Japanese Plum

August 31, 2008

Another favorite! Sour taste, yet refreshing! Also seasonal, summer only.

My Japanese Names

August 17, 2008

ANITA (亜仁多)

Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Script: 亜仁多 (Japanese)
My name written in Kanji, many thanks to Kikuko!! She's the BEST!!!

"The gyoji (sumo referee) used a nice Japanese paper which are used in the sumo world. And his calligraphy is very good. His name is Shikimori Kiichiro (式守鬼一郎) and you can see him on TV during the sumo tournament. The kanji I chose for your name means loves all or loves everyone" ~ Kikuko

ANITA (アニータ)

Gender: Feminine
Usage: Spanish
Script: アニータ (Japanese)
My name written in Katakana, this is common for foreign names. I had a hanko (name stamp) made for my REAL name and this was the script that was used.

ANITA MICHELLE JOSEPH (アニータミッシェルジョセフ)

Gender: Feminine
Usage: ---
Script: アニータミッシェルジョセフ (Japanese)
My full name written in Katakana, this is common for foreign names.

AIDA (相田)

Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Script: 相田 (Japanese)
Hitomi-manager picked out the name for my hanko when I first arrived. She was unable to find a hanko with a similar pronunciation to my name. Used for my post office bank account.

AIKO (愛子)

Gender: Feminine
Usage: Japanese
Other Scripts: 愛子 (Japanese)
From Japanese 愛 (ai) love, affection and 子 (ko) child.

Because some of my students have English names, they gave me a Japanese name.

Tsukimi

Tsuki means moon, and tsukimi means moon viewing. Originally a harvest festival, tsukimi was a time to pray for a good rice crop. It was usually observed during a full moon in September, or sometimes October, depending on the lunar cycle. People would make offerings of susuki (Japanese pampas grass), dango, chestnuts and sweet potatoes to the moon.

These days tsukimi is more about appreciation for the beauty of the moon Children look for the legendary rabbit who lives on it. It is said that this mythical lunar rabbit makes mochi during the full moon. However, tsukimi is a dying tradition and is observed by fewer people each year.

Ennichi

Enichi are special days related to Buddhist or Shinto deities. On each day, small festivals or memorial services are held at temples or shrines. Believers offer snacks, fruit or money to the deities. Some elderly people believe that visiting temples and shrines on these days will bring them divine favor. On ennichi days food and game stalls are set up near temples and shrines. On summer evenings many people come to ennichi in yukata.

Hanabi

Hanabi are an essential part of the Japanese summer. Large public displays are held all across Japan, and small family parties are also popular. Fireworks displays began in the Edo period (1603-1867) and quickly became popular. One of the most famous public displays today, at Sumida River in Tokyo, dates back t 1733.

There are three different types of hanabi. Skyrockets shoot into the sky and explode to look like large flowers. Ground fireworks are fixed on the ground and form different shapes like candles or fountain. The most popular one looks like Niagara Falls. Handheld fireworks shoot sparks from one end, but don’t explode. Children love holding them and watching the multi-colored sparks fly out.

Bon Odori

Bon odori is a traditional Japanese dance which is said to calm the spirits. It is one of the important parts of obon. Typically, a tower is built and the participants dance around it. It is usually held at night when, according to tradition, spirits of the dead come back from heaven. There are regional variations throughout Japan.

Obon – August 13th – 15th Holiday

Obon is a traditional Japanese holiday for ancestor worship. It usually runs from August 13h – 15th and many companies also have summer holidays at this time. Families usually gather together and visit the graves of their ancestors. It s believed that the spirits of their ancestors come back during obon. Many families have a butsudan. During obon, offerings of fruit, flowers, and snack are placed on the butsudan. In the past, small fires ere lit in front of the house to welcome the spirits. In some areas, small boats with candles are gloated down rivers to the sea on the evening of the 15th. This symbolizes the departure of spirits back to heaven.

Kaiten Sushi (Revolving Style) – July 26, 2008

Revolving table family sushi restaurant.


Revolving	Check the price


Serve the tea ourselves	Possible to order sushi you like

Revolving table style sushi bars are very popular and could be found everywhere in Japan. When a belt brings trays around, you take any plates you want.

The pattern on a plate shows you the price of the sushi. If you would like to order toppings just ask the chefs (sushi-shokunin).

After you finish eating, tell a chef "okanjoo onegaishimasu". Then an assistant will come and give you a bill.

Atom Boy was first popular in Tokai area.

See Pictures & watch videos

From Kikuko

How to Use a Japanese Style Toilet


Squat over the toilet	Don't sit over the toilet

Face the raised end.
Squat astride the toilet.
Bend your knees as deep as possible.
Flush the toilet after you use it.

You may flush toilet paper or aqueous tissue paper, but you must not flush other things.

From Kikuko

Ichinomiya Tanabata Matsuri (宮七夕まつり) – July 27, 2008

One of Japan’s big 3 tanabata festivals – Sendai and Hiratsuka host the other two. Ichinomiya’s main line location (JR Tokaido and Meitetsu) make it easily accessible from across the region.

When: July 24 - 27 (09:00 – 22:00)
Where: In and around Ichinomiya Station
Access: A 2 minute walk from Owari Ichinomiya Station (尾張一宮) (JR) or Meitetsu Ichinomiya Station (名鉄一宮)

Read Holiday’s History

Nagara River Chunihi Fireworks Festival - July 26, 2008

(全国選抜長良川中日花火大会)

One of the largest displays Central Japan. There will also be events during the daytime (09:00 – 19:00)

When: July 26 (Saturday) 19:15 - 20:45; 8/23 in case of adverse weather.
Where: On the banks of the Nagara River, Gifu City
Number of Fireworks: Approx.30,000
Access: A short bus ride from JR Gifu Bus Station, stop 12 or Meitetsu Gifu Bus Station, stop 4. Get off at Nagarabashi (長良橋) or Ukaiya (鵜飼屋); costs 200 Yen. Additional buses will be running (from around 16:30) on top of the regular service.

See Pictures & watch videos

Inuyama Castle – July 25, 2008

Inuyama Castle, towering over the southern bank of the river Kisogawa, was built some 470 years ago. Known as Hakutei Castle, it is Japan’s oldest castle tower, and has been designated a national treasure of Japan.

First Letter Written in ALL Japanese! – June 26th – June 28th, 2008

This letter took about one day total to write, spending about a few hours for two days. And Hiroko give the OK!

ひろここんにちわ。おげんきですか。そしておかずくはおげんきですか。わたしいはげんきです。にほんごべんきょうしました。でもちょっとむずかしい。にほんごははなしません。すみません。なごやでたのしています。わたしいはいぬやまじょうとせきのちさいといせとながしまととくがわえんとめじむらへいきたいです。じゅうがつにアメリカへかえります。しちがつにじゅうろくにちからしちがつにじゅうはちにちまでやすみます。たぶんいぬやまじょうとめじむらへいきます。ろくがつにじゅうくにちにすもうとりのパテイーのちゃんこへいきます。そしてしちがつはつかにすもうへいきます。やた。つかれた。ながいのにほんごのてがみ。ひらがなとかたかなはよみます。でもかんじはよみません。てがみはだいじょうぶですか。

ありがとございます。
アニータ

Translation

Hi Hiroko,
How are you and your family doing? I’m doing well. I’m studying Japanese, so please forgive me if my Japanese is really bad. I’m having a lot of fun in Nagoya and seeing many places. I want to go to Inuyama Castle, Little World, Ise, Nagashima, Tokugawa Garden, and Meji Mura before I return to the U.S. in October. I’m off July 26th – July 28th, so maybe I’ll go to Inuyama Castle and Meiji Mura. June 29th, I’m going to a Chanko Party with the sumo wrestlers and I will go to the sumo match, July 20th. I’m very excited! I’m tired now, this was the longest letter I have written in Japanese. I hope the letter is ok.

Thank You,
Anita

YUMMY!!

July 06, 2008

Twist of Plum and Ume

Tanabata – July 7th Holiday

July 05, 2008

Tanabata’s origin is the Chinese Star Festival which was introduced to Japan in the eighth century. It comes from a Chinese legend about Hikoboshi (Altair), the herder, and Orihime (Vega), the weaver. The two were hard working, but after they married they became lazy. The Emperor of Heaven got angry and forced them to live on opposite sides of the Milky Way. Orihime was so sad that she cried everyday. The Emperor of Heaven felt sorry for them and allowed them to cross the Milky Way and meet once a year on the night of July 7th. On that night people can look up at the sky and romantically imagine that the two are crossing the Milky Way and meeting each other. Children write wishes on paper strips and decorate bamboo branches with them. Shopping arcades are also decorated on this day with colorful paper strips hanging from bamboo branches.

Party at Sumo Stable 2008 (Chankokai) – June 29, 2008

First, let me start by explaining chanko is a kind of nabe and nabe is similar to stew, but served and prepared differently.

Before the Nagoya tournament, there are two chanko parties every year at this sumo stable. A lady named Kikuko attends them every year and she posts an invitation on her website for people to join her.

The sumo wrestlers cooked chanko for their guests. First, we ate.

After eating, I went over to talk to Kikuko because I had a question about the wrestler’s biographies. We started talking about the hand out and she pointed out the coach to me and some of the other wrestlers I was unable to identify. That’s when she said that now is a wonderful opportunity to take pictures because everyone was still eating and the wrestlers were free.

So naturally, I got up, walked over to ask Futasegawa Katsuaki if he would take a picture with me. Next thing I knew, he shouts out “SHASHIN (PICTURE)!” and motions for the others to come over to get in the picture. And it was all down hill from there. EVERYONE brought out their cameras and the wrestlers took off their shirts! :D

Tokusegawa Masanao was taking pictures with other people when Kikuko walks up to me and says, “You should have him pick you up!”

“EHHHH!” I said in surprise.

I told her she had to ask. I wasn’t mad at the idea at all, I wanted that pose caught on film actually. I just didn’t have the balls to ask. But you should have seen the conversation between Tokusegawa Masanao and Kikuko talking about it! He was surprised and jokingly gave her a hard time, but he wasn’t against the idea by any means!

All the wrestlers were very nice! BUT, I like Kongofuji Genichiro a lot more than the others (see below)!

Volunteers could challenge the wrestlers in a play sumo match. They also explained how the wrestlers are not all fat, but muscle. This was demonstrated by the announcer smacking Shimasegawa Daisuke’s butt and how it did NOT jiggle, but stayed firm. The wrestlers begin training at 6:30 in the morning and end around 10 AM or so, and then go to sleep shortly after eating. They skip breakfast and eat only two meals a day.

As the dinner came close to ending, Hanasegawa, Hayasegawa Shuichi, and Futasegawa Katsuaki sang for us.

View Pictures

The Biographies on the Wrestlers from the Party

Kiriyama Oyakata (Coach)

Ring Name	Teruzakura
Highest Rank	Maegashira 7
Name	Urakaze
Real Name	OZAKI Hiroyuki
Beya	Kiriyama

Tokusegawa Masanao (徳瀬川・正直)

Highest Rank	Makushita 6
Real Name	BADAMSAMBUU Ganbold
Birth Date	August 6, 1983
Height	191 cm
Weight	145 kg
Shusshin	Mongolia, Ulan-Bator
Beya	Kiriyama
Shikona	Tokusegawa Masanao
Hatsu Dohyo	2003.07

Career Record	115-79-9/194 (30 basho)
In Makushita	41-41-2/82 (12 basho)
In Sandanme	62-36-7/98 (15 basho), 1 Yusho
In Jonidan	6-1/7 (1 basho)
In Jonokuchi	6-1/7 (1 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Hayasegawa Shuichi (早瀬川・修一)

Highest Rank	Makushita 18
Real Name	YAMADA Taisaku
Birth Date	July 16, 1976
Height	178 cm
Weight	147 kg
Shusshin	Aichi-ken, Atsumi-gun, Atsumi-cho - Aichi-ken, Tahara-shi
Beya	Kiriyama
Shikona	Wakakotetsu - Hayasegawa Shuichi
Hatsu Dohyo	1995.01

Career Record	290-262-8/552 (81 basho)
In Makushita	72-89/161 (23 basho)
In Sandanme	165-135-8/300 (44 basho)
In Jonidan	48-36/84 (12 basho)
In Jonokuchi	5-2/7 (1 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Terusegawa Kuniaki (照瀬川・邦昭)

Highest Rank	Makushita 51
Real Name	SHOSHIRO Kuniaki
Birth Date	July 5, 1979
Height	176 cm
Weight	130 kg
Shusshin	Kumamoto-ken, Kumamoto-shi
Beya	Kiriyama
Shikona	Shoshiro Kuniaki - Terusegawa Kuniaki - Shodai Kuniaki - Terusegawa Kuniaki
Hatsu Dohyo	1995.03

Career Record	276-265-12/540 (80 basho)
In Makushita	7-14/21 (3 basho)
In Sandanme	192-192-8/384 (56 basho)
In Jonidan	73-56-4/128 (19 basho)
In Jonokuchi	4-3/7 (1 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Futasegawa Katsuaki (双瀬川・勝昭)

Highest Rank	Makushita 26
Real Name	MUNEDA Katsuaki
Birth Date	February 16, 1980
Height	182 cm
Weight	130 kg
Shusshin	Aichi-ken, Toyohashi-shi
Beya	Kiriyama
Shikona	Muneda Katsuaki - Futasegawa Katsuaki
Hatsu Dohyo	1995.03

Career Record	278-275/553 (80 basho)
In Makushita	46-73/119 (17 basho)
In Sandanme	157-137/294 (42 basho)
In Jonidan	57-48/105 (15 basho), 1 Yusho
In Jonokuchi	18-17/35 (5 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Hanasegawa (華瀬川・晃)

Highest Rank	Sandanme 68
Real Name	CHENG Songsong
Birth Date	December 17, 1984
Height	185 cm
Weight	138 kg
Shusshin	China, Beijing
Beya	Isegahama - Kiriyama
Shikona	Shosho Akira - Hanasegawa Tsutomu
Hatsu Dohyo	2004.03

Career Record	90-82-3/171 (26 basho)
In Sandanme	9-19/28 (4 basho)
In Jonidan	76-61-3/136 (20 basho)
In Jonokuchi	5-2/7 (1 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Kongofuji Genichiro (金剛富士・源一郎)

Highest Rank	Sandanme 78
Real Name	MATSUSHITA Yoshinobu
Birth Date	March 10, 1983
Height	183 cm
Weight	92 kg
Shusshin	Nara-ken, Gojo-shi
Beya	Kiriyama
Shikona	Matsushita Yoshinobu - Kongofuji Genichiro
Hatsu Dohyo	2001.01

Career Record	148-149-11/297 (45 basho)
In Sandanme	9-17-2/26 (4 basho)
In Jonidan	117-121-7/238 (35 basho)
In Jonokuchi	22-11-2/33 (5 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Shimasegawa Daisuke (嶋瀬川・大輔)

Highest Rank	Sandanme 45
Real Name	SAKAO Shinya
Birth Date	April 20, 1980
Height	177 cm
Weight	146 kg
Shusshin	Kagoshima-ken, Kagoshima-shi
Beya	Kise - Kiriyama
Shikona	Sakao Shinya - Kisenoshima Shinya - Shimasegawa Daisuke
Hatsu Dohyo	1996.03

Career Record	247-258-6/504 (74 basho)
In Sandanme	53-73/126 (18 basho)
In Jonidan	173-164-6/336 (49 basho)
In Jonokuchi	21-21/42 (6 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Fukusegawa (福瀬川・英明)

Highest Rank	Jonidan 106
Real Name	HIZUME Hideaki
Birth Date	March 14, 1987
Height	177 cm
Weight	122 kg
Shusshin	Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi, Jonan-ku
Beya	Isegahama - Kiriyama
Shikona	Hizume Hideaki - Fukunokuni Hideaki - Fukusegawa Minoru
Hatsu Dohyo	2003.01

Career Record	62-158-4/220 (33 basho)
In Jonidan	4-17/21 (3 basho)
In Jonokuchi	58-141-4/199 (29 basho)
In Mae-zumo	1 basho

Kongofuji Genichiro - Yoshinobu Matsushita

I took about four pictures of him with other people, but wanted to take a picture with him. So, when I thought I had a good opportunity to take a picture with him, it turned into something of a goose chase. Because when I looked over, he wasn’t talking to anyone. But then when I got up to go to his side of the room either people came up to him or he started to walk away to talk to people. But, the last time I got up from my seat and walked to the other side of the room, I stood off at a distance while he was talking to a family. The husband saw that I was standing there and said it was ok for me to come over. Yoshinobu let me take a quick picture with him, the first picture. He asked if he could see the picture, I showed it to him and he smiled. I said thank you to the family and to Yoshinobu and then sat down at my seat at the table.

While I was looking at pictures on my camera, a man was quietly whispering in my ear. I turned to my right and it was Yoshinobu! Hehehe. Now makes me wonder what picture I was looking at when he walked over! :D Oh how I WISH I knew what he said! DARNIT MAN!!! So, we took another picture. He asked to see that one too and he smiled again. Right when I was going to muster up the courage to talk to him with my little vocabulary and limited grammar, I saw more people wanted to talk to him and take pictures with him. So, I let them.

THEN, when all the wrestlers were standing up front getting ready for introductions, I looked up at Yosinobu (I was sitting on the floor at the table by the way, Japanese style), who was standing right in front of me and he was looking at me, but quickly looked at the audience as if he wasn’t looking.

