A Thursday Affair

Penguin found a Scary Kindergarten wall. With a caption right out of icanhazacheeseburger, it's a good one. Personally I think the picture is more alone the lines of "Can't sleep, Clown'll eat me."

La Fuji Mama found a slice of Japan in California. With Book Off, Beard Papa and a good Udon shop, it'll give you a taste of Japan in America. Very good if you are feeling homesick for Japan.

Tom suggests a tax on convenience stores that are open 24hours. I think this would be a bad idea as any increased taxes will simply be passed on in the form of higher prices. No thanks.

Neil found some good looking Ramen in Shinjuku. Very traditional, even with the small brown glass of water.

Are you a Japan blogger? Do you want an interview? Contact Me!

Orion Beer

Here's some more pictures from Okinawa.

Okinawa's local beer, Orion!

It was good, it was clean, it was refreshing and it was forgettable. I enjoyed drinking it but it didn't make me go "wow, I wish this was available in Tokyo".





If you have tried it also in Okinawa, did you feel the same way?

In Japan, the toilets

This is an internet classic about Japanese toilets. If you are interested, why not read my thoughts about Traditional Japanese Toilets and Electronic Toilets in Japan.

Engrish Notebook

What do you use this sensible notebook?

This one belongs to one of my students. Thanks M.M for letting me photograph this, and thanks again for the cereal!

A Thursday Affair

Badaunt's man witnessed someone fainting in the supermarket. For anyone that would be quite a scary / surreal experience. But apparently it happens all the time.

Mel has given up on Summer. I agree, Summer in Japan is too humid and too cloudy. The number of mildly sunny days this Summer (by my Australian standards) can be counted on two hands. I prefer Winter in Japan and Summer in Australia.

The Penguin has been back in Japan Six Months. That also feels like the time between updates on his blog. More Posts Please!

Tom has provided us with photos of Sendai Tanabata.

And Lina likes Ultraman so much that she mentioned the Ultraman Goggles I found earlier. I link to her linking to me.

Engrish T-Shirt, The First Time

The First time
Song is for you
It's she grooves
C-Seventeen

WTF!

Muji, the No Brand - Brand

Have you ever walked around a Muji store? It's so peaceful and the time spent inspecting their merchandise, you could feel as though you are simply checking out your own belongings.

At Muji the products are simple but not boring. Distinctive yet not garish. Each product has a quality of it's own and yet doesn't draw attention to itself. Around our home or on my desk, the stuff I have from Muji blends itself in the easiest, regardless of what surrounds it.

It's this timeless & universal quality to their products that I love. Each item is unbranded the same way you would expect a No Frills item to be, but in a simple and elegant manner. The products stand and fall on their individual quality, not the brand. This is so refreshing for me.

If you only have a limited time for your visit to Japan, you cannot go past spending an hour or two in a Muji store just to look around, drink in the ambiance and maybe find an item or two to make your home more complete. For me as the serious shopper I cannot fault their attention to detail and quality.

Japan Vs China

Recently I was contacted by BBC radio about an interview to discuss my views about how the Chinese economy was about to surpass the Japanese economy to be No.2 in the world. While I didn't actually get interviewed, I gave it some thought and figured I'd publish a post about it.

The question I was asked by the show producer was "what do Japanese people think about the growth of the Chinese economy?" My answer was that they don't give a rats ass.

Japan cares more about the direction of trading partners like America and Europe more than it cares about China. Why? Because that's comparing apples with apples. Comparing China to Japan is like comparing apples and bananas. They are not the same.

Japan, Europe and America are all 1st world democracies. (Europe is a collection of democracies, but lets ride this idea out and generalise, ok?) People enjoy a fair degree of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Movement, Access to education & a 1st world standard of living. Compare the life of the 1st world factory worker VS that of a Chinese factory worker to see the differences.

Sure the gap between the haves and have-nots in these regions are growing but nowhere are the differences so large as in China. If a worker in a 1st world country loses a limb, they can expect health care, rehabilitation and some kind of compensation. Lose a limb in China and you need to fight a corrupt legal system that favours the factory bosses.

For the time being Japanese people are concerned about Chinese militarism and Contaminated Chinese products more than their displacement as the No.2 world economy.

