Only In Japan [Archive] - Horse racing discussion at Asian Racing Forums

imaufo

18-08-2004, 09:51

SHIBUYA -- Chic Valley +++++++++++

Shibuya (it's name literally means "Chic Valley" or something like that) is one of the youth centres of Tokyo, a Bladerunner streetscape of trendy clothes shops and sleek, futuristic department stores! Click below to photos from different parts of Shibuya.

By ERIC PRIDEAUX

Staff writer

Paint fingernails, then dab on foundation. Lots of foundation. Lipstick and eye shadow go on next. Slip into a comfortable blouse, apply one final blast of VO5 to the hair -- and voila!

"Center Guy" Tsuyoshi Iwabuchi and his girlfriend Tomomi having a fan-tastic time on Center Gai in the throbbing heart of Shibuya, Tokyo.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/images/photos2004/fl20040815x1a.jpg

"Center Guy" Tsuyoshi Iwabuchi and his girlfriend Tomomi having a fan-tastic time on Center Gai in the throbbing heart of Shibuya, Tokyo.

A guy is ready for a night on the town. Not just any guy, baby: A trend-setting Center Guy.

Who he, you ask?

Named after the busy Center Gai shopping strip in Tokyo's teemingly trendy Shibuya, where they first appeared early last year, Center Guys are the male version of yamamba (mountain hags), or mamba for short -- those teenage girls who run around in clownish makeup, lugging plastic shoulder bags full of who-knows-what.

What kinda man would want to copy that act? A man like 18-year-old Tsuyoshi Iwabuchi.

A former hip-hop B-Boy and, before that, Yankee bad-boy, Iwabuchi found himself attracted to women's clothing and late last year started showing up at Center Gai dressed like a mamba. There, he was far from alone, as this sizeable male subculture with an average age of about 18 is always being featured on TV and in fashion magazines like Men's Egg.

One theory has it that Center Guys dress up as a way of getting closer to mambas, whom they respect for being outspoken and spunky -- though to many they're simply foulmouthed and crude. Indeed, one colorful young woman on Center Gai as good as confirmed it, saying: "It's because they look like girls that they're so kawaii(cute)."

But Iwabuchi, who studies business management at college by day, says his reason for the move was purer than that: "I just wanted to stand out."

Oldies' aversion

All the same, he did start dating a mamba, and now he and Tomomi, who's slightly younger, can be found most any Friday, sitting on a sheet of cardboard on Center Gai, relaxing and swapping makeup.
Away from that zany locale, though, when Iwabuchi waltzes on to a train with his funky, dyed hair, older folks often vacate their seats. As he put it: "Senior citizens are always saying, 'Well, that's the end of Japan.' "

What the silver set might not realize is that it takes dedication and perseverance to be a Center Guy -- virtues that surely even the frumpiest old-timer can appreciate.

By way of dedication, there is the 100,000 yen Iwabuchi spends every month on women's clothing of the Alba Rosa brand and other accoutrements de rigueur -- money he says comes both from his own savings and an allowance from his parents.

(Iwabuchi's mom, a hospital receptionist, and his high-school sis, always provide last-minute tips on color coordination. Dad the salaryman keeps his opinion to himself.)

As for perseverance, Iwabuchi spends hours every month practicing para-para dancing -- which is a bit like semaphore set to trance music -- so he looks his best when he performs at giant mamba get-togethers, some of which can draw as many as 1,000 participants.

"Center Guy" Tsuyoshi Iwabuchi applies Mickey Mouse stickers to his cheeks. His other favorites are Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, pink hearts and shiny stars.

To Iwabuchi, though, nothing matters more than making his face kawaii, which generally takes him 1 1/2 hours to achieve.

Imagine all the decisions that need to be made!

Should he apply a tasteful number of Disney stickers on his cheeks -- say, 10 -- or virtually cover his face with them like they do down in Osaka? Iwabuchi opts for restraint.

And to achieve that signature mamba look of first-degree sunburn, does he use MAC-brand foundation (praised for going on smoothly and evening out complexion) or stage makeup (the kind actors use to play black roles)? This time, he goes for the high impact of stage makeup. "The blacker the better," he explains.

All this dressing up as women, though, may beg the question: Are Center Guys secretly gay?

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/images/photos2004/fl20040815x1b.jpg

Center Guy" Tsuyoshi Iwabuchi applies Mickey Mouse stickers to his cheeks. His other favorites are Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, pink hearts and shiny stars.

"There's absolutely no correlation," Iwabuchi responds coolly, repeating for the record that ostentation, not sexual preference, is his sole personal motivation. He does see Guy-ness as a sign of social change, though. "Men can now talk to each other about what clothes look cute," he says. "Japan was so uptight before."

Historical continuum

For all their gaudy shock value, Center Guys are, after all, part of a historical continuum in Japan. For years, groups of kids in caked-on makeup have hung out around nearby Harajuku Station -- many of them men dressing as women. In the late 1990s, too, men of all ages were visiting makeover salons amid the bishonen (pretty boy) vogue. And as for kabuki, well its actors have been impersonating women since the 17th century, when females were banned from the stage.
Still, precedent or no, Center Guys' popularity may be peaking as quickly as it blossomed.

Word has it that some factions of mambas say Guys tarnish their image and want the men out of their sight. Many music clubs also turn them away, while the police and gangsters, too, are said to be chasing them away from Center Gai -- where passersby often spew the word "kimoi (gross)" in their direction.

Whatever happens, Iwabuchi seems resigned. He'll have to change his hair back after graduation, anyway, and if he lands a good job that'll be the end of his Shibuya late nights.

"There's the future to think about," he says. "And about age 20 is the cut-off."

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20040815x1.htm

imaufo

15-10-2004, 06:40

By Jason Hill

October 14, 2004

LiveWire

Japan is the spiritual home of video games. The land of the rising sun has given the world many of the finest games titles, including Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Super Mario, Pac-Man, The Legend of Zelda, Tekken, Final Fantasy, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, Frogger and Resident Evil. It is also the home of PlayStation, Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, Konami, Square and Namco.

The US can take credit for the first primitive arcade games such as Pong and home consoles such as the Atari 2600, but it was the Japanese who embraced electronic gaming's potential and made the industry their own.

Conservative Japan is proud of its culture of innovation, and the game shops of the Akihabara electronics district are full of sushi-raw originality.

Most Western game publishers are slaves to marketing demands, trends and profits, but Japanese companies offer an amazing range and depth of software, all of which is unavailable in the West. Shelves are lined with dating simulations, music titles, bizarre puzzle games, train-driving simulations, robot fighters, fishing contests, horse racing titles, virtual pets and a dizzying number of role-playing games. And you have not lived until you've experienced a hamburger simulation - the assembly of a gastronomical delight to rival the McTeriyaki.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/10/13/lw_cover_oct14,0.jpg

Animation such as Astroboy and manga (comics and graphic novels) are an integral part of Japanese culture and fire the imaginations of many Japanese game creators from an early age.

"Japanese people have an insatiable appetite for anything new, liking very new technology and new approaches to games," says Masaya Matsuura, creator of PaRappa the Rapper. "Music games are a good example. Japanese people will jump on and play them because they are new."

"The Japanese like creative ingenuity," agrees Akinori Nishiyama, creative manager of Sega's renowned Sonic Team. He says Sega is intensely proud of its reputation for innovation. "We want to continue to revolutionise the world of games."

Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's father of Mario and the world's leading games designer, believes innovation is crucial. "There's this habit of seeing one hit, and then everybody runs in that direction trying to replicate its success. Once you do that, innovation dies and people are no longer entertained. We will always cherish the idea that we will always try to do things that no other company can do."

Kenji Kaido, producer of Sony masterpiece Ico, believes manga (Japanese comics or graphic novels) fire the imaginations of many Japanese creators from an early age. "We have a base of innovative manga culture. Manga covers everything from political issues to sports and fantasy, for both children and adults."

Jason Fitzgerald, product manager for the Gran Turismo series, believes Japan makes the finest video games "because they are perfectionists". "They are very pure, devoted and serious. The whole society is committed to quality, even in the smallest things."

The atmosphere at last month's Tokyo Game Show was an indication of how embedded video games are in Japanese culture. More than 160,000 otaku (Japanese game fans) attended the three-day show at Tokyo's massive Makuhari Messe exhibition centre, clamouring to try the latest games before their mass release. The huge crowds ensured there was more pushing and shoving than on a Tokyo subway platform during rush hour, but visitors also spent the show waiting patiently in queues, sometimes for several hours, to play or watch video footage of new blockbusters.

Despite the massive market penetration of consoles and Sony's giant strides in making gaming cool in the West, many still consider the pursuit anti-social and geeky. But in Japan, where many outdoor pursuits are prohibitively expensive and working hours are long, the vast majority of households have at least one console and video games are played by all ages.

It is even socially acceptable to dress up as your favourite video game character - known as "cosplay". Hundreds of visitors to the game show construct elaborate costumes in honour of their favourites. People of all ages and both sexes parade around as champions, furry animals, robots, soldiers, sexy vixens and countless other game characters. Cross-dressing is not uncommon.

Camera-clutching admirers form spontaneous queues in front of the most elaborate (or skimpy) costumes, and the cosplayers obligingly strike supermodel-worthy poses. There are more cameras at the show than in a Nikon factory and business cards printed for the event are exchanged so cosplayers can swap photos and tips when designing next year's costumes.

Home video game consoles were introduced in the 1970s by American companies such as Magnavox, Atari and Coleco. But like the dotcom boom, the video game bubble burst in 1983 because of corporate greed and stockmarket jitters. The crash allowed Nintendo to enter the console industry in 1984 and Japan to take a vice-like grip on the industry.

Nintendo quickly became the de-facto standard in video games in the 1980s, thanks to the Nintendo Entertainment System. By 1989 the NES was in one of every three American homes. Twenty years on, Famicom (the Japanese name for NES) consoles and games are still available in Japanese stores. Pioneering titles such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are still producing popular sequels. Sony's PlayStation, however, now dominates the industry.

Japan's game developers have an unrivalled reputation for quality. Teams are well-educated, dedicated and notoriously hard-working. Developers at Polyphony Digital, makers of the Gran Turismo series, routinely sleep under their desks or in bunk-style accommodation in the studio, according to Sony's Jason Fitzgerald. Many workers do not return home for weeks at a time.

Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi typically works from 11am until 4am, "and even longer when a deadline is approaching", says Fitzgerald.

Artists including Yamauchi, Shigeru Miyamoto, Sega's Yu Suzuki and Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima are well-known auteurs in Japan. Even voice actors for game characters become celebrities. Game advertisements and industry coverage feature prominently on Japanese television, in newspapers and magazines.

Kazuhiro Watanabe, editor of Hyper PlayStation2, told Edge magazine that Japanese people "are proud of video games in the same way the Americans are proud of their movie industry".

"I really believe that Japanese games are the best. The stories are better, the gameplay is much more slick and technically accomplished," he says.

Just a short subway ride from the heart of Tokyo, Akihabara - electric town - is a paradise for gaming fanatics and gadget lovers. Shops are crammed with a staggering range of the latest releases, retro games, peripherals and gaming merchandise such as toys, character models, posters, soundtracks, collectible trading cards, jewellery and clothing.

When new consoles or blockbuster games are released, it is common for gamers of all ages, from schoolchildren to "salarymen", to camp on Akihabara's streets, lining up to be first to play the new technology.

Many Australians baulk at paying $100 for a game, but Japanese consumers will spend much more on a new product or another instalment in a cherished franchise.

Unusual and elaborate peripherals abound, including guitar and drum controllers, train-driving equipment, arcade-style joysticks and DJ turntables. Capcom's Steel Battalion combat game uses a controller a metre wide, with more buttons than a keyboard, plus foot pedals.

The variety of games is staggering. PlayStation2 is now the dominant format, with about 2000 games available, despite few titles from the West being locally released. More than 5000 PS one games have been released in Japan during the past decade.

Some shops are entirely devoted to dating simulations, which can instil a sense of unease in foreigners with the often provocative poses of their schoolgirl-like characters. Exploring the countless stores in Akihabara can be a source of much amusement, with "Jap-lish" game titles and bizarre characters such as girls dressed as eggplants, motorbike-riding blowflies, yo-yo hurling cross-dressers and afro-wearing dogs.

Game titles include Merriment Carrying Caravan, Pepsiman, Gunslinger Girl, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Bubblegum Crisis 2040, Space Fishing, Love Aerobics and something known as Grow Healthily Happy Ball-Dog.

But even the most bizarre games, such as the train simulation Densha De Go, can offer hours of frivolous fun. Australians might still prefer to drive a V8 around Bathurst, but there is an undeniable thrill in keeping to the extremely tight Japanese timetables and making the perfect approach into a subway station.

smh

imaufo

27-10-2004, 20:12

WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST

Winning and losing the compliment game

By THOMAS DILLON

My, I'm impressed with the way you read. Your eyes just sail across the text like a clipper ship backed by fair winds and bound for a friendly port. Even when you blink, you don't slow down. Even when I type challenging words like "panegyric" or "ibetyourbreathcouldkillahorse," you barely pause on the page. What talent. What skill. How mighty you are.

The problem is, I am not so certain that I mean this. I might actually think you are a bottlehead, with eyes that only a mother frog could love.

You see, I've lived in Japan for many years, and here the dishing out of compliments is a kind of game, one with multiple twists and turns. So I am no longer sure if I am saying what I mean or am just mean in what I am saying. It's a hard knot to unravel. But -- as I know you're so skillful at such things -- why don't we think this through together?

Japanese typically bury guests with compliments the way Hawaiians plop on leis. This can start at a very physical level. Guests may be praised for their height, the sharpness of their nose, the color of their hair, the fullness of their bosom, the real estate value of their derriere, or anything.

"Once," says this foreign fellow I know, "I had gas in the midst of a crowded elevator. In seconds, the air was thick enough to build a bomb shelter with. Paint began to melt from the walls. People turned wine red from gagging. But -- sure enough -- from the back of the elevator came the choked expression, 'Jozu desu ne' " -- which means, "Wow, you're good."

Most foreigners hear "Jozu desu ne" in two stock situations.

To start, once they blurt their first Japanese sentence, they are guaranteed to be met with a "Jozu desu ne." This is true even if their pronunciation is closer to that of a dolphin than that of a speaker of Japanese. It is true even if they stutter and spit and accidentally bite their tongue off. It is true even if they make a slight mistake and instead of saying, "How much is the bill?" say something like, "How much is the waitress?"

The other situation deals with chopsticks. No matter if they bombsight their initial load of noodles straight down their cleavage and then cannot take hold of a single dadburned thing, they will at least manage to pick up the compliment of "Jozu desu ne."

No Japanese, of course, takes this flattery seriously. It is intended as polite encouragement, nothing more, as if the entire nation subscribed to that Thumper maxim from "Bambi," "Say something nice . . . or don't say anything at all."

Yet that's but one level of the compliment game, a level from which most newbies in Japan never graduate. For beneath the nicety sometimes lurks a darker Thumper mentality, where the perverse philosophy is this: "Say the opposite of what you mean . . . but in a nice way."

So, in this case, "Wow, you're good" might actually mean, "Man, you suck."

Japanese use this left-handed approach among themselves all the time, with most people having razor-keen fine-tuning as to the potential meaning of even the most mundane of comments.

How to respond then turns the game topsy-turvy. Faced with a compliment or congratulations, most Japanese display not just humility . . . but denial.

"I heard your son got into college! Wonderful!"

"Thanks, but I don't know how he did it. He's got the intelligence of a llama and the only thing he ever studies is his pillow. It's a miracle."

"Yeah, but Tokyo University isn't easy."

"You're right. It's probably a mistake. I'm sure they'll be calling to tell us that any day."

Foreigners are often slow to pick up on this. When commended for their use of chopsticks, for example, they are apt to answer with aplomb -- no matter how much rice with soy sauce they have slopped across their shirt.

"Oh, it's nothing. You see, I once ate at a Chinese restaurant back home. Plus my neighbor had a Siamese cat. Something about the Orient must have rubbed off."

To play the game like a pro, there are two points one must never forget. First, never, ever compliment a family member in public. If you should say, "Doesn't my wife look swell in her new dress?" everyone -- including your wife -- will clutch themselves over what you might have meant. Once your guests leave, your wife will then chew your ears off for being so rude to her in front of friends.

In the end, it might be better to say something more tactful, like: "Hey folks, sorry about my wife's new dress. I hope it won't ruin your appetite." And your wife will never be happier.

The other point to remember is similar. Never, ever compliment your boss in front of outsiders. He might well take it as an insult and soon decide that you should be an outsider too.

Two experts exchanging praises can go something like this:

A: Your presentation was truly superb. I commend you.

B: That? Why, it was pathetic. My information was so outdated, I felt like knifing myself with shame. But your presentation! Now that was masterful!

A: Surely you're joking. I was embarrassed to give voice to such rubbish. I wish I could be as good as you.

B: Oh, but your content was much better. I was the unworthy one.

A: No, no, it was I. In fact, most of my information was plagiarized . . . from you. I ask, how low can one get?

There you have it: the ins and outs of complimenting, Japanese-style, an art form so complex that only wise and wonderful readers like you can possibly understand.

But -- please -- don't take it personally.

To contact Thomas Dillon, send e-mail to marriedtojapan@yahoo.com

The Japan Times: Oct. 23, 2004

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20041023td.htm

imaufo

13-11-2004, 09:44

Japanese women make toilet tracks a sound business

By Deborah Cameron

November 13, 2004

Walk in, close the door, feel the warmth of the seat and pause until music starts to play. Or, if you'd prefer, tune in the amplified gurgle of a babbling brook.

No, it's not a night at a Tokyo music festival. It's Muzak broadcast to the smallest possible audience. And it comes from a small digital speaker not too far from the toilet roll holder.

If cultures are defined by their daily rituals, then Japan's toilets are worth a look. Not all of them, just the women's.

It is there that the Sound Princess has found its place. When it is playing, no other noise can be heard. It has meant that in her most private of moments a Japanese woman is both relieved and grateful. "Japanese women are very embarrassed by the sounds they make in a toilet," said the spokeswoman for the company that dreamed up the gadget, Toto.

It might seem like a cruel thing to trade on hang-ups and insecurities, but the fact is that Toto has sold more than 500,000 of the devices since 1998 and experienced a 125 per cent increase in demand last year.

Often cast in powder pink plastic and devilishly easy to set off, the Princess can give you quite a start the first time it bursts forth. But it has become such a part of the public bathroom soundscape that it is virtually impossible to pick a real flush from a digitally recorded babbling brook. In a queue, there is no telling which cubicle is going to be the first one free.

In gadget-mad Japan it may be possible to explain it away as crazy gimmickry, but there is more to it than that. In places that are not yet wired for sound it is very common to see women walk into the cubicle and immediately start flushing and not stop.

In a survey of female students done by Fukuoka University, 90 per cent said they flushed twice when they went to the toilet, and 6 per cent said they flushed three times.

Only 4 per cent said they flushed only once. The men, apparently, did not care. With each flush sending more than a dozen litres down the drain it was the waste of water and the huge size of the bills that got the inventors at Toto interested. Even in earlier models there is a light display to tell you when the sound effects are finishing up.

If you're not quite done then, all you do is wave your hand in front of the sensor, for another 30 seconds of instant orchestral camouflage.

Yes, it can make the most basic of needs a task of timing and co-ordination that is worthy of a choreographer, but it was music to the ears of the bean counters at Matsushita Electric Industrial. They installed the Princess in the company's nationwide network of offices and found they saved $A760,000 on the annual water bill.

smh

imaufo

24-11-2004, 06:54

Trailer: Bondi Tsunami

http://media.f2.com.au/?rid=14790&site=smh

Japan to Bondi and beyond

By Anneli Knight

November 24, 2004

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/11/23/bonditsunami_narrowweb__200x195.jpg

Bondi Tsunami - a film about four young Japanese surfers touring Australia's east coast in their 1961 EK Holden - has been called the first cult classic of this century.

Four first-time Sydney filmmakers made the music-video style film on a $150,000 budget using 12 maxed-out credit cards.

Pictured is cast member Miki Sasaki.

Three crew members and cast member, Taki Abe, have been touring Australia with the film since September in the classic Holden with the projectors in the back. They will be at the exclusive Sydney screenings this week.

SMH

imaufo

16-12-2004, 19:25

Single or lonely Japanese men may get lucky this Christmas.

One popular item for holiday shoppers is the lap pillow, with skin-coloured polyurethene calves folded under soft thighs - a comfy cushion for napping, reading or watching television.

The 9429 yen ($119) pillow, which comes with one red and one black skirt, went on sale in late November and maker Trane Co Ltd says shipments have reached 3000 in just a few weeks.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/12/15/16snap_pillow_wideweb__430x298.jpg

"We created this item to help tired people relax," said Makoto Igarashi, Trane's managing director.

Care was taken with details such as the softness of the thighs, panty lines on the pillow's "backside" and wrinkles in the lap of the skirt so as to make the pillow look and feel as real as possible.

"We thought our main customers would be men in their 20s, but even men in their 60s are buying it," Igarashi said.

At stores, lap pillows gather crowds where people poke and pry at the foam legs.

"I think this may be good for single men, but it could cause trouble for someone who is married," said Shingo Shibata, a 27-year-old company employee browsing at a toy store which sells the pillow.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Lap-pillow-for-lonely-men/2004/12/15/1102787144706.html

imaufo

30-01-2005, 12:06

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,359037,00.jpg

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,377322,00.jpg

imaufo

07-02-2005, 20:25

No sex please, we're Japanese

By Deborah Cameron

February 7, 2005

Bonus season has a double meaning for at least one frustrated Japanese salaryman. He gets lucky at the office and, when he delivers the cheque, a little spark is put back into his otherwise sexless marriage.

As part of a deal to prop up their relationship, the man and his 36-year-old wife agreed to have sex only twice a year, at bonus time. But before the money was even in the bank she had second thoughts.

"I have told my husband that I want to divorce him because I don't want to have sex," his wife told a newspaper survey.

"I compromised after his counter-proposal to have sex only twice a year in bonus season. But I feel blue when a bonus season is coming."

Theirs officially is a "sexless marriage". It is a growing trend in Japan and has become a national concern as the country searches for the reasons behind its collapsing birth rate.

Of 600 wives surveyed by one of the biggest of Japan's newspaper groups, Asahi Shimbun, 26 per cent said that they had had no sex with their husbands in the previous 12 months. An earlier survey of 1600 wives was bleaker still, putting more than 45 per cent of marriages into the sexless category.

Husbands, too, are turned off. In a survey of 1000 men done late last year, almost 40 per cent reported that they had not had sex with their wives at all in the previous six months or else had just one episode of it.

Compared with a survey done 10 years ago, when just 5 per cent of husbands said they were sexless, it points to severe relationship problems. Sexlessness is defined by the Japan Society of Sexual Science as "no sexual contact between a married couple for more than one month".

It is a remarkable picture full of contradictions.

On the surface, Japan, and particularly its capital, are vibrant and hedonist. Young couples are acutely aware of their sexuality, internet matchmaking sites are overrun with married and unmarried candidates, affairs are common, the love hotels do an open and uninhibited trade and sexually explicit material is published in mainstream comics. And yet when it's time for couples to get serious and have families, they freeze. Many couples in the surveys said that after their first child was born, desire vanished.

The sexless marriage is a small but intriguing part of what is behind Japan's collapsing birth rate, which, at 1.29 births per 1000, is one of the lowest in the world.

While policymakers discuss making child care more available and doing more to support families, it may be that the problem is much more fundamental. No sex, no babies.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/No-sex-please-were-Japanese/2005/02/06/1107625063272.html

imaufo

05-04-2005, 18:57

From 'I do' to 'I won't'

By Justin McCurry

Tokyo

April 5, 2005

Like many Japanese women, Junko waited until her early 30s to get married. When she and her fiance decided to tie the knot, she set her sights on starting a family.

Fifteen years later, Junko and her husband are childless. It is not that they cannot have children; it is just that they have never had sex.

The sexless marriage is one of several reasons why experts fear Japan is on the verge of a demographic disaster. In 2003 Japan's birthrate hit a record low of 1.29 - the average number of times a woman gives birth during her lifetime - one of the lowest rates in the world, according to the cabinet office. The population will peak next year at about 128 million, then decline to just over 100 million by 2050.

The 200 women a year who seek help at a clinic in the Tokyo suburbs have not had sex with their husbands in up to 20 years, and some never, according to Kim Myong-gan, who runs the clinic.

"The women who come to see me love their husbands and aren't looking for a divorce," he said. "The problem is that their husbands lose interest in sex or don't want sex from the start.

"Many men think of their wives as substitute mothers, not as women with emotional and sexual needs."

Mr Kim's short-term solution is unconventional. After an initial counselling session, he produces photographs of 45 men, mostly professionals in their 40s, with whom the women are invited to go on dates and then arrange regular assignations in hotel rooms.

Mr Kim dismissed accusations that his service was little more than a male prostitution ring. "The men volunteer and pay half the hotel and restaurant bills, so legally there is absolutely nothing wrong with it," he said.

He had rescued hundreds of women from despair, he said, but his "sex volunteers" would do nothing to cure the malaise that afflicts the institution of marriage in Japan.

"Men don't even think it is a problem if they don't have sex with their wives," Mr Kim said. "They have pornography and the sex industry to take care of their needs, but their wives have nowhere to go. They just suffer in silence."

The number of married couples is in rapid decline. In 2000, almost 70 per cent of men and 54 per cent of women between 25 and 29 were unmarried. That bodes ill for the birthrate, as Japanese society frowns upon having children outside marriage.

A survey of 600 women found 26 per cent had not had sex with their husbands in the past year.

"We are sort of room-mates rather than a married couple," one man, who had not had sex with his wife for two years, told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

The Government has introduced several measures to lift the birthrate. Fathers will be encouraged to take more than the 47 per cent of annual paid leave they currently use, and their employers will be told to provide more opportunities for them to stay at home with their children.

Local authorities, meanwhile, are devising novel ways to increase fertility.