So, yes I will be cheering him on at the match July 20th!

Plus he’s a little guy that has to go up against the big guys!

Sumo

Sumo is the national sport in Japan. Sumo wrestlers are called rikishi. In the dohyo (ring) they wear only a mawashi (lion cloth) and have their hair tied in topknot. The average rikishi stands about 6 feet (1.85 meters) tall and weighs around 330 pounds (150 kilos). To win, a rikishi must push his opponent out of the ring or force a part of his opponent’s body (other than his feet) to touch the ground. There are six honbasho (tournaments) each year. Tokyo hold honbasho in January, May, and September, Osaka in March, Nagoya in July and Fukuoka in November. Each honbasho lasts fifteen days. Every rikishi has a rank determined by their performance in each honbasho. To move up in the rankings, they must win the majority of their bouts, but if they lose a majority, they are demoted. The highest rank is yokozuna, the grand champion, followed by ozeki, sekiwake, komusubi, and maegashira. These upper division rikishi are called makuuchi rikishi, and below them come five more lower division ranks. In recent years, some non-Japanese rikishi have reached the highest ranks in sumo, and have brought new excitement and interest to the sport.

Rikishi belong to stables called sumobeya which are run by retired rikishi.
To enter a sumobeya you must be at least 5 feet 6 inches (173 centimeters) tall and weigh 165 pounds (75 kilos).
Each rikishi has a ring name, called a shikona.
Rikishi rinse their mouths before each bout to cleanse themselves. Throwing salt on the dohyo is another cleansing ritual.
Some companies put up prize money for big sumo bouts.
The referee, called a gyoji, encourages rikishi to keep fighting by chanting “Nokotta, nokotta (stay in)” throughout each bout.

See Pictures

Midland Square – June 2, 2008

Ok... I’ve been wanting to go to Midland Square for quite sometime now and after I finished at the Immigration Office, I had a whole day to kill. I was already in Nagoya and decided, what the hell.

Now, for those of you who don’t know, when I’m not in or on something that’s stable at least the feeling of being stable, such as planes, mountains, inside buildings, etc. Except for roller coasters, LOVE them and several other amusement park rides. Anyway, I’m afraid of heights and vertigo kicks in and it sucks.

I walk up to the “Shuttle”, the fast elevator to the 42nd floor. This elevator was no joke, it took you as fast as it could to the 42nd floor. Needless to say, my knees started to grow weak and I slowly backed away from the glass window to get as close as I could to hugging the elevator doors on the opposite side.

When buying your tickets, you have to walk through a tunnel with lights that change colors. Then, after buying your tickets, you take one escalator that takes you up to the 44th floor, then another escalator that takes you to the 46th floor. This is the last floor and roof. From here you have to walk the catwalk that takes you all the way around the building to look out over Nagoya City.

Price: ¥700

Location: Nagoya, Japan, across the street from Nagoya Station

View Pictures

GEOS Training in Naruto - May 27th & 28th

Hahahaha. This had to be not only the most fun and funniest training, but also the worst training ever!

After coming off of a long vacation, Golden Week, we, some teachers, received an email on May 13th that we would be attending training in Naruto and would need to pay for the tickets first, but then will be reimbursed aster the training. Now, I'm thinking, why couldn't this email be sent BEFORE Golden Week so we could budget properly?

None of the teachers had the money for this trip and had to pull money out of their savings. (Yes, we would get reimbursed, but that wouldn't be until AFTER the meeting) Not to mention the travel arrangements weren't discussed until a week after the email was sent out and the email to make any kind of reservations for the bus was sent Saturday evening, the last working days for NET teachers before the meeting. So, from the start the meeting was poorly planned.

For some reason, I was thinking we would all be going and responsible for ourselves. So, the morning of the 27th, I arrived at Nagoya station early to buy my shinkansen ticket, then I went and picked up some breakfast. I started to walk towards the stairs to go to the platform when Bruce, our teacher trainer flagged me down.

After all the native speakers had arrived, we went over to the shinkansen ticket counter to buy the tickets. Erin’s manager had already bought and paid for her shinkansen tickets, but there was something wrong with the tickets and Bruce had to spend money out of his own pocket for the new ticket (yes, the company will reimburse us after, but at the time he had to pay). Needless to say, he wasn’t happy.

So, we are now rushing to catch our train that we just paid for. We get on the train, find our seats and relax for an hour. Well... some of us anyway. Bruce was sitting next to a snoring man. We arrive in Shin Kobe and exit the train and begin walking toward the wicket. The train is now gone and Collin realizes he left his bag on the train!

While Bruce was talking to Collin about is bag, he sees Erin heading for the wicket.

“Erin, don’t go through the wicket just yet.” He says.

He turns away for a quick second, turns back and Erin is on the other side of the wicket looking back at us!

The proof he needed to sow that there was a problem with her ticket and to get reimbursed for it was now gone in the wicket.

So, now battling two problems at once, Collin’s lost bag and seeing if the ticket can be taken out of the machine, needless to say we didn’t have luck with either one.

After doing what we could about those two issues, we headed down to catch the bus to Naruto. We started to board the bus, but to find the managers did not make reservations for their NET teachers, except for Erin. We asked if they had extra seats and still take the same bus there. The driver said “no”, he only had room for one, here were five of us! “That’s ok,” Bruce said “we’ll take the next bus.” We went back upstairs to buy tickets and found out the next bus wasn’t for another 2 1/2 hours!

“$*#T!” We all said.

So, needless to say, we grabbed some lunch and talked for 2 1/2 hours. Mind you we were supposed to start training once we arrived in Naruto and meeting Erin and one other teacher there. So we lost 2 1/2 hours of training. Which in all honesty, was fine by me because I couldn’t sleep the night before and was running on 2 hours of sleep.

Finally, we were able to get on the bus to Naruto and on our way we went. We crossed over the Naruto Strait (Naruto Kaikyou), which is famous for its whirl pools.

We arrive in Naruto at last. Now, we will take two taxis to our final destination.

After arriving at the Naruto Wellness Center, we were shown to our rooms to drop off our bags and we would then begin our training.

We finished training around 8PM, just before dinner. For dinner we had nabe cooked in beer, sashimi, and rice and there was cake for dessert. The managers and JETs still needed to finish their meeting after dinner, so we were on our way upstairs to have fun. But on our way up, the Sanyo¹, Hashimoto-sanyo came out of the meeting and caught us all before making it upstairs.

“What will you do next?” She asked.

“Going over a few more things.” Bruce said. (NOT!) “We were late today and got a late start, so we need to wrap up some things.”

Then she asked about the beer that some of the teachers were holding and the OFFERED and even GOT us MORE LIQUOR!

We all thought it was a trap! Usually yelling at everyone and generally pretty strict.

She led us through the Mg and JET’s meeting to the kitchen and loaded us up with more alcohol!

So, we went upstairs drank and played poker with peanuts until the Mgs and JETs finished their meeting.

Around 11PM Ita-sensei knocked on the door to let us know they had finished. We came downstairs and they were singing karaoke. Then talk of swimming in the pool came up again. Bruce asked Hisa if it was alright and Hisa gave the ok.

Sandy and I went upstairs to change into our bathing suits and came back downstairs. Steven was sitting on the diving board waiting in his boxers. The three of us were jumping into the pool while Erin was deciding if she’d get in the pool. But because she didn’t have a bathing suit, she would jump in with her panties on and go topless.

“Come on, get in!” Sandy says. “Let’s see them titties.”

From behind Sandy, Erin quickly dives in the pool before anyone can see her... well, except me.

“There they are.” I said in reply.

After swimming in the cold water we decided that an ofuro (public bath) would be a good idea. We all head up to the ofuro to warm up and relax.

After that we headed upstairs to dry off, get dressed, and went back downstairs for more drinks, karaoke, and talking.

Most people didn’t get to bed until 4AM.

The next day was presentation day. For me, this was also great because not only did I pull the longest piece of paper and went last, but the next training group was coming in so another teacher and I had to give our presentations at the same time to our fellow trainees while Bruce was downstairs working things out.

15 minutes into our presentations, Bruce came in and said “You’ve got 3 minutes.” Mind you, our presentations were supposed to be 30 minutes long. So, I rushed through the rest and my presentation wasn’t criticized as harshly as the previous four teachers.

Training is over and we are now on our way back home with no problems at all... only paranoia and doubts of some.

¹Sanyo: The Sanyo is one of the big boss positions. Hashimoto-sanyo has two job titles. Sanyo and Shishacho. Usually, there is one person to do each job, but Chubu area only has one person to do each job. Because of this, Hashimoto-sanyo is higher than most Shishacho.

View Pictures

Subway
(Home -> Nagoya)
¥200

Shinkansen
(Nagoya -> Shinkobe)
¥7,950

Bus
(Shinkobe -> Naruto Bus Station)
¥2,750

Taxi
(Naruto Bus Station
->
Naruto Wellness Center)
¥1,030

Lunch with Aya - May 19, 2008

Aya is a student of mine who will be heading off to Ottawa, Canada for a one year home stay. She will leave May 25, 08. Prior to leaving, she wanted to spend time with family and friends.

For lunch, she suggested a chain restaurant that is very delicious and had just opened a new branch in Nisshin, about 10 or 15 minutes from the school. The name of the restaurant is Okonomiyaki Honpu. It is an okonomiyaki restaurant. Okonomiyaki is like a combination of a pancake and pizza.

I had the pork okonomiyaki with small pieces of octopus inside. I believe she had the seafood one.

Since this was my first time having and making okonomiyaki, she let me cook it. First, the waitress came to the table and put the batter on the stove-top in a pancake shape and she had us set the timer for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes, flip it to cook the other side. Set the timer again for another 6 minutes and then turn off the stove. After that, add the brown sauce (a lot of it, spicy sauce )if you choose), and mayonnaise. Cut and serve.

She made a very cute card with the picture we took at the restaurant and she bought a cute little bear and some chocolate as a thank you gift for helping her learn English.

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Mom's Visit to Japan - April 27th - May 12th

June 05, 2008

Mom came to visit me in Japan! I was very shocked. It was not only her first time in Japan, but also her first time out of the country. She had to adjust to many different things. Because I don’t have a frame for the bed, she had to get use to sleeping on a futon (thin mattress) on the floor. After returning to Denver, she actually put pillows on the floor and slept on the floor.

For the dinner with Annette and Heather, she was going to fry some chicken along with cooking some other side dishes. Feeling comfortable with walking to and from the grocery store and having already experienced the Japanese grocery store, she headed out by herself.

One of the things she bought was a whole chicken, which I was surprised because I have only seen a whole chicken in a Brazilian Restaurant in Osu. She began cleaning and cutting it then started thinking that it wasn’t a chicken, but a rooster. She continued anyway, because it was paid for and she still was 100% sure. After sitting down for dinner and biting into it, she officially decided it was a rooster instead of a chicken.

She also had to learn a new style of cooking. In Japan, you can’t get some things from back home, even at the import shops. Not to mention, some of the meats are cut differently. So, unless you can recognize its texture, color, etc. you might pass it the first couple of times.

I thought this was interesting... someone who can’t speak Japanese... AT ALL, was able to negotiate on the price of a chair. Not only succeeded and paid ¥100 less, but to do so when I heard sellers at recycle shops very RARELY come down on their prices.

One day, we were getting ready to do some more sight seeing and I left the umbrella at the house. I said I was going back to get it and she said she would continue walking to the station. Instead of making a right at the light, she kept straight and made a left at the 7-11 instead of a right, because at the other 7-11 you turn left to go to the station. So, she had to communicate the best way she could to get directions to the subway!

Being in Japan without a car made her realize how spoiled we are in the States and having to walk, take the subway, or various other methods of transportation and time restrictions. In Japan, usually there is one, maybe two cars per family (two to three generations in one home). Not only is the price of gas expensive, ¥169 per litter, but there are also parking fees and fees to use the highways.

She also really liked taking the train through the countryside to and from Kamesaki.

She really enjoyed her stay here and I enjoyed having her!

Click below to see Mom's trip to Japan! :D

Nagoya Castle - May 7, 2008

June 04, 2008

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With a population of 2.2 million, Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, is the core city of Japan’s fourth-largest metropolitan area.

As commerce and industry prospered, and culture flourished in the Edo Period, Nagoya grew into a thriving metropolis. Nagoya has continued to grow since Ieyasu Tokugawa, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate Government, built Nagoya Castle in 1612. A culture and tradition of manufacturing blossomed during the Meiji Period and is still evolving today.

This guide has been prepared for foreign residents of Nagoya and visitors who are interested in viewing local tourist attractions. This is one of a series of walking guides covering various areas of Nagoya.

Contained in this guide is a model walking route applicable to the specified area or spot. You will find a variety of cultural and historical attractions situated around the walking course.

Nagoya Castle Course

Nagoya Castle was a national treasure until most parts of it were destroyed in 1945 during WW2. However, many cultural assets survived including the north-west and south-east turrets, the Omoteninomon Gate, many stone walls, the Ninomaru Garden, and Fusuma (sliding door) paintings. The donjon itself was reconstructed after the war.

Access

Entrance fee: ¥500

5 minutes walk to the East Gate of the Castle from “Shiyakusho Station”(Meijo Subway Line)
10 minutes walk to the Main Gate of the castle from “Sengenchou” station (Tsurumai Subway Line)

Suggested Walking Route

(Entering from the Main Entrance, exiting from the East Exit)

Main Gate
South West Turret
Omoteninomon Gate
South East Turret
The Site of the Main Palace
The Donjon
Kiyomasa Rock
North West turret
Ninomaru Garden
Ninomaru Tea House
East Gate

The Main Gate
The gate originally stood in Edo (Tokyo) Castle and was a national treasure until it was destroyed during WW2. The entrance building you see today is a reconstruction made of steel and concrete completed in 1959.

South West Turret
This is one of the original buildings that escaped the destruction and is an important national cultural asset. It looks like a two- story building from the outside, but it has a three-story construction inside. A special feature of the building is a “Stone Drop Platform” for counterattacking enemy forces. This turret was generally used as a library. It is said many successive lords made it a rule to visit this turret as the great shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (founder of the Tokugawa feudal government) once went up there to watch the wedding procession of his son, Yoshinao. Yoshinao was the first ruler of the region and Nagoya Castle was his residence.

Omote Ninomon Gate
This gate is another original structure designated as an important national cultural asset. Covered with steel, it is a sturdy construction with side walls and original loopholes.

South East Turret
Situated at the south-east corner of the Main Palace, this is another important national cultural asset with its original structure. Like the south-west turret, it looks like a two-story building but it actually has three stories. It too, is equipped with a “stone drop platform” - though differently designed to that of south-west turret. As this turret maintains its original construction, some roof tiles, including the ridge-end tiles, have the Tokugawa family crest (a hollyhock) on them.

Main Palace Site
Located to the south of the Donjon (castle keep) was the south-facing main palace area. The palace buildings were destroyed during the WW2. Prior to this, they were national assets, comparable to the Nijojo Palace in Kyoto - both typical “Shoin” type buildings. All that remains today are some foundation stones, sliding door paintings, ceiling paintings and a total of 660 items.

The Donjon (Castle Keep)
The stone walls were constructed by Kiyomasa Kato, one of the major feudal subordinates to the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was burnt down during WW2 on May 14 1945, but was reconstructed as a ferro-concrete building in 1959. Today the donjon is used for the exhibition of various historical items including original sliding door paintings.

Kiyomasa Rock
Among the innumerable number of stones used for construction of the protection walls, there are several monuments designated to Kiyomasa Kato, the head of the stone wall construction project. The Kiyomasa Stone is a huge rock with a width of 6 meters and a height of 2.35 meters, believed to have been carried by Kiyomasa himself.

North West Turret
This is another important national cultural asset, construction started in 1614, 5 years after construction started on the Donjon and Palace buildings. This turret, impressive for its stability, is located on the northwest corner of the expansive Onfukemaru Moat.

Ninomaru Garden
This impressive garden was built to the north of Ninomaru Palace during the Genna Period (1615- 1623). It has a design typical of castle gardens during the Genna period. The original design was mostly demolished during the Meiji Period as the Castle grounds was used as a military base during that time. However, part of the garden was restored in 1966 and was then opened to the public.

Ninomaru Tea House
This Tea-House was completed in October 1969 when the Ninomaru Garden became open to public. This is an ideal refresh spot after a walk around the Garden; it boasts a pleasant view of the Donjon. An interesting item displayed here is the replica of a solid gold tea kettle found in the ruins of the destroyed castle. The gold had actually been plated on the “Golden Dolphins” that stood on the main ridge of the castle roof before the Donjon was destroyed in WW2.

The East Gate
This gate serves as both an entrance and an exit and is conveniently located within a short walk from Shiyakusho Station on the Meijo Subway Line.

From Nagoya International Center

A (Little) Funny, Yet Interesting Article on Squatting

May 08, 2008

This is the best position for defecation on the American toilet.

How can you squat on a commode? You can’t practically, but you can imitate the same relative positioning and muscle tension as squatting.

This one piece of knowledge has affected more people and lasted longer than any other single thing that I’ve said. You BM every day (hopefully one time for each meal). Once you see the truth and make the change, you will continue to do this for the rest of your life; which should be longer and healthier because you are doing this.

I can hear you saying, "I may not know a lot about fasting, but I know how to BM. I have been BMing all of my life." I know you have been BMing all of your life, but you probably have not been BMing properly.

