Friday, November 20, 2009
Polite or Rude? (Lining Practice)
Japanese train system is well organized and operated, as talked about in our previous entry "Modern or Primitive?" On the other hand, Japanese trains are notorious for being very crowded. Especially during the rush hours, trains are literally packed that people have to push themselves into the train. A train conductor also helps people to get on the train in order to close the doors. In general, people neatly wait in line for the train.
On the train arriving at the platform, however, you would sometimes notice an amazing scene: The line gets disorganized and people hurry to the entrance. In order to get a seat, some people use “elbow attacks,” or strategies by which other people are blocked from getting on the train. Even on the train, the elbow strategies to secure their personal space go on. Staying in Japan for a while would get yourself accustomed to a Japanese custom that people don’t say “excuse me” or “sorry” when they bump into someone. Even after being familiarized with this custom, these “elbow attacks” would surely be upsetting.
Another interesting scene can be observed at a supermarket. Think about how you would behave in the following situation. People wait patiently in line at a checking-out counter. You are the third in the line. You notice another cashier, which was closed, start operating. You would start wondering whether or not you yourself could move to the newly-open cashier or you should let the person before you go first. A moment of your hesitation would make a huge difference. You would see the persons behind you in the line quickly move to the cashier, and there is no chance for either you or the person before you. Even your frustrations, which are expressed with “excuse me,” to raise people’s attention would be in vain.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
One-day Fall Trip to Kyoto (Part 1)
The above two pictures show how we can enjoy tea called Matcha (English: powered tea used for tea ceremony) in the garden of Kinkakuji.
Vendors promote free samples of wagashi (English: Japanese sweets) to passengers-by (i.e., students wearing their school uniform) in the garden of Kinkakuji.
The above two pictures depict the famous rock garden in Ryouanji. The garden is said to represent the universe.
This picture depicts a miniature rock garden made for blind people so that they can sense how the rocks are located in the garden.
These pictures show where we should wash our hands for purification before visiting a temple or shrine. This water basin lies in the garden leading to Ryouanji.
This picture depicts a pond in the garden leading to the rock garden in Ryouanji. This place is very quiet as you can imagine.
These above two pictures show the path called Tetsugaku no Michi (English: Philosophical Path) leading to Ginkakuji (English: Silver Pavilion).
The above three pictures depict Ginkakuji (English: Silver Pavilion, although it is not covered with silver as Kinkakuji, or Golden Pavilion, with gold). This Pavilion was built later than Kinkakuji after the power of Shogunate declined, for which reason this Pavilion is not covered with silver.
The above two pictures show the garden of Ginakkuji.
This picture depicts Kiyomizu (temple). A Japanese famous saying "Kiyomizu no butai kara tobioriru" literally means jumping from the stage of this temple (i.e., the extended balcony in the picture). This saying is referred to mean "making a big decision" because, as you can see, its stage is so high that you have to overcome the fear and anxiety to make a big decision.
This picture shows how high the stage of Kiyomizu is.
The above picture is a path (called Ninenzaka) consisting of stone stairs, which leads to Kiyomizu. Its sides are lined with gift shops, restaurants, and ice cream shops.
This shop is one of the shops lining the Ninenzaka. This is the place where you can transform to a geisha girl by waring white make-up, Kimono, and special raised wooden footwear.
The above two pictures slightly depict how Gion looks like. The exploration in the evening or night time could give you a better sense of Gion.
This is the picture of Nanzenji, which is located to the north of Kiyomizu. This temple has a famous wooden gate, on the top of which you can have a magnificent view of Kyoto. The next picture shows that you have to climb steep stairs to reach the top of the gate.
This is the steep stairs leading to the magnificent view.
The above picture shows a stone monument in the garden of Nanzenji.
The above picture depicts the old water gate near Nanzenji. This place is a very famous spot where scenes in soup drams, e.g., murder scenes, are shot.
The above two pictures are gardens in the Eikando Zenrinji (temple), which is in the vicinity of Nanzenji. Eikando Zenrinji is famous for its fall foliage. This temple is not so well-known as Kiyomizu, but worth visiting. It is quiet and has interesting characteristics, as you can see from the following pictures.
This picture shows an earthen jar in the garden of Eikando Zenrinji. When water drops into the jar, it makes a sound. Since this place is quiet, you can enjoy its delicate sound.
In Eikando Zenrinji, you have to climb these steep stairs to enjoy its garden.