In the town of Yamatsuri, women will receive 1 million yen ($A12,000) if they have a third child, and in Ishikawa prefecture families with three children will get discounts at shops and restaurants.

The absence of children in so many homes is having an impact. Fun parks are closing and there are signs that the "exam hell" teenagers go through to secure places at top schools and universities is less of an ordeal because the competition is less fierce.

The divorce rate has nearly doubled in the past 10 years. More women blame their sexually inactive husbands for break-ups.

- Guardian

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/From-I-do-to-I-wont/2005/04/04/1112489417732.html

imaufo

20-05-2005, 09:57

Is this the puzzle that ate the world?

By Deborah Cameron, Herald Correspondent in Tokyo

May 20, 2005 - 12:00AM

Sudoku puzzle

Designing a good puzzle is not unlike getting the mechanics right in a dance floor move. Elegance is important, but true satisfaction comes with the degree of difficulty.

Get the balance wrong and people stop trying. But get it right and there is a kind of magic that makes the effort worthwhile.

That, say the people at the Japanese puzzle company Nikoli, is where they got it right with the puzzle craze Sudoku.

It is a seemingly simple numbers game that requires players to insert single digits into rows and boxes, but the result is a craze to rival Rubik's cube, of the 1980s.

Sudoku, invented 200 years ago by a blind Swiss mathematician, is described as childishly easy yet infuriatingly difficult.

"The original game was too easy," said Nikoli's product manager, Nobuhiko Kanamoto.

"I believe that our changes deepened the fun."

Mr Kanamoto, who first came across a version in an American book of puzzles 10 years ago, realised that with a couple of twists it would be perfect. His changes added new layers of symmetry to the grid pattern.

Sudoku was an instant success in Japan, and Mr Kanamoto

feels a certain amount of glee at having created a successful old-style brain teasing puzzle in the heartland of the electronic game.

Since The Times introduced the game on its crossword page in November Sudoku has become a coffee-break blockbuster played by millions each day, published in national newspapers and on a host of websites. It is even headed for a television program, mobile phones, board games and British classrooms, where it will be used as a brain-teaser.

The game requires competitors to fill in a 9x9 square grid (broken down into nine mini-grids) with the numbers one to nine, arranged in such a way that each line, column and mini grid contains one of each number.

Hard-core devotees use every spare minute "Sudokuing", and many admit they are addicted.

With agencies

http://www.smh.com.au/media/2005/05/20/1116361682197.html

Sudoku is a seemingly simple numbers game that has become the ultimate puzzle pleasure. The objective is childishly easy, yet infuriatingly difficult to achieve. Now you can be part of the international craze. Starting tomorrow, the Herald will be bringing you a Sudoku game every day. Have a go at this version - it's one of the easier examples, to get you started. Simply fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9, with no number repeated. The solution will appear in the Herald tomorrow.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffxmedia/puzzle.jpg

imaufo

08-09-2005, 08:42

Japanese flock to buy insulted cheese

Reuters

September 06, 2005

TOKYO: The popularity of a certain type of French cheese has soared in Japan after a leading ruling party politician called it "hard and dry" last month.

The incident took place in early August when Yoshiro Mori, a former prime minister, met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a last-ditch effort to persuade him not to dissolve parliament and call snap elections.

Following the evening meeting at Koizumi's official residence, Mori told reporters that Koizumi had given him only beer and simple snacks while they talked, disregarding long-standing Japanese customs of political hospitality that mandated a more lavish welcome.

"He gave me foreign beer and some dried out cheese, so hard you couldn't bite into it," an obviously miffed Mori said in widely televised remarks, displaying a crumpled beer can and thin slice of orange-brown cheese.

Cheese cognoscenti, however, recognized Mimolette, a firm French cheese whose flavor increases as it ages and hardens. Aficionados say that the harder it gets, the tastier it is, with older cheeses commanding a higher price.

Now the scorned cheese is enjoying brisk sales at Japanese gourmet food and department stores, with sales three times as strong as usual. Some more aged varieties have even sold out.

"Sales of Mimolette have really taken off," said a spokeswoman at a downtown Tokyo branch of Takashimaya, a major department store. "We did not expect this at all."

Mori's visit to Koizumi turned out to be in vain. Koizumi called snap elections several days later, and there were rumors that relations between the two long-time political allies had markedly chilled.

The demands of the election campaign, however, have forced the two to mend fences, Kyodo news agency reported.

Koizumi has even promised to treat Mori to dinner and a full selection of cheeses at an expensive restaurant, it added.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Japan-to-add-a-second-to-next-year/2005/09/08/1125772607527.html

imaufo

08-03-2006, 09:02

Japanese clamour to train the brain

By Tokyo

March 8, 2006

FORGET the idea that being good at computer games is a sign of a misspent youth.

If millions of Japanese are to believed, it is the secret to a happy and healthy old age as millions of them take up brain training, the country's latest computer-game craze.

Designed by a prominent neuroscientist, Brain Training for Adults, a package of cerebral work-outs aimed at the over-45s by the Japanese game console and software maker Nintendo, is said to improve mental agility and slow the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/631/631268/ds-training-for-adults-work-your-brain-20050705063614941.jpg

Players have to complete puzzles quickly and accurately, including reading literary classics aloud, simple arithmetic, drawing, and responding rapidly to deceptively easy teasers using voice-recognition software. The player's "brain age" is then determined.

A physically fit, yet cerebrally past-it 30-year-old might be told after his first few attempts his brain is into its 50s; a retired woman could, over time, end up with a brain age 20 years her junior. The challenge is proving addictive among baby boomersand is proving a smart move by Nintendo as software makers wean themselves off a shrinking teen market.

GUARDIAN

http://ds.ign.com/articles/631/631268p1.html

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/631/631268/brainexercises_brains4h_1120612892.gif

Play a brain game!

http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/Password.html?GameName=BumbleNumbers1&Brain=math&Gender=F&Grade=1&Language=en_us&GameNumber=1&Color=&OldPassword=BOOT8&Password=BALL8&HardCoded=false&RoadblockCampaign=

cheesebeast

13-07-2006, 18:09

JRA denies Sheikh Mohammed a licence for ‘financial reasons’

by Nicholas Godfrey

JAPAN: SHEIKH MOHAMMED, one of the richest men on the planet, may be the most powerful racehorse owner in the world – but it appears that is not enough for Japan.

In a move described as “ridiculous” by one of his representatives in Japan, the Sheikh’s application for an owner’s licence to enable him to have runners in the nation’s best races has been turned down for what are said to be financial reasons.

The snub comes in a week in which Sheikh Mohammed has spent millions of yen at the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale of foals and yearlings in Hokkaido.

A more credible explanation of the decision could be that some domestic owners are concerned about the likely muscle Sheikh Mohammed could exert in Japan’s fabulously lucrative top races, many of which are still closed to outsiders.

The Sheikh’s bloodstock adviser John Ferguson on Wednesday confirmed news of the setback, likely to prove more of a temporary hitch than a knockout blow to the Sheikh’s expansion plans in Japan, now one of the world’s foremost racing and breeding nations.

“We will appeal against the decision, as, interestingly, the reason given for the rejection was that they questioned Darley Japan’s financial ability to have horses in training,” said Ferguson. “We have 60 days to lodge an appeal and we will be doing so.”

In the last five years, Sheikh Mohammed has been an ever-growing presence in Japan. Darley Japan, a Japanese-based company with Japanese directors, has a rapidly expanding bloodstock operation featuring stud farms, stallions such as Alkaased, Grandera and Moon Ballad, a total of 50 mares and around 30 horses in training with Japanese trainers.

However, racing in Japan is split between two organisations, the NAR (National Association of Racing), which hosts mainly midweek meetings at lesser tracks run by local governments, and the JRA (Japan Racing Association), responsible for the generally more prestigious meetings at high-profile tracks like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hanshin and Nakayama.

Although the Sheikh already has a licence to run horses at NAR tracks, he is barred from having runners in JRA-organised races apart from those designated as international events, such as the Japan Cup.

Although Japan has embarked on a programme to open up more of these races to international interests, many top races – including 11 Group 1 events, among them the five Classics – remain closed. Darley Japan has had two Group 1 winners in the NAR sphere.

Ferguson added: “We have an NAR licence, which allows us to race at all the NAR meetings, but for the first time we have asked for a JRA licence, and the application has been turned down.

“Without wishing to be rude in any way to the NAR racing, the JRA is the premier racing of Japan, and obviously Darley Japan is keen to race within the JRA in order to promote our stallions by participating at every level of the sport.”

Riki Takahashi, who oversees Darley Japan, suggested to Blood-Horse magazine that the JRA’s explanation of their decision to turn down the application was “ridiculeous”.

He added: “The boss said, ‘Just keep going to show them – we have done so many things here to support the industry. There is no reason to stop’.”

Harry Sweeney, who owns Paca Paca Farm in Japan, told Blood-Horse he disagreed with the decision.

Sweeney, a JRA licence-holder, said: “I’m surprised with the result, and I’m disappointed. I think we need another big player in this industry. I think it would be better for everybody. There is not a lot of competition here.”

He added: “There is only one show,” speaking of the Yoshida family’s multi-farm operation.

“Darley are big contributors to the industry in every country they operate, and, personally, I think they will do the same for Japan.”

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/news/master.sd?psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=News&category=International%20Zone

imaufo

21-07-2006, 07:58

Gotta have it ...

JULIAN RYALL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The man with the latest electronic personal organiser on the train is suffering from it. The woman fiddling with the most up-to-date mobile phone has got it. The children playing on the portable game systems? They're hooked.

All of them, and millions more Japanese, are victims of neophilia. It may sound horrible, but it's a painless affliction that largely affects people of above-average intelligence. Neophiliacs are people who simply cannot be without the latest thing. And while that can in theory extend to any consumer product - from books to brooms - a group of Japanese scientists has identified electronic gadgets as the area with the largest neophiliac appeal.

They also say that, while all of us may be neophiliacs to some degree, there are some who are more prone to it than others. Medical researchers at Yamagata University, in northern Japan, have concluded that people with a specific form of a mitochondrial enzyme known as monoamine oxidase A are more in need of the new and novel.

In a paper published recently in the scientific journal Psychiatric Genetics, the researchers said the enzyme is "significantly associated with higher scores of novelty-seeking". In other words, neophiliacs can't help themselves. It's a fantastic excuse - if ever one was needed - for coming home with a new laptop computer when the previous one is still in fine working order ... but the rent hasn't been paid.

Neophilia may resemble addiction disorder, the researchers said. That makes sufferers fertile ground for any company plugging the latest version of its gadget. These findings were supported by a report from the Nomura Research Institute think-tank on the phenomenon of otaku - people engrossed in the fantasy world of manga comic books and movies. Nomura concluded that some people will always buy the newest release, no matter what the price, simply because they have to have it.

But not everyone accepts the theory. Critics suggest that the need for the newest is a relatively new craving, which means it cannot be genetic. Others say it is simply an expression of curiosity: popular culture, they say, is helping to strengthen a natural fascination, in turn pushing the evolution of capitalist society.

Whichever diagnosis is correct, Japan may very well be considered the most advanced neophiliac society in the world.

Step out of Tokyo's Akihabara railway station, into the so-called "electric town" district, and one emerges into a world of gadgetry and gizmology that director Ridley Scott would have been hard-pressed to dream up when he was making Blade Runner just a relatively few years ago. Welcome to the future.

SCMP

imaufo

21-07-2006, 08:14

Saturday, June 17, 2006

WINDOW ON TOKYO

The Shingo code

JULIAN RYALL

http://www.samsloan.com/jesusjap.htm

http://www.samsloan.com/japan-ch.htm

HOW JESUS REACHED JAPAN

by Eli Eshoh

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is not mentioned in the book or the film, but a tiny village in northern Japan is expecting a large windfall from the big-screen blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code. Shingo is the last resting place of Jesus Christ, while the garlic farmer who owns the land claims he is the direct descendant of the son of God.

At least, that's what visitors are told by the locals, who are apparently convinced by the rather murky explanations as to how Jesus ended up growing rice in Aomori prefecture until his death at the ripe old age of 106.

http://www.thiaoouba.com/images/takeuchi_small.jpg

"We haven't had too many extra visitors just yet: maybe 30 or so a day," said Miyako Tamagawa of the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan - or "Village of Christ Legend Museum". "But the film has only just started in Japan. I think we'll have a lot more people coming here this summer."

They come to behold a small mound of earth surrounded by a white picket fence and topped by a simple wooden cross. Floral wreaths are laid daily on the last resting place of the messiah by believers and the curious. Nearby is another, similar tomb: that of his brother, Isukiri, who took Christ's place at the crucifixion at Golgotha, in today's Israel.

http://www.thiaoouba.com/images/tomb2_small.jpg

It reportedly contains Isukiri's ear, which was recovered from the body, and locks of the Virgin Mary's hair. They somehow survived the long journey from the Middle East, through Siberia and China, before ending up in Japan.

The son of God, it is said, first travelled to Japan at the age of 21, and lived here during the 11-year gap in his life that is not accounted for in the Bible. Local legend has it that he studied the Japanese language and literature, and took the name Daitenku Taro Jurai. At the age of 32, he returned to Judea to teach about the sacred land of Japan, then fell afoul of the Roman authorities. But his brother died on the cross in his place, and Jesus returned to Japan. There, he fell in love with Miyuko, a farmer's daughter, and produced three daughters before dying.

The Sawaguchi family, which owns the land the tomb stands on, was identified as the heirs to the kingdom of heaven in 1935. That is when a priest discovered a document in ancient Japanese purporting to be Christ's will, and identifying Shingo as the location of his tomb.

http://www.thiaoouba.com/images/dance_small.jpg

All this is widely debunked, but tens of thousands of people still visit the site and apparently believe that Sajiro Sawaguchi is Christ's offspring. Locals point to the village's time-honoured tradition of marking a cross in charcoal on the forehead of newborn babies, and kimonos incorporating the Star of David design.

With conspiracies currently all the rage, there are those who believe that Japan's very own claim to a piece of Jesus is legitimate. Dan Brown has a lot to answer for.

http://www.thiaoouba.com/images/1song_small.gif

In September 1997 Dr Tom J. Chalko visited Herai village and brought the text of this song to Melbourne, Australia, where it was recognized by expert as very intelligently composed Hebrew-Egyptian riddle. Decoding of different aspects of the riddle took 3 months and the work still continues in 2004. The simplified meaning of the First Word of The Song Na-nee-ya in English is as follows: "it is ME, Joshua, the child given by Yehova"...

The complete translation/decoding of the song riddle will take a book to explain. The song reveals, among many other things, the precise identity, ethnic origin, exact circumstances of Birth, education and the Magnitude of the Intellect of its Author, buried in Herai. Detailed analysis of ancient Hebrew words indicates that the song is a precise code referring to ancient Hebrew texts (Torah), well known in the 1-st century AD. The song seems to pose a question in Japanese, and the detailed answer is encoded as a riddle in Hebrew. The depth, precision and intelligence of the code in The Song is clearly a work of a genius. It took people on Earth almost 2000 years to decipher his song! The Song contains phenomenal amount of information, by cleverly referring an intelligent reader to exact references in ancient texts.

It is interesting to note, that the name of God used in this song (Ya) is a shortened name Yehova, which is the way the Hebrew people at the time of Moses pronounced the name "Thiaoouba".

The very first character of The Song, "+", is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph meaning "a savior". In Hebrew "savior" translates to Joshua. Hence, the first character of the song is a signature of Joshua. “+” character here has nothing to do with crucifixion - it is simply a signature of Joshua who as a baby escaped to Egypt and was educated there. This cross - a signature of Joshua - appears in the top illustration in this article. Chances of “+” representing "na" in Japanese by pure coincidence are very slim. Hence, The Song seems also to support a hypothesis that Joshua of Bethlehem and later of Herai (Shingo) has actually designed the modern phonetic Japanese alphabet called katakana and called + specifically "na" so that his signature coincides with the word "Nanya" in The Song. That way he could say "it is ME, Joshua, the child given by Yehova" just by writing a single word "Nanya", comprising just 3 katakana characters. Note that the Hebrew alphabet is also phonetic, where characters mean syllables, unlike the chinese kanji. It is quite possible, that yet another “level” of the riddle is encoded in Song's katakana characters, resembling a mix of Egyptian hieroglyphs and a handwritten Hebrew characters.

When I listened to The Song for the first time in June 1998 in Herai, it became clear to me that it was designed specifically to be preserved. It is very simple, catching, memorable and it sounds more like a mantra than a song. “Do Yara” (the part that reveals the exact circumstances of conception) is clearly accented. The Song doesn't resemble any Japanese song at all. It is performed by 4 elderly ladies from the village. Why not young ladies? Because "old people are closer to meeting with God" - explained Mr. J. Hokosawa, head of Shingo Local Government. Singing the song is clearly a privilege, honor and a responsibility in Herai. It is considered a very important "holy" song, which in itself is quite extraordinary, because people who sing it do not understand the meaning of its words at all.

Imagine how much people of Herai loved Joshua when He was alive - they sing His song every year for almost 2000 years without even understanding it. Joshua was clearly an extraordinary man. It is likely that He taught people to read, write and sing - using an easy alphabet, so they remembered all sounds. He had quite an extraordinary story to tell about his own identity and He encoded it in The Song for future generations to decipher. His ingenious method survived millennia of wars, religions, politics, education, science, propaganda, cover-ups - without the slightest distortion. Today "katakana" alphabet is used on every computer keyboard in Japan...

Jesus, son of Mary of Bethlehem, counted on the intelligence of the future generations. Has he overestimated potential of humanity on Earth? How many people can comprehend his message?

http://www.thiaoouba.com/tomb.htm

SCMP

imaufo

24-02-2007, 05:58

Japanese law change heralds divorce boom

Justin Norrie in Tokyo

February 24, 2007

LIKE so many Japanese women of her generation, the 54-year-old Tokyo housewife endured a loveless 30-year marriage for the sake of her two children and because there was no way out.

Tethered financially to a salaryman husband who was mostly absent and occasionally violent, she became isolated and depressed.

http://wtbw.net/geisha/2007/0222/sa.jpg

"I was like a prisoner in my own home," said the woman, who asked not to be named.

Her husband's parents would bully her in front of her children. And because they believed she "lacked common sense", they took control of her inheritance after the sudden death of her mother.

Now, after years of dignified suffering, she and thousands of Japanese women like her are preparing to strike back.

From April a new system of welfare division will allow women to claim up to half of their husbands' pensions in a divorce settlement, several times more than the amount to which they are now entitled, 15,200 yen a week ($160), a pitiful stipend in Japan's big cities. It is a powerful inducement to end an unhappy marriage.

The first huge wave of Japan's baby-boomer retirees, who spent decades living out of their offices and often saw their wives as chattels who could perform housework and raise children, are in for a surprise.

http://www.helloziyi.us/Pictures/sayuri-japan-thumb.jpg

Since a peak in 2002 of 290,000 divorces, the figure has dropped noticeably. Last year there were fewer than 260,000.

Experts such as Hiromi Ikeuchi, director of the Tokyo Family Laboratory and author of the book The Costs and Benefits of Divorce in Middle Age, agree that since the law change was first discussed in 2003 thousands of women have been quietly biding their time.

The 44-year-old author predicts that Japan is about to witness an explosion in divorce applications by women over the age of 50, as a record 5.1 million workers - 5 per cent of the total - retire this year.

"The number of divorces will increase dramatically after April," she said. There had been a huge increase in calls to the Social Insurance Agency, which recently began offering a service to calculate how much of her former husband's pension a divorced housewife might get, she said.

Toshihiro Nagahama, chief economist at the Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute, says there are already 42,000 divorce applications under way that will come under the new law by the time they are heard.

Nanio Sato, who works for a marriage counselling service in Tokyo, believes saturation media coverage has inspired thousands of downtrodden women to take action. These "rikon yobi-gun" - literally, divorce preparation women - are "all just waiting for April", he says.

Some have been diagnosed with "retired husband syndrome", which causes depression, skin rashes, ulcers, asthma and high blood pressure at the prospect of having to share the home with their soon-to-retire husband. Dr Nobuo Kurokawa, who discovered the syndrome, reckons 60 per cent of older women are affected.

For the past year Japanese tabloids have been filled with their tales of woe. The Weekly Post recently reported that private investigators were working overtime to uncover marital infidelities. The scandal sheet even published a 10-point checklist of warning signs to husbands that their wives were secretly planning a split.

These include "the meals she prepares contain more ready-made or semi-prepared items … you see her engaging in stealthy conversations with your children … she gets a new haircut".

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/japanese-law-change-heralds-divorce-boom/2007/02/23/1171734017540.html

http://wtbw.net/geisha/

U=tube video, Shogan torture.

http://www.whatever.net.au/~amaya/geisha/gallery/edo/dojouji.gif

imaufo

24-02-2007, 18:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BtNN6M97q8

Japanese bath-house pranks...some of these look a little dangerous?

imaufo

24-02-2007, 19:31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3BRUav-JVM&mode=related&search=

Wake up you Japanese prank...

imaufo

26-02-2007, 13:08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN6OnGyUnmo

Crazy Japanese roller coaster :eek:

imaufo

27-04-2007, 06:41

Japanese fooled in poodle scam

April 26, 2007 - 8:59PM

Thousands of Japanese have been swindled in a scam in which they were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles. :rolleyes:

Flocks of sheep were imported to Japan and then sold by a company called Poodles as Pets, marketed as fashionable accessories, available at $1,600 each.

That is a snip compared to a real poodle which retails for twice that much in Japan.

The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/delainemerino/DELMERIO.JPG

woof

She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.

Then hundreds of other women got in touch with police to say they feared their new "poodle" was also a sheep.

One couple said they became suspicious when they took their "dog" to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves.

Japanese police believe there could be 2,000 people affected by the scam, which operated in Sapporo and capitalised on the fact that sheep are rare in Japan, so many do not know what they look like.

"We launched an investigation after we were made aware that a company were selling sheep as poodles," Japanese police said, the The Sun reported.

"Sadly we think there is more than one company operating in this way.

"The sheep are believed to have been imported from overseas - Britain, Australia."

Many of the sheep have now been donated to zoos and farms.

© 2007 AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/04/26/1177459875122.html

imaufo

23-06-2007, 08:13

Housewives show a yen for trading to net riches

Justin Norrie in Tokyo

June 23, 2007

JAPANESE housewives, pensioners and other amateur traders are borrowing record sums to buy high-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar, in a speculative splurge that is prolonging a slump in the yen.

The Bank of Japan's determination to keep its ultra-low interest rate pegged at 0.5 per cent since February has encouraged the growing ranks of amateur traders to bet heavily against their own currency. So far this year they have opened 600,000 accounts at brokerages that lend money at the low rate for currency bets, according to Tokyo's Yano Research Institute.

Whereas the speculators would be lucky to get an interest rate of 1.25 per cent for their money in their own government bonds, they can get a three-year bond rate about 6.4 per cent in Australia and more than 7 per cent in New Zealand.

Robert Rennie, the chief strategist in global markets at Westpac in Sydney, noted Japan's ageing population was "ending up with a lot of spare cash … Essentially, it's the mother in the Japanese family who controls the purse strings. So Mrs Watanabe senior has got a lot of cash."

Japanese assets in foreign markets had risen 20 trillion yen ($190 billion) in the past two years, Mr Rennie said. About 12 per cent of Japanese investment trust assets held offshore were in Australian dollars, compared with 6 per cent in British pounds and 3 per cent in New Zealand dollars.

There was evidence other countries with relatively high interest rates, such as South Africa, Iceland and Romania were also being targeted by "Japanese mums" as part of an "absolute craze" to buy up foreign currencies, Mr Rennie said. Even Oman's currency, the rial, was getting some attention.

"If you've got a yield, Mrs Watanabe senior is going to have a look at it," he said.

The weakening yen, at a 4½-year low against the US dollar, has contributed to a rise in the cost of everyday goods such as petrol, groceries and even fast food. .

The celebrity housewife trader Yuka Yamamoto, who has lectured on and even published manga (comic) books about online trading, says thousands of married women and retirees are dabbling in the stockmarket on their home computers.

As Ms Yamamoto's publisher says in an advertisement for her manga book: "Even an ordinary housewife can make an appropriate trading model."

After seeing a television program about how to play the stockmarket six years ago, Ms Yamamoto put 250,000 yen into online investments and converted it into 124 million yen.

Another celebrity female trader, Fumie Wakabayashi, has released a Nintendo computer game about playing the stockmarket.

So successful have Japanese women become at online speculating that in the year ending last month, they earned an average of 504,000 yen, while men took just 180,000 yen, according to a survey released on Thursday by the online brokerage Joinvest Securities.

Women made up a quarter of online traders - up from 20 per cent two years ago, - but growth in internet trading had slowed overall.

Although currency trade carries the risk of very large, very sudden losses when exchange rates fluctuate, go-it-alone investors in Japan have not been deterred. The reckless traders have earned the disapproval of the conservative business establishment, not least because they tripled their trading in the first quarter to a record $11 billion a day.

In a newspaper interview, Shunzo Morishita, the chief executive of phone company NTT West, railed: "The sight of housewives trading stocks on personal computers undermines the education of children. Making money without sweating for it undermines the work ethic."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/housewives-show-a-yen-for-trading-to-net-riches/2007/06/22/1182019366573.html

imaufo

29-06-2007, 18:06

http://media.fairfax.com.au/?rid=29449

Japanese videos

imaufo

19-07-2007, 08:30

Japan's loos flush with cash

Leo Lewis, Tokyo | July 14, 2007

AN elusive benefactor dubbed the "Mystery Lavatory Man", who has been secretly disbursing millions of yen across Japan, has sparked a national treasure hunt centred on public loos.

By yesterday, 425 envelopes had been discovered in the men's toilets of city government offices and town halls across Japan.

In each envelope -- crafted from traditional Japanese washi paper -- was discovered a crisp 10,000 yen ($91) note and a handwritten letter urging the finder to use the cash to fund "ascetic training".