Again, look at your pets. When they have a BM, what do they do? Do they sit on a toilet? No. They do not have a toilet. Even if you provided a kitty or doggie toilet, they would not use it. Why? Because they are not supposed to sit while they BM and neither are you!

Look at the diagram of the colon. The colon is a tube. When you sit, the tube is chinked. You know what happens when you put a kink in a water hose. The water stops flowing or at least it slows down a lot. Eighty percent of all colon cancers occur in the spots where the kinks are.

Most people in primitive countries do not have toilets, but they BM properly because they squat. Squatting straightens out the tube and allows proper contraction of the muscles that assists in BMing. That is how your cat or dog defecates. They squat. So should you.

Not only will it reduce your chances of colon cancer, but you will eliminate much more without the kinks in the tube. Don't take my word for it. TRY IT!

How can you squat on a commode? You can't practically, but you can imitate the same relative positioning and muscle tension as squatting. I own a device called the Welles Step that helps you. It is really nothing but a raised step that you place your feet on while sitting on the commode.

You can duplicate it very easily. This is my own invention, but it really works. It is quick and easy and requires no devices. I no longer use the Welles Step because this works better for me, plus I don’t have to worry about pulling the step out or going to a bathroom where there is a Welles Step.

Don't associate this with the name "Bronner." I don't want this to be called "The Bronner Maneuver." Although if people employed this technique it would save lives and reduce illnesses, I still would rather my name not be attached to it. I can imagine a large sporting event, a man gets up, his friends ask him "Where is he going?" "I going to do a Bronner Maneuver," he replies. I would rather be famous for something else.

When sitting on the toilet, do two things:

Bend your head forward and down to the position where your head is between your knees. Your back should be as close to parallel to the floor as possible. Your shoulders should touch your knees. Grab your legs between your ankle and knee (the closer you grab to your ankles the better) . Grab your left leg with your left hand and your right leg with your right hand.
Pull your shoulders down against your knees and BM. That's it. By bending forward and placing your head between your knees you effectively straighten the tube out. By pulling your shoulders down you cause muscles to contract that aid in elimination.

You will feel the difference this position makes. You may notice that up to TWICE AS MUCH BM comes out this way. Not only does more come out, it comes out faster and easier. You should ALWAYS BM like this. NEVER BM sitting straight up on a toilet.

I even checked with a chiropractor to make sure this procedure is safe for your back. It is.

You will always eliminate faster, with less strain and you will eliminate more in this correct position. This is the next best thing to squatting. Now you know HOW to BM properly.

This information alone will be worth hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of times the price that you paid for this book. When your colon is clean, you feel better and have less chance of all diseases. This maneuver, helps to keep your colon clean.

This is an interesting testimony concerning this procedure on how to BM:

I actually demonstrated this procedure on my television program in Atlanta so quite a few people saw it and began practicing it. I was attending a large conference when a lady ran up to me. She shouted and pointed at me as she ran towards me, “It’s your fault! You are the reason for this!” as she held her dress outward to show me that the dress she was wearing was vastly oversized for her.

“I saw you demonstrate how to use the bathroom on TV and I tried it and look what happened! Now, NONE of my clothes fit because I’ve lost so much weight just from doing what you said!”

I honestly couldn’t tell whether she was praising or fussing at me because she was so animated and her clothes surely didn’t fit. It looked as if she would need an entirely new wardrobe and I could tell that she had been extremely large from the size of the dress. Weight loss was a side effect that I hadn’t expected, at least not to the magnitude that the lady showed but who knows what happens when you unblock your colon.

From Quickfasting.com

Shimenawa

May 07, 2008

Shimenawa is a rope made by twisting together stands of rice straw and a sighn to indicate the boundary of a sacred place and set it off from the realm of the profane.

1. For the New Year

2. Goshimboku (a holy tree)

3. Shinto Shrine

Special shimenawa are made at New Year's. They are decorated with various auspicious objects.
- kamishide (pieces of white paper): to alert
- daidai (bitter orange): symbol of prosperity of future generations
- Ise-ebi (lobster): symbol of longevity
- sasa-no-ha (leaves of a bamboo tree): symbol of energy
- etc.
They are hung around sanctified objects like very big old trees or large rocks in which the spirit of a deity is thought to repose.
They are hung on the shrine buildings, sacred gateways (torii) etc. to distinguish between secular and sanctified areas and to ward off evil.

From Kikuko

Omikuji (A Written Oracle)

If you get Daikichi, the best one, you keep it. But if you get some others, tie it to a branch of a tree in the shrine or temple precincts after reading your fortune. The spiritual power of the gods will help to make your future life better if you try to make your own life better by yourself. In some shrines, you can buy Omikuji in English.

DAI-KICHI(大吉)
Great Luck

KICHI (吉)
Good Luck

CHU-KICHI (中吉)
Medium Luck

SHO-KICHI (小吉)
Fair Luck

HAN-KICHI (半吉)
Half Luck

SUE-KICHI (末吉)
Least Luck

KYO (凶)
Bad Luck

DAI-KYO (大凶)
Very Bad Luck

GOOD

↑

↓

BAD

Omikuji tells your
fortuen councerning:

love
travel
missing things
illness
competition
chance
employment
the person you wait
buying and selling
money
learning
examination
etc.

Omikuji is a kind of fortune-telling. A small piece of paper on which one's fortune is written. It is sold at plenty of shrines and temples all over Japan.

Omikuji was begun by Gansan-Jikei-Daishi-Ryogen-Shonin, or Gansan-Daishi, (912-985) in the Heian Period.He invoked to Kanzeon-Bosatsu (one of the image of Budda) and initiated the words of Omikuji or Kannon-kuji.

Early in the Edo Period, there was Tenkai-Sojo in Kanei-ji (temple) in Edo (now Tokyo). He had respected Gansan-Daishi. One day he dreamed about Gansan-Daishi. In the dream he got the voice of Gansan-Daishi that... there are 100 Kannon-kuji in front of Tokakushiyama-Myojin in Shinshu (now in Nagano Pref.). They are like prescriptions which were given to me from Kanzeon-Bosatsu, to save and retrieve the people from many kinds of troubles in a complicated society in the future. If people are devoted to the Kannon-kuji, they will know their future. Lead them to advantage... So, Tenkai-Sojo sent a man to check the Tokakushiyama-Myojin, then found 100 pieces of paper with messages. People believed that they could know the exact direction if they draw a lot (stick) with truly invocation. 100 sticks with numbers were put into a box with small hole, and people drew one. This was done by telling the number, then giving a piece of paper that matched the number on the stick. Now we can get many types of omikuji all over Japan, but their origin is Kannon-kuji.

Recently most of the people draw Omikuji just for fun and don't believe what they say. Sometimes we can get omikuji from vending machines, so they are not mysterious any more. However, please trust what written on omikuji when you drew "Daikichi/Excellent Luck)". Your life might be turned much better.

From Kikuko

Daruma (dharma)

Daruma is a priest of great renown who founded Zen about 1,500 years ago. The Japanese daruma doll is a charm to bring good fortune and a fortitude to accomplish your goals. Fill in one eye on a daruma doll when you make a goal or wish, and the other when your wish is fulfilled.

From Kikuko

Kaeru (frog)

Kaeru (frog) has the same pronounciation with kaeru (return). Because of this, some people put tiny seramic kaeru in her/his wallet or purse wishing returning of money or wishing for a safe return home.

From Kikuko

Maneki-neko (beckoning cat)

They are holding paws and saying, "come here, come here."

It is said that a cat with it's left paw raised (female) calls in people or customers, while a raised right paw (male) calls money or good luck.

In the Edo period a prosperity bringing cat actually existed and it became the model for maneki-neko.

The story was in 1615. A priest in a declining temple Goutoku-ji loved a cat very much. Though he was very poor, he saved his meal and gave it to the cat. He talked to the cat, "If you would like to repay an obligation, please bring me prosperity." One summer day, the priest noticed that a great samurai was coming to the temple gate. The samurai said that on the way back from falconry he saw a cat beckoning people passing by, so he visited the temple. The priest served him tea and began preaching to him about Buddhism. Suddenly it started to rain heavily. When his preach finished, it also stopped raining. By virtue of the beckoning cat the Samurai was not drenched and so could listen to the preaching. The samurai was Naotaka Ii, the feudal lord of Hikone. After that he became a patron of this temple. Then people made a porcelain figure of this cat and it became a good luck charm for prosperity.

Maneki-neko is often put at the entrance to old type popular restaurants.

From Kikuko

Celebration of Spring at Shiratori Garden - May 6, 2008

May 06, 2008

A series of special spring events will be held in Shiratori Garden, a very traditional Japanese style garden. Various outdoor events include piano and singing concerts, and a traditional Japanese music concert. You can also enjoy an open-air tea ceremony for ¥500. The park is open from 9am to 4:30pm; please consult the Nagoya City pamphlet for concert times.

When: May 5th (Mon.) and 6th (Tues.)

Where: Shiratori Garden, (Atsuta Ward, Nagoya)

How to get there: Take the Meijo Subway Line to Jingu-Nishi Station, exit 4, and walk for 10 minutes.

Admission: ¥300 for adults, and free for junior high school students and under. The tea ceremony is an extra ¥500.

Shinyo-Togyo Shinji – May 5th

This festival is the occasion to commemorate the return of the sacred sword from the Imperial House in the year of 686 A.D. in the reign of Emperor Tenmu. The portable shrine is proceeded to the Western Gate and ceremony is held there to pray for the security of the Imperial Palace. The festivity is based on the Oracle delivered upon the sacred sword's return which reads "Though I proceed to Atsuta far away from the Imperial House, I will be the guardian of the Imperial House for long." This festival is formerly called "Shinyakusai."

Along with the jewel and the mirror, the Kusanagi Sword is one of the three imperial symbols of Japan. It has been kept at Nagoya's Atsuta Shrine although it is not available for public display, and its existence cannot be confirmed. There are many alternate theories as to the true fate of the sword - lost in battle, lost at sea, stolen by monks - but as long as the shrine insists it has the true sword and keeps it hidden from view, the legend will continue. Asuta Shrine, known as Atsuta Jingu, annually celebrates the arrival of the Kusanagi sword with 2 free festivals during Golden Week.

When: May 5th (10:00)

Where: Asuta Shrine

Tango no Sekku - May 5th Holiday

May 04, 2008

On May 5th, people celebrate tango no sekku (Children's Day), the boys festival. They wish for the good health and future success of boys. Families with sons fly koinobori (carp streamers) high up on a pole, or display gogatsu-ningyo (samurai dolls in armor). The carp is a symbol of success in life because it can swim upriver. Big carp streamers are three to four meters long and there are usually two or three on each pole. One is big and black and represents the father and the others are smaller and represent the children. The doll in armor is a symbol of the samurai, and symbolizes the parents' hopes that their children will be strong and respectable people.

Kamesaki Shiohi Festival – May 3rd & May 4th

The Shiohi (low tide) festival of the Kamezaki district is a vigorous festival that involves dragging 5 dashi down onto the beach.

The festival is called Handa Festival, but actually takes place in Kamesaki (亀崎). From Nagoya, you can get there in about forty-five minutes.

When: Each year on May 3rd (10:15) and 4th (13:55)

31 minutes from Kanayama Station using the Meitetsu Kowa Line and 45 Minutes from Kanayama Station using the JR Taketoyo Line.

See pictures

Golden Week – April 29th – May 5th Holiday

April 26, 2008

There are several national holidays around the beginning of May. The birthday of the former Emperor (Emperor Showa) on April 29th, Constitution Memorial Day on May 3rd, and Children’s Day on May 5th. Because these holidays are so close together, most people are allowed a one-week holiday. This holiday was named Golden Week and now usually runs from April 29 through May5th.

Tanuki – Japanese Raccoon Dog

This article deals with tanuki in folklore; see Raccoon Dog for more information on the wild animal. For the super mario video game power-up, see Tanooki suit.

Tanuki (狸 alternatively タヌキ) is the Japanese word for raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absent-minded.

Tanuki is often mistakenly translated as raccoon or badger.

Folklore

Statues of tanuki can be found outside many Japanese temples and restaurants, especially noodle shops. These statues often wear big, cone-shaped hats and carry bottles of sake in one hand, and a promissory note (a bill it will never pay) or empty purse in the other hand. Tanuki statues always have large bellies. Older depictions of the tanuki show them as having large testicles as well, although this feature is often omitted in contemporary sculpture.

The comical image of the tanuki is thought to have developed during the Kamakura era. The actual wild tanuki has unusually large testicles, a feature that has inspired humorous exaggeration in artistic depictions of the creature. Tanuki may be shown with their testicles flung over their backs like travellers' packs, or using them as drums. As tanuki are also typically depicted as having large bellies, they may be depicted as drumming on their bellies instead of their testicles -- particularly in contemporary art.

A common schoolyard song in Japan (the tune of which can be heard in the arcade game Ponpoko and a variation of which is sung in the Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko) makes explicit reference to the tanuki's anatomy:

Tan Tan Tanuki no kintama wa,
Kaze mo nai no ni,
Bura bura

(Roughly translated, this means "Tan-tan-tanuki's/Raccoon-raccoon-raccoon dog's testicles, there isn't even any wind but still go swing-swing-swing". It then proceeds to continue for several verses, with many regional variations. It is sung to the melody of an American Baptist hymn called Shall We Gather At The River?.)

During the Kamakura and Muromachi eras, some stories began to include more sinister tanuki. The Otogizoshi story of "Kachi-kachi Yama" features a tanuki that clubs an old lady to death and serves her to her unknowing husband as "old lady soup," an ironic twist on the folkloric recipe known as "tanuki soup". Other stories report tanuki as being harmless and productive members of society. Several shrines have stories of past priests who were tanuki in disguise. Shapeshifting tanuki are sometimes believed to be tsukumogami, a transformation of the souls of household goods that were used for one hundred years or more.

A popular tale known as Bunbuku chagama is about a tanuki who fooled a monk by transforming into a tea-kettle. Another is about a tanuki who tricked a hunter by disguising his arms as tree boughs, until he spread both arms at the same time and fell off the tree. Tanuki are said to cheat merchants with leaves they have magically disguised as paper money. Some stories describe tanuki as using leaves as part of their own shape-shifting magic.

In metalworking, tanuki skins were often used for thinning gold. As a result, tanuki became associated with precious metals and metalwork. Small tanuki statues were marketed as front yard decoration and good luck charm for bringing in prosperity. Also, this is why tanuki is described as having large kintama (金玉 lit. gold ball, means a testicle in Japanese slang).

From Wikipedia

Meaning

Tanuki figurines gives the wisdom to succeed.

There are 8 parts of a figurines and each has a special meaning and leads us to success in different ways.

Hat: Protects from misfortunes.
Big Eyes: To take care in all directions and see things in right way.
Smile: To give anybody a pleasant smile.
Sake Bottle(tokuri): Toku means virtue. To be a man of high virtue.
Book (kayoi-cho): Symbol of credit.
Big Belly: Big belly in Japanese is futoppara. Futoppara also means magnanimous. Symbol of calm and brave determination.
Big Scrotum: Testicles are called gold balls and are a symbol of wealth.
Big Tail: The end of the things should be great.

From Kikuko

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The Takayama Spring Festival 高山春祭 (山王祭)

When: April 14 & 15

Where: Hie Shrine (日枝神社), Takayama City, Gifu. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Takayama in Gifu Prefecture suffers from long, cold, and isolated winters. In April when the snows finally recede, the city embraces spring with a plethora of festivals, this being the largest. There are 25 festival floats in Takayama, twelve of which are used for the Spring Festival. The awe-inspiring alpine landscape provides the ideal backdrop for the parading of these magnificent floats through the city, making the Takayama Spring Festival one of Japan’s top festivals. It is possible to see one day of the festival on a day trip from Nagoya, but whatever you decide please keep in mind that this festival is very popular, and for that reason advanced hotel booking and train reservations are heavily recommended.

Access by Train: From platform 2 11 of JR Nagoya Station, take the Hida Express (ひだ) on JR Takayama Line directly to Takayama. Trains depart every 60 to 90 minutes between 06:18 and 19:43; Costs ¥5870 (reserved), ¥5360 (non-reserved) one-way and takes just over 2 hours.

For more information in English, contact the Hida Tourist Information Center. The center is located in a wooden hut just outside the main (east) exit of JR Takayama Station; open daily 8:30 to 18:30. Tel. 0577-32-5328 E-mail: hidatio@hidanet.ne.jp.

Websites: www.hida.jp and www.hidanet.ne.jp

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Kakuozan Spring Festival (覚王山春祭)

When: April 12, 13 (10:00 - 18:00)

Where: On the main street from Kakuozan Subway Station leading up the hill to Nittaiji Temple. With an art market, flea market, performance stage, and various international themed stalls, this event is always well attended.

Access: A 5-minute walk up the hill from exit 1 of Kakuozan Subway Station.

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Nittaiji Temple (日泰寺)
This temple was founded in 1904 after the King of Thailand donated some of Buddha’s ashes and a golden statue of Buddha to Japan. The temple not only houses the King’s gifts but also is home to Nagoya’s only 5-storied pagoda.
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Hana Matsuri – April 8th

April 23, 2008

April 8 is the anniversary of Buddha’s birth. The modern festival to celebrate his birth is known as the hana matsuri, or flower festival, and is celebrated at temples around Japan. It is a religious holiday that can be compared to the way many Christians celebrate Christmas. There are several places in and around Nagoya that hold special festivals or that have special Buddha statues.