The above picture shows the entrance of another minor but worth-visiting temple called Shoreiin. This temple is in the western part of Kyoto, or more specially is located between Kiyomozu and Nanzenji. This year, they have a special exhibit: a national treasure of scroll depicting Buddha. Check it out at http://www.shorenin.com/gokaicho/index.html
The following pictures depict some other exhibits at Shoreiin.
The above two pictures show a court carriage, where emperors, nobles, Shogunates comfortably sit. You can see sliding doors behind the carriage.
This is a wall decoration inside the Shoreiin temple. Yellow part of the decoration is gold. These kinds of expensive decorations are made for emperors and nobles.
This is another kind of decoration. This depicts a typical feature of the tea-ceremony room.
The above picture depicts a scroll displayed in Shoreiin. It says: We should believe in the existence of Buddha in our heart. Instead of yielding to earthly temptations, such as greed, hatred, and anger, we should always bear in mind the gratitude and considerations for others. Chant the Buddhist scriptures.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Modern or Primitive?
Japanese train system is well organized and operated: trains come on time and digital indicators for the next train coming are operated at almost all major train stations. Turnstiles at the wicket are sophisticated and effectively control the in-coming and out-going passengers. To get on a train, you insert your ticket into a turnstile and pick it up. At your destination, you insert the ticket again into another turnstile. The turnstile somehow checks the fare you paid at your entrance and collects the ticket if the fare is right. If not, the turnstile blocks you and gives you some embarrassment. You can pay the fare by placing your cell phone (which carries prepaid electronic money like Edy) over the turnstile.
You would notice, as in New York and other big cities in the US, skyscrapers during your trip. Some highways are elevated and go through such downtown. You might also notice how clean, in general, Japanese streets are. Your prior image about Japan of being a high-tech, modern, and clean country might be confirmed.
However, once your train hits a residential area, even in downtown, you would start noticing something unfit to your image of Japan: laundry hung in one balcony after another of houses and apartments. For example, on a sunny day, laundry in the balcony swims like carp streamers shown in our previous blog entry. To Japanese people, who do not have the custom of using a dryer, this practice is not strange at all. Rather they consider this environmentally-friendly. They do not consume electricity to dry their clothes. One study conducted in 2005 reports that only 50 percent of the Japanese households own a dryer. However, to those who are not used to hanging laundry in the balcony, this practice might be evaluated pretty primitive, unattractive, or unsophisticated, which does not fit to the image of Japan.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Food Delivery Service in Japan
Some specialize only in delivery service without having the place where they serve their food.
Pizza delivery is also pretty common in Japan. Though being very expensive in Japan compared with in the US (e.g., a medium size pizza with 25 centimeters in diameter costs 2,000 yen or more), pizza is a popular item for a party, especially among young people. More interesting and common, Japanese people use
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Nagoya Festival 2009
This above clip shows how warriors wear a suit of armor, which looks very heavy.
This video clip shows the procession of Nobunaga Oda. He is the first warrior who rides on a horse. You can see his wife, Nohime, on the roof of a car after the process of her maids (in yellow kimono with a Naginata sword).
This picture shows Ieyasu Tokugawa, who started the Tokugawa or Edo Shogunate in 1603. Although Ieyasu himself is far back of this picture, you can see his family crest clearly.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wagashi in Autumn
http://www.kawakamiya.co.jp/webshop/user_data/products.php
The above picture shows Uirou (English: steamed cake), which is made from rice powder or flour. As you can see, there are several types of Uirou available. The one on the right has chestnuts in it. This shop sells particular types of Uirou featuring a season, along with standard types of Uirou. Nagoya is famous for Uirou.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Some Secrets of Japanese Longevity
Japanese eating practices have a very unique characteristic. They not only eat Sushi and Sashimi (English: raw fish), which are typical examples of healthy Japanese dishes, but they also eat food on special occasions. For example., they eat BBQ eels on specified days in summer because they believe that the affluent nutriment (e.g., Vitamin A and Bs) of eels helps them to combat the summer heat. Vegetables, such as pumpkins, are also eaten on special days in winter. Japanese people follow these eating traditions to take in important nutrients in accordance with seasonal changes.
Morning exercise may contribute to Japanese longevity. In summer, people get together somewhere (e.g., in the nearby park or on the street) and do so-called radio exercises called Rajio Taisou. Children are expected to participate in this morning exercise as early as 6 am. Their participation brings them a stamp on their stamp card (one stamp per participation) and eventually some rewards around the end of summer vacation (i.e., August 31st). This radio exercise is pretty common at workplaces as well. You could see, if you are lucky, workers do exercises together to the tune of radio before they actually start their work.