Nobody can fathom why these gifts keep appearing. The leading theory is that the money (all of which is genuine) is being distributed as a form of protest against the corruption and financial wastefulness of local government offices throughout Japan.

Another view is that the money is there as a prank to tempt employees and test their honesty. So far, it is thought every envelope has been dutifully handed in to the authorities.

In total, the man has lavished more than Y4million in the bathrooms of 47 municipal and public buildings in 19 of Japan's 47 administrative prefectures.

Mr X has crisscrossed Japan in a random journey of several thousand miles. On one occasion last month, he left his trademark calling card in a lavatory in Okinawa and managed to repeat the feat in Osaka -- 2400km away -- the following day.

With 28 prefectures as yet unblessed by the mystery man's benevolence, national interest in the men's toilets of municipal buildings has ballooned. Women, whose lavatories have so far been unrewarded by Mr X's bizarre munificence, are less amused.

Detectives, crime writers, handwriting experts, religious pundits and television comedy producers have all been baffled by his apparent generosity.

The only real clues to the identity and motives of the mystery man lie in the letters that accompany each banknote.

"Enclosed is a gift of 10,000 yen," it reads, in handwriting thought to be that of an elderlyman. "Please use this foryour ascetic training and devote yourself to good deeds, keeping a pure heart and not holding evil thoughts in your precious human heart."

Some believe Mr X is on the verge of death, others that he is in a deep depression or that he may be spreading the wealth of a huge win on the horses or lottery.

Under Japanese law, unless the mystery donor reveals his identity and comes forward within the next six months, the money becomes the property of the municipality where it was found.

The Times

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22071756-29677,00.html

imaufo

01-08-2007, 13:25

A Bondi rabbi may be the latest beneficiary of an anonymous money-donating craze sweeping Japan.

Eli Feldman arrived home to a strange package on Friday night, after leading the prayers at Young Adult Chabad synagogue.

The envelope, sitting on a hedge near his letterbox, was not addressed or stamped. It was simply marked: "Japan - yen."

This short note, however, stopped Mr Feldman from opening the envelope. His religion prohibits the handling of money on Fridays and Saturdays so he pushed the envelope into the bush and gave it little thought.

Meanwhile, Mr Feldman's friend Greg Nathan was more curious. Mr Nathan had walked with the rabbi back to his Anglesea Street house and was prompted to do a little internet research.

He learned of similar cash bundles turning up in mailboxes thousands of kilometres away.

"While we are not sure the incidents have anything to do with each other we are very curious," Mr Nathan said.

By last Saturday, residents of a Tokyo apartment block had reportedly found ¥1.81 million ($18,000) in envelopes with no return addresses in their mailboxes. The money had been placed in identical plain envelopes, which were unsealed and carried no names or messages, an AFP report said.

Police had no idea who is leaving the cash, whether a few people were behind the give-aways or if Japan was witnessing a craze of copycat benevolence, the report said.

Since June, dozens of city halls and other public buildings across Japan have had neatly packaged envelopes full of cash left in the men's bathrooms.

According to the report, the bathroom money came with identical letters asking people to do good deeds, leading to speculation that the benefactor may be a public servant trying to cheer up his profession.

In Kobe, Japan, a 31-year-old woman last week found ¥1 million in her mailbox.

Having read about the cash bonanzas in Japan, the two Sydney men retrieved the envelope. It contained ¥2500 all in coins of various denominations.

"I can't complain, it's free," said Mr Feldman who is splitting the sum evenly with his friend. "I don't know what to think of it. Maybe there'a copycat over here," he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/donor-with-a-yen-for-giving/2007/07/31/1185647890153.html

imaufo

24-09-2007, 13:14

Oh for oxygen

Keith Austin takes in the purified air in Japan and gets a buzz.

Fifty bucks doesn't seem costly, as indulgences go, but the cynic in me initially baulked at paying cash money to breathe air. Still, if it's good enough for David Beckham, it's good enough for me.

The advertisement for the oxygen capsule first caught my eye in the foyer of the plush JR Tower Hotel Nikko in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. The words were all, um, Japanese to me, but the picture of the gleaming "O2 capsule" proved irresistible.

Oxygen is big in Japan. You can buy cans of the stuff. There's even a highly oxygenated bottled water on sale. And oxygen "parlours" with rows of the pill-shaped machines are springing up all over the place.

Mention the oxygen capsules to any local and the first names on their lips are Beckham's and Yuki Saito, Waseda University's 19-year-old baseball-pitching sensation. Both are said to be aficionados of the capsules as a way to speed up the healing of injuries by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood. The process, which encourages blood vessels to contract to avoid taking in too much oxygen and, supposedly, limiting the swelling and pain of injuries, remains scientifically unproven.

But given that I'm struggling with a soccer-related ankle injury and that the oxygen treatment teamed with a lazy few hours in the hotel's onsen (hot baths) cost just under $70, it seems a worthwhile indulgence.

A traditional onsen is really a hot, natural spring and there are thousands of them dotted around this volcanically active country. This one, on the hotel's 22nd floor, with eye-bulging views across the city and the mountains to the south, would more commonly be called a spa in the West.

After changing into a T-shirt and pair of matching baggy shorts, I head for my 2.30pm date with, as I'd taken to thinking about it, The Big Blue Pill.

A grey-haired member of staff, a little perplexed to be dealing with a gaijin, it seems, takes charge and ushers me into the machine. She speaks no English and my Japanese extends to little more than "thank you", "g'day" and "beer", so it's a gestures-only relationship.

As I lay down, the tube feels strangely spacious, with enough room above and on either side to stave off claustrophobia. There is a soothing cold compress under the head cushion and a flexible pipe ending in a funnel that you position over your face. The sliding door is closed and purified oxygen is pumped gently through the pipe.

It's about now that, for the first time, I realise the pressure in the cabin is increasing. The sliding door clicks into place a little tighter and my ears begin to respond in much the same way they do when an aircraft takes off.

I hold my nostrils closed and "equalise" the air pressure. And again. And again. Slowly it dawns that my "carer" might think the Westerner has a different pressure threshold than her usual clientele. Knocking gently on the translucent plastic door, I point to my ears.

Her response is to grab a small microphone and point at the intercom just above my head. Maybe it's the air pressure but I can't see the point, unless the possibility of bleeding from the ears means you can suddenly speak Japanese.

Finally a series of exaggerated gestures indicating "my eyes are going to implode if you don't ease off" forces a concession. The pressure drops to more reasonable levels and I drop off to sleep.

An hour later, awakened by the creaking of the capsule as the pressure drops, I clamber out and wonder where my money has gone.

The onsen is fantastic, if a little disconcerting to realise the staff is all female and I'm the only naked gaijin in the place.

The steam room scented with oranges is a standout and I return to my room relaxed and squeaky clean.

That night, though, the true nature of the oxygen capsule reveals itself. I feel alive as never before as I head out to dinner at 6pm. I'm buzzing, clear-headed and ready for just about anything.

This is just as well because we head to the Kirin Beer-En in southern Sapporo, a vast DIY barbecue hall where, once you order, you have 100 minutes to eat and drink as much as you want. In my enlivened state I'm like a man possessed, eating and drinking as if my life depends on it.

What a pity the "O2 capsule" isn't open early the next morning, when I really need it. They're said to be good for hangovers, too.

Keith Austin travelled courtesy of the Japan National Tourist Organisation.

JR Tower Hotel Nikko is above JR Sapporo Station. See http://www.jrhotelgroup.com or phone +81 11 251 2222. Spa admission for hotel guests is ¥1500 ($16), for visitors it is ¥2800. An hour in the O2 capsule is ¥5000.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/north-asia/oh-for-oxygen/2007/09/20/1189881663773.html

imaufo

03-03-2008, 06:37

Sophie Hardach

March 3, 2008

At Edelstein boarding school, the schoolboys wear lip-gloss, the headmistress has a weakness for homoerotic comic books, and there is only one subject: how to serve female visitors.

Welcome to Tokyo's first schoolboy cafe, the latest in a flurry of eateries in Japan where customers and waiters role play themes from manga comics.

In keeping with the schoolboy theme, waiters with manicured hands and soft voices pretend to be teenage students, chatting and flirting with well-dressed Japanese women playing the roles of benefactresses visiting the school.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2008/03/02/wbOTAKU2_wideweb__470x306,0.jpg

On a Saturday in January, the cafe, which opened late last year, was packed with giggling customers.

"Most of our customers are office ladies in their twenties and thirties, women who are fashionable but normal," said Emiko Sakamaki, Edelstein's 27-year-old manager, herself dressed in a loose mini-dress over skinny jeans and knee-high boots.

Edelstein is based on one of Sakamaki's favourite comic books, a 1970s cult classic about romance at a German school.

Its visitors are united by a passion for such "boy-love manga", or comics about boy-boy romance for female readers - a genre that is currently undergoing a huge revival in Japan.

Most boy-love manga feature dreamy, feminine-looking male characters. The same beauty ideal guides Sakamaki when she selects the waiters who talk about their pretend homework and studies at Edelstein.

"I'm in the flower arrangement club," whispers one girlish, long-haired waiter at the cafe, looking up from the book of German poetry he is reading.

Role-play cafes for men have long been popular in Tokyo. Most revolve around waitresses dressed as French maids and target "otaku" - geeky fans of comics and animation movies.

One of the reasons that role-play and dressing up are so popular in Japan is that they allow people to briefly escape the extreme social control and rigid norms of everyday life, anthropologists say.

The otaku market, from animation movies to computer games and accessories, totalled Y187 billion ($A1.87 billion) in 2007, according to entertainment research firm Media Create.

But recently, businesses have discovered another type of free-spending Japanese consumer: the female otaku, who tends to be better-looking, trendier, and more sociable than her male counterpart.

One of the defining feature of the female otaku is their love for manga comic books, especially boy-love manga.

"There are two reasons why this place is so popular. Firstly, this kind of cafe environment for women doesn't exist much in Tokyo," says Sakamaki, who also invented Tokyo's first "butler cafe" for females.

"And secondly," she adds, "there are now a lot of girls who like animation movies and comics."

Around 150 boy-love manga and magazines are published every month in Japan, according to Eureka, a literary magazine.

In the women's section of the Aoyama book shop, around the corner from Edelstein, the latest boy-love titles are stacked between books with saccharine pink covers promising sweet tales of pop stars and athletes.

The easily shocked should avoid taking a closer look.

The new generation of boy-love manga such as All about J and Don't Say Anymore, Darling features carefully drawn, often violent sex scenes, ranging from anal and oral sex to bondage and male gang rape.

Sakamaki sees the genre as a form of escapism.

"These types of people don't exist in reality, they only exist in comics," she says, referring both to the manga and to the kind of atmosphere she is trying to create at Edelstein.

"In boy-love comics, beautiful, fragile boys are often placed close to death. That gives them a shadow and makes them even more beautiful."

In a recent column in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, Kanta Ishida, a journalist specialising in manga, said the genre also offers an alternative to traditional gender roles in Japan.

The comics reflect "a yearning for relationships with interchangeable roles that are free from fixed ideas about gender," he wrote.

Over beer and fried pork at a bar in Tokyo's noisy and neon-lit Shibuya district, three Japanese aged around 30 talk about male and female otaku, or "fujoshi" as these women are also called - "rotten girls".

All three describe themselves as otaku, yet none of them fits the geeky cliche. Two are male magazine editors. One is a female assistant at a gallery owned by a fashion label.

Kana Satomi, the 28-year-old gallery assistant, recalls a recent visit to the Edelstein cafe.

"I went there with a group of friends, and we were talking to the waiters and to each other, saying - did you see that, that was cute - that kind of thing," she says.

Male otaku, on the other hand, tend to avoid communication as best as they can.

Sampling the fried pork, 30-year-old Takashi Kudo shares his own theory about the sudden excitement over female otaku.

"Male otaku became a huge business, and then that kind of marketing reached a limit. So the marketing companies wondered what they could do next," he said. "And then they discovered that fujoshi can also be big business."

Sakamaki, the schoolboy cafe manager who has tapped that market so successfully, is already onto her next idea: a cafe modelled along 1920s Japan. That would match another big trend among Japanese youth - nostalgia for pre-war Japan.

Reuters

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/02/1204402265232.html?s_rid=smh:top5

Tokyo cafe taps into women's Prince Charming fantasies

Feb 19, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — In a nation where many girls grow up on Western fairy tales, Tokyo's Butlers Cafe is tapping into the popular fantasy that they will grow up to meet their Prince Charming.

Just stepping over the threshold, Japanese woman can forget for a few hours that they are in Shibuya, one of the capital's most crowded areas, and enter a world where a handsome man rushes to the tinkle of her bell, goes down one knee and asks: "Yes, my princess?"

http://afp.google.com/media/ALeqM5j3V4oPHeEm94_hga4be_JYNz6Jvw?size=s

The cafe offers a variety of homemade food, sweets and drinks, as well as photo shoots in which a favourite butler holds the woman in the air -- and English lessons.

Since opening in mid-2006, Butlers Cafe has attracted around 2,000 frequent customers.

Yuki Nozaki, a 23-year-old childminder, and kindergarten teacher Aki Nakamura, 24, say they come at least once a month to enjoy a fleeting moment of romance.

"At first I was really shy about the concept of this cafe, but all the butlers are very cute, cheerful and sweet and, above all, the fact that they're foreigners helps us to escape from reality," Nozaki said.

"Even now after visiting so many times, we feel excited when the door opens. I need this kind of excitement in my life," she said.

An evening here, drinking tea and nibbling cake, is certainly more affordable than the well-established "host clubs" where women can spend hundreds of dollars in a few hours drinking expensive wine with well-groomed Japanese men.

In some ways, the Butlers Cafe is a mirror image of the growing number of "maid cafes" where men are served by young women in frilly maid uniforms.

-- "Healing should be available with a cup of tea" --

Yuki Hirohata, 36, the joint owner of Butlers Cafe, said she came up with the idea during her previous job as an office worker as a way of escaping her workaholic world.

"I was basically trying every kind of beauty salon, spa or massage and also considering going to a host club to seek some emotional satisfaction, but it was not easy on my purse," she said.

"Then I realised that healing for women should not be expensive and should be available even with a cup of tea," she said.

She interviewed other women and found their wish list -- romantic settings and a chance to learn English. While many were curious about foreign men, they wanted a safe setting -- not host clubs or drunken nights out in bars catering to Westerners.

"What they need is a bit of spice and excitement in their lives and it can be given by small gestures, such as letting the lady go first or a man putting a coat on his lady. Women want to be appreciated," Hirohata said.

Western-style fairy tales, often with their stock images of a chivalrous Prince Charming, have long permeated Japanese culture, and provide a balance for the male-dominated reality of Japanese society.

Part of the success of Tokyo Disneyland, for instance, is due to the adult women who have flocked to the theme park since it opened 1983.

"Japan has a huge fantasy culture," said butler Brendan, a 27-year-old American who formerly worked in Tokyo as an English teacher. "They often want to escape from daily life and they are good at engineering alternate reality."

Like other butlers, Brendan did not give his full name because the cafe strictly forbids personal relationships outside the cafe.

"I found that in Japan, there are many special treatment services for men but not so much for women despite the fact that more women need their own place today," he said.

-- Japanese women feel inferior to men from birth --

Yoko Nakagawa, a counsellor for women in Tokyo, said that being transformed into a princess or served by foreigners felt "unreal" for the average Japanese woman.

"Most of today's women carry unsatisfied feelings from their childhood and now as adults they are in need of being accepted unconditionally," she said.

"So if foreign butlers accept them unconditionally as princesses, that can be better than going to the hair salon or spa because there is a real human relationship involved," Nakagawa said.

While attitudes are changing, many Japanese men are raised to be reticent about expressing their appreciation of women.

"It is actually a shame that women need to pay to be treated well," said Shinichiro Shuto, who gives tips to men on Japan's popular "All About" website.

After having lived in New York, Shuto said that on returning to Japan he noticed a huge difference between American and Japanese men.

"To be frank, we Japanese men do not oppose the lady-first ideal. It just looks too show-off and cheesy for us to copy Westerners," he said.

"And the biggest problem is the gap in perspective -- Japanese men tend to or want to believe that women do not need such gestures, but in fact women do want and need it," he said.

Hirohata, the cafe's owner, said many Japanese women are facing competing pressures to be everything from cute girlfriend to competitive business woman to devoted wife and mother.

"I believe in women's power," she said. "By wearing a tiara, being treated as a princess or making progress learning English casually, we hope that customers can feel more positive and confident about themselves, if only a little bit."

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhBQ7ji0pVP194qcI36ojROut10Q

imaufo

25-04-2008, 07:29

Peter Alford, Tokyo correspondent |

April 25, 2008

DEATH by rotten-egg gas, Japan's latest suicide fad, appears to have claimed 10 lives this week including a 14-year-old girl.

The schoolgirl's mother and two other people were treated in hospital on Wednesday after their apartment filled with noxious hydrogen sulphide fumes produced by combining two common chemical products, a toilet cleaner and a brand of bath salts.

http://www.eggs.ab.ca/about/images/eggs1.jpg

About 60 other people in the apartment building, in Konan City on Shikoku island, reported milder illness from inhaling the fumes, called rotten-egg gas for its pungent odour.

Early yesterday, the mother of a 31-year-old Utsunomiya man who did not come home on Wednesday found his body in a parked car nearby. A note taped inside the windscreen read: "Don't come near - poisonous gas".

The Konan girl might be the youngest victim so far of a suicide method publicised on the internet that has been attributed with more than 50 deaths this year.

Hydrogen sulphide seems to have displaced carbon monoxide, generated by small charcoal burners, as the preferred method of self-disposal for Japan's young and hopeless.

Ad hoc internet sites that function as suicide bulletin boards have "advertised" hydrogen sulphide as a quicker, less complicated method of ending it all. In one recent posting, "Mr Nameless" advises: "A new suicide method has been developed as an alternative to charcoal suicide.

"You don't have to light a fire and it's easier than charcoal. All you have to do is buy two different brands of liquid (which he names) that are easily available from the drug store."

The message advises placing a warning notice to others, but the copious fumes caused by combining the liquids and several cases already of nearby involuntary poisoning are raising concerns the practice might soon kill bystanders.

A National Police Agency official told The Australian yesterday there was not yet any data on the prevalence of hydrogen sulphide self-poisoning nor any measures in place to address the phenomenon.

But by midday yesterday, there had been Japanese news reports of nine incidents causing 10 deaths around the country since Sunday. Taken with earlier reports, they raise the suspected toll to 53 this year.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23593332-2703,00.html

imaufo

11-08-2008, 18:03

http://www.uniquedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/japanese-kids-beer.jpg

Japanese beer for kiddies

imaufo

27-08-2008, 19:01

MAN who illegally kept some of the world's most venomous snakes in his tiny Tokyo apartment was arrested after calling an ambulance when one of them bit him.

Nobukazu Kashiwagi, a 41-year-old port worker, was arrested for keeping the dangerous reptiles without proper permission, police said.

His secret got out after he was bitten by an eastern green mamba, a highly venomous southeast African snake among the 51 he kept.

He called an ambulance and was rushed to hospital where he briefly lost consciousness, Jiji Press said, adding he was arrested after returning home.

Media reports said a woman had earlier complained about being bitten by a snake after visiting the man in the trendy Shibuya area.

Mr Kashiwagi's collection included a 1.9m-long black mamba, another of the world's most deadly snakes, as well as rats to feed his pets, the reports said.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24250356-5006301,00.html

imaufo

29-08-2008, 17:47

http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/images/only_in_Japan6.jpeg

imaufo

11-09-2008, 06:30

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/only_in_japan_1.jpg

Gloryfication

25-10-2008, 07:50

The youth have quirky but creative fashion sense.

Gloryfication

25-10-2008, 08:58

Japanese Fashion - modern and traditional styles of Japanese fashion including Japanese street fashion, Japanese fashion (Tokyo), Kogal (Japanese fashion) and traditional Japanese fashion (kimono). Pictures and Photographs of Japanese fashion plus discuss Japanese fashion in our forum. http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/japan_picture/albums/upload/tokyo/harajuku/harajuku_IMG_1334.jpg
A example of Japanese Fashion in Harajuku Tokyo Japan

Gloryfication

25-10-2008, 23:31

Awesome, Crazy Japanese Barcode Design

http://daily.creattica.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/barcodes_sm1.jpg Asia has to be the most fascinating place in the world to live, certainly from a design perspective. Product and retail design there blows the pants off the rest of us. And if you don’t believe me, here’s proof out of Japan from a Design firm that seems to specialize in barcodes - D-Barcode (http://d-barcode.com/) and who do some very creative things with something you might think of as pretty ordinary.

http://daily.creattica.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/barcodes.jpg

Looking for more awesome Asian stuff (not necessarily design related)? Head to Weird Asia News (http://www.weirdasianews.com/)!

Via: D-Barcode (http://d-barcode.com/) & Weird Asia News (http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/09/29/creative-barcodes-japan-unique-awesome/)

(If anyone reads Japanese, please let us know if you can figure out more about D-Barcode, I would be fascinated to know if that really is all these guys do)

Gloryfication

01-11-2008, 08:02

Modern Japanese Buddhist chant. Write it on a card and carry it with you. Say it and wish for something good and see what happens.

Gloryfication

01-11-2008, 08:13

For you?

Gloryfication

08-11-2008, 00:12

Finger Lakes' Tin Cup Chalice to race in Japan

Kevin Oklobzija • Staff writer • November 6, 2008

How do you say horse race in Japanese?

Mike LeCesse has no idea, but he should know by Dec. 7.

That's when Tin Cup Chalice, the star of his modest stable at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, runs in the $2.4 million Japan Cup on dirt at Hanshin Racecourse in Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan.

Talk about an adventure for the ages.

"It's like a fairy tale," said LeCesse, a Farmington resident.

In the spring, LeCesse and co-owner Scott Van Laer, a forestry service employee from Saratoga Springs, were merely hoping their homebred gelding would be good enough to win the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

Tin Cup Chalice not only won the Derby on his home course, but he became the first horse to sweep New York's unofficial triple crown series, the OTB Big Apple Triple.

Now, while still basking in the Grade II victory by Tin Cup Chalice in the Indiana Derby just a month ago, they're making plans to head to Japan.

And totally by chance.

Out of the blue an official from the Japan Racing Association phoned LeCesse and asked if he would enter Tin Cup Chalice in the Japan Cup.

"I called Scott and said, 'Somebody could be playing a bad joke on us but ...'" LeCesse said.

The race apparently is lacking foreign competitors. Superstars such as Curlin, Big Brown and Colonel John were nominated but aren't going. LeCesse said he doesn't know of any other American horses that are entering.

Tin Cup Chalice was appealing because of his graded victory in Indiana, his 8-for-9 record and his career earnings of just more than $800,000.

"I've been blessed to be his owner," LeCesse said.

Before deciding whether to formally accept the invitation, LeCesse needed to see Tin Cup Chalice work out — in the "wrong" direction.

American races are run counter-clockwise. The Japan Cup will be run clockwise. He passed the test on Wednesday morning.

"I think we have to make him tell us if he wants to go," LeCesse said. "I had to see if he could train the wrong way and it was as good as you could expect a horse to take to it for his first time."

Pedro Rodriguez, the regular rider for Tin Cup Chalice, will travel to Japan with the horse on Nov. 19.

The race field, which had 16 starters in 2007, is primarily comprised of Japanese horses with a few entrants from the United States and England.

Only one American horse, Fleetstreet Dancer in 2003, has won the dirt Japan Cup. There is also a Japan Cup on turf.

"This will be a very tough trip for him," LeCesse said. "You hope you can go there, perform well for Americans, and come back in one piece."

KEVINO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Gloryfication

08-11-2008, 08:11

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Crazy for Japan and other notes (http://japanesewriters.com/2008/10/crazy-for-japan-and-other-notes.html)

I live in DC and a great source of information on Japanese cultural activities is the Japan Information and Cultural Center (http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm).

This activity arrived via its mailing list:

The George Washington University's Sigur Center for Asian Studies Presents: Crazy for Japan: Art and Political Agendas at the International Expositions in the Gilded Age

Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 12:30 - 1:45pm at the Lindner Family Commons, The Elliott School of International Affairs, 6th Floor, 1957 E Street NW with speaker Hannah Sigur, adjunct professor, University of California-Davis & San Francisco State University.

Hannah Sigur is an art historian, writer, and editor with seven years' residence and study in East and Southeast Asia. As an adjunct professor, she teaches a wide range of courses at San Francisco State University, University of California-Davis, and elsewhere, and has lectured at major museums and antiques fairs across the country from New York to California. She co-authored A Master Guide to the Art of Floral Design, listed by The Christian Science Monitor in "The Best Books of 2002."

Please RSVP with your name, organization/GW affiliation, and e-mail to gsigur@gwu.edu by Monday, October 27, 2008.

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore also has a show, Autum Colors (http://www.thewalters.org/eventscalendar/eventdetails.aspx?e=914) . It continues through Nov. 30 and is described: Through this selection of paintings from the collection of Betsy and Robert Feinberg, visitors will explore the imaging and meaning of the autumn season as it resonated with the various Japanese schools of painting during the 18th and 19th centuries. Works by nanga, rimpa, ukiyo-e, and Maruyama-Shijo painters all explore sites and subjects that have long been synonymous with autumn in Japan, including the red leaves of Takao and the crimson momiji, or Japanese maple.
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About Me

kobJapanese culture, food, history and writing are passions. I'll share a little of it here. I am based in Washington DC. My major blog is dcblogs.com. I also blog at japanesewriters.com, and guamblog.com View my complete profile (http://www.blogger.com/profile/15351473838412364000) http://img1.blogblog.com/img/icon18_wrench_allbkg.png (http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=2975486823420492903&widgetType=Profile&widgetId=Profile1&action=editWidget)

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Japanese Art

Japanese Art Prints (http://japanesewriters.com/2008/10/crazy-for-japan-and-other-notes.html)

(http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=2975486823420492903&widgetType=HTML&widgetId=HTML5&action=editWidget)

Gloryfication

09-11-2008, 04:42

JAPAN REVEALS LATEST INOVATION: 'THE ONE MAN RIOT' (http://scaryfeet.blogspot.com/2006/04/japan-reveals-latest-inovation-one-man.html)

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5984/2226/400/1396119.jpg (http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5984/2226/1600/1396119.jpg)
New innovation being hailed as the 'new Internet'.
[/url] [url="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=21952240&postID=114461650126793100"] http://www.blogger.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif (http://scaryfeet.blogspot.com/2006/04/japan-reveals-latest-inovation-one-man.html)

Gloryfication

10-11-2008, 06:28

Japan
Japan leads the way in spam relay prevention Surprisingly low ranking in the spam charts could be down to port 25 block

Written by Simon Burns

vnunet.com (http://www.vnunet.com/), 10 Feb 2006

Computers in Japan are much less likely than those in other nations to harbour spam-spreading viruses and Trojans, according to vnunet.com (http://www.vnunet.com/)'s analysis of recent data on unsolicited email sources.