Toganji Temple (桃巌寺)
Nagoya City’s largest seated Buddha (10m high, built in 1988) is located in the 16th century Toganji Temple. Open daily 09:00 -18:00.
Access: A 5 minute walk up the hill on Yamate Gurin Roodo (Yamate Green Road) from exit #6 of Motoyama Subway Station, the Temple is on the left side.
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Inuyama Castle Spring Festival – April 6th

Since 1635 the Inuyama Spring Festival has been held annually on the first weekend in April under the city’s cherry blossoms. From 18:00 to 21:30 all of the thirteen, 6m high, 3000 kg floats are adorned with lanterns and pulled through the cherry blossomed streets. The festival starts in front of Haritsuna Jinja, located down the hill from Inuyama Castle.

When: April 5 & 6

Where: Inuyama City, Aichi

Access: From Meitetsu Nagoya Station take the Meitetsu Nagoya-Inuyama line and get off at Inuyama; 32 minutes, ¥540. Alternatively take the Meitetsu Komaki Line to Inuyama; just take the Kami-iida Subway Line bound for Inuyama from Heian Dori Subway Station; 35 minutes, ¥640.

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Ieyasu Gyoretsu (Samurai Mock Battle) 家康行列 – April 6th

April 15, 2008

When: Sunday, April 6 (13:30 - 16:00)

Where: Okazaki City, Aichi

Access: An 8 minute walk from Meitetsu Okazaki Koen Mae Station 岡崎公園前駅.

This is the main event of Okazaki’s annual cherry blossom festival. More than one thousand samurai warriors led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Okazaki-born founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, will parade through the streets and perform a mock battle. The parade departs from Iga Hachiman-gu Shrine 伊賀八幡宮 at 13:30 and travels past Meitetsu Higashi Okazaki Station 東岡崎 (14:45), before arriving at the battle re-enactment site at the Otogawa riverbank (15:00).

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Nisshin GEOS Hanami Party – April 4th

April 10, 2008

Nisshin school having a party under the cherry blossoms!

Click to see pictures

Hanami – March 29th – April 13th

April 07, 2008

Every spring, usually around April, there is great excitement all across Japan. This excitement is caused by Japan’s cherry Blossom season. These beautiful pink flowers start blooming in the south and gradually move north. Every day people watch the weather forecast to see when cherry blossom season will reach their town. And when it does, they rush with their families, coworkers or friends to the nearest park to enjoy hanami. Hanami is equal parts picnic, party and nature appreciation. Groups of people gather under cherry trees and look up at the beautiful blossoms. While enjoying this view, and the warm spring weather, they drink beer and sake, eat snacks, and even sing karaoke.

At this special time of year everyone seems to have more energy. They can relax a bit and forget their worries. But unfortunately it is only temporary. Cherry blossoms rarely last more than two weeks in any one spot. Yet many people say that this is what makes them so special.

Click below to see cherry blossom pictures & location information! :D

Heiwa Koen (Park) (平和公園) – March 30, 2008

Location: Chikusa-ku, eastern Nagoya City.

Number of cherry trees: 2250+

Illuminated: No

A quiet, picturesque park where you can relax under the blossoms away from the crowds.

Access: A 10 minute walk from exit 3 of Higashiyama Koen Subway Station on the Higashiyama Line (A.K.A. the Yellow Line).

Click to see pictures

Nagoya Castle & Meijo Koen (Park) (名古屋城 & 名城公園) – March 31, 2008

Location: Nishi-ku, central Nagoya City.

Number of cherry trees: 1600+

Illuminated: until 20:00

The best known and most popular hanami spots in Nagoya. The castle and cherry blossoms combine for that perfect picture-postcard view.

Access: 5 minute walk from exit 7 of Shiyakusho Subway Station on the Meijo Line (A.K.A. the Purple Line).

Click to see pictures

Yamazaki River (山崎川) – March 31, 2008

Location: Mizuho-ku, south-eastern Nagoya City.

Number of cherry trees: 580+

Illuminated: Yes

Over 500 trees adorn a 2.5km length the Yamazaki River. One of the Top 100 viewing spots in Japan.

Access: A 15 minute walk from Exit 2 of Mizuho Undojo-nishi Subway Station on the Sakura-dori Line (A.K.A. the Red Line).

Click to see pictures

Tsuruma Koen (Park) (鶴舞公園) – March 31, 2008

Location: Naka-ku, central Nagoya City.

Number of cherry trees: 1200+

Illuminated: until 21:00

The park is lit up from 18:00 to 21:00 during hanami season. Its central location and Top 100 viewing spot ranking makes this a popular destination for corporate hanami parties during early spring evenings.

Access: Located outside the main exit of JR Tsurumai Station (JR Chuo Line) (can also use exit 3) and Tsurumai Subway Stations.

Click to see pictures

Okazaki Koen (Park) (岡崎公園) – April 6, 2008

Location: Okazaki City, south of Nagoya.

Number of cherry trees: 1700

Illuminated: until 22:00

With historical Okazaki Castle as a backdrop, the cherry blossom viewing is firmly in Japan’s Top 100 spots and rated as the best in the Tokai Region. Okazaki’s annual Sakura Festival takes place during the first 2 weeks of April.

Access: A 10 minute walk from Meitetsu Higashi Okazaki Station (東岡崎駅), located on the Meitestu Main Line between Nagoya and Toyohashi.

Click to see pictures

Gojo River (五条川) – April 7, 2008

Location: Iwakura City, north of Nagoya.

Number of cherry trees: 1600

Illuminated: until 21:00

Ranked in Japan’s Top 100 viewing spots, both banks of the Gojo River are lined with over 1600 cherry trees. Traditional lanterns light up the area until 21:00. Iwakura is also famous for koinobori, or carp streamers, which are washed in the river as part of their traditional manufacturing process (April 5th & 6th @ 10:30, 12:30, & 14:30). There are also 300 parking spaces, 80 attraction booths, and 7 toilets available for visitors.

Access: A 5 minute walk from Iwakura Station, located on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line from Meitetsu Nagoya Station (East Exit).

Click to see pictures

Okkawa Float Festival

When: March 22nd (Sat) & 23rd (Sun)

Where: Okkawa, Aichi

Access: A 5 mininute walk from JR Okkawa Atation(乙川), lacated on the JR Taketoyo Line between Obu and Taketoyo; takes 35 minutes, cost ¥570 from Nagoya Station. Also, can take the JR Tokaido Line from Kanayama Station and transfer at Oobu Station. Transfer again to the Taketoyo Line, Okkawa Station is the 6th station.

Famous for it’s heavy, decorative, wooden floats that are dragged by rope back and forth between 2 local shrines, it is known locally as the “fight festival” because of the fierce competition between local young men to become a float steersman. The hill sections where floats could potentially go out of control are highlight of the festival & take place at 10:00 (up the hill) and 13:00(down the hill) on March 22nd and at 15:30(up the hill) and 16:30(down the hill) on March 23rd.

Click to see pictures

More of my Favorite Drinks

Fried Mochi Cheese – March 22, 2008

Yummy!! This is great! Mochi outside, with melted cheese inside. Then deep fried and served.

PHO!

I finally found a restaurant in Japan that serves Pho. It is prepared and served a little differently than usual, but it still tastes really good.

Weeping Plum Blossom Festival (Shidare Ume Matsuri) - March 16, 2008

March 16, 2008

A weeping plum blossom festival will be held. Why not take a walk around the garden and enjoy the fragrant plum blossoms? There are 700 plum trees of 12 different kinds. Don’t miss the fresh homemade milk and ice cream in the center.

When: February 29th - March 16th, from 9am - 4:30pm

Where: Nagoya City, Nougyou (Agriculture) Center (Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya)

How to get there: Take the Tsurumai Subway Line to Hirabari, then the city bus (#1) to Araike and walk for seven minutes

Note: Admission is free, but a parking fee is required during this festival.

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Celebration Envelopes for Giving Money

These envelopes are for those who give money as gifts. There are many designs for each celebration.

Hitting Pedestrians While Ridding a Bike

March 12, 2008

Basically, DON’T DO IT! Because, the punishment is just as severe as hitting the pedestrians with you car.

Riding a Bike While Drunk

In Japan, if you are caught riding your bike while being drunk, the police will stop you and you can either face a fine or jail time. ALSO, if people know you had gotten drunk, say at a bar or party and they KNEW you were riding your bike afterwards. They can also get into trouble with the police.

The Best Stove Ever Invented!

It’s portable!

I can take them anywhere and cook! Just plug in the gas can and let it go! I don’t know if they are available in the States, because in the States, the apartments come with stoves.

White Day – March 14th Holiday

March 11, 2008

On March 14th, comes White Day and the tables are turned. On this day, boys and men who got chocolate on Valentine’s Day give cookies or sweets in return. This day is unique to Japan and provides another large sales boost to stores.

The World Famous Tagata “Fertility” Festival - March 15, 2008

Once again, I couldn't go to another festival, because of work. But once again, I just HAD to add this one!

Click here to see pictures!

Click here to see video!

When: Saturday, March 15

Where: Tagata Jinga, Komaki City

Access: A 5 minute walk from Tagata-jinja-mae Station, on the Meitetsu Komaki Line; from Heian Dori Subway Station take the Kami-iida Line bound for Inuyama. Starting at 14:00, a freshly-carved, two-metre long, 280 kg, phallus-shaped wooden sculpture is paraded along the town’s main street. A “rice-cake” shower at around 16:00 concludes the festival.

Tagata Jinja is a Shinto shrine in Komaki just north of Nagoya, and as such is just one of many that can be found throughout Japan. It symbolizes the strong spatial and temporal linkage of the people to the community of Komaki, which until comparatively recently was a farming area. The Hounen festival at Tagata shrine is one of the most famous (or infamous?) festivals in Japan. Amongst foreigners visiting Aichi Prefecture it is frequently referred to as the "penis shrine", or "Japanese penis festival", primarily due to the ancient Hounen Matsuri (a festival celebrating fertility and renewal), which is held here every March 15th.

Every year on March 15 a huge two and a half meter wooden phallus is carried the short distance between two shrines attracting visitors from all over Japan and international media attention. The festival is fun with a lot of sake drinking, however the background of the festival is rather more serious. A shrine is a place of worship. It houses divine spirits and preserves the memory and practice of many aspects of Japanese culture. This file is intended to introduce some of the history, mythology, rituals, and customs of Tagata Jinja.

History: Tagata Jinja is believed to be about 1500 years old, due to discoveries in 1935 of an ancient sword and extensive pottery fragments. These days the shrine is surrounded by suburbia, but until recently it was surrounded by a forest called "Agata", a name believed to have derived from the name of one of the rulers of the local area during the end of the Yamato period (approx 3rd-5th century AD). These rulers were warriors who settled the area from Nara as the emerging feudal Japanese state defeated and displaced indigenous Ainu tribes and pushed its frontiers to the east. According to the official history of the shrine, the daughter of the feudal lord was called Tamahime, and was bethrothed to Takeinadane. The tradition holds that Takeinadane was killed in a distant battle and that his wife and children (and powerful father in law) developed the area. Tagata Jinja stands on the site of Tamahime's residence, and she is the principal deity (called kami in Japanese) enshrined here.

Enshrined as Tamahime-no-mikoto, she is worshipped in the main sanctuary of the building called the honden. This is the main shrine building. Behind and to the left of this structure, you can find another building called the Shinmeisha which contains a large number of natural and man-made objects, almost all of which are either shaped like a penis or have some phallic theme. It is important to understand that the worship is not of the phalli, but instead a worship of the earth, of the power that nature has through renewal and regeneration. It is this context that provides the phallus with its significance.

Fertility: With everything from penis shaped candy to suck on, phallus keychains, azuki filled dumplings in the shape of the male member, and small wooden objects to take home as souvenirs, it is easy to think that it is the phallus that is being worshipped. This is not the case. Each of the hundreds of objects in the shrine buildings are essentially offerings to the enshrined deity, and are venerated as such. In the past, the shrine often lended these phalluses to those in need, for example a couple wishing to conceive, an individual searching for a suitable spouse, or to cure childhood illnesses. The objects were returned with interest, for after the desired result was obtained the borrowed phallus was returned to the shrine, along with a new object donated in gratitude. However what the veneration is about though is the worship of a feminine deity. The kami is female and embodies fertility and fecundity. Not far from Tagata shrine there is another place of worship called Ogata (Oogata) Jinja, where the objects are representative of female genitalia. In an agricultural community, the sacred feminine was worshipped, and the rituals that have survived to this day at the Tagata shrine were celebrations of this, conducted in order to ensure bountiful agricultural harvests, regeneration and renewal as well as human birth. In this way the Hounen matsuri is similar to other fertility rituals around the world. Hounen means bountiful year. The festival is held March 15th because spring is the time of regeneration where seeds sprout and dormant trees and plants that seem to be dead come back to life.

March 15th Hounen-sai: For most of the year, Tagata Jinja is very quiet. Most of the visitors are young couples, sometimes coming to pray for successful conception, sometimes coming to give thanks for safe child birth. Tagata's fertility festival, as with most festivals in Japan, is treated in a lighthearted way with much sake and noisy behavior. Modern Japanese society is less dependent on the vagaries of seasons and harvests and so the importance of agricultural traditions has faded, however it is obvious that people do take it seriously, solemnly approaching the permanent shrines and praying in silence. You see the occasional busload of tourists, often from Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, but for the most part Tagata is silent. In the lead up to March 15th, there is constant preparation, however most of it is behind the scenes.

The matsuri, known as the Hounen-sai, has always had the objective of ensuring a bountiful harvest. It is mostly a procession symbolizing the visit of the male Takeinadane to the powerful and waiting female Tamahime-no-mikoto. While not a matriarchal society, women held high social status in the Yamato period and after marriage were usually not required to join their spouse's household. The young warrior Takeinadane probably visited his wife instead of living together. These visits are symbolized in the procession.

Each year, a new giant wooden phallus is carved from a large hinoki (cypress) tree. In Japan newly made objects are thought to express more purity and vitality. The tree is brought to the shrine for purification rituals during the coldest part of the winter, before a master craftsman begins to shape it. The craftsman uses only traditional tools and wears clothing that has also been purified through rituals at the shrine. It is this phallus that will be the central focus of the procession, and then be placed into the Shinmeisha shrine as the principal phallus after the festival.

Originally the phallus was much smaller and attached to a straw effigy of a samurai warrior, possibly representing Takeinadane. However in time this was considered a bit too risque even for a fertility ritual, so the effigy was discarded and the phallus was paraded by itself. As its size was still about 1 meter long, the phallus was paraded by itself, carried by 4 or 5 people. However, this practice was also altered with the partial shielding of the phallus by a small portable shrine (mikoshi), the same style that houses it today. As if to compensate for not being fully revealed, the size of the phallus has grown considerably over the years until it is now about 2.5 meters (13 feet) long and weighs 280 kilograms (620 pounds). It protudes from both ends of the portable shrine, and when considering the extra weight of the later, the bearers are basically struggling under a weight of 400 kilograms (885 pounds). Some 60 men in total (sometimes more) work in teams of 12 to deliver it to Tagata Shrine.

The organization and funding of the festival requires months of constant preparation and close coordination between shrine, village and regional authorities including the police. It is a major event. The procession begins at Kumano shrine about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from Tagata Shrine. The parade is lead by a priest, who acting as a herald purifies the route by scattering salt on either side of the path the shrine will take on its journey. He is followed by standard bearers, the last of which carries a tall banner about 3 feet wide and seven feet high. This banner has a huge phallus painted on it that is sufficiently graphic that it could be used to teach anatomy.

This group is followed by local dignitaries (local government, club members, prominent businesses etc) who wear gold shawls. These shawls are similar to those usually worn by Buddhist priests, a legacy of the period when Shinto and Buddhism had a much closer relationship prior to the enforced separation of the two religions following the 1868 Meiji Restoration and collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Until the edict issued in the name of the Meiji Emperor, Buddhism and kami worship (Shinto) were practiced side-by-side with little or no conflict as the kami were considered another incarnation of Buddhist saints or deities - with Tagata Shrine actually being under the jurisdiction of a Buddhist temple called Kubodera. After a group of musicians playing ancient court music, the next group are young women in purple robes carrying wooden penises about 60cm (23 inches) long. The women are of various ages, but traditionally the unlucky age for women was 36, and so the women carrying the phalli did so because their vulnerability could then be offset by the protection of the large phallus itself. Carrying it is still considered an honor.

Next there is a group of Shinto priests, who accompany one of their members dressed as the deity Sarutahiko-no-okami, distinctive with red face, large protruding nose and a shock of hair. He fulfills the role of the deity who led the descent of Amaterasu from heaven to earth - the sun goddess and giver of all life. Sarutahiko-no-okami is followed closely by 2 men carrying a chest containing offerings of food (rice and fruit) as well as a phallus shaped stone(an example of one of the natural objects referred to above). Accompanying them and usually stirring up the crowd is the sake cart, with the volunteers attending to the cart dispensing sake in paper cups to anyone close enough to reach.

With the crowd excited, it is time for the main event, the arrival of the two portable shrines. First is the shrine carrying a wooden statue of Takeinadene-no-mikoto, the visiting husband of the agricultural deity. And finally it is time for the big penis, the huge hinoki-wood phallus. It is heavy, but at this stage is carried by 12 men who are all aged 42. For women the unlucky age was 36, for men 42.