Engrish T-Shirt, Big Boast

Very Great Existence, Big Boast
King of the Natural World
Strong Willpower
FIGHTING TRIM

WTF?

Interview with FujiMama

Today I'd like to introduce you to a fellow Japan blogger, Fuji Mama of lafujimama.blogspot.com

1. Tell jDonuts readers a little bit about yourself.

I'm an American that just moved back from living in Japan for the second time with my husband and little girl. I work in the legal field and am a complete Japanophile. My husband jokes that I was born in the wrong country. (me too! C.)

2. Why did you start blogging about Japan?

I had been thinking about starting a blog for a while. I read lots of blogs written by other people around the world, and decided that it was time that I share my own experience because it was selfish to keep it to myself. Not that I think I have an extraordinarily interesting life, because I don't, but I know that I am always interested to know about how people live in other countries, and to learn tidbits about those countries. So, I figured that if I was interested in learning about that kind of thing, someone out there might be interested in those things from my perspective. If nothing else, I figured it was a way to collect my thoughts on life. (I hope to see you around more on jDonuts in future C.)

3. Why have you continued blogging about Japan?

Japan continues to be a major source of my inspiration, whether it be in the kitchen, in what I decide to read, or in my crafting.

4. What Anime character are you most like and why?

Hmmmm, maybe Mei Kusakabe, the younger sister in My Neighbor Totoro, because I'm determined, imaginative, and always willing to see the magic in things. (Did you say that because I'm a Totoro Fan? C.)

5. If you only had one day in Japan and ￥10,000 what would you do and why?

I would go to a sumo tournament. I love sumo, and what better way to spend one day than to do it in the presence of giant men throwing each other around?

6. What are two of your favorite posts (on your own blog) and why?

1) Bottled Fuji: I love this post because it sums up a lot of my feelings on Japan. (the photos on this one are SUPER cute C.)

2) What is food to one is to others bitter poison: This was just a fun post to write!

7. What are two of your favorite posts (on other Japan blogs) and why?

1) Roll Call: This post is short but had me laughing so hard that I was in tears.

2) Can You Hear The Potatoes Singing: The sweet potatoes that the yakiimo vendors sell have to be one of my favorite treats in Japan, and I loved Geisha Interrupted's idea of the stages of culture shock caused by this cultural phenomenon. I myself am in the stage of potato acceptance.

8. Go crazy after this, say anything you like! (but please keep child safe)

Come on over and check out La Fuji Mama. In the near future I'll be writing a bit more on the differences I notice between Japan and the US as I try to readjust, the things I miss, and my adventures in trying to teach myself to cook Japanese food.

9. Who would you like to see interviewed next? (Max 3)

1) Blue Lotus: blue_moon.typepad.com/blue_lotus
2) Moonstitches: moonstitches.typepad.com/moonstitches
3) Obachan's Kitchen: kokonuggetyumyum.blogspot.com

And here we have the 5th in our series of Japan Blogger interviews. If you want to be interviewed, just Contact Me!

A Thursday Affair

It's time to hold another Thursday Affair.

The best of the week in Japan blogging brought to you by old Uncle Contamination.

This week BadAunt found a rather surprising wheelbarrow type figurine in a shop window. It too made me do a double take.

Mel went stellar with internet fame. She was interviewed by the Japan Times! Congratulations Mel!

See where an interview with Uncle Contamination can get you?

Tom finally got his Japanese Drivers Licence. But I already had him beat by seven months on mine. Nyaa....

EngrishMan bought a new TV. I am now waiting for an invitation to his place so we can play PS3 together on it.

Evening Okinawa Skyline

Here is the evening skyline from the resort in Okinawa.







It was so peaceful and quiet. Sigh...

On The Beach in Okinawa

The sand on the beach was filled with coral pieces, so my son had a blast playing with his Anpanman Beach set that he was given by one of my students. (Thank you M.Y) As there was coral pieces everywhere, I must give my wife credit for the great idea to buy marine shoes to protect our toes. It wasn't dangerous, but it wouldn't be comfortable on bare feet.

We were making faces of Anpanman and Baikinman in the sand as well as collecting Hermit Crabs in the bucket.