However, the reasons for this remain unclear. Recent data shows that the amount of spam (http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/01/dirtdozjan05.html) coming from a country appears closely related to the number of broadband internet connections (http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150118/japanese-pcs-spam-free#) in that country.

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Japan, however, clearly bucks the trend. While the country has more than 11 per cent of the world's broadband connections, it is producing only two per cent of global spam. This is despite the fact that 100Mbps fibre internet connections, which are especially attractive to spammers, are common in Japan.

The most likely reason for the correlation between broadband connections and spam output is the tendency for PCs on broadband lines to be taken over by malware and turned into so-called 'zombies', generating or relaying large quantities of spam.

Zombie PCs are believed to produce over 60 per cent of spam, according to security software firm Sophos (http://www.sophos.com/), which gathered the data (http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/01/dirtdozjan05.html) on the geographic origins of spam from its global network of spam detectors.

Anecdotal evidence supports Japan's surprisingly low ranking in the spam charts, according to the Japanese subsidiary of Sophos, which develops software to combat virus infections, spam and malware.

"Despite our customer base in Japan expanding very significantly since we established the subsidiary in 2000, the number of calls to our support department regarding infections in general has fallen," said Alan Broderick, director of the company's Japanese office.

"If the proportion of machines in Japan which are infected at any one time is lower than in other countries it would certainly have a positive effect on the relay figures."

(http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150118/japanese-pcs-spam-free?page=2)

Gloryfication

11-11-2008, 04:07

wuz 'ere.

Asia: Japan leads the way forward

http://img.iht.com/images/dot_h.gif
By Darren Boey and Michael Tsang
Published: TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2006
http://img.iht.com/images/dot_h.gif

HONG KONG: Japanese stocks led gains in Asian markets Monday after a government report showed that Japan's economy grew faster than initially estimated in the first quarter.

"This is a long period of expansion" in Japan," said Jeremy Hall at Henderson Global Investors in Singapore. "That suggests that there is more opportunity than risk, given the continuing growth prospects."

The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained 82.17 points, or 0.6 percent, to 14,833.01, while the Topix rose 12.21 points to 1,510.89. The benchmark Kospi in South Korea also advanced after the central bank governor said the economy would keep expanding.

Other regional benchmarks climbed except in New Zealand, Pakistan and Indonesia. The Sensex in India dropped 3.4 percent, the region's biggest decliner. The markets in Hong Kong and Taiwan were little changed, while Australia, Thailand and the Philippines were closed.

But the U.S. dollar-denominated Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia Pacific index slipped after gains were offset by a stronger dollar during the Asian trading day. It shed 0.16 points to 120.95.

Today in Marketplace by Bloomberg

http://www.iht.com/images/dot_h.gif
Bank of America moves quickly to cut jobs after earnings disappoint (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/25/bloomberg/bxjobs.php)

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Sony profit helped by camera sales, but game console still trailing rivals (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/25/bloomberg/bxsony.php)

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Microsoft profit soars 23 percent, beating expectations (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/25/bloomberg/bxmsft.php)

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Companies that do most of their business at home rose on the back of Japan's stronger growth figures. Among retailers, Aeonadded ¥75 to ¥2,445 and Daieiadded ¥60 to ¥2,610, while Mitsubishi Estate,the Japanese property developer, rose ¥45 to ¥2,205.

Retailers like Shinsegaein South Korea rose after it said May sales increased.

ButBenqand other mobile phone makers slid after Citigroup cut its profit estimate for Texas Instruments,the world's biggest maker of mobile-phone chips. Benq shed 75 cents to 20.05 Taiwan dollars.

Exporters like Samsung Electronicsand Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturingdropped on concern that reports this week on U.S. inflation would encourage the Federal Reserve to increase borrowing costs.

Michael Tsang reported from Tokyo

Gloryfication

11-11-2008, 23:14

Japan Jokes

The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive boat race. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance.

On the big day they felt ready. The Japanese won by a mile. Afterward, the American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and recommended corrective action.

The consultant's finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering.

After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the consultant firm concluded that too many people were steering and not enough were rowing on the American team.

So as race day neared again the following year, the American team's management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure: four steering managers, three area steering managers and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive.

The next year, the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem."

The Polish were upset because of their bad reputation. A group of them got together and approached a conference of Americans, Germans, and Japanese and asked for help on this matter. An American replied, "You must do something so the world will respect you. The Japanese are known for their technology and the Germans are known for their resourcefulness. We Americans have had respect since we helped win the World War against the other two. See, you need to do something world-famous." A German added," Yes, he's right. Why don't you find a place in this world in need of a bridge that no one has dared build, build it, come back to us, and we will help publicize it."

With that, the Polish set off to build their bridge. They designed it and worked 6 months and finally completed it. They then went back to report it to the group. The bridge was a beautiful bridge but it had one flaw: it was erected in the middle of the Sahara Desert. An American said, "No, no. See, that is why you have your reputation. There is no need for a bridge in the middle of the desert. Now go and dismantle it, and find a more strategic spot to erect it."

The Polish returned to the conference in two weeks. One of the Japanese said, "Two weeks! It only took you two weeks to dismantle that bridge and build a new one??? That is amazing!!" To which a Polish man replied, "Well, not exactly. When we returned to the bridge we couldn't dismantle it because there were all these Italians fishing off it."

Japanese Banking Crisis

According to inside contacts, the Japanese banking crisis shows no signs of ameliorating. If anything, it's getting worse.

Following last week's news that Origami Bank had folded, we are hearing that Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank plans to cut back some of its branches.

Karaoke Bank is up for sale and is (you guessed it!) going for a song.

Meanwhile, shares in Kamikaze Bank have nose-dived and 500 back-office staff at Karate Bank got the chop.

Analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank and staff there fear they may get a raw deal.

Made in Japan

There was a Japanese man who went to America for sightseeing.

On the last day, he hailed a cab and told the driver to drive to the airport.

During the journey, a Honda drove past the taxi. Thereupon, the man leaned out of the window excitedly and yelled, "Honda, very fast! Made in Japan!"

After a while, a Toyota sped past the taxi. Again, the Japanese man leaned out of the window and yelled, "Toyota, very fast! Made in Japan!"

And then a Mitsubishi sped past the taxi. For the third time, the Japanese leaned out of the window and yelled, "Mitsubishi, very fast! Made in Japan!"

The driver was a little angry, but he kept quiet. And this went on for quite a number of cars. Finally, the taxi came to the airport.

The fare was US$300. The Japanese exclaimed, "Wah... so expensive!"

There upon, the driver yelled back, "Meter, very fast! Made in Japan!"

E-mail this joke to your friends! (http://www.supertaf.com/taf.php?form=4075&referring_url=http://www.ahajokes.com/state060.html) Visit Aha! Jokes (http://www.ahajokes.com/) for more laughs!
<li>Return to the state jokes (http://www.ahajokes.com/state_jokes.html) division

Gloryfication

12-11-2008, 04:31

Nara and Heian Periods (710 - 1185)
http://www.japan-guide.com/g3/pixel.gif basic information In the year 710, the first permanent Japanese capital was established in Nara (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html), a city modelled after the Chinese capital. Large Buddhist (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2055.html) monasteries were built in the new capital. The monasteries quickly gained such strong political influence that, in order to protect the position of the emperor and central government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784, and finally to Heian (Kyoto (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html)) in 794 where it should remain for over one thousand years.

One characteristic of the Nara and Heian periods is a gradual decline of Chinese influence which, nevertheless, remained strong. Many of the imported ideas were gradually "Japanized". In order to meet particular Japanese needs, several governmental offices were established in addition to the government system which was copied after the Chinese model, for example. In the arts too, native Japanese movements became increasingly popular. The development of the Kana syllables (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2047.html) made the creation of actual Japanese literature (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2110.html) possible. Several new Buddhist sects (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2055.html) that were imported from China during the Heian period, were also "Japanized".

Among the worst failures of the Taika reforms (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2131.html) were the land and taxation reforms: High taxes resulted in the impoverishment of many farmers who then had to sell their properties and became tenants of larger land owners. Furthermore, many aristocrats and the Buddhist monasteries succeeded in achieving tax immunity. As a result, the state income decreased, and over the centuries, the political power steadily shifted from the central government to the large independent land owners.

The Fujiwara family controlled the political scene of the Heian period over several centuries through strategic intermarriages with the imperial family and by occupying all the important political offices in Kyoto and the major provinces. The power of the clan reached its peak with Fujiwara Michinaga in the year 1016. After Michinaga, however, the ability of the Fujiwara leaders began to decline, and public order could not be maintained. Many land owners hired samurai (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html) for the protection of their properties. That is how the military class became more and more influential, especially in Eastern Japan.

The Fujiwara supremacy came to an end in 1068 when the new emperor Go-Sanjo was determined to rule the country by himself, and the Fujiwara failed to control him. In the year 1086 Go-Sanjo abdicated but continued to rule from behind the political stage. This new form of government was called Insei government. Insei emperors (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2135.html) exerted political power from 1086 until 1156 when Taira Kiyomori became the new leader of Japan.

In the 12th century, two military families with aristocratic backgrounds gained much power: the Minamoto (or Genji) and Taira (or Heike) families. The Taira replaced many Fujiwara nobles in important offices while the Minamoto gained military experience by bringing parts of Northern Honshu under Japanese control in the Early Nine Years War (1050 - 1059) and the Later Three Years war (1083 - 1087).

After the Heiji Rising (1159), a struggle for power between the two families, Taira Kiyomori evolved as the leader of Japan and ruled the country from 1168 to 1178 through the emperor. The major threats with which he was confronted were not only the rivalling Minamoto but also the increasingly militant Buddhist (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2055.html) monasteries which frequently led wars between each other and disturbed public order.

After Kiyomori's death, the Taira and Minamoto clans fought a deciding war for supremacy, the Gempei War, which lasted from 1180 to 1185. By the end of the war, the Minamoto were able to put an end to Taira supremacy, and Minamoto Yoritomo succeeded as the leader of Japan. After eliminating all of his potential and acute enemies, including close family members, he was appointed Shogun (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html) (highest military officer) and established a new government (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2133.html) in his home city Kamakura (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html).

Any advice or questions? Voice them in the forum (http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quedisplay.html)!

Gloryfication

13-11-2008, 09:56

C. http://www.infoplease.com/images/mjapan.t.gif (http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/japan.html) Map of Japan (http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/japan.html)

National name: Nippon

Emperor: Akihito (1989)

Prime Minister: Taro Aso (2008)

Current government officials (http://www.infoplease.com/world/leaders/japan.html)

Land area: 152,411 sq mi (394,744 sq km); total area: 145,882 sq mi (377,835 sq km)

Population (2008 est.): 127,288,419 (growth rate: -0.1%); birth rate: 7.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 2.8/1000; life expectancy: 82.0; density per sq mi: 339

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): (http://www.infoplease.com/cgi-bin/id/A0855603) Tokyo, 35,327,000 (metro. area), 8,483,050 (city proper)

Other large cities: Yokohama, 3,494,900 (part of Tokyo metro. area); Osaka, 11,286,000 (metro. area), 2,597,000 (city proper); Nagoya, 2,189,700; Sapporo, 1,848,000; Kobe, 1,529,900 (part of Osaka metro. area); Kyoto, 1,470,600 (part of Osaka metro. area); Fukuoka, 1,368,900; Kawasaki, 1,276,200 (part of Tokyo metro. area); Hiroshima, 1,132,700

Monetary unit: Yen

Language: (http://www.infoplease.com/cgi-bin/id/A0855611) Japanese

Ethnicity/race: (http://www.infoplease.com/cgi-bin/id/A0855617) Japanese 99%; Korean, Chinese, Brazillian, Filipino, other 1% (2004)

Religions: (http://www.infoplease.com/cgi-bin/id/A0855613) Shintoist and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

National Holiday: (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0907876.html)Birthday of Emperor Akihito, December 23

Literacy rate: 99% (2002 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $4.29 trillion; per capita $33,600. Real growth rate: 2.1%. Inflation: 0%. Unemployment: 4%. Arable land: 12%. Agriculture: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish. Labor force: 66.07 million; agriculture 4.6%, industry 27.8%, services 67.7% (2004). Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods. Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish. Exports: $665.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals. Imports: $571.1billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials. Major trading partners: U.S., China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE (2006).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 55.155 million (2006); mobile cellular: 101.7 million (2006). Radio broadcast stations: AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21 (2001). Television broadcast stations: 211 plus 7,341 repeaters; note: in addition, U.S. Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999). Internet hosts: 33.333 million (2007). Internet users: 87.54 (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 23,474 km (16,519 km electrified) (2006). Highways: total: 1,183 million km; paved: 925,000 km (including 6,946 km of expressways); unpaved: 258,000 km (2003). Waterways: 1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2007). Ports and harbors: Chiba, Kawasaki, Kiire, Kisarazu, Kobe, Mizushima, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Yohohama. Airports: 176 (2007).

International disputes: the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands", occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do), occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting.

Major sources and definitions (http://www.infoplease.com/countryprofilenotes.html)

Recent Rulers of Japan (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855080.html)

http://www.infoplease.com/images/japan.gif Geography

An archipelago in the Pacific, Japan is separated from the east coast of Asia by the Sea of Japan. It is approximately the size of Montana. Japan's four main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. The Ryukyu chain to the southwest was U.S.-occupied from 1945 to 1972, when it reverted to Japanese control, and the Kurils to the northeast are Russian-occupied.

Government

Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government.

History

Legend attributes the creation of Japan to the sun goddess, from whom the emperors were descended. The first of them was Jimmu, supposed to have ascended the throne in 660 B.C., a tradition that constituted official doctrine until 1945.

Recorded Japanese history begins in approximately A.D. 400, when the Yamato clan, eventually based in Kyoto, managed to gain control of other family groups in central and western Japan. Contact with Korea introduced Buddhism to Japan at about this time. Through the 700s Japan was much influenced by China, and the Yamato clan set up an imperial court similar to that of China. In the ensuing centuries, the authority of the imperial court was undermined as powerful gentry families vied for control.

At the same time, warrior clans were rising to prominence as a distinct class known as samurai. In 1192, the Minamoto clan set up a military government under their leader, Yoritomo. He was designated shogun (military dictator). For the following 700 years, shoguns from a succession of clans ruled in Japan, while the imperial court existed in relative obscurity.

First contact with the West came in about 1542, when a Portuguese ship off course arrived in Japanese waters. Portuguese traders, Jesuit missionaries, and Spanish, Dutch, and English traders followed. Suspicious of Christianity and of Portuguese support of a local Japanese revolt, the shoguns of the Tokugawa period (1603–1867) prohibited all trade with foreign countries; only a Dutch trading post at Nagasaki was permitted. Western attempts to renew trading relations failed until 1853, when Commodore Matthew Perry sailed an American fleet into Tokyo Bay. Trade with the West was forced upon Japan under terms less than favorable to the Japanese. Strife caused by these actions brought down the feudal world of the shoguns. In 1868, the emperor Meiji came to the throne, and the shogun system was abolished.

Japan quickly made the transition from a medieval to a modern power. An imperial army was established with conscription, and parliamentary government was formed in 1889. The Japanese began to take steps to extend their empire. After a brief war with China in 1894–1895, Japan acquired Formosa (Taiwan), the Pescadores Islands, and part of southern Manchuria. China also recognized the independence of Korea (Chosen), which Japan later annexed (1910).

In 1904–1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, gaining the territory of southern Sakhalin (Karafuto) and Russia's port and rail rights in Manchuria. In World War I, Japan seized Germany's Pacific islands and leased areas in China. The Treaty of Versailles then awarded Japan a mandate over the islands.

At the Washington Conference of 1921–1922, Japan agreed to respect Chinese national integrity, but, in 1931, it invaded Manchuria. The following year, Japan set up this area as a puppet state, “Manchukuo,” under Emperor Henry Pu-Yi, the last of China's Manchu dynasty. On Nov. 25, 1936, Japan joined the Axis. The invasion of China came the next year, followed by the Pearl Harbor attack on the U.S. on Dec. 7, 1941. Japan won its first military engagements during the war, extending its power over a vast area of the Pacific. Yet, after 1942, the Japanese were forced to retreat, island by island, to their own country. The dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 by the United States finally brought the government to admit defeat. Japan surrendered formally on Sept. 2, 1945, aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands reverted to the USSR, and Formosa (Taiwan) and Manchuria to China. The Pacific islands remained under U.S. occupation.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur was appointed supreme commander of the U.S. occupation of postwar Japan (1945–1952). In 1947, a new constitution took effect. The emperor became largely a symbolic head of state. The U.S. and Japan signed a security treaty in 1951, allowing for U.S. troops to be stationed in Japan. In 1952, Japan regained full sovereignty, and, in 1972, the U.S. returned to Japan the Ryuku Islands, including Okinawa.

Japan's postwar economic recovery was nothing short of remarkable. New technologies and manufacturing were undertaken with great success. A shrewd trade policy gave Japan larger shares in many Western markets, an imbalance that caused some tensions with the U.S. The close involvement of Japanese government in the country's banking and industry produced accusations of protectionism. Yet economic growth continued through the 1970s and 1980s, eventually making Japan the world's second-largest economy (after the U.S.).

During the 1990s, Japan suffered an economic downturn prompted by scandals involving government officials, bankers, and leaders of industry. Japan succumbed to the Asian economic crisis in 1998, experiencing its worst recession since World War II. These setbacks led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in July 1998. He was replaced by Keizo Obuchi. In 1999, Japan seemed to make slight progress in an economic recovery. Prime Minister Obuchi died of a stroke in May 2000 and was succeeded by Yoshiro Mori, whose administration was dogged by scandal and blunders from the outset.

Despite attempts to revive the economy, fears that Japan would slide back into recession increased in early 2001. The embattled Mori resigned in April 2001 and was replaced by Liberal Democrat Junichiro Koizumi—the country's 11th prime minister in 13 years. Koizumi enjoyed fleeting popularity; after two years in office the economy remained in a slump and his attempts at reform were thwarted.

At an unprecedented summit meeting in North Korea in Sept. 2002, President Kim Jong Il apologized to Koizumi for North Korea's kidnapping of Japanese citizens during the 1970s and 1980s, and Koizumi pledged a generous aid package—both significant steps toward normalizing relations.

Koizumi was overwhelmingly reelected in Sept. 2003 and promised to push ahead with tough economic reforms.

In April 2005, China protested the publication of Japanese textbooks that whitewashed the atrocities committed by Japan during World War II. Prime Minister Koizumi apologized for Japan's abuses, admitting that “Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering.”

In Aug. 2005, Koizumi called for early elections, when the upper house of parliament rejected his proposal to privatize the postal service—a reform he has long advocated. In addition to delivering mail, Japan's postal service also functions as a savings bank and has about $3 trillion in assets. Koizumi won a landslide victory in September, with his Liberal Democrat Party securing its biggest majority since 1986.

Princesss Kiko gave birth to a boy in September. The child's birth spares Japan a controversial debate over whether women should be allowed to ascend to the throne. The child is third in line to become emperor, behind Crown Prince Naruhito, who has one daughter, and the baby's father, Prince Akishino, who has two daughters.

In September, a week after becoming leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Shinzo Abe succeeded Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister. He promptly assembled a conservative cabinet and said he hoped to increase Japan's influence on global issues. Early into his term, Abe focused on nationalist issues, giving the military a more prominent role and paving the way to amend the country's pacifist constitution. He suffered a stunning blow in July 2007 parliamentary elections, however, when his Liberal Democratic Party lost control of the upper house to the opposition Democratic Party.

Abe faced international criticism in early 2007 for refusing to acknowledge the military role in forcing as many as 200,000 Japanese women, known as comfort women, to provide sex to soldiers during World War II. In March, Abe did apologize to the women, but maintained his denial that the military was involved. "I express my sympathy for the hardships they suffered and offer my apology for the situation they found themselves in," he said.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck in northwest Japan in July 2007, killing 10 people and injuring more than 900. The tremor caused skyscrapers in Tokyo to sway for almost a minute, buckled roads and bridges, and damaged a nuclear power plant. About 315 gallons of radioactive water leaked into the Sea of Japan.

Prime Minister Abe abruptly announced his resignation in September just days into the parliamentary session, during which he stated his controversial plan to extend Japan's participation in a U.S.-led naval mission in Afghanistan. The move followed a string of scandals and the stunning defeat of his Liberal Democratic Party in July's parliamentary elections. The Liberal Democratic Party elected Yasuo Fukuda to succeed Abe. Fukuda, a veteran lawmaker, was elected to Parliament in 1990 and held the post as chief cabinet secretary under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. His father, Takeo Fukuda, served as prime minister from 1976 to 1978.

In June 2008, the upper house of Parliament, which is controlled by the opposition, censured Fukuda, citing his management of domestic issues. The lower house, however, supported him in a vote of confidence. Fukuda unexpectedly resigned in September, barely a year in office. Shortly before he stepped down, Fukuda made several cabinet changes and announced a $17 billion stimulus package, making his resignation that much more stunning. He had, however, been unable to break a stalemate in Parliament that prevented passage of several pieces of important legislation.

Taro Aso, a conservative and former foreign minister, was elected as president of the governing Liberal Democratic Party in September. Two days later, on Sep. 24, the lower house of Parliament selected him as prime minister. He is widely expected to call national elections in the coming months. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which won control of the upper house of Parliament in 2007, poses a viable threat to the Liberal Democrats who have been in control for more than 50 years.

See also Encyclopedia: Japan (http://www.infoplease.com/cgi-bin/id/CE026576)

Gloryfication

14-11-2008, 07:04

Japanese humour & jokes

Basic zen temple etiquette

Do not bring any weapons of explosives inside without authorisation from the head priest.
Do not pee on the tatami. Do not bring a dog or other pet that could pee on the tatami.
Do not replace dry garden's stones by erotic statues (even nice ones)
Do not advertise for commercial products with loudspeakers unless there already are loudspeakers from tour leaders or recorded explanations on the temple's history. Even in this last case, inquire to the temple staff just in case.
Do not draw a moustache on the Buddha images (neither glasses, but that make sense as it would be anachronical).
Do not picnic or have BBQ in the moss gardens (nor inside the temple) as it is considered vulgar (even for foreign tourists who do not know Japanese traditional customs - no exceptions !).
Do not tickle meditating priest, even to know whether they are faking or not.
Do not indulge in sexual activities in the Abbot's Hall (other rooms do not have specifications, although it would probably be frown upon)
<li> And of course, do not forget to respect the sancity and calm of the premises (by Maciamo)

Is it possible to live in Japan ?

This was intended as a reply to a question on the Japan Forum (http://www.jref.com/forum/). "Is it possible to live in Japan? If so, how?" Answer :

Just breathe normally. The air is not si different or unique (as they would like to have you believe), and it shouldn't cause foreigners any health risk even with their alien lungs.

Most of food is also edible and actually recommended. Note that only a part of human beings (Japanese included) can ingest a local aliment called "nattou". Just try to see if you body has the right immunity for its consumption. If it hasn't, you shouldn't worry too much about side-effects as your body will automatically reject it as it enters your mouth.

You should beware of policemen, who are preying on gaijin, which they like to acuse of Japan's problem to turn away the attention from their own illegal involvement in the pachinko business.

Watch out for earthquakes too, and avoid renting an apartment on the lower floors to avoid being crushed once a M8 quake will crush your 'mansion'.

Other notable risks are 'tepodon' and 'tendon' (I heard they were developing 'katsudon' too) launched from the North Korean Empire of Evil, whose leader think he is cool but is in fact a buffoon.

Major health concerns include AIDS (esp. in the Roppongi and Shibuya areas), 20cm long centipedes, biting monkeys, ogres, flying grandmothers and foxes that steal your spirit by entering under your fingers.

(by Maciamo)

Punny Japanese

"Recent reports indicate the Japanese banking crisis shows no signs of improving. If anything, it's getting worse. Following last week's news that Origami Bank had folded, it was today learned that Sumo Bank has gone belly up. Bonsai Bank plans to cut back some of its branches. Karaoke Bank is up for sale and is going for a song.

Meanwhile, shares in Kamikaze Bank have nose-dived and 500 jobs at Karate Bank will be chopped. Analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank and staff there fear they may get a raw deal."

Made in Japan, very good !

"There was once a Japanese businessman who was engaged in a particular corporate meeting held in a particular business district in the Philippines. As he stepped out of the airport, he hailed the local cab, board it and requested his destination to be Manila Hotel. As the cab was attempting to make its way out to the main road, a ramming and screeching sound was heard. Out passed a Honda Civic CRX Turbo screaming away from the main junction. The Japanese remarked. "Mmmm, Honda! Made in Japan, verri powerful. verri faast!!" Some distance, a white executive sedan (http://www.jref.com/entertainment/japanese_humor.shtml#) whoosh pass along side the cab a high cruising speed. "Ahhh, Toyota! Also made in Japan, verri fasto. Also verri good!, very faast" The cab-driver upon hearing the comments, look thru the rear mirror and was quite resented over the Jap's proud attitude. At that moment again, another car came ramming fast, overtaking and cutting every car ahead of it. "Mmmm, Mitsubishi! Also Japan, also verri good, very fast. Mmmm!" It was not long after reaching the designated hotel, the cab halted in front of the lobby door, the cab-driver stared at the meter and proclaimed. "That will be US$239.40, sir!"