Once the newly carved giant phallus arrives at the shrine it is enshrined in the Shinmei shrine for the next year. The old phallus is sold to local businesses or private homes. It is perhaps an unsettling thought that these phalli are all over the neighborhood. The new owner makes an altar where the phallus is installed and venerated with periodic rituals and offerings.

Visiting Tagata Shrine: Should you wish to pray, it is customary to begin by purifying your hands at the water basin in front of the shrine. Stand well away from the basin itself, first grasp the dipper in your right hand and pour water on your left. Then, reverse the procedure for your right hand. Finally take the dipper again in your right hand and pour a little in your cupped left hand and bring it to your mouth. Please do not drink directly from the dipper. Touch the water to your lips (or you may also rinse out your mouth) but don't swallow, since that would mean taking impurities into your body. Simply spit the water out on the stones at the foot of the water basin. At the main sanctuary, most people bow twice, clap their hands twice, then bow a final time. The coins offered are donations as well as symbols of people's petitions to the deity they now cast in her direction.

Getting there is fairly simple. The tickets are ¥710 each way. From Shin Nagoya station (next to JR Nagoya Station) catch the Meitetsu Inuyama line to Inuyama station. Inuyama is about 30 minutes from Nagoya and is a major station and the first with several platforms.

At Inuyama station change to the Komaki line (platform 3) and catch any train traveling back in the same direction you arrived, south. Get off at the third station, Tagata Jinja Mae, and you will have no problems finding the shrine. Walk to the west and turn to the left (south) down the main road or just follow the others.

The main parade usually starts at 2pm although there it is worth getting there a little bit early to look around first. There are plenty of yatai (small temporary foodstalls often seen at festivals) selling typical festival foods such as karaage (fried chicken pieces) and yakitori (grilled chicken on a stick), takoyaki (small prices of octopus grilled in batter), french fries and drinks. Perhaps you can pick up some interesting souvenirs such as some penis shaped candy to suck on while you make your way home?

Information from: The Yamasa Institute

Hime-no-miya Shrine Grand Festival (Honen Matsuri) - March 9, 2008

I didn’t get the chance to go to this festival because I didn’t know about it... and it’s not as popular. Hehe. Trust me, I’m NOT looking for fertility, I just thought it would be interesting... there’s a difference.

This festival of female fertility is held annually on the Sunday before March 15 to pray for a good fortune in the forthcoming harvest. This unique festival is well-known abroad and is considered to be the sister festival of nearby Tagata Fertility Festival. The highlight of the festival is the parade of the floats laden with very large round rice-cakes, called kagami-mochi. Carried by 19 year-old women dressed in bridal dresses, the floats reach the shrine at about 13:00.

When: Sunday, March 9

Where: Oagata Shrine (大縣神社), Inuyama City

Access: From Heian Dori Subway Station just take the Kami-iida / Meitetsu Komaki Line bound for Inuyama and get off at Gakuden Station 楽田; the shrine is a 10-minute walk from there.

Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival) - February 19, 2008

I didn’t get the chance to go to this festival because I had to work. But, I thought it would be interesting to add!

The annual Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Man Festival, will be held at Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa City. Since 767, this festival has been held to bring good luck and rid the town of evil. One man is chosen as the Naked Man (shin otoko), who spends the whole day being naked with thousands of men dressed in only loin cloths and sandals. The men excitedly scuffle with each other trying to touch the naked man to get rid of the evil. It’s a traditional event that draws thousands of people.

When: February 19th, 3pm

Where: Owari Ookuni Tama Jinja (or Konomiya Shrine) (Konomiya, in Inazawa City)

How to get there: Take the Meitetsu Main Line to Konomiya Station and walk three minutes from the north exit, or take the JR Line to Inazawa Station and walk 15 minutes.

Hina Matsuri – March 3rd Holiday

March 02, 2008

Hina Matsuri is held on March 3rd to wish for girls’ health and safety and a happy marriage. Families with girls display hinaningyo (hina dolls). They begin displaying them from the middle of February and put them away soon after March 3rd. If hinaningyo are left on display too long, it is said that a girl’s marriage will be delayed. A small set of hinaningyo are displayed on a three-tiered platform, and a bigger set on a seven-tiered platform. Dairibina (the Emperor and the Empress) are on the top shelf followed by sannin kanjo (three ladies), gonin bayashi (five musicians), udaijin and sadaijin (two eminent lords), and three servants. Lanterns called bonbori and peach blossoms decorate the platforms. Hishimochi (diamond-shaped mochi and shirozake (white sweet sake) are offered to the dolls.

An Emperor doll, with two handmaidens

Seven-tiered Hina doll set

Department Store Christmas Display

February 27, 2008

Haha! Too funny! The Loft's X-mas display

Some of my Favorite Drinks in Japan

February 25, 2008

Royal Milk Tea
Jasmine Tea
Calpis Water
Collagen Water (strawberry flavor)
Bireley’s Orange (similar to HiC Orange)

Suicide at Nisshin Station – February 21, 2008

February 24, 2008

I didn’t want to add another blog entry related to death, but I thought this would be a good time to introduce a new culture point that I learned.

Today, around 4:30pm the kids and I heard the sirens go by the school. I didn’t pay much attention at first, until I happened to walk past the window that over looked Nisshin station. As I walked passed, I saw two fire trucks with a stretcher at the rear of one. I looked down at the sidewalk and saw Miwako, Sayo, and Tom, standing looking up at the platform. I looked up and saw some people gathered on the platform and one train that hadn’t quite finished pulling into the station.

After class, I asked if someone tried to commit suicide by jumping in front of the train. In my mind this was the only logical explanation because the trains in Japan NEVER stop running or even being delayed. Plus, the most popular way to commit suicide in Japan is by jumping in front of a train.

Miwako replied “That’s what people think so far.”

A few moments later, Tom bent down as if trying to get a better look from around something that was blocking his view. All of a sudden, he gasped. I asked what it was and he said “It’s a blue sheet.”

Naturally, I looked at him with a puzzled look. He said ‘We only use blue sheets when someone has died.”

I then turned to Miwako and asked “In Japan, I heard that if someone commits suicide by jumping in front of a train, Meitetsu (the train company) will sue the family of the person that committed suicide. Is that true?”

“Yes” She says.

At the time, I asked Miwako if it would be wrong to take pictures, to give everyone the chance to see what I saw. She hesitated and nodded her head yes. But then she asked about how we were all going to get home, because the trains stop running until the tracks are clear. After that question, I didn’t feel so bad about asking to take pictures. So, I ran inside, grabbed the camera and took pictures from the window.

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"Trains don't usually stop too long after a suicide, there's rarely much damage to carriages and we rarely have to send anyone off to catch trains on different lines. In that regard, train suicides probably don't cost too much," says an employee of a commuter line. "But to make sure we can cover the costs incurred when a suicide leads to a derailment, we have to ask the bereaved families of suicide victims to compensate us. The costs are usually in the range of 100 million yen, but I've heard of a case where a family was billed 140 million yen after someone killed themselves by jumping in front of a train."

"As soon as the news hits that someone's committed suicide in one of our apartments, rents have to drop by about half or we can't get anyone else to live there," laments a Tokyo real estate agent. "In one case a few years ago, an agent sued the father of a man who slaughtered his girlfriend then killed himself in one of the agent's apartments. The agent won the case and the father ended up having to fork out a few million yen."

"We can get a room back into shape in a couple of days (after a suicide), at a cost of only a few million yen in even the worst cases," says a hotel employee. "We don't usually charge renovation costs, but if the suicide is of a famous person and the hotel's reputation is damaged, the hotel'll sue the bereaved family for whatever they're worth."

By Ryann Connell
Staff Writer
August 17, 2002

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Purikura

Purikura (Poo-Ree-Koo-Rah) Machines, also known as Print Club, are photo booths that allow you to decorate your pictures! Coming from Japan, Purikura machines are becoming a new phenomenon in the United States.

How it works!: The majority of our machines are big enough to walk into (and fit up to 5 or 6 people). In these booths you will take 4 to 14 pictures depending on the booth you are using. After taking pictures inside the booth you are able to choose and decorate your pictures!

View Pictures!

Air Conditioner / Heater – February 17, 2008

In Japan, you don’t buy new filters when the old ones get dirty. You clean and reuse them.

During the summer the air conditioner in my classroom put out only a little air and the room was extremely hot during the summer. Then winter came and once again, it only put out a little heat and the room was freezing.

Then, the day came to wear the air conditioner / heater in my new apartment needed to be cleaned.

I took the instruction booklet and both filters into Eiden electronic store hoping they could figure out that I needed two new filters and which ones I needed to buy. After about 15 / 20 minutes they came back and said they didn’t have the filters I needed in stock and that they would have to order them in.

This was not good because without heat in winter! BURRRR! So, I took my filters back home and decided to clean them off and reuse them. Because they were plastic I thought it would work, at least I hoped it would.

As I was cleaning the filter, I found it very easy to clean the dirt off of them. I then put the filters back in the air conditioner / heater and turned it on. Oh wow!!! It was blowing heat like it never blew heat before. I had to turn it down sometimes because it got too hot.

So, needless to say that coming Tuesday at work, guess what I did... Yep, I cleaned the filters in the air conditioner / heater. Now it works beautifully!

A Sushi Dinner with Hiroko and Her Family – February 17, 2008

A student of mine, Hiroko invited me to have dinner at her house with her family. Her mother and grandmother prepared sashimi, rice, and vegetables for dinner we made sushi. I’ve never made sushi before, so it was a lot of fun!

I had Cherry Blossom tea for the first time. I'm not quite sure if I like it or not. It wasn't bad, but it had a strange taste. It was salty with a little bit of a different flavor.

Hiroko will leave for Vancouver in August. She wants to live there for one year, then move to the states. She wants to go to a school where she can study to become a flight attendant.

The also gave me two gifts, prints by Hiroshige Ando.

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A Special Dedication to a Special Person!

February 16, 2008

Malissa you are LOVED by many and will be missed by ALL!

1 Dead After 2-Car Crash; Alcohol Suspected

JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Colorado State Patrol says homicide charges will be filed in connection with a fatal accident Saturday morning.

The incident happened around 2:25 a.m. on Wadsworth Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue.

Troopers say 63-year-old Martin Lewis of Lakewood was traveling north on Wadsworth Boulevard when he drove into the southbound left turn lane and collided with a vehicle being driven by 43-year-old Malissa Coenen.

Coenen died at the scene. Lewis was taken to Swedish Medical Center, treated and released.

Troopers believe that Lewis had been drinking. He faces charges of felony vehicular homicide.

written by: Colleen Locke , Producer
created: 2/16/2008 10:32:14 AM

"Be Careful Out There and Watch Out For The Idiots, we would always say."

Valentine’s Day Gifts

How sweet! Some of my students gave me gifts for V-Day! But the funny part is, I had to give them to my coworkers, since I don’t like chocolate.

Homesickness

Well, it’s been about eight months now, there’s a little homesickness. Some of the things that I really miss are Mexican food; ventilation systems (in winter, at least); being able to drive; the ability to walk into any store, restaurant, or business without being told I can’t be here; and the most important a hug.

I miss the closeness and affection of family and friends in general. Yes, I am a sappy kind of person in a huggy kind-of-way, just in case no one has noticed.

Because there isn’t any kind of affection here, I am on another mission. This mission is 1) to find out what the word “love” means in Japan and 2) how and in what way is “love” shown to the opposing person. ‘Cause I’m not seeing or hearing it, but love (the feeling of being in love) is constantly being talked about.

Entrance Exams

January and February is the busiest time for students because they are taking 3 days worth of entrance exams for the desired school.

For example, if Yuki wants to go to Chiba High School after graduating Junior High, she must take the Chiba High School’s entrance test, which takes 3 days to complete. She can only attend the school if her score is high enough.

*NOTE: The entrance exam is for all schools, not only a selected few. Of course, the better the school, the more difficult the exam.

Drifting!!!

You know the really good thing about being a teacher is not only reaping the rewards of helping and meeting people, but also sharing common interests in sports, hobbies, etc.

Having one student who races as a hobby and two others who are VERY much into cars, I was able to get the Japanese perspective about drifting. Drifting for those who don’t know is being able to drive your car sideways down the road and is considered an art. In Japan, drifting is extremely popular. In fact, the D1 Grand Prix is dedicated to drifting. Currently, Keiichi Tsuchiya is the DK (drift king) of Japan and has placed in several races.

For those who are extremely interested in drifting look to him as a legend, roll model, and none the less, obtaining the ability to drift like the king.

Learn how to drift from the DK

99 en, Seria, & The Daiso - The Best Stores Ever

The DOLLAR stores of Japan!

The 99 en store is similar to a small grocery store. Here, you can purchase food, snack, bread, drinks, spices, etc. Yes, there is a limit to what you can buy, but it is very helpful!

The Seria store allows you to buy household products, kitchen items, paper supplies, plates, dishes, bathroom necessities, and a few snacks and drinks.

The Daiso store also allows you to buy household products, blank CDs, blank DVDs, kitchen items, selected music CDs, selected movies, paper supplies, plates, dishes, makeup, sundry items, bathroom necessities, kids toys, purses, large framed pictures, fake flowers, a few snacks and drinks.

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami – Book Review

I was told that Haruki Murakami is a very famous Japanese author. However, when I asked my students about him, I received answers like “I have never read his books.”, “This is my first time to hear that title.”, “I read the book, but I didn’t like it. It wasn’t real, so it was difficult to follow.”, “His books are more popular with foreigners.”

The book is based on many metaphors and Japanese traditions. The book also references Hegel’s theories on the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, Greek mythology, iconic figures from the states such as Johnnie Walker (Whiskey brand) and Colonel Sanders (KFC), the Shinto religion, events from WWII, the lives of famous composers such as Beethoven and Puccini, Franz Kafka the Czech writer, labyrinths, and movements between life and death.

The overall story is about two people, a young boy who has the ambition to be the strongest 15 year-old in the world runs away from home to escape his father’s grim prophesy and is in search of his mother and sister. After he finds shelter in a small library in Takamatsu and befriends Oshima and Miss Saeki, he is then wanted for the murder of his father.

The other character is an old man who is around the age of 50 or 60. When he was young he suffered from a terrible accident. The accident forced him to loose his memory and his ability to gain any sort of intelligence. After waking up from the accident he has the ability to talk to cats. With this new talent, he picks up a part-time job searching for missing cats belonging to families. The search for one cat in particular leads him far away from home and starts him on an interesting journey.

After speaking to a class about Kafa on the Shore, one student seemed really interested in the book and went to the bookstore and bought it.

Skirts in Winter!!!

In winter time it is very common for females to wear skirts and shorts in the winter time. In fact, some of them have to because women in the business world MUST wear skirts. Also, the girls who attend school must wear skirts as it is their school uniform.

This past Wednesday we had a meeting for all GEOS teachers in the Chubu area. It was mandatory for the women to wear skirts to the meeting. It was very cold and windy this day.

Now, I have to admit, I didn’t freeze as much as I thought I was going to. But, maybe only because I not only brought a change of clothes, but I also stuck to staying inside and only spending about a total of 15 minutes outside. However, I still woke up with a cold the next day.

Purses in Japan

The purses in Japan are huge! They’re not even called “purses”. They’re called “bags”. Everything but the kitchen sink goes into these things. Make-up, reading books, documents, wallets, flat-cased mirrors, textbooks, workbooks, glasses, lotion, writing notebooks, notebooks, phones, bottled drinks from the vending machines, lighters, cigarettes, keys with about three tennis balled sized stuffed animals on the key ring, rice balls, snacks, small cakes, and whatever else you can think of.

Bathtubs

During my apartment search, I have seen bathtubs that not only drain through the ground, but ones that can be moved to another place in the bathroom. I was told that the bathrooms were built like this because they are similar to the onsen (public baths). However, that does not explain why the move. I have asked all of my high level English students. One of them has heard of and seen the moving bathtubs, but does not know why it can be moved. The others have never heard of a bathtub moving and were quite surprised that such a thing exists in Japan. So, I am now on a mission to find out why this is possible. I think I may have to consult my friend, the internet.

Before

After

Valentine’s Day – February 14th Holiday

February 12, 2008

Valentine’s Day is celebrated a little differently in Japan. On February 14th, women give chocolate to men, but men give nothing in return. Girls give chocolate to their boyfriends or to boys they like, and wives give it to their husband. Female workers also give it to their male coworkers, but this is called giri choco (duty chocolate) and isn’t really a sign of affection. As Valentine’s Day approaches, stores reserve large amounts of space to display chocolates and they fill with women making purchases.

Setsubun – February 3rd Holiday

There used to be a special day to mark the changing of each season, but now there is only one, setsubun. This day, February 3rd, marks the end of winter and start of spring.

The most famous activity of setsubun is bean throwing. Beans are thrown out of the house while shouting, “Oni wa soto!” which means, “Get out evil spirits!” Beans are then thrown into the house while saying, “Fuku wa uchi!” meaning, “Come in good luck!” An oni is a kind of demon. They have scary faces with fangs and horns, and red or blue skin. They wear tiger fur shorts and carry iron clubs.

Each year has a designated good direction, and many people in the Kansai area eat makizushi while facing in that direction on setsubun. This is supposed to bring good luck.

School Life

As in North America, compulsory education in Japan begins at six years of age. Elementary school lasts six years after which children spend three years in junior high school. Most then go to high school for three years. After this, at the age of eighteen, many take either a two-year course in junior college, or a four-year university course.

