go out with co-workers after working.

There are some famous Izakaya chain where they have beautiful picture menu that easy to order, not so expensive. If you like drinking alchol, in some Izakaya they have a system which you can drink as much as you want by one price.

You wanna go?

Izakaya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izakaya

snow

As I wrote before, it is very cold this winter. Especially in northen part of Japan snowed a lot. So far 80 people died already. In one area the traffic have been interrupted because of snow for a while.People who dead was trying to clear snow.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060109p2a00m0na030000c.html

In other hand, there are lack of snow around the Mt.Fuji.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060112p2a00m0na025000c.html

It sounds weird.

Japanese horror movies

I am not a fan of Horror movies, I don't watch it, once I have watched I can't sleep well. These few years in hollywood they remake many Japanese horror movie like these;"The Ring", "The Grudge(The Juon)","Dark Water".
They were very popular here, many people liked.
Have you ever watched them?

Before it was said like the movies made of hollywood were best. But now some movies are acceptd than before, I mean not only japanese movies, but also movies from all over the world. How do you think?

Randoseru

When I went to the department store the other day, I saw the "Randoseru" on sale.It is the school bag made by leather for elementary school students. In Japan the schools and offices start April. So the parents have to prepare for that.
I think the new randoseru on kid's back is like a symbol of new pupil .
According to the WEB site, it was originally came from Netherland about 200years ago.When I was a kid it supporsed to have black ones for boys , and red ones for girls. But now there are many kinds of colors.

many colors
http://www.aeonshop.com/contents/randosel/

Coming-of-Age Day +Dragon Ball

Today is Coming-of-Age Day, I saw many girls in Furisode kimono. I wanted to take pictures of them, but I couldn't. So I will introduce the web which you can see pictures.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/photospecials/graph/090106comingofage/

+++++++
Do you know "Doragon Ball"? This is originally Manga by Akira Toriyama, which is broadcasted as a cartoon all over the world. I know about it because it is very popular here but I haven't read it so far. Since I was a kid many people loved it, but somehow I didn't have chance to read it. The end of last year when I stayed my friends house,where I found they have all books, so I decided to read it. All books -42volumes. It took quite a time for me, and this morning 2o'clock in the morning I have completly finished reading it!
KAMEHAMEHA.....;)

Dragonball official site
http://www.dragonball.com/

Seijin-no-hi (Coming-of-Age Day)

Tomorrow is Monday, but here in Japan many people can sleep late tomorrow morning , because tomorrow is the natioal holiday which is called "Seijin-no-hi"(Coming-of-Age Day).Before it was 15 th of Jamuary , but since 2000 it became on the 2nd monday of January which creats long weekend.

In Japan the people who are twenty years old or are going to be twenty years are invited to attend the ceremony. At the age of twenty....it has big meaning in Japan. For exmple people can get vote, and are allowed to consume alcohol and tabacco.

Tomorrow we can see many young men wearing good suits and many young women dressed Furisode kimono which is for young and unmarried women. When I was twenty years old, I was in Tokyo but for the ceremony to see my friends went back to my hometown. It is a very good oppotunity to see old friends.

Torii

Have you looked this gate? It is a gate of shrine which calle "Torii", which devides the place for god and the place for people.I guess the shape of gate is one of the Japanese traditional.Recently I wrote about Japanese new year, which people would go to shrine at this season.People walk through the gate to the shrine .If you come to Japan, you can see this kind of gate in many places.

There is one in Japan pavillion , Walt Disney world , Florida, U.S.It is used like a symbolof Japan.And I saw other place overseas, I don't remember where.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii

Mario

Yesterday I saw "Mario" in the department store.

Do you know him??? He and his brother Luigi are the characters of the very very popular TV game titled "super mario brothers". It is the story of it that those two brothers are going to save Princess Peach in Mushroom kingdom. There are many kinds of enemies, they have to beat them in many stages.

According to the web, the total sales of all searies more than 100000000 all over the world. The computer was named "Family computer" in Japan,and in U.S. the company name "Nintendo" was known as the game itself. So maybe I can say Mario is also very famous Japanese character.

Oh I miss super mario so much. In my house my brother bought family computer so early that when the game was very very popular many of our friends would come to my house. At the time we woke up very early to play the game before breakfast. We were getting so excited my parents prohibited playing it one hour a day....I feel nostalgic. Recently Nintendo released the old version because of 20th aniversary of that game, I wanna play it. It must be so simple, and not so beautiful as present!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Bros.

a busy day

Yesterday was my birthday. I don't say how old I am now :)! It is confidential. hehehe.

Since I was a kid, it has been quite busy day on my birthday, I mean, not about myself but also everyone. Because as I wrote before new year holiday season is very important for Japanese people, many people go back to their hometown to spend new year's day with their family. At the beginning of year many people go shrines or temples to pray their health or wealness. Some companies start to work on 4th or 5 th of January.At the airports and big terminal stations we can see many people with souveniors. Actually almost all air flights are fully reserved. In the department stores they have big sale.

Yesterday was busy day, too. But I spent time with family , and had time to eat dinner with friends , got birthday mails from friends. I appriciate those people , and I am grateful to be able to live in health.

Kadomatsu

This is another decolation of new year, which is called "Kadomatsu".Usually it is placed in front of house. It made with bamboo and pine trees.

I took this picture in front of one department store, it was pretty big.



http://www.valentine.gr/Kadomatsu_en.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadomatsu

Hatsu-uri and Fukubukuro

Today most of department stores open for the first time in this year. It is called "Hatsu-uri". Hatsu means first ,and uri means sale in Japanese. We have biggest sale in the year , like after Thanksgiving day or Christmasday in U.S. We can buy Fukubukuro (is maybe translated "happy bag")everywhere. As I have just checked Fukubukuro in English grab bags...

Fukubukuro is a bag which usually can't be seen from the outside. You can get more stuff than the price of the bag. They sell many kind of fukubukuro,,, for example, clothes, grocery, electrical products.

In a big city like Tokyo many people would wait for long time. I watched on TV many people had been waiting before new year's eve.

As I went to the department store today, I bought a bag of Fukubukuro of clothes. There are some sweaters ,a coat , a cap, a blouse in the bag. It should be Ok. The total original price in the bag is much more than I paied. It is a pleasure of buying a fukubukuro. I like it.

But some friends says those items in the bag must have been left over!

2006!

Happy new year!
Akemashite Omedetou.