"Nan desu-ka! What?", the Jap was astonished. "The airport verrinear to hotel.

"Er, sir, this meter is NEC, made in Japan, very good and 'very faast'

Samurai joke

Back in the time of the Samurai there was a powerful emperor who needed a new head Samurai so he sent out a declaration throughout the country that he was searching for one. A year passed and only 3 people showed up. The emperor asked the first Samurai to come in and demonstrate why he should be head Samurai.

The first Samurai opened a match box and out pops a little fly. Whoosh goes his sword and the fly drops dead on the ground in 2 pieces.

The emperor exclaimed, "That is very impressive!"

The emperor then asked the second Samurai to come in and demonstrate. The second Samurai also opened a match box and out pops a fly. Whoosh whoosh goes his sword. The fly drops dead on the ground in 4 pieces.

The emperor exclaimed, "That is really very impressive!"

The emperor then had the third Samurai demonstrate why he should be the head Samurai. The third Samurai also opened a match box and out pops a fly. His flashing sword goes whoooooooossshhh whoooooooossshhh whoooooooossshhh whoooooooossshhh whoooooooossshhh. A gust of wind fills the room, but the fly is still alive and buzzing around.

The emperor, obviously disappointed, asks, "After all of that, why is the fly not dead?" The third Samurai smiled, "If you look closely, you'll see that the fly has been circumcised!

Nelson Mandela

Best read with a Japanese accent: Nelson Mandela is at home watching TV when there is a knock at the door. A Japanese delivery man is clutching a clipboard, pointing to a truck full of car exhausts (http://www.jref.com/entertainment/japanese_humor.shtml#) in the driveway and yelling, "You sign, you sign!" The bewildered president will do no such thing and slams the door.

The next day, the man is back, waving a clipboard under the great man's nose, gesturing to a truckload of brake pads and insisting, "You sign, you sign!"

Nelson gets rid of the man again, but next day he's back with two truckloads of car parts (http://www.jref.com/entertainment/japanese_humor.shtml#), once again insisting that the president sign for the goods. Mandela loses his temper and yells, "Look, I don't want these. Do you understand? You have the wrong person."

Puzzled, the Japanese man consults his clipboard and asks, "Ah soh. You not Nissan Maindealer?"

School Test

It was the first day of school and a new student, the son of a Japanese businessman, entered the fourth grade. The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American history. Who said "Give me Liberty, or give me Death?"

She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Suzuki, who had his hand up. "Patrick Henry, 1775."

"Very good! Who said 'Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth'"?

Again, no response except from Suzuki: "Abraham Lincoln, 1863."

The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed. Suzuki, who is new to our country knows more about its history than you do."

She heard a loud whisper: "******* Japanese."

"Who said that?" she demanded.

Suzuki put his hand up. "Lee Iacocca, 1982." At that point, a student in the back sighed, "I'm gonna puke."

The teacher glares and asks "All right! Now, who said that?"

Again, Suzuki says, "George Bush to Japanese Prime Minister, 1991."

Now furious, another student yells, "Oh yeah? Suck this!"

Suzuki jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to the teacher, "Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!"

Japanese men have understood it all

After nights of frustrating attempts of trying to seduce his wife, the Japanese man finally made a proposition to his wife. "If you want to have sex with me, let me know by pulling on my penis one time."

"If you are not in the mood and do not want to have sex with me, let me know by pulling on my penis 100 times!"

Japanese quality standards

This speaks a lot about the quality of Japanese products and their quality standards. They're still laughing about this at IBM. Apparently the computer giant decided to have some parts manufactured in Japan as a trial project. In the specifications, they set out that they will accept three defective parts per 10,000 .

When the delivery came in there was an accompanying letter. "We, Japanese people, had a hard time understanding North American business practices. But the three defective parts per 10,000 have been separately manufactured and have been included in the consignment. Hope this pleases you."

Haiku poem version of Windows

In Japan, Sony Vaio machines have replaced the impersonal and unhelpful Microsoft (http://www.jref.com/entertainment/japanese_humor.shtml#) error messages with their own Japanese haiku poetry.
Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A file that big?
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Web site (http://www.jref.com/entertainment/japanese_humor.shtml#) you seek
Can not be located but
Countless more exist
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ABORTED effort:
Close all that you have worked on.
You ask way too much.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yesterday it worked
Today it is not working
Windows is like that.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
First snow, then silence.
This thousand dollar screen dies
so beautifully.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
With searching comes loss
and the presence of absence:
"My Novel" not found.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Tao that is seen
Is not the true Tao, until
You bring fresh toner (http://www.jref.com/entertainment/japanese_humor.shtml#).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Stay the patient course
Of little worth is your ire
The network is down
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A crash reduces
your expensive computer
to a simple stone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You step in the stream,
but the water has moved on.
This page is not here.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Out of memory.
We wish to hold the whole sky,
But we never will.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Having been erased,
The document you're seeking
Must now be retyped.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank. Dirty menu

A waitress walks up to the table of three Japanese men at a New York City restaurant. When she gets to the table, the waitress notices that the 3 men are furiously masturbating! She asks, "What the hell are you perverts doing?", to which one of the men replied, "We all berry hungry"!

She responds, "But why are you whacking off?" One of the three says, "Because menu say `first come, first served!"

Gloryfication

15-11-2008, 07:51

Asian Conference 4: Value Of Vaccination Against EI
Japan Racing Association equine institute chief researcher Tomio Matsyumura presented a report on the 2007 outbreak of equine influence in Japan to the Asian Racing Conference which "highlighted the value of mandatory vaccination", reported racingpost.co.uk. Matsyumura explained mandatory vaccination once-a-year was introduced after 1972 EI outbreak & stepped up to twice-a-year in 1999. As a result "when widespread flu struck again in August 2007, there was a 50% infection rate among JRA-controlled horses, but this time the symptoms were quite mild". Whereas 6,782 horses were affected & racing stopped for 2 months in 1972, there were 2,000 horses affected by the 2007 strain & although racing was halted, the programme resumed after a week. Matsyumura commented: "Mandatory vaccination has been successful." Delegates also heard a review of the 2007 EI outbreak in Australia by NSW chief veterinary officer Bruce Christie "who never allowed the words mandatory & vaccination to pass his lips", but "instead noted EI had been eradicated within 6 months" & concluded: "Rigorously enforced quarantine protocols should protect the Australian thoroughbred industry." (Nov 14)

Gloryfication

15-11-2008, 23:32

Picture Post: Japan in bloom

In the Land of the Rising Sun, the first sightings of cherry blossom cause mass hysteria – so its early arrival this week has transfixed a nation.

By David McNeill
Friday, 28 March 2008

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00021/japan_getty700_21506t.jpg (javascript:launchPopup('http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/picture-post-japan-in-bloom-801643.html?action=Popup','', 652, 800, true, true, true, false);)
Japan's stunning annual cherry blossom season has arrived © Getty Images

Six days early, and accompanied by the sound of clinking glasses and sighs of cautious relief from meteorologists, Japan's annual cherry blossom season has arrived. The petals were once a wartime fascist emblem symbolising the transience of the soul and the closeness of death. But today, the blossoming of the sakura – as the Japanese call these ornamental trees – is one of the more life-affirming and beloved of this nation's annual rituals.

The pink flowers herald the start of spring and a new cycle of growth. For many, it is an opportunity to ponder the age-old bonds between humanity and nature, the fragility of existence and nearness of death. Primarily, though, it's a chance to party in celebration of the end of winter.

Millions of Japanese over the weekend will spread blue sheets under sakura trees, pull out beer, sake and food, and toast the spring under showers of petals. Sakura parties are one of the highlights of the Japanese calendar, and a rare break from some of the longest working hours in the world – so getting it right is taken very seriously indeed.

Because the blossoming will last only for about a week, predicting the exact day of its arrival is a science. Get it wrong and thousands of office parties and family outings go awry, weeks of planning are wrecked and millions of workers return to work disappointed on Monday morning. Shares have been known to rise and fall on the basis of a good sakura forecast.

For half a century, the Meteorological Agency has plotted the sakura front across Japan. Last year it got it disastrously wrong, forecasting the arrival 15 days early. This year the agency's supercomputer has competition from more old-fashioned methods: thousands of volunteers have snapped pictures of the sakura buds opening across the country and emailed them to a rival survey. By next week, most of the blossoms will have gone and life will be back to normal.

Gloryfication

16-11-2008, 06:53

Monty and Leslie's Travel Blog (http://montyandleslie.net/worldtravel/travelblogger.html)

Where we've been, where we're going...

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

kooky Japan

The Art of the Toilet
You have heard of the art of flower arranging and of the tea ceremony, but the Japanese also also have black belts in toilet behavior.
1. the toilet slippers. One takes off one's shoes at the door, which makes a lot of sense in rainy, often muddy Japan. Then one often puts on slipper for wadering around. The slippers are then taken off to enter a tatami room. But at the bathroom, one takes off one's house slippers and puts on the toilet slippers, which stay in that room.
2. The Star Trek console. Captain Kirk wannabees must come to Japan where you can sit with authority on your toilet and turn to the console alongside and set the temperature of the seat (no more cold bottom!), get a spray of water of varying intensity (there's a dial) or even a squirt of perfumed water (eau de toilette I suppose).
3. The noise maker. Leslie went to the bathroom at a museum on Saturday and found that in addition to the toilet flusher, there was an electonic sensor which when tripped would make a flushing sound. Why would one want the sound of flushing complete apart from an actual flushing device. Jun Terada explained that many Japanese women feel embarassed by the noise that they make on the toilet and flush while they are making noises. This flushing noise maker allows them to still cover up their noises without wasting water.

Fashion
When I lived in Japan in 1985, there were areas of Yoyogi Park where teenagers would congregate on weekends with rockabilly style enormous greased pompadours and sing Elvis songs. It was a charmingly bizarre revival of the 50s. Now, 20 years later, kids at the same park wear a strange mixture of 70s fashion with bits of heavy metal and punk thrown in. The men have long,shaggy hair, often gelled to be spiky and messy. The women often dye their hair odd browns or even completely blond. The women have very feminine outfits, some very 80s glam (think Dynasty) gold handbags and belts, but then some odd touches. One odd thing is the stockings. Perhaps its from growing up with school uniforms - girls wear sailor suits with navy skirts and knee high socks, boys wear black high collared pants and jackets with priest collars and brass buttons - but women wear high black stockings, often over the knee in combination with short skirts or shorts. Appropriate footwear is stilletto pumps with pointy toes, often in gaudy silver or gold. It looks completely terrible and much like a prostitute. But we are curious about the seeming 70s style of young Japanese people. Is there some time warp whereby it takes Japan two or three decades to decide which parts of western fashion they want to adapt or are they part of the western 70s revival?

The Pigeon walk
We have also noticed a bizarre phenomenon about the way Japanese women walk. Very often we have seen women walking with their toes pointed inward, sometimes so much so that they lift one foot up over the other to move forward. It's an odd, rocking, limping gait. What adds to the sense of these women being almost disabled by feminity are the high heels which a huge proportion of women wear all the time. They teeter around, some of them never even straightening their knees as they walk and often their heels slip sideways off their sandals as they go. When Leslie tried on some geta (traditional wooden sandals) she found they were all too small, but then the guy in the shop said a pair fit her, even though her heel stuck out over the back. Then later we noticed that women with such slippers always did have their heels over the edge. Is this so that one's shoes appear smaller than one's feet really are? Is all this the Japanese equivalent to Chinese foot binding? It does seem connected to the role of women.

posted by monty at 4:02 PM (http://montyandleslie.net/worldtravel/2006/05/kooky-japan.html) (http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=15151176&postID=114790714546690689) (http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=15151176&postID=114790714546690689&quickEdit=true)

1 Comments:

Joseph M. Pavey (http://www.blogger.com/profile/5656986) said... I once saw a toilet in a Japanese coffee shop that played music to cover up bathroom sounds. Much less discreet than the faux flushing sound the toilet you saw made, but no less effective I suppose, and you can whistle along for fun!

10:00 AM (http://montyandleslie.net/worldtravel/2006/05/kooky-japan.html#114797164551219008) (http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=15151176&postID=114797164551219008)

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Gloryfication

16-11-2008, 17:39

Simple Japanese Phrases

Ii nyuusu da ne.

That's good news.

http://z.about.com/d/japanese/1/0/h/a/1/sjp46_5.jpg

Gloryfication

17-11-2008, 08:23

Goodbye- Sayonara
Nice to meet you- Hajime mashite
How are you?- Genki deska?
Thank you- Arigato
Please- Onegai shimas
Excuse me- Sumimasen
Help me- Tasukete kudasai
Where- Doko
Who- Dare
What- Nani
This- Ko-re
That- A-re
Yes- Hai
No- Ii'e
I or Me- Watashi (for both male and female)
You- Anata
We- Watashi tachi
How much- Ikura deska?
Delicious- Oishii
Fun!- tanoshii
Very- totemo
Very fun- totemo tanoshii
Very delicious- totemo oishii
I don't know- wakarimasen
I am lost- michini mayoimashita
Its hot- Atsui-desu
Its cold- Samui-desu
Let's go- Ikimashou
Take a picture please- Shashin totte kudasai
Can I take a picture with you?- Isshoni shashin totte kudasai
Check please- Okaikei onegaishimas
I am- Watashi-wa ___________.
My name is- Watashi-no Namae-wa__________.
Japan is wonderful!- Nihon-wa subarashii-des!
I love/like Japan!- Nihon-ga daisuki-des!
You are very kind- anata-wa totemo yasashii-des.
Please tell me- Oshi-ete kudasai
How to go- ikikata
How to eat- tabekata
How to use- tsukaikata
Where is the? _______-wa doko desuka?
Good luck!- Ganbatte! Few tips-

In Japan when you enter any stores, you will hear the staffs say IRASHAIMASE which means "welcome". Everybody just ignores it and that is totally normal in their culture, the staffs are just saying IRASHAIMASE to acknowledge you and there is no need to respond, if you feel uncomfortable you can make I contact and smile.

Keep in mind that if you are invited to a house you

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imaufo

18-11-2008, 11:32

Its always good to know a few words when you are travelling...even if its please and thank-you ( where is the train ....another useful one to know)

Gloryfication

19-11-2008, 00:36

Must be good racing.

imaufo

19-11-2008, 06:54

I in many respects its right up there with the best.

Gloryfication

21-11-2008, 08:47

Empress of Pop
Like no J-pop star you've ever seen or heard, Ayumi Hamasaki rose to the top by controlling every aspect of her career and persona. Now she wants the world
By LISA TAKEUCHI CULLEN Tokyo

"Good. Beautiful." the photographer throws a thumbs-up from atop a ladder, and Ayumi Hamasaki swings her legs off her perch on a raised horizontal mirror. An assistant hurries over with a pair of furry mules. Hamasaki slides into them and shuffles quickly to the computer monitor. The 20 photo assistants, stylists, makeup artists and record-label entourage at the shoot now gathering behind her look on in silence while Hamasaki leans forward, concentrating on the digital images of herself flickering on the screen. Dressed in a futuristic black kimono over scuffed jeans, her face painted like a cross between a geisha and Gene Simmons, she projects an almost apocalyptic image that is both of this world and completely out of it—half-human, half-manga, totally pop star.

Her energy is certainly otherworldly. This shoot is for the CD sleeves accompanying the techno and acoustic remix versions of her latest album I Am ..., which is throbbing in the background. Typically for her, she's selected an entirely new image—"fake Japanese," or traditional getups refracted through a foreigner's stereotyping lens. Hamasaki arrived at the Tokyo studio more than nine hours ago to shoot the two album covers, after staying up all night with her staff awaiting delivery of special makeup equipment she'd ordered online from Los Angeles. Though she spent hours testing the airbrush device on her managers' faces, then some hours more in extravagant costumes and uncomfortable poses, Hamasaki is wide-eyed and wired while her staff rubs their eyes.

Finally, Hamasaki speaks. "I think ... 72, not 73," she declares in a voice scratchy from the long hours, pointing a spectacularly manicured finger at the numbered frame on the screen. The staff applauds in relief. It's past midnight on Valentine's Day when Hamasaki doles out little wrapped gifts before she retreats in a hail of cheerful thank-yous and goodbyes. Everyone slumps over. The boss is gone.

At 23, Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayu to fans, is the most powerful figure in Japanese pop music. She's sold more records than any other musical act for two years running in the world's second-largest music market. Her frequent makeovers determine the course of fashion. Her huge black eyes peer out from billboards in every corner of the country. Fans memorize her lyrics, transform into Ayu clones and swear she's changed their lives. Marketers clamor for her endorsements, borrowing her name and image to peddle everything from cell phones to doughnuts. Her announcement last fall of a courtship with Tomoya Nagase, the actor and lead singer for Tokio, led the news for days.

Like her megastar predecessors Seiko Matsuda, Akina Nakamori and Namie Amuro, Hamasaki's fame was spun out of the air by clever marketing. But Hamasaki is the rare J-pop queen who has seized her own power, wielding it to control her career right down to the fonts on her tour posters and the makeup on her oft-photographed face. For fans, the story of her by-the-bootstraps climb to pop royalty makes her even more worthy of idolatry. But for her record label, Avex, Hamasaki represents both its most valuable asset and the grave danger of having all its eggs in one star's basket—a danger so potentially costly that its top executives refused to be interviewed for this article, in part for fear of further stapling the label's name to hers. As for Japan's struggling, $3-billion recording industry, Hamasaki embodies both its best hopes and its greatest limitations as she attempts the tricky leap to overseas markets. While some J-pop acts have actively sought fans across Asia, superstars like Hamasaki haven't had to—until now. With the Japanese market slackening due to the recession, the industry and its stars can no longer afford to stay home.

Gloryfication

23-11-2008, 00:33

Breeding & Sales

Breeding, Training and Sales

The establishment of the Japan Cup in 1981 resulted in the breeding industry setting a goal for producing faster and stronger horses that could hold their own worldwide. This approach was to aim at a steady improvement of the Japanese-bred horses through the introduction of superior stallions and broodmares from overseas. This program has borne fruit to a point where the winners of GI races in some of the world's leading racing nations have been produced in Japan. As a result Japanese-bred horses are increasing drawing attention on the world racing stage.

1.Breeding

■ BREEDING REGIONS AND NUMBER OF FARMS

Breeding regions are located from the island of Hokkaido north to the island of Kyushu in the south. Traditional breeding areas include Tokachi, Hidaka and Iburi in Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Tochigi, Chiba, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures throughout the rest of Japan.
As of 2005, there were 1,276 stud farms with broodmares stabled. The Hidaka area of Hokkaido is home to the most at 1,008 (79%). If the Tokachi and Iburi areas are included, Hokkaido's total comes to 1,109, which accounts for some 86.9% of the nationwide total.
Breeding is expanding in Hokkaido, which has a cool, dry climate and plenty of space, while the industry has been shrinking in areas near tracks and in warm, humid Kyushu. The emphasis in these areas has turned to training.

Horse Racing Facilities and Breeding Areas

http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/areas.gif (http://japanracing.jp/sales/area.html) http://japanracing.jp/images/zoom.gif (http://japanracing.jp/sales/area.html)

http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-03.jpg http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-04.jpg Forty Niner ©JBBA Kurofune ©UEDA http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-05.jpg http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-06.jpg Rock of Gibraltar ©JBBA King Kamehameha ©UEDA

■ STALLIONS

During the calendar year 2006, there were 292 thoroughbred stallions registered at stud in Japan. 118 of these were foreign-bred and 174 Japanese-bred. Approximately 86% of these stallions are standing in the main Hokkaido breeding region.
By covering distribution, 216 of the stallions (74%) covered 50 or fewer mares, 35 (12%) covered 51 to 100 mares, 20 (6.8%) covered from 101 to 150 mares, 13 (4.5%) covered 151 to 200 mares and eight stallions (2.7%) had more than 201 coverings. The top five 2006 sires in mares covered were King Kamehameha (JPN) 256, Fuji Kiseki (JPN) 252, Neo Universe (JPN) 247, Kurofune (USA) 246, with Special Week (JPN) and Zenno Rob Roy (JPN) both covering 216. All but one of these top five, were bred in Japan.
Japan began a shuttle stallion program in 1997. During 2006, both Tayasu Tsuyoshi and Jungle Pocket traveled to the southern hemisphere to stand as stallions under this program.
The great racehorse and stallion Sunday Silence (USA), who died in August of 2002, was the 2006 leading sire in Japan for the 12th consecutive year (since 1995).

■ BROODMARES

If we look at the number of broodmares in Japan, we note that the figures reached a peak of about 15,287 broodmares in 1991. These figures underwent a transition in the late 1990s, when the number of broodmares fell to 12,000 and remained around this level until 2003. The numbers began to gradually decrease from that point up until 2006, when the actual number of broodmares reached 10,255.

■ FOALS

Japan bred fewer than 1,000 Thoroughbreds a year through the 1940s and the 1950s. However, as the economy grew rapidly and horse racing developed, the number rose steadily to reach 10,188 foals during 1992. An annual level in the upper 8,000s for foal crop had been maintained since 1997, but a declining trend beginning in 2003 has been noted. This resulted 7,655 thoroughbred foals being registered in 2006. This is approximately same level in number that were foaled during the late1970s. We see this as the result of a shift from quantity to quality and also the very large decline demand for foals caused by the decline in Racing by Local Governments.

http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-01.jpg http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-02.jpg Deep Impact begins his Stallion Duties in 2007 ©J. FUKUDA 2. Breaking and Training

http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-07.jpg

It became apparent that more efforts were needed to increase the numbers of ever better and stronger horses that were capable of competing worldwide. These highly trained horses would be channeled into JRA's two training centers, one each in eastern and western Japan. These efforts resulted in the appearance of specialized training farms in the breeding regions of Japan and near JRA training centers in the late 1980s, to accommodate the training and also to stable the rising number of horses being bred, It is now common for horses to move directly to JRA and NAR training centers and tracks following their initial training at these specialized facilities.
JRA, with the recognition of the importance of breaking and training in mind, purchased a 3,700-acre tract in Hokkaido during 1993, with the intention of creating the equivalent of "Newmarket" in Japan. This project resulted in Bloodhorse Training Center (BTC), a large-scale training facility. New private yearling training farms have also been built one after another, in the vicinity of the BTC in order to fully use its spacious and specialized training facilities.
Attention to training has now been increased twofold in breeding areas since the beginning of the BTC. This, along with improvements in techniques for the handling, breaking and training of young horses, has had a positive influence on other regions throughout the country. It has also led to the development of a training sales program for 2-Y-Os.
There have been striking improvements in the quality of Japanese racehorses in recent years and, in addition to the addition of better bloodlines, the provision of this new and better training environment is felt to have played the major role.

http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-08.jpg

3. SALES

Traditionally, sales of thoroughbreds in Japan have mostly been private on-site sales between the seller (the breeder) and purchaser and prices were decided between them. Few horses were handled at public sales. There have been calls over the years for more energetic transactions through sales, which have a high degree of impartiality. The ratio of horses bred to horses offered at auction has risen from around 20% in the mid-1990s to approximately 40% at present. Most Breeders are now becoming interested in livelier sales transactions. JRA is providing direct monetary sales incentives, derived from race purses, as part of promotional efforts to increase sales and sales operations in Japan.
Sales held in 2006 included three for weanlings, seven for yearlings, and four for 2-Y-Os.
Yearling sales held by Thoroughbred breeders' cooperatives are the most common form of auction in Japan. However, select weanling sales hosted by the Japan Race Horse Association have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is largely due to the high quality and highly popular lots, which the Shadai group of Japan has actively been consigning to these sales.
There is a tendency toward forward purchases in Japan, and weanling sales are lively. Due to the influence of U.S. training sales, sales of 2-Y-Os in training have been held in Japan since 1996. Buyers from Korea now attend these auctions and overseas sales routes have begun to expand.

http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-11.gif (http://japanracing.jp/sales/area-hokkaido.html)
http://japanracing.jp/images/zoom.gif (http://japanracing.jp/sales/area-hokkaido.html)
http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-09.jpg http://japanracing.jp/sales/images/photo01-10.jpg

Overview of the Sales Record OfferedSoldSales ratioOffered at
auctionAverage price Median price Overall Colts Fillies Weanlings69233648.6%9.0%¥29.90 million¥32.41 million¥22.85 million¥18.53 million Yearlings2,30388038.2%28.9%¥8.86 million¥10.87 million¥4.79 million¥4.31 million 2yo36821759.0%4.5%¥6.74 million¥7.88 million¥5.14 million¥5.25 million Hokkaido Trading Sale and the JRA Breeze Up Sale not included

Gloryfication

23-11-2008, 08:33

Play Wii Fit With Japanese Maids [Only In Japan]

http://kotaku.com/ 5057235/ play-wii-fit-with-japanese-maids (http://kotaku.com/5057235/play-wii-fit-with-japanese-maids)

Play Wii Fit With Japanese Maids You know what's missing with Wii Fit? Nope. It's maids! That's right, maids. Over in Akihabara's Refresh Club, folks can play Wii Fit with maids in frilly dresses. Like most things, Wii Fit maid style comes at a price: 30 minutes will run you ¥2,600 ($US TK). Says the establishment's owner: Playing Wii Fit by yourself is lonely. But here, playing along with a maid makes exercising enjoyable. That's a good point, and we're now slightly shocked Nintendo didn't bundle the game with maids. If Wii Fit is not your thing, Refresh Club runs other services like ear cleaning, foot massages and yoga — make that, maid yoga.

52 days ago

Gloryfication

27-11-2008, 07:13

nspirational Words of Wisdom Japanese Proverbs

Read our Japanese Proverb collection. You will find proverbs, sayings that have originated in Japan and have been passed down for centuries; phrases that contain wisdom in words, expressions and thoughts that are inspirational.