At most levels of education there is a school uniform. Elementary school students typically wear yellow hats and a leather backpack called a randoseru (from the Dutch word, ransel). The randoseru is a symbol of starting school and buying one is a special occasion. They are usually black for boys and red for girls, but other colors have recently become popular as well. Most junior high schools and high schools have their own uniform. Some schools are very serious about their dress codes, and things like skirt length, sock color, and bag style are strictly regulated. Schools also have a special uniform for PE classes.

Although all students must pay for their uniforms, the tuition and textbooks or compulsory education are free. There are, however, expenses for things like school lunches (about ¥200 (about $1.70) a day), field trips and supplementary materials.

Coming of Age Day – 2nd Monday of January Holiday

On this day Japanese people celebrate the adulthood of those who reach twenty between April 2nd of the previous year and April 1st of the current year. It is at this age that Japanese become full citizens and are given the right to vote. Each city or town has its own ceremony and it is often a good chance for these new adults to catch up with old friends. This holiday used to be on January 15th every year, but has recently been changed to the second Monday of January.

Cell Phones

Cell phones are a central part of life in Japan. They are much more than simply a communication tool. People use them to express their personalities, as well as organize and record their lives. This starts with the selection of a phone and extends to various forms of customization, such as decorating it with stickers, using personal photo as a display background, choosing the ring tone and adding a carrying strap.

Cell phones have become such an integral part of people’s lives that it’s hard for most to imagine life without them.

Hot Springs

Most Japanese love bathing in hot springs, and many believe that the water can cure certain ailments. There are many volcanoes around Japan, and therefore many hot springs. Each hot spring is said to have its own healing property. Hot spring resorts or hotels either use water from an actual spring or they boil mineral water. Hot spring resorts have opened all over the country, and many hotels have outside baths offering spectacular views.

Public baths are also very common in Japan. They generally have Jacuzzis, garden baths, and saunas. At both hot springs and public baths, people actually was their bodies before getting into the water. It is bad manners to use soap or towels in the bath itself.

Shogatsu – January 1st– 4th Holiday

Shogatsu refers to the New Year period. January 1st is called ganjitsu, and the first three days of the New Year are called sanganichi. During these days many things are closed down. Japanese people often visit temples or shrines on New Year’s Eve or during sanganichi to pray for happiness in the new year.

Special New Year’s food called osechi is usually eaten at this time. Osechi includes kamaboko (steamed fish paste), kazunoko (herring roe), gomame (small dried sardines cooked in soy sauce and sugar) or kuromame (black peas). In the past all shops were closed during sanganichi, so families had to make certain they had enough food to last them for three days. It is customary to drink sake on New Year’s Day.

Another New Year custom is the sending of New Year’s greeting cards. Japanese New Year’s cards are like postcards, and typically have a family picture and some family news on the back. Most people try to send their New Year’s cards by December 25th to make sure they will be delivered on New Year’s Day. .

Omisoka – December 31st Holiday

The last day of the year is called omisoka. On omisoka people finish cleaning their houses to welcome in the new year and eat soba (noodles). In the past Japanese goldsmiths used buckwheat dough to collect refuse gold dust in their workshops. From this grew the idea that soba brings wealth and that to eat soba would bring good luck or success. People used to stay up all night on omisoka to welcome the god of New Year, but this is becoming less common now. Many people do however visit Buddhist temples on this night. Buddhists believe that we have 108 desires that we must overcome. On omisoka each Buddhist temple rings its bell 108 times. Each striking of the bell is believed to remove one desire. Those who do manage to stay up all night often climb to the top of a mountain or go to the beach to see the first sunrise of the year.

Shichigosan – November 15th Holiday

Long ago it was customary for children to change their hairstyle and manner of dress as they grew older. Although this tradition is no longer observed, the Japanese continue to celebrate the growth of their children with the Shichigosan Festival. Shichigosan means seven-five-three. On November 15th boys of three and five and girls of three and seven dress up in traditional kimono and visit a local shrine. Parents make offerings at the shrine and the priest prays for the continued development of their children.

Japanese Gardens

The Japanese have been making beautiful gardens for over a thousand years. There have been many different styles throughout history, but they all attempt to recreate natural landforms. The first gardens often had creeks or ponds, sometimes with an island. During the Muromachi period (1336-1573) the karesansui style was born. This new style was very popular during Japan’s long period of civil war (fifteenth to sixteenth century). It used rocks, stones and pebbles to create very abstract representations of nature. For example, a large rock in a bed of white sand might represent an island in the sea. The most famous of these gardens is in Ryoanji temple in Kyoto. Later, teahouses were built in many gardens and a chaniwa (a gray stone path) leading to the teahouse was added. During the Edo period (1603-1867), feudal lords built huge gardens with ponds, miniature mountains, rock, bridges and teahouses. These luxurious garden contained many plants and trees. Gardens of this style are still common in Japan today, and the three most famous are Korakuen, Kairakuen, and Kenrokuen.

Jinja

There are over eighty thousand Shinto shrines in Japan, and they represent the oldest architectural style in the country. Shinto is a religion unique to Japan. Respect for the land and nature is its basic premise. Usually there is a mirror in a case inside each shrine. This is the symbol of the shrine’s god. Shinto customs are common in Japanese life. Some people have household altars and pray for good health, success and happiness every day. However, most Japanese visit shrines only on special occasions.

A torii is a gate leading to a jinja. This one stands in the sea before the Itsukushima Shrine.

Basin in a Chozusha for washing hands at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo

Jiin

Temples are known for their beautiful architecture, statues and gardens. Statues of Buddha are placed in temples. There are many famous old temples all over Japan that attract large numbers of visitors. Some temples were built by the wealthy to ensure prosperity for the family. One of the most famous is Horyuji temple in Nara, which was built by Shotoku Taishi, a leading statesman of the Asuka perod (593-710). Today many people have a small cabinet containing an image of Buddha called a butsudan in their homes. It is displayed as a sign of their faith and respect for their ancestors.

The honden, or "main hall", of the Higashi Hongan-jiin in Kyoto.

Driving Issues! – February 11, 2008

February 11, 2008

Umm... You know in the movies with bad Japanese drivers and they drive all upon the sidewalk... you know the cement that people walk on... IT’S TRUE!!! Do you know the scariest feeling in the world is when you are ridding your bike on the sidewalk and all of a sudden a car jumps the curb (even though they’re not as high as the ones in the U.S.) and starts to play a game of chicken with you.

They also park the cars on the sidewalk here too!!!

I’m not saying we are the best drivers in the States, but WOW!!

I will take pictures next time.

Pictures are now here and more to come!!

Deodorant Comes in a CAN! – February 11, 2008

This is actually really cool. Even though I spent about a half hour in the drug store before I finally found it. So far, they only bad thing is while spraying it on, your armpits start to sting.

New Memory Card for the Camera! – February 11, 2008

FINALLY!! It’s picture time!! YAY!! (^o^)

Finally Settled In – February 11, 2008

Things have finally gotten to the point where I am struggling to keep busy on the weekends. With winter here and not having a car, going outside isn’t much of an option. I’m also able to work normal hours, and not having to worry about going in early and leaving late.

Cherry Blossom Season is Coming Soon! – February 10, 2008

February 09, 2008

I can’t wait. I have been talking to my students ad they say the best places to see the cherry blossoms are Tsurumai Park and Nagoya Castle.

The First Snow – February 9, 2008

A student from my Friday night class said she heard on the news that it would snow on Saturday. In a way, apart of me was hopping she was kidding, because I wasn’t ready for snow.

The next morning I woke up, got ready for work, and started to head out for the train station around 10:30am. Sure enough, I was snowing, medium size flakes, but they weren’t sticking. Around 12pm, the snow flakes were bigger and heavier. Then by 2pm there was about 3” of snow that fell. As the day went on more snow fell it didn’t stop until around 5pm. About half of it melted and turned into slush. Between 12 and 4:15 I had only three students come to class. The ones who came said there were many accidents and the roads were too bad to drive, so they either walked or took the train to class.

Observations – January 27, 2008

January 28, 2008

There are many things that I have learned about Japanese culture. Whether it’s learning the meaning / reasoning behind behavior and culture, proving stereotypes to be wrong / right or even hearing student’s opinions and views about Japanese culture.

*Please keep in mind these are only my observations and students opinions. Not to be confused with insult and slander.

Mimicking other cultures – When seeing interesting parts of another culture, those parts will then be incorporated in the Japanese culture.
Japan is becoming more westernized – Japan is taking on more of the Western culture. Such as food selection, fashion, learning English, celebrating Western holidays, music selection, etc. A person from Western will not see this change. The first response is “No, its not!” Closely followed by “How?”. This makes the elder very angry.
Japanese people don’t like Japanese Culture or people – Very quick to get away from each other. When traveling, it is important to choose a city with very little Japanese people.
Closed Minded - Traditional Japanese people / elder people are “closed minded” and believe that Japan should not allow foreigners into the country and Japanese people should not have to learn English.
When traveling outside Japan, the first thing packed is food – With the fear of not liking food from other countries as well as a fear of gaining weight, food from Japan will be packed in the suitcase.
“Meat makes you fat” – “I don’t eat meat because the calories are high and it will make me fat.”
Everyone from Japan wants to belong to another country – Whatever the reasoning for “hating” their own culture. They want to get out of Japan as fast a possible. When presented with the opportunity to date or marry a foreigner, the decision is very quick.
Japanese women love foreign men – Japanese men are “Short, skinny, boring, and never give gifts.”
Very high suicide rate.
Rules for everything – Without rules, doing simple things becomes very difficult.
Always thinking and changing simple plans – Whether trying to plan a two hour event or inviting a guest over for dinner, a lot of preparation time, mind-changing, and thinking goes into it. The small event then turns into a very stressful one.
Bosses, Parents, Grandparents and the like never give compliments or say “job well done”.
No love or affection - No one says “I love you”.
“No, not really” – When given a compliment about a clean house or given a compliment in general, it is usually turned down.
No imagination – When told “Use your imaginations.” “What’s that?” is the reply. It is difficult, because imagination is not a scientific fact, real life, and/or not the correct answer.
Always going to school, even when there’s no school – Between studying for exams, regular school, cram school, entrance exams, after school activities, and English classes, there’s not much time for anything else.
Constantly worrying about Japan’s future – With the young generation not living up to Japan’s expectations and the decreasing number of children being born, adults are extremely worried.
Can take months, even years off from work when facing depression – Upon returning to work after a very long leave of absence, many quit or change departments in fear of what co-workers are thinking about them.
100% is not enough. Neither is 110%, 120%, 130%, or 150%. It’s never enough. - “You can always do better.” “The given is 150%, you did what you were supposed to, now do more.” Work expectations are very high.
Always respond with “Hai” (Yes) or “Wakarimashita” (I understand) when speaking to anyone who is in a higher position. – Mother, Father, Boss, Grandfather, Grandmother, anyone.
Your opinion doesn’t matter.
Don’t complain you will be ignored.
If what you want doesn’t follow the rules, you won’t get it – Example: “I would like a hamburger with french fries instead of coleslaw.” The reply “I’m sorry, we can’t do that.”
All words written in Katakana or foreign borrowed words are believed to have originated in Japan. Example: Dodgeball.
Anything broadcasted over any type of media is believed to be true. – Never question the information that is given, anything else is not true.
Major crimes and reports are kept quiet – Only some cases are released. Other cases are either never talked about, released, etc. Always kept “hush, hush”.
Anything outside of the rules or comfort level is “difficult” and mostly ignored.
Foreigners are treated as if they don’t exist – “Sorry, Japanese only.” “I’m sorry, you can’t try this on, you’re too big, and it won’t fit.” After being hit by a taxi: “You are the one at fault. You are a foreigner, you should have known better.”
The “Working Bachelor” – This is a married man who works and lives in a different city from his family and returns home on the weekend to visit.
Married men – Don’t want to come home, so they stay out very late, get drunk, and go to work early the next day. Some don’t come home at all.
Divorce – If the husband and wife get divorced, the wife is entitled to half of everything he has. If kids are involved, divorce is only an option if the kids will be adopted by the girlfriend or boyfriend of the cheating spouse.
Always working – A lot of overtime, but no pay. The “Salary man”.
Children returning to Japan from years after living in a foreign country – When families have to move abroad for three years because of work, the children are usually placed in public schools. If the parents are unable to find a “Japanese School”, the children are then place in public schools. When the three years has ended and the family must come back to Japan, life for the children then becomes extremely difficult, but only if they were placed in a public school. They are then no longer considered “Japanese” because they have grown up and have been exposed to a foreign culture.

No Ventilation – January 25, 2008

January 27, 2008

I thought only rooms and small apartments have the air conditioner / heater wall unit and large rooms and houses have the ventilation system. Yeah... NO. Think of a space heater to heat the entire room or apartment.

Winter Season – January 25, 2008

The winters in Nagoya, Japan are nothing like the winter in Colorado. It’s cold, yes. However, not as cold as Colorado. It hasn’t even snowed once...yet. In fact, it rains instead of snows! Riding a bike when it is cold outside is no fun at all, but it is much faster than walking ;P

My New Car – November 31, 2007

Yes, that’s right, I said it. I have new wheels! It’s definitely smaller than my car in the U.S. Heating, air conditioning, and music is not installed. It carries at least two people and the storage space is extremely limited. And I only paid $90 for it!

Check out my new ride! 20” rims???

New Apartment! - November 19, 2007

November 27, 2007

Talk about a sigh of relief! Today, I moved into the new apartment. The electricity, water, and gas was shut off at the old apartment at 9:30 this morning. At the new place all utilities were turned on about 1:30 in the afternoon. Thank you very much to Yumiko and Miwako, who were the designated translators!

After, the meeting with the new landlord, he offered to buy Yumiko and I coffee, at the coffee shop next door. We talked for a little bit and then the landlord left. Afterwards, Yumiko said that this was the nicest landlord she has ever met. I was shocked and surprised at the same time.

I love the new apartment, it’s next to a coffee shop, across the street from the park, everyone says it’s a nice location, and there’s a bigger park that’s near the train station. The area is quiet, the kitchen is bigger, I have a dining room and bedroom, a nice size balcony (not a good view of anything, but it’s ok). Overall, the people who seen it think it’s beautiful, as do I!

See Pictures

Tom’s Housewarming Party - November 4, 2007

One of m students moved into a brand new house. I can’t remember if he built it or if he found it and moved in. When we walked in the front door, there was that “brand new” smell.

The house was beautiful. It’s a two level home. The flooring is all wood, the kitchen was a very nice size, and the living / dining area had a cathedral ceiling.

While the girls were in the kitchen cutting vegetables, the boys were sitting at the table talking. After all the vegetables were cut, we carried them over to the dining room table. First, the salon was put in the pan to be sautéed along with a lot of butter. After the salmon was close to being done, the cut vegetables were added. Cabbage, carrots, onions, green onions (only the white part, I believe), brussels sprouts, two kinds of mushrooms, and a white skinny vegetable. When the vegetables were about half way cooked, a brown miso sauce and more butter were added. This dish is called Chanchanyaki (with Miso).

We also had Yakiniku, which is grilled meat. In the grocery store, you can buy raw meat that is marinating in a sauce, while it’s in the package. When you get home, unwrap the meat and cook it on the grill or in a frying pan.

See Pictures

Apartment... Done Deal! – November 1, 2007

November 01, 2007

Today, I went and signed my life away. The apartment searching is officially over! YATA!! Now the fun part... finding someone who speaks Japanese and English that can go with me on the 19th to help translate the landlord showing me how to use the gas, water, switches, etc... darnit!!

See Pictures

Nisshin School – October 31, 2007

You know what I think is really funny. At training last week, other teachers from different schools were telling horror stories about their students, both kids and adults. They talked about how bad the kids were and how they never listened and were always getting into trouble. They also talked about how the adults weren’t interested in learning English, but some had to because of their job. Others said they were either rude and / or annoying, etc. Now either they are exaggerating... which we all know, everyone loves to do or it’s true. But anyhow, thankfully my students are all wonderful. Sure, everyone has their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. But... whatever, such is life. I heard from a JET teacher that we have the nicest and best students so far. So I think that has to count for something.

Busy at Work – October 31, 2007

About a week or two ago our manager went home early because she was sick and she wasn’t sure about when she can come back to work. Then a couple of days later, she sent another email to a co-worker at GEOS saying that she wouldn’t be able to come back.

In the beginning, the teachers were very busy with trying to do her job as well as teach. At the moment we have another manager helping us from time to time, but it’s still not 100%.

They say we will get a new manager soon, because are school is too big to make it without one.

*PS: the manager manages / over seas everything for the school. From accounting, to making phone calls, talking to student, setting up appointment, basically keeping track of EVERYTHING!

It is also time for the student’s counseling, so we have to speak to each student and tell them their strengths, weaknesses, improvements, study recommendations, etc.

Also, we had our Halloween party on the 28th. This turned out to be really cute. We were all scared because we had no manager to help plan the party, take money, buy snacks, talk to students, all teachers had plans that weekend so no one could make it. In the beginning, it looked like it would be the party from Hell.

Originally, it was supposed to be only Richard and me that were going to manage the party, set up, tear down, and some how entertain 20 – 30 kids. But then, I guess people started to feel sorry for us and a few other teachers gave up their weekend plans to help out. That was REALLY nice of them!