And here we are, out on one of the floating platforms inside the protective nets. It was so deep out there I couldn't stand any more.

No Tattoos Allowed

Anyone who knows even the smallest amount about Japanese culture knows of the connection between the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) and tattoos. It has always been an easy way to determine who is a regular person of good character and who is a Mafia member.

Thus rather than directly refusing entry to the Mafia, it's easier to simply ban tattoos in general.

I was a little surprised when I came across this sign at the station recently.




It reads (taken from the Summerland Website)

As a general rule, people affiliated with mobsters or criminal organizations are not allowed to enter the premises. The same applies to people wearing tattoos. This rule will become effective on 1 July 2008 and applies to the entire premises of Tokyo Summerland. Any people found to be ignoring the above rule will be asked to leave.
※Tattoos: including body sticker and body paint.

While to some this may be a surprising form of discrimination, to me it's a part of Japanese culture. In the west the idea of getting a tattoo is an expression of rebellion, the freedom to mutilate your body in any way you see fit. You are free to call it "art" and I am free to call it a "tramp stamp".

Here in Japan tattoos are a mark of criminal association or bad character. Just because it's tolerated back home, don't expect it to be tolerated here.

Engrish T-Shirt, Manic Affairs

Friday Engrish for you: Manic Affairs
I don't want to go anywhere near this guy!

WTF!

A Thursday Affair

Over the past week I have found a number of really good posts about Japan, I'd like you to check them out. If you leave a comment, please say that "Uncle Contamination" sent you. :-)

Mel received some seriously sexist remarks from her students in Why I like Fridays but not Mondays. Personally I didn't think she was fat (from the photos I have seen) but some of the things that those kids said to her would make me consider corporal punishment as an acceptable option.

I have to question the border between the innocence of youth and the ignorance of adults.

Kirk brought it to my attention that Japan was No1 for blogging. But I must admit that I am not surprised. In such a technologically advanced society with mobile internet so freely available and wired internet so utterly fantastic & cheap, I'm not surprised at all that these results have come out.

Then again, just so long as many Japanese people read this blog too, then I am happy.

I couldn't go past the Test of Engrish for Offensive Communication. For anyone who teaches English or studies English in Japan, you will know about the TOEIC test (if not, do you live under a rock or something?) and this parody that incorporates the various sections of the test had me laughing quite hard.

Tom questions how green Japan is. Like him, I am concerned about the environment and Japan's impact as a country upon it. I feel the need to add my own 2￥ here. CoolBiz is a waste of time, there is NO way I am prepared to put the AC on at 28 degrees, I'm still sweating at that temperature and it's next to impossible to work. Plastic bags need a tax upon them to convince teenagers that they don't need a bag for the single drink that's in their hand, but it's true that McDonalds over bags in the way described.

And Lina shared her collection of cool stamps that her son had gathered during various Japan vacations. I must say that even though I live here, I am in complete awe of the places and things she and her family have found to do here during their brief vacations.

I am thinking of making A Thursday Affair an ongoing event to showcase posts I like on other Japan related blogs. I read many Japan blogs but special consideration will be given to those who have had an interview with me. Contact Me if you'd like to be interviewed.

Gatchapin Dancing Video

This is one of my sons favourite video clips, enjoy!

Okinawa Sun Set

After an early dinner we walked outside to catch a glimpse of one magnificent sunset.



The lone lifeguard's chair makes this picture look a bit spooky for me.



Getting a bit closer, now you can make out the light house in the distance. I love the zoom on my camera.



What a fantastic sunset. I wish I was still in Okinawa to see another. Sigh....

A Room With A View

So many good photos from our trip to Okinawa, I don't want to share them all at once.

This is the view that greeted us from our room on the 6th floor of the resort.



WOW! After escaping from Rainy Season Tokyo, the clear blue sky & ocean was completely mind blowing.



With the soft clouds in the distance and the horizon even further, it was easy to get lost staring at this vista.



And looking down into one of the two courtyards. This resort was huge! On the left you can see people putting out the beach equipment for guests to rent.

Engrish T-Shirt, Smiling

Friday Engrish for you: The Smile makes everyone happy. Smiling you of smile the usual.

WTF!