Darkness reigns at the foot of the lighthouse.
Japanese Proverb A single arrow is easily broken,
but not ten in a bundle.
Japanese Proverb

Art is the illusion of spontaneity.
Japanese Proverb

Ten men, ten minds.
Japanese Proverb

When you're thirsty
it's too late to think about digging a well.
Japanese Proverb

Fall down seven times, get up eight.
Japanese Proverb

When the character of a man is not clear to you,
look at his friends.
Japanese Proverb

Better to be a crystal and to be broken,
than to be a tile upon the housetop.
Japanese Proverb

One kind word can warm three winter months.
Japanese Proverb

Gossip about a person and his shadow will appear.
Japanese Proverb

There are no national frontiers to learning.
Japanese Proverb

cheesebeast

28-11-2008, 07:47

Levelling the lingerie playing field

An online shop in Japan has seen an extraordinary demand for its newest product: bras for men. More than 300 have been snapped up in two weeks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2008/nov/21/bras-men-japan-wishroom

Good video on link there :p

Gloryfication

29-11-2008, 04:15

Japanese horse breeders seek to expand H.K. market

Asian Economic News (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDP), Dec 16, 2002 (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDP/is_2002_Dec_16)

HONG KONG, Dec. 12 Kyodo

Japanese horse breeders from Hokkaido on Thursday sought to expand their export of racehorses to Hong Kong and other Asian markets by staging their first-ever exhibition in the region here to attract buyers.

Having gained recognition for their performances at international races in recent years, Japanese horses are increasingly popular among punters. T.M. Opera O, Agnes Digital and Eishin Preston are just some of the well-known names.

''We are not an advanced country in the horseracing industry. But we have been learning from other countries, such as the United States and Europe, and made improvements,'' said Akinori Kozono, executive director of Hidaka Horse Breeders Association's Hokkaido market operation department.

Hokkaido accounts for 90% of the total production of more than 8,000 thoroughbreds each year in Japan. Hidaka is one of the three major areas of horse breeding in Japan's northernmost main island.

''The level of quality of Japanese racehorses has improved a lot. We have confidence in them,'' Kozono told Kyodo News.

''If there is an Olympic Game for horses, Japanese horses definitely will be the champion,'' he said.

Kozono noted that Japan hopes to expand its horse sales to Hong Kong and Asia, and to increase its future export of racehorses by two to three times more than the present 1% of its total production of thoroughbreds each year.

South Korea is currently the Asian market for Japanese breeders.

Malaysia and Singapore will be the next targets for business expansion after Hong Kong, Kozono said.

Hong Kong is one of the world's major horseracing markets, which has a turnover of billions of dollars for each season and hosts a number of international racing events.

Although the current economic slowdown in the territory has taken a toll on wagers in recent years, horseracing remains popular among local residents.

Kozono added that Japanese horse breeders also hope to develop the mainland Chinese market in the future.

The two-day exhibition in Hong Kong introduces racehorse owners, trainers and fans in the territory to the Japan-bred horses, their breaking and training techniques.

The event is jointly hosted by the Japan Racing Association, Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association, Hidaka Horse Breeders Association, Hidaka Higashi Agricultural Cooperative Association and Hidaka Subprefectural Office of the Hokkaido government.

On how to pick a winning horse, Kozono offered three simple tips -- examine a horse's pedigree, use your betting experience, and above all, follow your hunch.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

imaufo

29-11-2008, 18:04

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/only_in_japan_2.jpg

Gloryfication

30-11-2008, 08:53

Cakes, Tarts, Pies, Cookies, Sweets
April 16th, 2002
http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/ichigo-dream.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif One of the advantages of living in Japan is the basement food market (http://greggman.com/japan/basement.htm). Even better for me, I live near Shinjuku, one of the largest cities in Japan in which there are no less than 8 of these places.

In particular, one of the most tempting things about them is the desserts. The basement is made up of all these little stands each selling their own brand of foods. In fact, in the biggest store in Shinjuku, Isetan (http://greggman.com/cgi-bin/linkredirect.cgi?http://www.isetan.co.jp/icm2/jsp/shinjyuku/news/oishisa/index.jsp), has around 25 different stands just selling western style desserts (and another 25 or so selling Japanese style as well) and just one stand has 20 to 30 kinds of desserts. That over 700 desserts to eat!!!! Here are a few just to give you an idea

http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/banana-cake.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif Here is some kind of banana cream tart thingy! I love bananas! For you chocolate lovers of course there are lots of regular chocolates like Godiva (http://greggman.com/cgi-bin/linkredirect.cgi?http://www.godiva.com/) etc but I'd prefer something like this http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/choco-cakes.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/cookies.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif These are fancy cookies. I gotten these for my family for Christmas the last couple of years. Some more banana creations. These are small cakes I think although if they were almost 100% banana I would not be surprised. http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/banana-tart.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/cream-puff.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif Here are some cream puffs. It seems like every department store's basement has at least 2 places selling them. Sometimes with flavored creams. More chocolate dreams. http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/chou-chocolate.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/ichigo-cake.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif It was strawberry season when I took these pictures so several places had strawberry creations Ooey, Gooey, soft and chewy. Could it be a rum cream cake? http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/juicy.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/looks-fattening.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif I have no idea what that *white* stuff is. I've seen a yellow thing that's similar which is made from sweet potatoes though. I guess I'll just have to eat one to find out. Strawberry cake with nama cream. Nama means "raw" but in Japanese "nama cream" means whipped cream. http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/ichigo-keiki.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/messy.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif I can't even tell what this messy looking dessert is. It looks like a cross between some kind of western dessert and a mid-eastern dessert on top. Got to have your dainty cookies for tea with the neighbors. http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/oshare-cookies.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/puffs.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif And more puff cookies for the next visit. Like in America where it is common to bring a bottle of wine when you are invited to dinner. Here it's common to bring a dessert. Japanese kabocha (pumkin) muffins with nama cream. I'll bet there is something in the middle. http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/pumkin-cream.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/japan/yo-desserts/purple-puff.jpg http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-4.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-1.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/pic_borders/dshadow-3.gif

http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif http://greggman.com/pageparts/spacer.gif I'll bet it tastes like purple. I think this is just frosting but there is a sweet potato that has purple meat that is used in lots of desserts in the Philippians and in some in Japan too. As you can see I'd have no trouble fattening up if I wanted to. In fact it's quite the temptation as I'm in this area everyday and this is only the basement western style desserts. That still leaves all the Japanese style desserts and the delicious looking non-desserts. On top of which there are all the cafes that sell desserts but I'll leave that for another page. http://greggman.com/emoticons/wink.gif

Gloryfication

02-12-2008, 00:58

Japanese Design

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/garden5.gif (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Japanese%20Castles)

Learning Activities (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Learning%20Activities)

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/garden6.gif (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Japanese%20Gardens)

Japanese design is very much like Chinese and Korean design. A lot of the beautiful things they make in Japan actually originated in another oriental country. One example is the garden. The beautiful gardens in Japan originated in China. Japan takes ideas and adds their own creativity. Though the designs are similar you can see the creativity of the Japanese that the Chinese and Korean do not have.

Traditional Japanese buildings are mainly open to nature. They are usually made of wood, earth, and paper.

Top (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Japanese%20Design)

Japanese Castles http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/Castle.gif In Japan, there are many different castles. We have chosen a few castles that are very fun to learn about.

Himeji is one of the oldest castles in Japan. It was constructed in 1340 and is still standing.

The Maruoka castle is another very old castle. It was built in 1576. Maruoka has one of the oldest donjons (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Dictionary/japanese_dictionary.htm) in Japan. Donjons are large towers in the middle of the castle, which were later used as a keep to protect the castle. A keep is a tower in which soldiers stand and shoot approaching attackers.

The Iga Ueno castle is a particularly interesting castle. It was constructed in 1611. What makes this castle interesting is that the stone wall on the western flank was made for defense against attacks from the people of Osaka.

The Hikone castle is a very interesting castle as well. The date of its construction is not certain. What we do know is that the castle was finished in the early 17th century. The castle's grounds were finished in 1622.

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/temple.jpg http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/roof.jpg Top (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Japanese%20Design) Japanese Gardens http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/MVC-007S.JPG http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/garden1.jpg Japanese gardens are a big part of the Japanese culture. These gardens don't actually come from Japan, though. The idea of the garden comes from China. After China started to design gardens, Korea and Japan liked the idea. They took the basic layout of the Chinese gardens and began creating gardens in their own countries.

The gardens use many trees and bushes. These trees and bushes are trimmed very neatly. The shapes that are made of the plants are usually rounded.

In the center of the garden, there is normally a stone. These stones are decorated in many ways. Some have a design. Some have the family crest. The Japanese gardens are usually surrounded by something. Most of the Japanese castles have a garden in or around them.

Top (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Japanese%20Design)

Learning Activities Take a Quiz on Castles (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/game_on_castles/sld001.htm) Make your own Garden (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/make_your_own_garden.htm) Top (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Design/design.htm#Japanese%20Design)

Gloryfication

02-12-2008, 05:55

Yutaka Take...10x Japanese Champion
8st 3 lbs--52 kgs

http://www.jockeysroom.com/YTake01.jpgBorn on March 15th, 1969, Yutaka hails from Japan where he is a nationwide celebrity. His father was the legendary Japanese jockey, Kunihito Take. His first winner was aboard Dyna Bishop at Hanshin in 1987.
In that very same season he became champion apprentice with 69 winners.

Just two years later, in 1989, he became champion jockey and was to repeat that feat a total of 10 times between 1989-1999, only losing it once in 1991.

He holds the record for most wins in a season in Japan at 178 in 1999. In 1998 he won his first Japanese Derby on Special Week, the pair also lifting the Japan Cup the following year.

A cult figure in his native Japan, he has many female followers which ensure that racecourse attendances are always up whenever and wherever he rides.

In 2000, he moved to the US to ride and had a quiet time by his standards.

In Europe, he has ridden 5 Group 1 winners to date. Ski Paradise was the first in the Yoshida silks in the Prix Moulin de Longchamp in 1994.

Seeking the Pearl was next in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in 1998. She became the first Japanese trained horse to win a Group 1 race outside of Japan.

In the UK, his first Group 1 winner was aboard Agnes World in the July Cup at Newmarket in 2000.

On the same horse in 1999, he had secured a sensational victory in Europe's top sprint, the Prix L'Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day.
He later rode Agnes World in the Breeders' Cup Sprint but they finished down the field.

In March, 2001, he rode a very enterprising race from the front on Stay Gold in the Dubai Sheema Classic to defeat Frankie Dettori. For 2001, Yutaka was based in Chantilly, France where he rode as a freelance, mainly for John Hammond. In July 2001, he broke his wrist and only returned to race riding in early September.

http://www.jockeysroom.com/THTakeIB.jpg (http://www.jockeysroom.com/ImperialBTake.jpg)Yutake also rode in England, Ireland and had a very good winner in Scotland at Ayr racecourse in September, 2001. On Arc Day, he rode Imperial Beauty to a marvellous win up the rails in the Prix de l'Abbaye.

It will be interesting to see how Yutaka fares in Europe over time. He definitely should feature in anyone's list of top 10 riders. This is borne out by the fact that he is invited to ride regularily in Jockey Challenges around the world.

Yutaka's rides are being handled by top bloodstock agent, Patrick Barbe, who can be e-mailed on PatrickBarbe@Wanadoo.fr

TEL: 00 33 (3) 44 58 18 55
FAX: 00 33 (3) 44 58 18 25
MOBILE: 00 33 607 34 77 32

Group 1 Races Won

1988

<li>Kikuka Sho 1989

Oka Sho
Tenno Sho Spring
Tenno Sho Autumn
<li>Takarazuka Kinen 1990

Tenno Sho Spring
Yasuda Kinen--Oguri Cap
Sprinters Stakes--Bamboo Memory
<li>Arima Kinen--Oguri Cap 1991

<li>Tenno Sho Spring 1992

<li>Tenno Sho Spring 1993

Oka Sho
Satsuki Sho
Japanese Oaks
<li>Takarazuka Kinen 1994

Prix du Moulin--Ski Paradise
Oka Sho
<li>Hanshin Sansai Himba Stakes 1995

Yasuda Kinen--Heart Lake
<li>Japanese Oaks 1996

Japanese Oaks
<li>Kikuka Sho 1997

NHK Mile Cup
Takarazuka Kinen
<li>Tenno Sho Autumn 1998

Prix Maurice de Gheest--Seeking The Pearl
Japanese Derby--Special Week
Oka Sho
<li>Shuka Sho 1999

Prix de l’Abbaye--Agnes World
Japan Cup--Special Week
Tenno Sho Spring
Tenno Sho Autumn
<li>Japanese Derby 2000

July Cup--Agnes World
<li>Satsuki Sho 2001

NHK Mile Cup--Kurofune
Prix de l'Abbaye--Imperial Beauty
Queen Elizabeth Cup--To The Victory
Japan Cup Dirt--Kurofune
Hong Kong International Vase--Stay Gold
<li>Dubai Sheema Classic--Stay Gold 2003

February Stakes--Gold Allure, Group 1.

Gloryfication

03-12-2008, 02:31

Breed Profile: Japanese Bobtail

http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/jbobsh.gif Pictured: Best of Breed Shorthair GC, BW, NW WYNDCHYMES TESS, Mi-Ke Japanese Bobtail - Shorthair Female
Photo: © Chanan

A cat with a raised paw beckons from the doorway. The cat is ceramic and the traditional Japanese symbol of good luck. They are modeled after the famous and favored bobtailed cats of Japan.

From written records it seems certain that the domestic cat first arrived in Japan from China or Korea at least one thousand years ago. The Japanese Bobtail breed has certainly existed in Japan for many centuries; it is featured in many ancient prints and paintings.

In 1968 the late Elizabeth Freret imported the first three Japanese Bobtails to the United States from Japan. In 1971 they were given provisional status in The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and were accepted for championship competition in 1976.

In 1993 the longhair Japanese Bobtail was accepted by CFA for championship competition. Mrs. Betty O’Brien, who judged the first CFA show in Japan in 1968, was deeply impressed by a longhaired mi-ke owned by Mrs. Kiyoko Tanaka which was exhibited at the show. The longhair Japanese Bobtail has existed for centuries in the orient as have the shorthairs.

http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/jboblh.gif Pictured: Best of Breed Longhair GC, BW, DW SONGGWANGSA SEIGETSUKO, Black-White Japanese Bobtail - Longhair Female
Photo: ©

A large painting from the 15th century hangs in the Freer Gallery of Art in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, showing two lovely longhaired Japanese Bobtails. Their coats are parted neatly down the back and their tails are large and plumey. The longhair Japanese Bobtail exhibits all the same characteristics as the shorthair Bobtail.

Japanese Bobtails are strong and healthy cats. They usually have litters of three to four kittens that are extremely large for newborns. Compared to other breeds, they are active earlier, walk earlier and start getting into trouble earlier. This breed has a low kitten mortality rate and high disease resistance. Kittens are never born tailless, nor are they born with full tails. They are active, intelligent, talkative cats. Their soft voices are capable of nearly a whole scale of tones; some people say they sing. Since they adore human companionship they almost always speak when spoken to.

They like to carry things in their mouths, and most enjoy a good game of fetch. Masters of the pounce, these cats love to ride on shoulders. They are good travelers. They don’t panic at shows or strange hotel rooms, they adjust to dogs and other animals, and are especially good with children.

The Japanese Bobtail is a natural breed and does indeed come from Japan; all CFA registered cats can be traced back to the original imports. Any color except the Siamese pattern or Abyssinian type agouti is permitted, the most popular colors are the mi-ke and those colors that can be used to create it: white, black, red, black and white, red and white, and tortoiseshell. Vividly contrasting colors and bold dramatic markings are preferred on the bi-colors.

http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/jbobsh2.gif Pictured: Second Best of Breed Shorthair GC, NW KENIPURR'S KURIKETTO OF KURISUMASU, Dilute Mi-Ke Japanese Bobtail - Shorthair Female
Photo: © Chanan http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/jboblh2.gif Pictured: Second Best of Breed GC KURISUMASU TAISA SUZUME OF KATSUMA, Black-White Japanese Bobtail - Longhair Male
Photo: © Jim Brown The tail is unique not only to the breed, but to each individual cat. Like our finger prints, no two tails are ever alike. The tail must be clearly visible and is composed of one or more curves, angles, or kinks or any combination thereof. The furthest extension of the tail bone from the body should be no longer than three inches. The direction in which the tail is carried is not important. The tail may be flexible or rigid and should be of a size and shape that harmonizes with the rest of the cat. The genetic factor which created the Japanese Bobtail is completely different from the Manx, a naturally tailless cat. Unlike the Manx, it is due to recessive genes and breeds true. The two breeds are not related in any way. Not only are their tails different, but the body types are completely opposite.

http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/jbobsh3.gif Pictured: Third Best of Breed Shorthair GC, RW YUKI-USAGI HANABI, Mi-Ke Japanese Bobtail - Shorthair Female
Photo: © Larry Johnson http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/jboblh3.gif Pictured: Third Best of Breed Longhair GC, RW YUKI-USAGI IZUMI, Black-White Japanese Bobtail - Longhair Male
Photo: © Chanan Pricing on Japanese Bobtails usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National or Regional winning parentage (NW or RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.

There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion, protection and preservation of the Japanese Bobtail breed. For more information, please send inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.

Text: Dee Hinkle
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 23, 2008

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Gloryfication

03-12-2008, 03:36

Stamps of Japan
Bob Okumura
home: http://www.infosights.com/okumura
email: bokumura@mindspring.com

1970-72 Classical Performing Arts Series
Highlighting the major forms of classical Japanese performing arts, this series is comprised of four sets of three stamps issued over three years. I don't have the fourth set and would appreciate any referral to a source.

For detailed background information on these art forms, click on the following links: Kabuki Theater
Kabuki for Everyone (http://www.fix.co.jp/kabuki/kabuki.html) - Matthew Johnson
The Grand Kabuki Theater (http://www.cfpa.ucla.edu/events/9609A2.htm) - Program Notes
Music and Dance of the Imperial Court
Gagaku & Bugaku (http://nimbus.ocis.temple.edu/%7Ekotsuki/index.html) - Koji Otsuki
Gagaku (http://www.zipangu.com/Gagaku/index.ENG.html) (in Japanese) extensive photos & sounds
Bunraku: Puppet Theater
History of Bunraku (http://www-leland.stanford.edu/%7Erosesage/puppetry/Bunraku.hist.html) - Matthew Johnson
Bunraku Fan's Room (http://candy.alacarte.co.jp/%7Eoichni06/Lbe-fan.html)
Noh Theater
Noh & Kyogen (http://www.iijnet.or.jp/NOH-KYOGEN/english/english.html)
Noh (http://www.iia.or.jp/kanazawa/bunka/trad/theater/noh/nohE.htm) - Kanazawa Prefecture
A Study of Noh (http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/%7Edon/pubs/noh.html) - Don Herbison-Evans
View close-ups (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic.html) of the entire series if you have a fast connection (or don't mind waiting for it to load) or select close-ups individually below:

Kabuki Theater
July 10, 1970

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/700710ax.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/700710a.jpg)
Maiden at Dojo Temple

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/700710bx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/700710b.jpg)
Scene from Sekuroku

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/700710cx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/700710c.jpg)
Kanjingcho, "The Subscription List"

Gagaku & Bugaku: Music and Dance of the Imperial Court
April 1, 1971

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/710401ax.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/710401a.jpg)
Genjoraku

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/710401bx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/710401b.jpg)
Cocho

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/710401cx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/710401c.jpg)
Taiheiraku

Bunraku: Puppet Theater
March 1, 1972

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720301ax.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720301a.jpg)

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720301bx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720301b.jpg)

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720301cx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720301c.jpg)

Noh Theater
September 20, 1972
I don't have this set and would appreciate any referral to a source.

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720920ax.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720920a.jpg)
Ghost in "Tamura"

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720920bx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720920b.jpg)
Lady Rokujo in "Lady Hollyhock"

http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720920cx.jpg (http://www.infosights.com/okumura/stamps/classic/720920c.jpg)
Hagoromo (Feather Robe)

Gloryfication

03-12-2008, 06:58

http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/about_photo01.jpg http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Ueno Zoological Gardens is the oldest zoo in Japan. Founded in 1882, it has grown over the years, expanded its area to 14.3 ha (35.2 acres) and been the flagship of the Japanese zoo world. Now it's home to over 2600 animals from 464 different species and provides visitors with learning experience about the diversity of animals as well as fun and enjoyment. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif In its long history, Ueno Zoo has received numerous animals from abroad. In 1972, the first giant pandas arrived from China to Ueno Zoo. We have been cooperating with Beijing Zoo (China), San Diego Zoo (US), and Chapultepec Zoo (Mexico) for conservation and breeding of wild giant pandas. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/about_photo02.jpg http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/about_photo03.jpg http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif In the "Gorilla Woods" and the "Tiger Forest," you experience the thrill of facing nose-to-nose with those amazing wildlife. In an effort to breed endangered species, we have organized nationwide and worldwide zoo networks and share experience and knowledge of animal husbandry and management. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif The Five-storied Pagoda and the tea ceremony house give the zoo a Japanese touch. The pagoda was built in 1631, rebuilt after destruction by fire, and in 1958 the owner, Kan'ei-ji temple, gave the pagoda to Tokyo Metropolitan Government, who assigned its management to Ueno Zoo. The tea ceremony house was built to entertain Shoguns in 17th century, and it stills stands as a historic structure in the zoo ground. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/about_photo04.jpg http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/about_photo05.jpg http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Take a short ride by Monorail to the west lower area. Small children love the Petting Zoo. Okapis from San Diego Wild Animal Park and aye-ayes from Tsimbazaza Zoo (Madagascar) are quite rare species, which came to Ueno Zoo as a part of international breeding cooperation. We have succeeded in breeding of aye-ayes as well as pygmy hippos, which are also endangered in the wild. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif In the Small Mammal House, you'll find the wonder of nocturnal animals. In 1999, the Vivarium (Reptile and Amphibian House) has been completed, where world's rare fishes, crocodiles, turtles, snakes and frogs can be seen in the green house. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Shinobazu Pond in the West Are is a unique habitat for wild common cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo, which once were seen everywhere in Japan, but now are endangered. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Animals http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif East Area: Pheasants, giant pandas, lesser pandas, snow owls, raptors, Sumatran tiger, Indian lions, western lowland gorillas, gibbons, Bird House, dholes (red dogs), Nocturnal House (mouse deer, leopard cats, slow lorises, bats), cranes, penguins, California sea lions, bears (polar bears, Hokkaido brown bears, sun bears, Japanese black bears and wolverines), birds of Tokyo, Asiatic elephants, monkeys (Japanese macaques, white-mantled black colobuses, ruffed lemur, ring-tailed lemurs, black-handed spider monkeys), llamas, capybaras, South American tapirs, American bisons, prairie dogs, etc. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif West Area: African animals (white rhinos, hippos, pygmy hippos, giraffes, zebras, okapis), emus, maned wolves, aardvarks, Hoffmann's two-toed sloths, gray gentle lemurs, aye-ayes, Small Mammall House (rodents, bats, armadillos, hedgehogs, porcupines, nocturnal animals), Vivarium (galapagos tortoise, saltwater crocodile, green iguana, geckos, Komodo dragons, corn snakes, Japanese pond turtles, Burmese pythons, and other reptiles and amphibians), waterfowls (common cormorants, mallards, black-headed gulls, European pochards, crested screamers, puffins, Inca terns, scarlet ibises, sacred ibises, fulvous whistling ducks), Children's Zoo (guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, miniature horses, donkeys, cows, llamas, goats, sheep and other domestic animals), etc. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Visitor Information (http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/main.html#visitor) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/img/link_icon.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/visitor_title.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/img/visitor_title_line.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Hours and Days Open http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Ueno Zoo opens 9:30am. to 5:00pm (tickets sold until 4:00pm) and closes every Monday (closes Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday). http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif *The Vivarium and the Small Mammal House close the door at 4:15pm.
*The zoo closes from December 29 through January 1. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Admission http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Adults (16-64) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif 600 yen Seniors (65+) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif 300 yen Students (13-15) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif 200 yen Children (0-12) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Free http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif *Free for junior high school students living in Tokyo or attending schools in Tokyo.
*Groups of 20 or more paying individuals are entitled to a 20% discount providing the group enters together through one entry at one time.
*Free admission for the disabled, and one assistant per disabled person.
*The admission is free on March 20 (Ueno Zoo's Anniversary Day), May 4 (Greenery Day), and October 1 (Tokyo Citizens' Day). http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Zoo Map http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Click here for a printable PDF map. (http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/pdf/map_ueno_english.pdf) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Guided Tour http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Enjoy a 45-minute tour with the zoo guides. They show the wonder of wildlife and answer your questions. The tour is scheduled twice a day. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Guest Services http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Gift shops, snack bars and restaurants. Baby strollers, coin-operated lockers, and wheelchairs (non-motorized) available. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Parking http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif We have no parking lots, but there are toll ones in the vicinity. http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Location and directions http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Ueno Zoo is easy to get to from anywhere in Tokyo. Located in Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo, the zoo is 5-10 minites' walk from JR Ueno Station, Subway Ueno Stations (Ginza-line or Hibiya-line), Keisei Ueno Station, or Subway Nezu Station (Chiyoda-line). http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Contacts http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif Address: Ueno Zoo, 9-83, Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8711, Japan
Phone: 03-3828-5171 http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif About Ueno Zoo (http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/main.html#about) http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/img/link_icon.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif http://www.tokyo-zoo.net/common/img/clear.gif

Gloryfication

04-12-2008, 00:14

1. General knowledge of Japan

Japan is located eastern fringe of China and runs across north-east to south-west over a distance of some 3000km. Northern part of Japan belongs to the Frigid Zone, and southern part of which belongs to the Tropical Zone. In spite of its lengthy, width is very narrow, then land is only 370 thousand sq m. Population of Japan is 120 million, making the 6th largest nation. Population density of Japan is not far from UK, but most of Japan is mountainous and the area of available land is extremely limited. Then actual density is more than 1700/sq km. This makes incredible land prices, in recent report, residential land price in Tokyo is about A$4900/sq m, 45 times as New York and 14 times as London. Actually this crazy price is only limited metropolitan area, but even in country, land prices is expensive and moreover, available land is extremely limited.
Japan is monocultural country. It makes you easy to understand consumer behaviour. Preference of Japanese also follows in narrow range. Therefore, it can easy to make a boom of something. But the boom cools down easily, too.