Halloween is Beautiful! – October 31, 2007

Even though it doesn’t feel like Halloween and I didn’t get the chance to dress up, go to a haunted house, or SEE Saw IV. I do have some good news on this beautiful day. So, The apartment that I love so much, that is across the street from the park... I get to go in tomorrow to sign and wrap up the paperwork. It’s about time! The landlord was / is being very difficult. So, I thought I wouldn’t be able to get it, but then they said it would be okay.

As long as nothing goes wrong, I will be moving in on November 19th. :D

I also finally sent my 1st wire transfer today, after having close to three or four months of problems. The original bank account (mandatory by the school) doesn’t do or allow domestic transfers, which is required for the wire transfer company. Then, I set up an account with Citibank, but because the Remittances form wasn’t turned in on time, I couldn’t use it, plus it is very expensive. Next, I was able to set up a bank account with UFJ. They allow domestic transfers, however... I needed a hanko (a stamp that has my name in Katakana). They wouldn’t accept the Kanji hanko that was originally given to me when I arrived in Japan. That took about a week and then I had to wait for the debit card, which took about another week.

UFJ (in Japan ) ---> GoLloyds (wire transfer account in Japan ) ---> Credit Union (in US)

Living – October 31, 2007

I would like to get a bike some time in the near future. My shoes did not survive the 10 – 15 min. walk back and forth from the train station to the house. I definitely need to get a bike if I move the new apartment. The walk to the train station is about 26 min.

It was starting get really cold, but then warmed up a bit again. This is totally fine with me because I still need to get a scarf and jacket. I haven’t found one that I liked yet.

Everyone is sick here. The weather changed suddenly, then warmed up, then went back down again. Luckily, my cold hasn’t gotten worse. Richard is out sick today and Miwako is also fighting a cold.

Hair Dresser – October 21, 2007

YAY! I have found a hair dresser that can do a touch up perm! Hee hee, I’m excited! I’m not sure about her full potential yet, as to whether she can cut hair and style. But for now... that’s not important.

Other Teachers at GEOS – October 14, 2007

Yeah... um... wow... words just can’t express with this one. Let’s put it this way: you know when you live in a small town and everybody knows everybody therefore everybody talks about everybody and everybody is two-faced but tries to pretend like their not.

I think that sums it up.

Another Bust – October 15, 2007

So, Annette and I were trying to see if we could get the two bedroom apartment. It would have been great, split the initial payment and rent in half. Then when she goes back home to America in April, I would have the two bedroom apartment. Needless to say, the owner of the apartment doesn’t feel comfortable renting to foreigners, so put us through a lot of BS and she denied our application. Am I upset? No. Discouraged? Yes. I have looked a handful of places, applied for two and still a no go. It’s hard to find a place in Japan that not only meets your budget, but needs as well. But, in the end, I think this was a sign for me to put in an application to the second apartment that we looked at. So, I did, the paperwork has started and we shall see what happens.

Scott’s Birthday – October 13, 2007

Once again, I apologize, I need to get a new memory card.

Today was a good day. Scott and I were talking and he was saying how his mother always made a pineapple upside-down cake for his birthday and of course I had to mention how I have craving one, but couldn’t make it because I don’t have an oven. So, the deal was made, I was going to bake a pineapple upside-down cake that would feed twenty or so people... in Japan... in a toaster-looking oven... not a mile above sea level... yeah... no pressure!

Needless to say a friend of mine jokingly said “It will be a two hour cake.” After seeing the size of the oven. I looked at it, laughed, and agreed.

I started to make the cake and everyone was impressed and couldn’t wait to try the “Pineapple Cake” (This is what the Japanese call it). Nothing like more pressure.

So now, the cake goes in the oven. One hour passes, the tester toothpick goes in and comes out clean. YAY!!!

I turn the pan upside-down on the plate, pound on it, the cake falls on the plate. So, I lift up the pan and find the cake didn’t cook all the way through on the sides.

DARNIT MAN!!!!!!

Now, I’m looking at Zamira asking what should I do, while everyone is being entertained with the Bingo game.

“Put it back in the oven.” She says.

“Can you do that?”

“It’s worth a shot.”

I shrugged my shoulders, put the half baked cake back in the pan and said to her “I wouldn’t be offended if you didn’t eat any.”

Another hour passes. By this time, people are asking “Where’s the cake!” ...no pressure, right. The tester toothpick goes in again... about ten times and all came out clean. I flipped it upside-down, and told Scott he had to be the genie pig and make sure it was ok to serve... SUCCESS!!!

The cake was gone in less than 10 or 15 min.

More Apartments – October 8, 2007

This day actually seemed promising. Annette and I looked at five different apartments today. The first apartment was still being built, so we didn’t get a chance to look at it. Which... actually was ok because it was VERY far from work. The second place, I fell in love with. It’s across from a park, next to a shopping center and theater. The apartment is on the first floor with the washing machine inside the apartment, not outside. The toilet is in a separate room from the shower and sink. There is a dinning room / living room... small for both, it works best as a dinning room, so that works for me. The kitchen is much bigger... or should I say there is more space. There is cabinet space above and below. The bedroom is a tatami room... I have to keep that well protected some how. I hear they are very expensive to replace if damaged. Overall, I would like to see what I can do to get this one. The third place, I also liked. It was a two bedroom, very nice location, etc., but I still love the second one. The other two I didn’t really care for.

Yumiko’s Going Away Lunch – October 7, 2007

Yumiko is a JET teacher who works at Nisshin GEOS. In either March or May... long before I came, she got married. I am not quite sure of the story, but the impression I have is she left GEOS to become a housewife...

Anyhow, today was her good-bye lunch with the staff, and student, and a friend. She picked a Thai restaurant that was located in Sakae. The food was pretty good. I didn’t get a chance to take pictures because I need to get a new memory card. I used all of the memory at Disneyland... oops ;P

See Pictures

Apartment – September 30, 2007

Well... The apartment that I was looking at fell through. It sucks, but at the same time, I’m really happy. Even though it had a lot of space, there were things I didn’t like about it and I thought it was a little expensive. It was on the 7th floor, which wouldn’t normally bother me, but I was hopping to get one closer to the first floor. The air conditioner looked as if it was going to break. The bathtub moved and the cabinets were broken. However, the location was GREAT.

Back to the drawing board.

Disney Sea and Disneyland – September 23, 2007

I don’t know how to thank Miwako enough for taking me to DisneySea and Disneyland. We paid about $500 for admission to both parks (including Fast Pass), hotel for one night, breakfast, bus fare, train fare, skinkansen fare, and some other stuff. The only thing we had to bring money for was food and souvenirs. I didn’t spend a lot because I was saving as much as I could for the new apartment.

We went on many different rides. The wait time was about one to two hours, because we went during the holiday time, so many people were there. I have never seen so many different flavors of popcorn. There was Cappuccino, Carmel, Honey, Curry, Soda, Chocolate, Sour Cream, Regular, and many others that were at the different attractions. Ok... yes, I have been in Japan for a little while now, so you would think I would know better. But, it’s still a little funny. So, we went into a Mexican restaurant. I was so excited, I saw fajitas, paellas, tortillas, taco salads, etc. Miwako asked me what was a fajita. I started to tell her, but then I paused and said “In the states it comes with dada dada... But, I don’t know how they do it here in Japan.” After I said that, I realized were I was and my smile turned upside-down. So I thought, what the hell, let’s give it a shot, who knows... right? Umm... no. Good, yes. But not what I expected.

We were also on a mission to find Stitch. If we didn’t do anything, finding Stitch was one thing we had to do. I love Stitch long before coming to Japan. When I came to Japan, stitch was EVERYWHERE. Now, I assumed that Stitch was very popular here, but do you know I could not find him anywhere in DisneySea or Disneyland except for in the Halloween Parade. Just to eat lunch with Stitch, you had to make a reservation. None of the other characters had that kind of publicity, not even Mickey!

Oh... speaking of Mickey, this is funny. Miwako said to me “Look, there’s Mickey!”

I turned around and looked EVERYWHERE for him and said “Where?”

“Over there!” She said, pointing to the crowd of people. Do you know that Mickey was all of... maybe 5’ tall! I was taller than Mickey!

You know what I thought was really cool, we won tickets to see the Halloween Parade up close and personal. She said it doesn’t happen often, so I was really happy. She told me that I was good luck, but sometimes I wonder. :P

See Pictures

September 22, 2007

Not a whole lot has gone on this month. Sill busy and still trying to get situated I’m in the process of trying to move and am starting to cut a lot of things off. I haven’t had the chance to write, so I’m falling behind. I haven’t been sleeping well since I arrived. Probably because it has not only been hot, but also my mattress is very thin.

Annette and I found a store in Kanayama call Don Kihote. This store has many imported products. Such as Liquid Dial soap! It may not seem like much, but the soap here isn’t all that great. I also found a pretty cheap air mattress that I want to buy. They also had my favorite incense that I used to get back in the states. The store has so much stuff, it took us awhile just to get through the one floor.

Soon, I will be going to Tokyo DisneySea and Disneyland. That should be fun. I’m pretty excited. It’s been a long time since I have been to Disneyland in Cali.

Hmm... what else? So far, just hangin’ in there and waiting for things to slowdown.

Work is going ok. I haven’t gone through another round of training yet, so it’s a little difficult at times to follow what’s going on.

Nippon Domannaka Festival (Domatsuri) - August 24th, 25th, & 26th, 2007

August 26, 2007

Over 200 teams & around 23,000 performers from across Japan and from around the world will take over the streets of Nagoya as part of Japan’s largest dance festival.

Colourful and vibrant parades & performances will be held at 26 locations in and around the City, with the main stage located in Hisaya-odori Park in Yabacho (Access: Yabacho exit 5 or Sakae exit 15). The main competition part of the festival will be held on this main stage from 09:50 to 21:00 on 8/25 & 8/26. Each team, some with as many as 150 members, has just over four minutes to show off their skills, coordination, & originality to the judges.

When not competing, teams will be parading their skills on the streets of Nagoya.

On Otsu-dori between Sakae and Yabacho from 13:15 to 17:45 on August 25
In front of Nagoya Station on both days from 13:15 to 14:45, and
At Nagoya Ko (Nagoya-ko Subway Station, exit 3) from 11:00 to 13:30 & 16:30 to 21:00 on August 25th, and 10:00 to 18:00 on August 26th.

See Pictures

Lunch with Kaoru and Hayato - August 12, 2007

August 18, 2007

Kaoru, one of my students will be leaving GEOS soon and wanted to invite her daughter's teacher, Yumiko, myself, and Hayato, her classmate to her home for lunch. Yumiko was unable to make it.

I was really nervous because i thought I would be meeting her parents, as well as her husband, and two children. But, when I learned that it was just her and the two children, I was relieved. She cooked a VERY good lunch.

Hayato, met me at the train station and from there, the both of us walked over to Kaoru's home. We arrived around 1:30pm and left around 6:45pm. We spent a lot of time talking. They were able to improve their English speaking and listening skills as well as learn new expressions and slang.

Kaoru said that she may return to GEOS after one year. Because her daughter will be entering college in the fall, her husband does not have enough money to send both of them to English school as well as the daughter going to college. HOWEVER... update... I spoke to her in Friday's class and she said she is trying to work it out to where she won't have to leave GEOS, she said she enjoyed the lunch and is trying to work things out! :)

See Pictures

Shinmaiko Beach - August 13, 2007

Today was so much fun and the water was well needed.

Everyone who went: Ibu, Sarah, Medina, Brenda, Annette, Masa, Nori, Malcom, Kennedy, Steve, Joe, and myself.

I tried to find out where we could rent jet skis, Masa asked and said we need a license. By this point my next thought was wind surfing, but this idea was quickly forgotten when we all headed towards the water and started making up games. First, we started playing Keep-a-Away. Then, Monkey in the Middle. Then that changed to Volleyball. We then ended with Football...in the water with a moving floating goal... a crayon. Haha. The Japanese were looking at us trying to figure out what "exactly" we were doing. One man walked in the group wanting to play, we said ok and asked for one more player to make the teams even, but no one else wanted to play. We were going to play with an odd number, but he walked away and got out of the water.

Kennedy, Annette, and I were trying to teach Medina, Brenda, Joe, and Sarah how to swim. We were all unsuccessful, they sank.

Even though today was a play-day, I had some time to practice some techniques that I learned from the scuba classes. We swam from the shore to the buoys twice, then back again, running in water (good leg exercise), floating, removing cramps, and various swimming techniques.

They are small thinks, but it was still good review and practice. To be honest, I am in better shape than I thought i was. Now, I just have to keep it up! :)

Some of you may be wondering how my knees held up through all of this. To my surprise, they did better than I thought. I did not have pain the entire time. To be honest, I think this day helped tremendously because, they don't hurt as bad as before. I guess they needed the water and exercise too!

See Pictures

Just Some Thoughts

August 11, 2007

I set up the blog to let everyone know how things were going. I thought about only putting good things, travels, etc. But I guess it wouldn’t be “real”. So, I have been going back and forth about including some of my thoughts or if I should just share them individually.

Weight Loss

Since I came to Japan, I have lost A LOT of weight. I’m not sure how much though. In some pictures it looks as if I haven’t lost any, but in others, there’s a big difference. So far, I have lost about one pant size. I have to wear belts now, because my pants don’t fit (Haha). I even fit my white belt that I always tried so hard to fasten. Maybe I should have packed some of my clothes from when I was a size 9!

Going Home?

So lately, my students have been asking me when or if I would return home (the U.S.). Every time I’m asked that question, I hesitate and the pause is longer than what I thought it would be. I know I will eventually return, but at the same time... I just finished reading an article on the three murders in New Jersey. Maybe I’ll move to Montana... Haha yeah right, there isn’t a demand for web designers as well as it being too cold.

Hot and Humid

It is very humid in Japan. I have to admit, so far that’s one thing that I really miss about Denver and the Westside of the U.S... DRY HEAT! After walking for 10 minutes, you start finding sweat glands you never new you had! Many women in Japan walk around with umbrellas while they are in the sun... usually black, it keeps out a good portion of the UV rays. I like the idea. While I love the sun... I don’t want to bake in it or get burnt... :) Been there, done that. Sometimes I feel a little cheesy though. Remember a long, long, long time ago in maybe the 15 or 16 hundreds when women walked around with their dainty parasols... yeah... just a little bit ;P

Obon Holiday

It’s Obon season now. Obon is a three day holiday/vacation, Aug. 13th-15th where the Japanese go to their hometowns to pray to their deceased ancestors. Many offices are closed and people have these days off. My students ask if I am off for this holiday, the answer is no. I guess maybe GEOS feels that foreigners don’t pray to their ancestors ;P BUT, there are Jet teachers, the manager (who is on holiday/vacation until the 15th), and the students who have to come to class. Guess it doesn’t count.

GEOS’ next day off and my fist day off is November 3rd. I guess I have to look forward to closer events than that ;P

Day Off

I’ve been thinking about taking a Saturday or Tuesday off after my 90 days are over, just to have some relaxing time. It seems as if the days go by faster here. In between running around on the weekend and working during the week, there’s not much time to do anything else.

Belly Dancing?!

In Miwako’s spare time, she takes belly dancing lessons. She told me about her lessons not too long after I started. She said she talked about it with the other teacher and manager, she said they disagree with her taking the classes, because it is too sexy. So... ok... umm... for days now, she has been trying to get me to go with her. In the beginning, I told her I would watch. Then some how, me watching turned into me dancing... umm... yeah... the dancing part I can handle. However... if I have to wear the outfit... uh... yeah...

I’ll take pictures... maybe...

Tokyo Disneyland

Miwako and I have been talking about going to Tokyo Disneyland for awhile now. So, we are trying to make plans. She was thinking we should go by bus. It takes about two hours to get there, but I’m not sure how long it will take by bus. Similar to Greyhound... I’m not sure.

Birthday in Japan!

Haha, I gained one extra play-day for my birthday this year...YAY! “How did you do that?” you ask. My birthday falls on a Monday this year. If I was in the States, I would either be working or have to request the day off. HOWEVER, now that I’m in Japan, my days off are Sunday and Monday...LUCKY!!

Sunday – Funday

Tomorrow, I will be having lunch with two of my students. The female student is hosting the get-together at her place. To be honest, I’m a little nervous because I don’t want to be the only “teacher” or “non-Japanese” speaker there. I learned that she invited another teacher she had in the past, Yumiko. However, she can’t make it. Even though I have been in this situation before, it was a little different because I didn’t have to worry about being in another country with different customs.

But, I am looking forward to going to the beach after lunch. We are going to Shinmaiko Beach. I am relieved because not only has it been hot, but the two most relaxing things for me are driving and the water. I haven’t had access to either one and let me tell you... I’m stressin’!

Movie Delay

Movies come out later here than in the U.S. When I left, Die Hard 4 had just come out in theaters or was about to. Here, in Japan, it just came to theaters.

... (-_-)

Even though I knew this was coming... I still want to talk about it because it really urks me, like it always has, even in the U.S. Japan is like a mini U.S. as far as women being “put on display” and “sex objects” goes. But the thing that surprises me the most, is the men in Japan are bolder than the men in America or maybe the approach is different, I don’t know, haven’t figured that one out yet. Anyhow, about more than half of the women in the 20-30 age group dress in revealing clothes with heels, having their hair and make-up done. Ok, whatever, I see this in the U.S. all the time, nothing new. I learned that these women usually go into the gorgeous or beautiful category, a.k.a stereotype. It seems they are expected to dress this way, anything less is unacceptable.

In addition to the above, I guess it is rumored that foreign/American women are easy. As you may have already guessed, the two combined is not a good combination.