Major religion is Buddhism. But it is not as strict as other Buddhism country such as Thailand and India. We also celebrate Christmas, Valentines day.

Japanese speak only Japanese. Although we learn English in school, few Japanese can speak it frequently. Actually, in a trading company, they use English in business but sometimes, you would realize that it is difficult to communicate with Japanese in English.

2. Japanese wine production

2.1. History

Legend has it that grape-growing began at Yamanashi, where is major wine and grape produce region now. Wine may have been made from local grapes in Yamanashi in early times and consumed very locally. Yamanashi has the least rainfall and less fatalities soil, therefore rice can not be grown in Yamanashi. It is not difficult to assume that people live in Yamanshi compelled to drink wine instead of rice wine called "sake" which is more popular alcohol beverage.

In 1875, the first commercial winery was established in Katsunuma, Yamanashi, which is now a part of Mercian winery which is the second largest company in Japan.

2.2 Viticulture

Japan is not naturally suited to viticulture and successful viticulture has always been a struggle. There are 3 major problems in Japanese viticulture.

High humidity and rainfall during growing season,
acidic and fertile soil and
limitation of lands.

Climate and Geography

Major grape growing region belongs to monsoonal climate. As Mt Fuji provide rain shadow effects in Kofu Valley, Yamanshi has the least rainfall in Japan. But it still has excess 1000mm annual and 800mm rainfall during growing season. Especially, flowering season, in June and early in July is a monsoon season, this causes serious downy and powdery mildew problems. Worthily, just before harvesting, in September, we have typhoon season, sometimes it causes wind damage as well as bunch rot problems.
Excess water and fertile soils makes vine vigorously, grape quality can be reduced without careful yield control. 　
The high number of rainy days make reduce sunshine hours. Wide daily and seasonal temperature range and enough temperature summation indicate the availability of full maturation. However, the lack of sunshine hours causes unbalance for growing. Usually we should pick up grapes at Baume 9 to 11. After this level, flavour increases and acidity is reduced but Baume cannot be increased moreover, bunch rot and rain damage could be aware. Japanese law states that wine can be chaptalized and acidified. Usually we do not need to add acid but use a large amount of sugar in winemaking.

Traditional Japanese vineyard is trellised with overhead system to avoid excess humidity from soil and get good spray precipitation. This is specially important for table grapes to avoid scratch and get uniform ripening but not necessary for wine grapes. The overhead trellis is labour intensive and need trained skill for pruning. Planting density tends to low and this increases vigour to vines. New vineyard was trellised narrow T or Layre and get better results with high density planting. We should to try various trellis and planting materials to find the most suitable conditions in our own vineyards.

This will require major alternations to vineyard practices. But the structure of industry militates against rapid progress. There are more than 80,000 grape growers in Japan. The average vineyard size is around 0.25 hr in Yamanashi. Even in Hokkaido, where the scale of viticulture is greatest, the average vineyard is only slightly more than 0.5ha. Many grape growers are old and difficult to try something new. Recently some wineries encouraged vineyard reconstruction. Small wineries such as us grown grapes, make and sell our own wine. Some have been responsible for seriously interesting possibilities for Japanese wine quality and , as small scale operations, our outcomes are more readily visible.

Variety

Since last century, many grape varieties were introduced from Europe and US and tried to grow, select and propagate. As American varieties tended to tolerate to rain and diseases, they have been increasing. Cross hybridization between American varieties and European varieties were also proceeded and several cultivers were widely spread.
In 1995, total vineyard in Japan is 23,000 ha and produce about 250,000 t grapes. Only 8% of them was used for winemaking.
The most significant of these, and most important variety in winemaking is Kosyu, which is widely believed for the first cultiver in Japan. Kosyu is a Vitis venifela variety and has adapted our climate. It bears big round pink berries and is produced white wine. Almost Kosyu wine is designed dry to semi dry and medium to light body style. Commonly we made Kosyu as aromatic style, without oak. Because Kosyu has high phenolic contents in the skin, it tends to be overfined and become less body and simple style. Some of winemaker hate Kosyu because of its simplicity, but personally, we believe Kosyu is the original Japanese variety just like Kelner in German, Shiraz in Australia, and want to try many way of winemaking and viticulture techniques to Kosyu. Some of young winemakers try to lees contact, oak fermentation, oak maturation and success to get more complexity in Kosyu wine.
Another white wine grape is Delaware, which is an American variety and gives foxy flavour in wine. The wine is aromatic and sweet style. After fermentation, it is fined and bottled immediately then placed on the market in a few month after harvesting. They wish to be sold out this in several months. While we did not have significant red varieties. Traditional variety is Muscat Bailey A which is an American hybrid and more suits for table grape. Most wineries produce light bodied sometimes even semi-sweet style fruity red and rose wine from Muscat Bailey A. Carbonic maceration is sometimes used for it. Of course such wines should be consumed without aging.
In spite of many difficulties, since last decade, we have been trying to grow European varieties, such as Chardonnay, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with new trellis system. I have tasted some of their wines last year, and found that Cabernet Franc and Merlot showed good balance in fruits flavour and tannin structure.
In Hokkaiodo, they can grow good quality Muller-Thurgau and Riesling, and produces German style dry white wine.

2.3 Industries

Only holders of license issued by the Ministry of Finance are permitted to make wine. Now there are about 230 wineries in Japan. Top 3 wineries are MERCIAN, SUNTORY and SAPPORO.

Since 1980' when Japanese wine consumption increases rapidly, many of the large wine companies have concerned to improve the quality of wine, in order to keep their market share against imported wine.
Initially, they had focused on investment in modern wine making equipment and on training their winemakers in the methods used in the major wine producing nations. Suntory bought Ch. Lagrange in St Julien and Robert Weil in German. Some other companies bought Californian wineries as well. The domestic industry has also tried to hold its ground by using imported grape concentre even blend domestic wine with imported bulk wine to extend and improve its quality. Here is a trick in the label law. The definition of Japanese "Domestic wine" is the wine which bottled in Japan. Then it can be divided into three categories, Wine made from only domestic materials-kokunaisan, wine fermented in Japan using imported materials-kokusan and bottled in Japan using imported wine-yunyu. If theses 2 or three entitles are blended, then the exact proportions of each have to be shown on the label. Japan Winery Association adopted to remove ambiguity , yunu wine should be declared to the origin of them.

These labeling law may make consumers confuse, and small winemakers has proposed that the only wine made from domestic materials can state Domestic Wine and others should not use Domestic on the label. However, large companies refuse it. In turn, we have adopted a Certificate of Origin for the limited regional wines. This system seems well working and small producers wine become differentiated by consumers.

3. Japanese wine consumption

3.1 Background

There are several occasion when we drink alcohol, but some is different from Australia and sometimes difficult to understand. Especially, business man's overtime work drinking, which is a kind of negotiation techniques in Japanese business. A few business people took their clients to a bar such as a karaoke-bar, and let them drunk and relax resulting to make a good relationship even in business. In this occasion, kind of alcohol is not important, and the stronger alcohol and the quicker drunk is the better. The large part of Japanese brandy and whisky consumption is made at the business drink. My father was a typical Japanese business man, and he still loves whisky and drinks it every night.
The comparison of change in consumption of several kinds of beverage shows that wine consumption has been increasing from 1997. Several reasons why wine consumption is so rapidly increased, could be considered. The major change could be leaded by mass media. In 1995, a Japanese Sommelier, Mr. Tasaki won in the International Sommelier Competition. Since then he became as say Japanese James Halliday or Hue Johnson. Television, radio, magazine and newspaper treated about wine daily. More than 10000 people study about wine in the wine schools. More than 30 new wine books were published in every month. Wine becomes one of the cultures in Japanese life.
Although such a crazy wine boom was cooled down in an year or so, wine is now an important daily beverage in ﾊJapanese life.

Market segmentation

Wine drinking habits are also changing rapidly. The result of 279 Japanese females' drinking habits of 1997 shows as follows. This survey conduced to limited subjects as their customers. The result was compared with a similar survey in 1993. 42.3% of them drink wine once or more than week. This contrasts 13.2 % in 1993. 6.1% of them are drinking wine every day. Same survey indicates the preference moves more white to red and sparkling wine. And more dry preferences.
Mercian expected the segmentation of their domestic bottled wine as Red: White: Rose=3:4:3 in daily range and Red:White=4.5:5.5 in mid price range.
Mercian analyzed that statistical average wine consumption of Japanese is 1.4L/head, however, still majority of them chooses not drink at all. Therefore, those who drink wine frequently can drink as much as the average of Australian and even French and Italy. These Japanese may have knowledge about wine and choose wine by its quality.
Here is price segmentation of wine. The much growth in 94 to 95 showed only increasing the under 500 yen segment. Although, there were no major change in 96, growth segmentation moved from under 500yen segment to the above 2000 yen segment. This middle to high price range is shared by 66% of imported wine.

3.2 Export market

In 1995 domestic wine sales was 73,000 kL and the imported one was 86,000 kL. In 1996, it is expected that about 80,000 kL domestic and 90,000 kL imported. Although the growth of domestic wine sales will be 110% and imported one will be 106 %, Japanese wine market share is still imported wine dominant since in 1994. In spite of demand growth, domestic grape cannot be expected to increase. The Domestic wine is also included imported bulk wine and short of domestic grapes results difficulty of growth in domestic wine share. The dominance of imported wine should be stable.
Australia was the 6th largest exporter in 1995, but in 1996, Chile increases its sales more than 5 times and exceed Australia. In 1996, Japan imports 1,550 kL of wine and it showed 104% growth from the pervious year. In terms of average CIF price, Australian wine was second only to France and 522yen/L. The retail price of Australian wine is around 1000 to 2500 yen per bottle. For example Orland's Jacbs Creek series is sold at 980 yen. I think these prices are very good value. French wine such as AOC Bordeaux range also prices around 1000 yen but quality of J Creek is.....!!

4. Japanese wine market in 1999 to 2000

From the casual report of Japanese wine statistics, total consumption compared with 1998 was dropped by 36%. Especially imported wine that experienced significance growth from 1996 to 1998, dropped more than 43%. Relatively new producer such as Chile and Argentina has suffered larger decline (dropped by more than 70%). While European countries imports dropped by around 50%. We believe that the big boom is over but Japanese consumption of wine have slowed but positive. The rapid increase of wine consumption in 1998 owed mainly cheaper red wine. All decline has been in red wine sales. Many importers who have little knowledge of wine began to treat red wine and actually had imported too much wine. In early 1999, they clear their stocks with discount then quitted their wine business. Now reliable new importers and 'old hands' had considerable wine stock surplus. Most retailers have increased their shelf space for wine. Japanese wine market might continue steady expansion especially middle price range.

5. Japanese wine market in the future

As I mentioned before, domestic/import share will not change easily. Moreover, increasing demand for the high quality wine access import of mid to high price range wine from New World.
Because many Japanese wine enthusiasts desire to try something new, Australian wine has more opportunity to get reputation in Japanese market. Especially, I recommend more regional approach, such as Coonawarra Cabernet, Barossa Shiraz and Clare Reasling, and individual bland image sales. Already Penfolds have established their identity in Japanese market through the reputation of Grange. Only a few brands in the New World have done so, such as Robert Mondavi of the US, Santa Carolina of Chile. While French and German wineries had stable their identity.

1995 was the great year in terms of wine market in Japan. I do not think this is only a boom such as Beaujolais boom in 1980. Through this boom, Japanese people were much interested in wine and went into action to study and drink wine. This can be a good example of Korean and other Asian market. There are many opportunities to come the year 1998 of Japan to these markets.

Gloryfication

04-12-2008, 02:31

As a Japanese Island Grows Less Remote, a Wildcat Grows More Endangered
l (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/world/asia/05wildcat.html) http://graphics8.nytimes.com/ads/fox/article-sponsor.gifhttp://graphics8.nytimes.com/adx/images/ADS/18/82/ad.188283/tw_88x31.gif (http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&page=www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/world/asia&pos=Frame4A&sn2=d79656f3/2d058158&sn1=159a0c0a/78b2c710&camp=foxsearch2008_emailtools_810910c_nyt5&ad=wrestler_88x31_InTheatersDec17&goto=http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thewrestler/)

By NORIMITSU ONISHI (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/norimitsu_onishi/index.html?inline=nyt-per)
Published: February 5, 2008
IRIOMOTE ISLAND, Japan (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/japan/index.html?inline=nyt-geo) — The Iriomote wildcat is said to have roamed this small, subtropical island in the East China Sea for 200,000 years, but proved so elusive that it was not discovered until 1967. To this day, many islanders have never seen the wildcat, and some even stubbornly deny its existence.

Skip to next paragraph (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/world/asia/05wildcat.html#secondParagraph) http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/05/world/05wildcats02_190.jpg Ko Sasaki for The New York Times
Unlike this stuffed Iriomote wildcat at a wildlife conservation center, live specimens are elusive and seldom seen.

Enlarge This Image (http://javascript%3Cimg%20src=%22../vb/images/smilies2/tongue.gif%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20titl e=%22Stick%20Out%20Tongue%22%20smilieid=%226%22%20 class=%22inlineimg%22%20/%3Eop_me_up2%28%27http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/02/05/world/05wildcat_CA0.ready.html%27,%20%2705wildcat_CA0_re ady%27,%20%27width=720,height=600,scrollbars=yes,t oolbars=no,resizable=yes%27%29)
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/05/world/05wildcats_190.jpg (http://javascript%3Cimg%20src=%22../vb/images/smilies2/tongue.gif%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20titl e=%22Stick%20Out%20Tongue%22%20smilieid=%226%22%20 class=%22inlineimg%22%20/%3Eop_me_up2%28%27http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/02/05/world/05wildcat_CA0.ready.html%27,%20%2705wildcat_CA0_re ady%27,%20%27width=720,height=600,scrollbars=yes,t oolbars=no,resizable=yes%27%29) Ko Sasaki for The New York Times
To protect the cat, a sign and a rumble strip alert drivers to slow down at a place where the animal is known to cross.

One of the world’s rarest wildcats, it survives only here on Iriomote, one of Japan’s most far-flung islands. Almost indistinguishable from a house cat, the Iriomote wildcat is believed to be related to a leopard cat found on the Asian continent, to which this island was once linked.

In a nation where pork-barrel politics have paved over the country and dotted it with airports, Iriomote (pronounced ee-ree-o-mo-teh) can be reached only after a 35-minute ferry ride from neighboring Ishigaki Island and has a single main road hugging just half its coastline. Iriomote’s mist-shrouded, mountainous interior, blanketed by primeval forests and laced with mangrove-lined rivers, remains almost as impenetrable as ever.

Still, residents and tourists have increased in number in recent years, drawn by the island’s wilderness and by the wildcat itself, known here as the “mountain cat.” The encroaching development has added urgency to efforts to save the wildcat after Japan’s environmental authorities last year raised it one notch on a list of endangered species.

Researchers completing a census worry that the wildcat’s population has fallen below the 100 estimated more than a decade ago.

“It’s facing its biggest crisis ever,” said Masako Izawa, a wildcat expert at the University of the Ryukyus on Okinawa’s main island. Like other researchers, Ms. Izawa, 53, has spent years studying the animal without actually being able to see it, relying instead on photographs, videos and other secondhand evidence.

Though the wildcat is seldom spotted, its presence is felt everywhere on this island, including on buses, in restaurants and on bridges, all featuring images or sculptures of the animal. Signs on the island’s single main road, warning of wildcat crossings, are ubiquitous and manifold, vastly outnumbering cautionary road signs where children cross.

“Watch out for Iriomote mountain cats crossing,” reads one road sign with a drawing of the mottled wildcat. Others show a drawing of a leaping wildcat or a photograph with exhortations to “drive slowly, Iriomote.” Yet another type of road sign, with two red lights on top, displays a rudimentary, though instantly identifiable, sketch of the wildcat, with the plea that “there are mountain cats ahead — watch out!!”

With an average of three wildcats ending up as roadkill every year, the island’s two-lane main road — progressively widened to accommodate the increasing number of cars — has emerged as the main threat to the wildcat. The road meanders through the island’s inhabited lowlands, which happen to be the wildcats’ preferred territory.

The authorities have devised elaborate methods to help the wildcat cross the road unscathed. Even as the road has been widened for greater traffic and speed, new rumble strips called “zebra zones” induce drivers to slow down and alert wildcats to oncoming cars.

Eighty-five “eco roads,” or underpasses for animals, have been dug under the main road. Surveillance cameras set up at 19 of the underpasses confirm that wildcats are using them, though perhaps not as frequently as other animals, and perhaps not enough to offset other changes in recent years.

With most of Iriomote’s 110 square miles inaccessible to human beings, only 2,325 people live here. But even as the rest of rural Japan’s population has been decimated in the last decade, Iriomote’s rose 22 percent. What is more, the number of tourists surged by 33 percent in the past five years, reaching 405,646 last year.

“Human traffic into areas that human beings did not enter before is getting heavier,” said Chieko Matsumoto, 62, the leader of a private group that seeks to control the population of stray house cats, which can transmit diseases to the wildcat.

Gloryfication

04-12-2008, 03:40

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/images/t-jap.gif

• Tendai (T'ien Tai, Chinese): Founded in Japan by Saicho (d. 822 C.E.), this lineage quickly rose to prominence as the most important lineage in Japanese Buddhism. The basic doctrine of this lineage and the Chinese T'ien Tai are the same, as in their reverence for the Lotus Sutra, but Tendai differs in its emphasis on the mystical and esoteric aspects of Buddhism. The four primary categories of this lineage are (1) morality, (2) monastic discipline, (3) esoteric practices, and (4) meditation. • Shingon: Founded by Kukai (d. 835 C.E), this lineage grew to rival the Tendai lineage as early as the late ninth century. The Shingon belief system was tantric and taught that through mantras (short, repetitive incantations), meditation and the performance of hand gesture one can gain access to the power of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

• Jodo or Pure Land: Began at the time of the publication of the treatise of Honen (d. 1212 C.E) entitled Senchaku-shu, this lineage traces its scriptural heritage to the Pure Land Sutra (Sukhavati Vyuha), which prescribes loving devotion to the Buddha Amida as a means of being reborn in the Pure Land, or the paradise over which he presides. Pure Land prayer centres on the repetition on the phrase namu amida butsu ("Homage to Amida Buddha") and became one of the most popular forms of Buddhism in Japan.

• Joho Shinshu or True Pure Land: Founded by Shinran (d. 1262 C.E), this lineage takes Pure Land teaching one step further, claiming that humility and faith in Amida's love are in themselves true signs that the redeeming grace of the Buddha has already been bestowed. Amida Buddha seeks and saves without first requiring faith and good works. These spring up spontaneously from Amida's spiritual presence in the heart.

• Nichiren: Named after its founder Nichiren (d. 1282 C.E), this lineage was founded on the Lotus Sutra and taught that the mere repetition of the title of that sutra Nam-myoho-renge-kyo ("Homage to the Lotus Sutra") was sufficient to gain one access to paradise.

• Zen (Soto and Rinzai Sects): The monk Eisai (d. 1215 C.E) is usually considered the first proponent of Zen in Japan, although Ch'an had existed since the early sixth century and probably existed also in Japan before Eisai's time. The earliest forms of Zen generally avoided intellectualism and de-emphasized scriptures, doctrines and ceremonial. Eisai, whose form of Zen took on the name of Rinzai (Lin-chi, Ch.) affirmed the authority of the traditional Buddhist scriptures and used the koan or meditational riddle as a means of transcending linear thinking. Soto Zen(Ts'ao-tung, Ch.), tracing its roots back to Dogen (d. 1253 C.E), also affirmed the validity of the Buddhist scriptures but de-emphasized the use of koans and focused solely on extended, silent meditation.

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Gloryfication

04-12-2008, 08:57

Artist's canvas transcends his art
var imageL= '/images/ad/30/b7596a2f45e7a1a53bff6b2d480e.jpeg' if(imageL) { document.write('http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/ad/30/b7596a2f45e7a1a53bff6b2d480e.jpeg'); } else{ document.write('http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/3e/14/9dde1651474d84cde6fdb5520723.jpeg'); } http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/ad/30/b7596a2f45e7a1a53bff6b2d480e.jpeg SUPPLIED PHOTO
Takashi Ishida works at the Yokohama Museum in 2007.

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Gloryfication

04-12-2008, 23:09

Japanese Folk Songs

Yokoyama Katsuya (http://www.komuso.com/people/Yokoyama_Katsuya.html)
Alshire International - S-5319
1972
Track Title Kanji Length Shakuhachi Shamisen Koto 1 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%201.mp3) Hakone Hachiri (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Hakone_Hachiri.html) 箱根八里 02'58

One of the dangerous paths of the Tokaido which linked Tokyo and Kyoto in the Edo period. The easiest way to cross the mountains of Hakone was to use a horse led by a pack horse driver. Those drivers sang this famous song whilst spinning their reins. 2 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%202.mp3) Tabaruzaka (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Tabaruzaka.html) 田原坂 03'20

A name of a place at Kumamoto Pref., a southern part of Japan. In the spring of 1887, a rebellion took place there. The story of this song is about a handsome youth of the anti-government army who took the role of delivering the message of the government's defeat. 3 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%203.mp3) Kokiriko (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Kokiriko.html) こきりこ 03'38

A folk song, sung by farmers about 200 years ago. A musical instrument whose shape resembled a farming tool was used for the song, and the name of the tool was Kokiriko. 4 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%204.mp3) Edo Komoriuta (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Edo_Komoriuta.html) 江戸子守唄 03'40

This lullaby has been sung since the age of Edo, now Tokyo. 5 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%205.mp3) Hietsuki Bushi (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Hietsuki_Bushi.html) 稗つき節 02'28

A laborer's song handed down at rice-growing districts since the olden days. Its main story is about the tragic love of young lovers born into rival families. 6 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%206.mp3) San'an (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/San%27an.html) 産安 03'40

An ancient composition originally representing a woman's prayer for safe delivery during childbirth, in time it acquired a more generalized significance. representing the struggles and hardships involved in the creation of something new and depicting a heart pacified by its final calm. It is said that this melody is dedicated to being and nonbeing. 7 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%207.mp3) Sakura (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Sakura.html) 桜 03'38

Japanese traditional ancient song about cherry blossoms, Japanese national flower. This song has been well-known for over 1000 years. 8 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%208.mp3) Kuroda Bushi (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Kuroda_Bushi.html) 黒田節 03'08

Japanese main folk song. This song tells about the episode of a soldier during the age of the 16th Century wars. As the song is related with Sake (Japanese wine), this is often sung at feasts. 9 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%209.mp3) Jougashima no Ame (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Jougashima_no_Ame.html) 城ヶ島の雨 03'49

A fine work of recent Japanese lieds. It is a scene in Jogashima during a rainstorm. 10 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%2010.mp3) Shimabara no Komoriuta (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Shimabara_no_Komoriuta.html) 島原の子守歌 03'20

As the place "Shimabara" in southern part of Japan was near to China, many women were taken and sold to China. This is the song for the motherless children sung by their fathers. 11 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%2011.mp3) Kariboshikiri Uta (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Kariboshikiri_Uta.html) 刈干切唄 03'28

In olden days farmers cut bamboo grass or miscanthus for thatching their roofs or feeding their cows and horses. They used a scythe for cutting. While they worked, they sang this song with slow tempo. 12 (Listen) (http://www.komuso2.com/audio/488%20---%20Track%2012.mp3) Tamuke (http://www.komuso.com/pieces/Tamuke.html) 手向 05'08

A song for solo, offering to a soul. Music of the spiritual world which is the essence of the Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute).

imaufo

05-12-2008, 10:51

Very good Glory...how did you find these?

Gloryfication

05-12-2008, 13:57

I practice modern Japanese Buddhism and the country fascinates me. I love all kinds of music and my brother plays the guitar and sings and writes folk songs. Just wondered if Japan had a history of folk songs and Googled 'Japanese folk songs'.

Gloryfication

06-12-2008, 02:30

Famous Koyo Spots in Japan

Japan (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/index.html) - Fukuoka (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/fukuoka/index.html) - Kobe (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/kobe/index.html) - Nagoya (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/nagoya/index.html) - Tokyo (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/tokyo/index.html) - Osaka (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/osaka/index.html) - Hiroshima (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/hiroshima/index.html) - Kyoto (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/kyoto/index.html) - Yokohama (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/yokohama/index.html) http://www.asiarooms.com/images/travel-guide/14052007_154007_famous-koyo-spots-in-japan.jpg If you are visiting Japan, don't miss out exploring the seasonal beauty and variety of the country at the famous Koyo Spots in Japan. You will be impressed by the rich feast of colors in spring and autumn in Japan. While "sakura zensen" refers to cherry blossom in spring front, koyo zensen refers to colored leaves front in autumn. The koyo phase complements sakura phenomenon in Japan. As the spring sets in the cherry trees begins their bloom in the southern part of country, and then the season of blossom hits gradually towards the north. Miraculously enough, the foliage reaches fruitfulness and swings the sights with flaring bright colors just along the opposite direction in the country since mid September and continues till December in some sites. Not only are festivals organized to celebrate the mood of autumn or bounty, famous koyo spots offer enchanting sights of blossom to the tourists.