Please note that I’m talking about all ethnic groups that are here.

Life in Japan - August 6, 2007

August 06, 2007

The sun rises around 4:30 A.M. here, it throws me off every time.

We might be going to the beach next Monday! I'm really excited because not only have I been wanting to go, but I will get to learn where the beach is!

I have been hearing different things about driving in Japan. 1) You have to have your international license for one year before coming to Japan. 2) You can take a class, then a test... all in Japanese.. (HA HA) I've been going back and forth on whether I want to drive in Japan or not... might be more stressful than relaxing.

Since the driver's license examination center is not too far from me, I was going to go and check it out.

You know what is funny... but not really? Miwako and I went to an import shop after telling her about a pineapple upside down cake and how I have been craving one for awhile. We spent 45 minutes in the small store looking for all the ingredients. After we found everything, we left and went home. I told her, I can come back to the store after payday, get the stuff, and make one. So... yeah... I get home and remembered... I don't have an oven. A portable oven is about $600-$700. *Just a small problem* Yeah, so that has been postponed :)

My Students - August 6, 2007

I have a little less than 60 students. 18 children and the rest are Junior High students to elder age.

When listening to teacher's talk about their job, many of them say...The best part about teaching is being able to help the students and knowing that you have helped them learn something.

They are not lying, when the student's face lights up and they understand or even when talking to the students, I get to learn about them, their lives, and personalities, and knowing that I am responsible for their education.

With the students learning English, some lessons I rarely refer to the textbook. Most of the students want to practice conversation and learn new vocabulary instead of learning from the textbook. This is excellent practice for them because they often learn new words, common expressions, or slang. Other students want to tell me about a trip they had just returned from.

With one of my classes, they want me to use their English names, because they are in English school :) This class also wanted to give me a Japanese name. At first they couldn't think of a name, but then I teased them and said that I am their first born, so it has to be good ;P They named me Aiko. "Ai" means love and "ko" has no meaning.

My little ones are so cute! Sometimes I will see them outside while walking in between classes. "Anita-Sensei, Anita-Sensei, Anita-Sensei!" As they come running towards me. My older students say they enjoy my lessons and have fun. They don't want me to go... ever.

Miwako, a Jet teacher says that she can always hear us laughing in class. I told her "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The students also enjoy sharing information about their culture and will me of good places to visit and eat. Some of the lessons have them tell me about their traditions and historical events and places. So while I'm teaching them, they're teaching me Japanese culture!

Getting Settled In - July 30, 2007

July 30, 2007

I have met many people within a short period of time, which is really nice. They have been here for awhile and are showing me places and helping me get things. They are also a lot of fun to hang out with!

As some of you know, there was a big earthquake that hit in Nigata Pref. a couple of weeks ago. The good news is that it wasn't bad in my area. I was on the train when the earthquake hit, so I didn't feel anything. A couple more small ones hit about a week later at one o'clock in the morning. These sucked because I can't go back to sleep after I am awake.

Last weekend, I went to Nagoya Port to look for the Animal Quarantine Service and found a shopping center and food dedicated to Italy. I was really excited about this because I found... you guessed it...GELATO!!!!

Third Day at Work – June 21, 07

My first day at work was not bad at all, today I was teaching by myself. My first two classes were kids classes... believe it or not...but I actually enjoyed them.

Sometimes, I thought it was stressful, because I didn't have the chance to practice my lesson plans. But as the class went on, I realized, I have enough time in class to think of what I will do next. The reason I say this is because, the students are trying to learn English, so the response time isn't that quick. There are also listening activities that give me the chance to think of or remember what I will do next. After awhile, I try not to stress out about not knowing or remembering my plan for the class, because I sometimes have some time to think about it and what I will do next.

Second Day at Work – June 20, 07

I received two gifts today. The purse, was from the JET (Japanese English Teacher) when she went to Korea. The Kimono cloth book mark was from one of my students.

I only taught one class today, the rest of them I sat in and watched Adam. I was a lot more comfortable teaching "for real" than in training. In training, there was more pressure to get it right, being watched, and graded.

Washing My Clothes (-_-)

So far, this experience tops all! How to wash your clothes in a Japanese washing machine? I've been putting it off, but I ran out of clothes, so... guess what?!

Once you get the characters figured out and how to get the water into the washing machine, the wash cycle isn't too bad. The rinse cycle ... I'm still trying to figure out how it works. The spin cycle is pretty easy, just put your clothes in the other side and turn the dial!

See pictures

You have to put water in the washing machine (left side)
The dial on the far right is the timer. (3 min., 6 min., etc.)
Umm...the middle dial...well the first character on the right is "drain". Going counter clockwise, the next character holds the water (I don't know what it does). And the last character...the same.
The next dial on the left is the spin cycle. Put your clothes into the right side and set the timer.

First Day at Work – June 19, 07

Even though today was my first day, I didn't teach. I sat in on Adam's classes, the teacher who I am replacing, and watched him teach. He also went over a lot of information with me. Most of it was information about the students, their learning style, where they are in their textbooks, etc. I'm not sure how many students I have, but I will count and give a final number. For the entire school, we have 167 students ... I think...it is somewhere around there.

Saturday's are the busiest, because students do not have to work or go to school. I have eight classes on Saturday.

I work Tuesday through Saturday, 12 PM - 9 PM with 29 1/2 teaching hours. For non-teaching hours we can get lunch, do lesson plans, chit chat, it doesn't matter, but we have to be available at the school in case we have to do an interview.

Getting to Know the Area – June 17, 07

Today, my co-worker R.J. showed me around a city that was not too far away. I don't remember the name of the city. It's a good place to go shopping. It's kind of like a strip mall, but is on more than one street. I also had the Japanese version of a smoothie...first time...it was good, but it was no Jamba Juice.

Arrival in Japan – June 16, 07

When I arrived in Japan, a person from the head office, Peter (from England) picked me up. From the airport, we took the train to Nagoya where I met my teacher trainer, Bruce (also from England). He took me to the hotel where I would spend the night and move into my apartment the next day. After I checked in, we went to a restaurant to meet the other teachers in the Chubu region, a welcome party.

Sight Seeing – June 14, 07

Today's training ended early, so I was able to check out Vancouver. I was stuck in the middle of downtown, so I had to get out of the downtown area and find nature.

See Pictures.

The Flight – June 15, 07 & June 16, 07

The flight was very long. I'm not sure how long, but it was at least 17 hours. I had my laptop with me so I worked on a few things. I watched Hanibal Rising, Ghost Rider, & The Zodiac. I watched The Zodiac about three times, I kept missing the beginning. "How does someone miss the begining of a movie three times when they have no where to go?" It's me...total ADD. Even now, I still haven't seen the entire beginning.

Training – June 11, 07 - June 14, 07

Lets just say...they were not kidding when they said intense training! We started at 8:40 PM and ended around 6:00 PM

We went over:

Greetings and Introductions
Working for a Japanese Company
Adjusting to life in Japan
Revisiting what they call the 3Ps
Targeting
Preparing for Lesson Presentation
Textbooks
Communicating with Managers
Paperwork
Eliciting
Lesson Presentations
Lesson Feedback from trainer and real student
Interviewing Prospective Students
High-Level Lessons
Lesson Presentations
Lesson Feedback from trainer and real student
Counseling / Renewals
Teaching Children
...and having homework every night!

I was the only one in the training class, so I got picked on A LOT. But at the same time, my training was more in depth than normal.

Training is held in Vancouver two times a month. My trainer, Michel, said that there were eight people in the class before me and ten people in the next class. He said that the reason the reason I am by myself is because of the when the pay period falls (teacher will have a full paycheck if they are at the beginning of the pay period, whereas I came in at the end and will have only a couple days of pay).

I also had to go to the Japanese Embassy to get my work visa. During this walk, I found a park that I wanted to check out if I had some time on my last day.

During training, I learned my address of my apartment and School. I live in Nagoya City and my school, GEOS Nisshin School is in Nisshin City.

Crazy Busy – June 8, 07

Ever since I found out I was moving to Japan, there was so much to do. From getting the dogs situated to purchasing extremely conservative blouses, all while having two jobs. Some of the things I had to do were:

Complete GEOS Training Correspondence Package 1
Complete GEOS Training Correspondence Package 2
Open a bank account that accepted and sent world transfers (now I'm not sure if I'll need it)
Call the USDA for paperwork and questions
Get Tre fitted for the microchip
Took Nýa & Tre for their first round of Lepto and rabies shots
Took Nýa & Tre for their second round of Lepto and rabies shots
Have all medical issues taken care of
Go shopping for suits and blouses
Visit with family and friends
Pick up last minute items
Prepare a 30 min. teaching lesson for training

I want to THANK, EVERYONE! *HUGS* I wouldn't have happened as smooth as it did, if it wasn't for all of you!!

P.S.
All of you better come see me!

Location 70% Decided – April 18, 2007

May 23, 2007

For the first correspondence package, we were given a task. The task was to call the hiring office to practice the Japanese dialog with one of the firing officers. After practicing with Tomoko, the Personnel Manager, she asked me if I would like to know where my new home would be. I couldn’t resist! She said it was 70% decided and I will be living in the Aichi Prefecture. The name of the city is Nisshin as well as the name of the school. Also, I will be close to Nagoya, which is the fourth largest city in Japan.

We also went over departure and training dates. Training in Vancouver will be June 11th – 14th, depart for Japan on June 15th, arrive at Nagoya Airport on June 16th, recover from jetlag over the weekend, and begin work on June 19th.

Even though training begins on the 11th, I will be leaving on the 8th to spend some time sight-seeing in Vancouver.

Tour of San Francisco – March 19, 2007

May 21, 2007

May 23, 2007

After the presentations were over, I was going to go see 300 at the Imax and call it a day. But when I walked down to the lobby of the hotel, my plans changed and I took the cable car up to Fisherman's Wharf.

I walked from one end of Fisherman's Wharf to the other. I started at the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. I then walked inside of Ghirardelli Square. After I saw the Golden Gate Bridge, I had two missions left. Mission One - Find San Francisco sourdough bread and bring back to Colorado, assigned by: Mom. Mission Two - Find Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, assigned by: Myself.

Mission One, Boudin Bakery - San Francisco Sourdough, located at Fisherman's Wharf. I had bought one round loaf and a lobster. Mission Complete

*Crab is shown because I didn't take pictures of the lobster and it was cute.

Mission Two, Bubba Gump's, located on Pier 39, 2nd level. Mission Complete

Interview in San Francisco – March 16, 2007 - March 18, 2007

Session One - March 16th (About 1 hour 30 min)

For first session, we had to complete a four page English test in 10 min. "Did I pass?" you ask, no. The first time around, it sucked. I wasn't the only one, 19 other people didn't pass. After the quiz, we had a 5 minute interview. In the interview he asked some a few questions and one was “If I had a second chance to take the quiz, what would I do differently.” Study, I said.

From there, we had to get invited back to the next session that was later that afternoon. "Did I get invited back?" Yep.

Session Two - March 16th (About 3 hours)

In this session he covered the basics of the company, what we would be doing, our salary, health care, etc. At the end of the second session, he handed us each an envelope and we would receive one of three letters. One was, we would be invited back and have to re take the quiz. Another was, we would be invited back and not have to re take the quiz. The last was, thank you for coming and you were to not come back.

This is the letter I received:

Thank you for attending the interview session today. We would like to invite you for the final session which will last 1-1/2 days (these days must be consecutive). It will be from 9:30 am to 4:40 pm on Saturday, March 17th, and the morning of Sunday, March 18th. We will give a thorough orientation of GEOS Corporation and further information about our teaching methodology. Please bring along a note pad and a pen, as you will be taking notes during the session.

Unfortunately, your results on the English Comprehension Quiz were not as high as we were hoping so we will need to ask you to take the quiz again. It will start at 9:10am tomorrow morning (please note that it will be the same quiz that you took today). We look forward to meeting with you tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Michel Avoine
Personnel Coordinator

Session Three - March 17th (About 1 day)

The third session, was more details about the company, positions offered, teaching methods, dress code, housing, transportation, training in Vancouver, what to expect, etc. From here, you had to get invited back to the fourth session.

Session Four - March 18th (About 1/2 day)

For the third session, we had to prepare a thirty minute lesson plan, using their teaching method. He said it would take us a minimum of 5 hours to prepare, and there would be times when we would want to give up, but he said don't. I slept about 4 hours this night. He was right, preparing the lesson plan wasn't easy. I asked myself if it was really worth it and thought about giving up.

I came in the next day to give my presentation and only 10 remained. A couple had a presentation to give that day, but didn't return. He said that it happens.

After presentations, he called us in one at a time for a final interview. He told me that he would request that I be hired with the company, but it is only a request. We had to call in on Monday between 10am and 1pm to see if we were offered the contract or not.

The Phone Call - March 19th (Around 10AM PST)

I called...and...I was offered the contract! YAY!

So now, they are going to send the contract and some other reviewing materials. After this, they will start the process for the work visa. :)

This entire process reminded me of The Apprentice. It started with 23 people and in the final session there were 10. How many were offered the contract, I don't know.

They also have schools located all over the world, so I could put in a transfer. :)

The acceptance letter:

March 19th, 2007

Dear Anita

Thank you for your time and effort in our interview session last weekend. As we discussed on the phone, GEOS Corporation would like to offer you employment as an English Teacher in Japan.

Enclosed, please find three copies of the employment agreement, a visa application authorization, a resume summary form, and a list of materials needed back from you should you decide to accept employment with us.

We trust you will give this matter your most serious consideration. Accepting a contractual commitment for work in another country will require a great investment of time and energy on your part. If you decide to accept this challenge, we will also begin to invest our resources in securing your visa and your training. Once commenced, we would be most distressed to see our efforts wasted through a change of mind on your part midway through the process.

Your commitment to be an excellent teacher begins when you accept the contract and requires preparation, training, support and effort. We are pleased to assist and prepare you before departure through our own correspondence package and preparation course. Please call us by March 26th, between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Pacific Time with you decision either way. Feel free to call (1-877-584-4367) earlier if there are any questions we can answer for you.

If you decide to accept, when we hear from you, we will confirm your availability date. Then, we will need the three signed contracts and other materials within a week from the date you accept.

We hot to hear from you with some good news soon and look forward to having you on the GEOS team.

Sincerely,
Tomoko Sudo
Personnel Manager

Japanese Plum

August 31, 2008

My Japanese Names

August 17, 2008

ANITA (亜仁多)

ANITA (アニータ)

ANITA MICHELLE JOSEPH (アニータ ミッシェル ジョセフ)

AIDA (相田)

AIKO (愛子)

Tsukimi

Ennichi

Hanabi

Bon Odori

Obon – August 13th – 15th Holiday

Kaiten Sushi (Revolving Style) – July 26, 2008

How to Use a Japanese Style Toilet

Ichinomiya Tanabata Matsuri (宮七夕まつり) – July 27, 2008

Nagara River Chunihi Fireworks Festival - July 26, 2008

(全国選抜長良川中日花火大会)

Inuyama Castle – July 25, 2008

First Letter Written in ALL Japanese! – June 26th – June 28th, 2008

Translation

YUMMY!!

July 06, 2008

Tanabata – July 7th Holiday

July 05, 2008

Party at Sumo Stable 2008 (Chankokai) – June 29, 2008

The Biographies on the Wrestlers from the Party

Kiriyama Oyakata (Coach)

Tokusegawa Masanao (徳瀬川・正直)

Hayasegawa Shuichi (早瀬川・修一)

Terusegawa Kuniaki (照瀬川・邦昭)

Futasegawa Katsuaki (双瀬川・勝昭)

Hanasegawa (華瀬川・晃)

Kongofuji Genichiro (金剛富士・源一郎)

Shimasegawa Daisuke (嶋瀬川・大輔)

Fukusegawa (福瀬川・英明)

Kongofuji Genichiro - Yoshinobu Matsushita

Sumo

Midland Square – June 2, 2008

GEOS Training in Naruto - May 27th & 28th

Lunch with Aya - May 19, 2008

Mom's Visit to Japan - April 27th - May 12th

June 05, 2008

Nagoya Castle - May 7, 2008

June 04, 2008

Nagoya Castle Course

Access

Suggested Walking Route

A (Little) Funny, Yet Interesting Article on Squatting

May 08, 2008

This is the best position for defecation on the American toilet.

Shimenawa

May 07, 2008

Omikuji (A Written Oracle)

Daruma (dharma)

Kaeru (frog)

Maneki-neko (beckoning cat)

Celebration of Spring at Shiratori Garden - May 6, 2008

May 06, 2008

Shinyo-Togyo Shinji – May 5th

Tango no Sekku - May 5th Holiday

May 04, 2008

Kamesaki Shiohi Festival – May 3rd & May 4th

Golden Week – April 29th – May 5th Holiday

April 26, 2008

Tanuki – Japanese Raccoon Dog

Folklore

Meaning

The Takayama Spring Festival 高山春祭 (山王祭)

Kakuozan Spring Festival (覚王山春祭)

Hana Matsuri – April 8th

April 23, 2008

Inuyama Castle Spring Festival – April 6th

Ieyasu Gyoretsu (Samurai Mock Battle) 家康行列 – April 6th

April 15, 2008

Nisshin GEOS Hanami Party – April 4th

April 10, 2008

Hanami – March 29th – April 13th

April 07, 2008

ANITA MICHELLE JOSEPH (アニータミッシェルジョセフ)