Just after the sultry and hot summer, autumn slyly sets in Japan triggering off the mood of celebration and fulfillment. The moderate and pleasant weather complements the raging beauty that Nature wells up with. The locals grab these opportunity for feast, frolic and fun. And the tourists wait for this season. Photographers, nature-lovers, adventure-lovers-all flock to this country, which is even otherwise blessed with beautiful flora like Maple trees. Imagine feasting your eyes on the Maple trees taking blazing crimson hue as the autumn sets in. In Japanese language, you call these red leaves- 'koyo'. And the custom of relishing the bounty of Nature through these koyo leaves has been a traditional activity among the locals for centuries.

After the boom of tourism in this country, tourists have also enjoyed the feast of colors in autumn in Japan. There are some famous spots like Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Fuji Five Lakes, Kansai, Kyoto, Shikoku and Kyushu, which hold forth the Japanese culture with the radiance of natural bounty through their colorful flora. You must note that the beauty of the season is also in the fact that while you can enjoy the koyo mood in Hokkaido is September, you will be able to celebrate the season on the central and southern part only later in November.

Gloryfication

06-12-2008, 04:42

Japan Goes Koo-Koo for Kit Kat Chocolate Bars

by Steve Levenstein

Kit Kat is one of the world's most well known chocolate bars. Originally created in England by the Rowntree company in 1935 and now sold around the world, Kit Kat's distinctive oval logo and bright red packaging is nearly as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola's. Look closely, however, and differences start to pop up... nowhere more than in Japan, which by rights should be renamed "the Kit Kat Kingdom".

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/kitkat_japan1.img_assist_custom.jpg

Japanese Kit Kat store display

Indeed, Nestle's crispy chocolate covered wafer bar has not only found its true home in the farthest east, it rules there, baby! And it's done so by utilizing a time-honored marketing trick: never get boring. To that end, Japan's tireless legion of advertisers and product planners bring the country's sugar-shocked consumers a seemingly endless variety of Kit Kat flavors, one after another. Most are introduced as limited editions, out for a short time and then gone, replaced by something newer (and, often as not, stranger). Lemon Cheesecake Kit Kat, anyone? Without further ado, let's check out a few of Japan's legendary Kit Kat varieties. (http://www.japannewbie.com/?m=200502) (image courtesy Japan Newbie)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/20041124-002m.img_assist_custom.jpg

Maccha Milk Kit Kat

If there's one thing Kit Kat's marketers know, it's the home market. Witness a pair of flavors not likely to be sold anywhere else but Japan, Maccha Milk Kit Kat (http://www.myspace.com/monkeytekdj) and Red Azuki Bean Kit Kat. (http://www.u-blog.net/kioku/note/386) The former is Green Tea with milk, an unlikely flavor for a chocolate bar but if there's one rule Japanese product planners hold most dear, it's that there ARE no rules. Don't believe me? Consider Red Azuki Bean Kit Kat. BEANS, people. In a chocolate bar! Quite normal in Japan, mind you, where Azuki beans boiled with sugar have sweetened desserts and more for centuries. (images courtesy Monkeytek and Mariemaie's Blog)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/kitkatmamewu5.img_assist_custom.jpg

Red Azuki Bean Kit Kat

Then we have Sakura, or Cherry Blossom Kit Kat. Introduced in spring to coincide with the tradition of Cherry Blossom viewing, Sakura Kit Kat (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yusheng/90612894/) comes in a pretty pink wrapper and features crème-filled wafer coated in pink Cherry flavored white chocolate. (image courtesy Yusheng)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/90612894_56d1632a6d.img_assist_custom.jpg

Sakura Cherry Blossom Kit Kat

Often Kit Kats feature regional specialties such as white chocolate Kit Kat made with Hokkaido milk from Japan's far northern dairyland. One of the most unusual regional bars, though, has to be Yubari Melon (http://crystallyn.vox.com/library/photo/6a00c2251cb0cff21900cdf7e8c6ef094f.html) . That's right, Melon Kit Kat - sounds like a recipe (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#) for bulimia if there ever was! (image courtesy Crystal's (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#) VOX)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/6a00c2251cb0cff21900cdf7e8c6ef094f-500pi.jpg

Yubari Melon Kit Kat

When local influences run dry, don't give up, push that envelope! The result: Apple Kit Kat (http://snackspot.org.uk/thread.php?story=0503031109sbc) . Now, you may think that Apple and Chocolate just don't go together. Strawberry, yes, and there have been a large number of Strawberry Kit Kat variations over the years, but Apple? Imagine a nice strawberry fondue - except you're dipping apple slices into the melted chocolate. Sorry, my mind just can't grasp it. (image courtesy Crystal's VOX)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/6a00c2251cb0cff21900cdf7e8c6fa094f-500pi.jpg

Apple Kit Kat

Leave it to a country that is oblivious to the ever-expanding sales of Kidsbeer, the frothy faux-beer for youngsters that topped my list of The Top Ten Weird and Bizarre Japanese Soft Drinks (http://inventorspot.com/ten_bizarre_japanese_soft_drinks) , to not bat an eye when Wine flavored Kit Kat was introduced. Now as opposed to the Apple variety, Wine Kit Kat (http://www.junkfoodblog.com/2005_11_01_junkfood.html) is something I can accept, not to mention covet. Officially titled "Kit Kat Chocolatier Wine", this limited edition at least pretends to be adult-oriented. The petite-sized bars feature a luscious red wine (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#) flavored white chocolate coating over crisp wafers sandwiching layers of wine-flavored crème filling. A box of these would make a great gift (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#) - just don't bring them to your next AA meeting! (image courtesy Junk Food (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#) Blog)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/kit-kat-wine-724087.jpg

Kit Kat Chocolatier Wine

This is only the tip of the chocolate covered iceberg - speaking of which, let's not forget Kit Kat I-Stick, a version meant to be eaten frozen. Sounds like something your mother would warn you against, but I digress. Then we have the luxurious signature editions made in collaboration with gourmet Japanese confectionary chef Takagi, including Bretagne Kit Kat (http://www.datenhamster.org/index.php?/plugin/tag/Kitkat), made with Bretagne milk and Ecuadorian cocoa butter. (image courtesy of datenhamster.org)

http://inventorspot.com/files/images/203080798_d3ae40bb7b_m.jpg

Bretagne Kit Kat

Anyway, the list of Japanese Kit Kats is long and getting longer by the month as new versions (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#) come down the pipeline. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Kat) lists 81 versions... 81! If this doesn't qualify as a national obsession, what does? In fact, the list of Japanese Kit Kats, past and present, would give a similar list of Hello Kitty items a run for its money (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#). Hmm... Kit Kat, Hello Kitty, what is it with Japan and kitty kats, er, kitty cats? Should these two juggernauts combine forces, there's no telling what could happen!

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Comments

absolutely enjoyed your (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6724)

Submitted on June 27th, 2007 by Avi (http://www.darkroastedblend.com/) (not verified) absolutely enjoyed your article

- worked up quite a craving.....

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6724)

Not just Kit Kat either... (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6725)

Submitted on June 27th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
Just got back from T&T, a beautiful, brightly lit Chinese supermarket we often frequent. A browse of the confectionary aisle turned up two kinds of Japanese AERO chocolates: Peach and Maccha (green tea). The sugar beat goes on!

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6725)

awesome (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6758)

Submitted on June 27th, 2007 by Sam (not verified) And to think i thought america was crazy when they came out with the white chocolate ones. Also do you think they would ship the melon ones?

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6758)

Japanese products (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6763)

Submitted on June 27th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
There's one site i know of that sources and ships all kinds of Japanese products: Rinkya. Not sure if they can get Kit Kats, Melon or otherwise, but you can
always ask. I have no affiliation with them but they seem to be on the up & up:
http://www.rinkya.com/

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6763)

Hmmm..... (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6779)

Submitted on June 28th, 2007 by ThePMSmonster (not verified) Maybe, they should combine hello kitty and kit kats to produce edible live cats!!!

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6779)

Live food... (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6782)

Submitted on June 28th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
I've actually eaten live (well, "still living" might be more accurate) food in Japan... i was served fresh Sea Urchin at a seaside resort once and the spines were slowly waving around as i dug in with gusto. After i had consumed every delicious morsel, those darned spines were still waving. You know what they say... "if it was any fresher it'd still be walking around". I do draw the line at cats, tho...

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6782)

Kit Kat (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6795)

Submitted on June 28th, 2007 by Scott808 (not verified) What a great article. I just got back from Japan yesterday and brought with me an assortment of Kit Kat that also included banana, , raspberry, orange, lemon, and 61% cacao in addition to the sakura and yubari melon one from Hokkaido. I also saw a brandy one but alas one of my friends bought the last one before I had a chance to.

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6795)

Kit Kat Katches (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6797)

Submitted on June 28th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
There's actually an excellent review of Kit Kats worldwide at Candy Blog, well worth checking out: http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/category/kitkat

Cybele covers weird Japanese Kit Kats like pumpkin - for Halloween, y'know - and a raft of global Kit Kats big enough to build a raft outta!

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6797)

Pocky (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6801)

Submitted on June 28th, 2007 by cybele (http://www.typetive.com/candyblog) (not verified) Don't forget about Pocky, made by Glico (and a couple of other imitators like Fran). They come in a myriad of flavor combos, some seasonal.

(Thanks for the mention!)

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6801)

Green tea and azuki beans (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6806)

Submitted on June 29th, 2007 by Pickphlow (not verified) I work at a Japanese steakhouse and we have both Green tea and azuki red bean ice cream which are two of our most popular flavors. Maybe its not as unusual as it seems.

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6806)

Japanese ice cream... (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6807)

Submitted on June 29th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
We can buy Green Tea ice cream, Azuki Bean ice cream and Ginger ice cream here in Toronto at various Asian supermarkets - the Ginger is delicious! When i was in Tokyo a few years ago, there was a little ice cream stand in Asakusa that had those flavors and more... Sesame, Sweet Potato, don't get me started... hmmm...

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6807)

WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6813)

Submitted on June 29th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified) WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK CHOCOLATE COMES FROM?!?!? BEANS!!!!!!

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6813)

this si most stupid note. (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6816)

Submitted on June 30th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified) this si most stupid note. Not all bean are the same. Cocoa beans has nothing to do with ordinary beans like faba, green, soya, ..etc beans.

I know one person who can say such silly things. I guess each one knows one at least.!!

:)

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6816)

Beans is beans... not! (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6818)

Submitted on June 30th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
Dont forget coffee beans, which are actually seeds of the coffee berry. A steaming mug of Kidney bean extract for ya?

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6818)

New flavor: KIWI! (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-6890)

Submitted on July 6th, 2007 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
A shout out to Laurel at rinkya.com, who have just added Kit Kats to their extensive line-up of Japanese snacks and other products. They have a new flavor too: Kiwi... the Kit Kat Krazyness kontinues!!

http://rinkya.blogspot.com/2007/07/want-kit-kat.html

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/6890)

kit kat (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-11390)

Submitted on January 28th, 2008 by Ashley Hopkins (not verified) How do i get these scruptious delicacies in the US?

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/11390)

Kit-Kats in the USA, Canada (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-11430)

Submitted on January 31st, 2008 by Steve Levenstein http://inventorspot.com/files/pictures/picture-584.gif
Hi, these Japanese Kit-Kats are really delicious too, much more delicate than the domestics. Here in Toronto i can usually find a few varieties at some of the better Chinese markets. Cost is around $2 per bar, or between $6 and $10 for a bag of mini's. I've been able to enjoy Maccha Milk, Hokkaido White, Maple Syrup, Red Bean, Melon, Chestnut, Cherry, Strawberry and Orange Brandy so far - each one an exotic tasty treat.

Check out Rinkya.com if you want some mailed to you from Japan.

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/11430)

shibar (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-12824)

Submitted on April 24th, 2008 by Anonymous shibar

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/12824)

Where??? (http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_kit_kat_chocolate_bars_5324#comment-14509)

Submitted on July 22nd, 2008 by Anonymous Where can I find a big variety in Japan? I go to 7-11 and grocery stores and have found about 10 different kinds; today I found watermelon.

Is there a store in or around Tokyo that sells a lot of different flavors?

reply (http://inventorspot.com/comment/reply/20525/14509)

Gloryfication

07-12-2008, 06:59

A little kitten
Bound by woolen curiosity
In the summer sun
by Glory
HAIKU for PEOPLE
since 1995.
What is Haiku? (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#whatishaiku) | How to write Haiku-poems (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#howtowritehaiku) | Links (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#links)
| References (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#references)

The old masters:

Akutagawa, Ryunosuke (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#akutagawa)
Anonymous (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#anonymous)
Basho, Matsuo (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#basho)
Buson (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#buson)
Etsujin (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#etsujin)
Hashin (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#hashin)
Issa (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#issa)
Kato, Shuson (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#kato)
Kawahigashi, Hekigodo. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#kawahigashi)
Kójó (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#kojo)
Murakami, Kijo. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#murakami)
Natsume, Soseki (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#soseki)
Raizan. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#raizan)
Ryusui. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#ryusui)
Shiki. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#shiki)
Takahama, Kyoshi (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#takahama)

New haiku poems:

Autumn (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#autumn)
Computers. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#computers)
Christmas (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#christmas)
Flowers. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#flowers)
Food (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#food)
Free Haiku (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#free)
Summer (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#summer)
Time (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#time)
Urban Haiku. (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#urban)
World (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#world)
Search for haiku books:

http://www.associmg.com/assoc/us/logos2000/ap-search-logo-126x32.gif?tag-id=haikuforpeople (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/haikuforpeople?tag-id=haikuforpeople&placement=ap-search-logo-126x32.gif&site=amazon)

What is Haiku?

Haiku is one of the most important form of traditional Japanese poetry. Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Since early days, there has been confusion between the three related terms Haiku, Hokku and Haikai. The term hokku literally means "starting verse", and was the first starting link of a much longer chain of verses known as haika. Because the hokku set the tone for the rest of the poetic chain, it enjoyed a privileged position in haikai poetry, and it was not uncommon for a poet to compose a hokku by itself without following up with the rest of the chain.

Largely through the efforts of Masaoka Shiki, this independence was formally established in the 1890s through the creation of the term haiku. This new form of poetry was to be written, read and understood as an independent poem, complete in itself, rather than part of a longer chain.

Strictly speaking, then, the history of haiku begins only in the last years of the 19th century. The famous verses of such Edo-period (1600-1868) masters as Basho, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa are properly referred to as hokku and must be placed in the perspective of the history of haikai even though they are now generally read as independent haiku. In HAIKU for PEOPLE, both terms will be treated equally! The distinction between hokku and haiku can be handled by using the terms Classical Haiku and Modern Haiku.

Modern Haiku.

The history of the modern haiku dates from Masaoka Shiki's reform, begun in 1892, which established haiku as a new independent poetic form. Shiki's reform did not change two traditional elements of haiku: the division of 17 syllables into three groups of 5, 7, and 5 syllables and the inclusion of a seasonal theme.

Kawahigashi Hekigoto carried Shiki's reform further with two proposals:

Haiku would be truer to reality if there were no center of interest in it.
The importance of the poet's first impression, just as it was, of subjects taken from daily life, and of local colour to create freshness.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

How to write Haiku In japanese, the rules for how to write Haiku are clear, and will not be discussed here. In foreign languages, there exist NO consensus in how to write Haiku-poems. Anyway, let's take a look at the basic knowledge:

What to write about?

Haiku-poems can describe almost anything, but you seldom find themes which are too complicated for normal PEOPLE's recognition and understanding. Some of the most thrilling Haiku-poems describe daily situations in a way that gives the reader a brand new experience of a well-known situation.

The metrical pattern of Haiku

Haiku-poems consist of respectively 5, 7 and 5 syllables in three units. In japanese, this convention is a must, but in english, which has variation in the length of syllables, this can sometimes be difficult.

The technique of cutting.

The cutting divides the Haiku into two parts, with a certain imaginative distance between the two sections, but the two sections must remain, to a degree, independent of each other. Both sections must enrich the understanding of the other.

To make this cutting in english, either the first or the second line ends normally with a colon, long dash or ellipsis.

The seasonal theme.

Each Haiku must contain a kigo, a season word, which indicate in which season the Haiku is set. For example, cherry blossoms indicate spring, snow indicate winter, and mosquitoes indicate summer, but the season word isn't always that obvious.

Please notice that Haiku-poems are written under different rules and in many languages. For translated Haiku-poems, the translator must decide whether he should obey the rules strictly, or if he should present the exact essence of the Haiku. For Haiku-poems originally written in english, the poet should be more careful. These are the difficulties, and the pleasure of Haiku.

Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Akutagawa, Ryunosuke. (1892-1927). Akutagawa wrote "Rashomon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0871401738/haikuforpeople)", "The Nose", "The Handkerchief", "Hell Screen (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568860617/haikuforpeople) ", "Flatcar" and "Kappa (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080483251X/haikuforpeople)". He didn't start writing Haiku before 1919, under the pseudonym Gaki.
Akutagawa biography (http://www.kalin.lm.com/akut.html)
Akutagawa books at amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=akutagawa+ryunosuke&mode=books)

Green frog,
Is your body also
freshly painted?

Sick and feverish
Glimpse of cherry blossoms
Still shivering.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Anonymous.

Without flowing wine
How to enjoy lovely
Cherry blossoms?
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Basho, Matsuo (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=basho+matsuo&mode=books). (1644-1694). The name Basho (banana tree) is a sobriquet he adopted around 1681 after moving into a hut with a banana tree alongside. He was called Kinsaku in childhood and Matsuo Munefusa in his later days.

Basho's father was a low-ranking samurai from the Iga Province. To be a samurai, Basho serviced for the local lord Todo Yoshitada (Sengin). Since Yoshitada was fond of writing haikai, Basho began writing poetry under the name Sobo.

During the years, Basho made many travels through Japan, and one of the most famous went to the north, where he wrote Oku No Hosomichi (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880014679/haikuforpeople) (1694). On his last trip, he died in Osaka, and his last haiku indicates that he was still thinking of traveling and writing poetry as he lay dying:

Fallen sick on a journey,
In dreams I run wildly
Over a withered moor.
At the time of his death, Basho had more than 2000 students.

An old pond!
A frog jumps in-
The sound of water.

The first soft snow!
Enough to bend the leaves
Of the jonquil low.

In the cicada's cry
No sign can foretell
How soon it must die.

No one travels
Along this way but I,
This autumn evening.

In all the rains of May
there is one thing not hidden -
the bridge at Seta Bay.

The years first day
thoughts and loneliness;
the autumn dusk is here.

Clouds appear
and bring to men a chance to rest
from looking at the moon.

Harvest moon:
around the pond I wander
and the night is gone.

Poverty's child -
he starts to grind the rice,
and gazes at the moon.

No blossoms and no moon,
and he is drinking sake
all alone!

Won't you come and see
loneliness? Just one leaf
from the kiri tree.

Temple bells die out.
The fragrant blossoms remain.
A perfect evening!
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu) Buson, Yosa. (1716-84).

At the over-matured sushi,
The Master
Is full of regret.

Pressing Sushi;
After a while,
A lonely feeling

A whale!
Down it goes, and more and more
up goes its tail!
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Etsujin.

Covered with the flowers,
Instantly I'd like to die
In this dream of ours!
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Hashin

No sky
no earth - but still
snowflakes fall
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Issa. (1762-1826).
Yoshi Mikami's Issa's Haiku Home Page (http://www.threeweb.ad.jp/logos/ainet/issa3.html)
Issa books at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=issa+haiku&mode=books)

In my old home
which I forsook, the cherries
are in bloom.

A giant firefly:
that way, this way, that way, this -
and it passes by.

Right at my feet -
and when did you get here,
snail?

My grumbling wife -
if only she were here!
This moon tonight...

A lovely thing to see:
through the paper window's hole,
the Galaxy.

A man, just one -
also a fly, just one -
in the huge drawing room.

A sudden shower falls -
and naked I am riding
on a naked horse!
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Kato, Shuson

I kill an ant
and realize my three children
have been watching.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Kawahigashi, Hekigodo. (1873-1937).

From a bathing tub
I throw water into the lake -
slight muddiness appears.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Kojo

Night, and the moon!
My neighbor, playing on his flute -
out of tune!
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Murakami, Kijo. (1865-1938).

First autumn morning:
the mirror I stare into
shows my father's face.

The moment two bubbles
are united, they both vanish.
A lotus blooms.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Natsume, Soseki (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=natsume+soseki&mode=books). (1867-1916)
Soseki's debut came in 1905 with "I Am a Cat (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0804816212/haikuforpeople) ". In 1907 he resigned his post at
Tokyo University as Professor in English, to devote his entire time to the writing of
novels. His writings include "The Three-Cornered World" (1906), "The Wayfarer" (1912-13)
"Kokoro (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895267152/haikuforpeople) " (1914), and "The Grass on the Wayside (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0939512459/haikuforpeople)" (1915).

On New Year's Day
I long to meet my parents
as they were before my birth.

The crow has flown away:
swaying in the evening sun,
a leafless tree.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Raizan.

You rice-field maidens!
The only things not muddy
Are the songs you sing.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Ryusui. (1691-1758).

In all this cool
is the moon also sleeping?
There, in the pool?
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Shiki, Masaoka (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=masaoka+shiki&mode=books). (1867-1902).

I want to sleep
Swat the flies
Softly, please.

After killing
a spider, how lonely I feel
in the cold of night!

For love and for hate
I swat a fly and offer it
to an ant.

A mountain village
under the pilled-up snow
the sound of water.

Night; and once again,
the while I wait for you, cold wind
turns into rain.

The summer river:
although there is a bridge, my horse
goes through the water.

A lightning flash:
between the forest trees
I have seen water.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Takahama, Kyoshi

A dead chrysanthemum
and yet - isn't there still something
remaining in it?

He says a word,
and I say a word - autumn
is deepening.

The winds that blows -
ask them, which leaf on the tree
will be next to go.

A gold bug -
I hurl into the darkness
and feel the depth of night.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Autumn Morten Paulsen

An island song
Like a floating river
Rain Rain Fall Fall
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Christmas Ron Loeffler

Glass balls and glowing lights.
Dead tree in living room.
Killed to honor birth. Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Computers Andeyev, Alexey V.

Spring backup in CS lab:
time to fall in love with
certain humanware. Ed \"Darts Vapor\" Button

alone, on the web,
drops of sensitivity
embrace an eyelash Chris Spruck

Faceless, just numbered.
Lone pixel in the bitmap-
I, anonymous. Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Flowers Dave McCroskey.

on the Chinese vase
flowers retain brightness
- - pouring out water.
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Food Paulsen, Morten:

Sushi and Soya
The Spring comes
When the day is over
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Free
Thomas Grieg

Pond with ice
tadpoles
summer

Looking at the clouds
blue in the ice-wind
space flows

Quiet around the point: ducks;
up down birches
helicopter Vince

Darkended dreams
become modern grapes of wrath
reaping a bitter wine. Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Summer Dhugal Lindsay:

they've gone...
where the beach umbrella was
the sand not quite so hot
Paul Mena:

through the fingerprints
on my window-
cloudless blue sky. John.

Deserted steel-mill.
Along the Ohio River,
Chromatic butterfly.

James Dolan

Dallas summer song:
cicadas whir, the
sirens call

Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Time Phil Wahl

The flap of a bat,
drip drip of monsoon waters.
Ancient image stares. Noel Kaufmann

Behold the ego
Set in glowing emptiness
On the edge of time Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Urban Haiku Michael R. Collings

Silence--a strangled
Telephone has forgotten
That it should ring

Freeway overpass--
Blossoms in grafitti on
fog-wrapped June mornings
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

World Dave McCroskey

the morning paper
harbinger of good and ill
- - I step over it
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu)

Links to other Haiku-pages:

Haiku books at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=haiku&mode=books)
The SPAM haiku archive (http://pemtropics.mit.edu/%7Ejcho/spam/)
AHA!POETRY's Haiku-page (http://www.faximum.com/aha.d/haiku.htm)
Yoshi Mikami's Issa's Haiku Home Page (http://www.threeweb.ad.jp/logos/ainet/issa3.html)
Back to Menu (http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#Menu) References - Makoto Ueda (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=makoto+ueda&mode=books) ( Modern Japanese Haiku -An Anthology: 1976).
- Kodansha (Encyclopedia of Japan (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/002-3431952-6304866?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=kodansha+encyclopedia+of+japan&mode=books): 1983).
- Kenneth Yasuda (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=kenneth+yasuda&mode=books) (The JAPANESE HAIKU: 1957).
- Harold G. Henderson (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=harold+g+henderson&mode=books) (An introduction to HAIKU: 1958).
- Daniel C. Buchanan (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=daniel+c+buchanan+haiku&mode=books) (One hundred Famous HAIKU: 1973).
- Other haiku books (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=haikuforpeople&keyword=haiku&mode=books)

Gloryfication

09-12-2008, 09:00

The fishing village of Obama, Japan has it bad for Barack. The local 'Obama Girls' specialize in hula dancing to honor his birthplace. The town sells Obama chopsticks and Obama red bean cakes and 'Obamaburgers' made of fish. The streets are lined with Obama banners. Villagers gather to watch Obama campaign coverage on TV. Obama Girls backup dancer Saturo Wada "would like to dance with him, together" and hotel owner Seiji Fujihara, who has organized an Obama support group, plans "to visit the White House when the ceremony is held to inaugurate this President."

Scroll down for video, pictures, and a letter to the town's mayor from the man himself.

WATCH:

SLIDESHOW:

'Obama residents clap as they watch
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/513/slide_513_11362_large.jpg http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/slideshow/nav_left.gif (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#) • (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/obama-japan-goes-crazy-ov_n_138646.html#)
The Obama Girls shout "Yes, we can!" during a rally on May 21st after Obama declared he was 'within reach' of the Democratic nomination. (Getty)

Here's a transcript of the letter Barack sent Obama's mayor.
February 21, 2008 Dear Mayor Marakami,

Story continues below http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/darr.gif
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the city of Obama for your support and encouragement, and thank you for your thoughtful gifts.I understand that Obama is a city of rich culture, deep traditions, and natural beauty. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is exciting to hear that you are engaged in debates that reach beyond your shores. We share more than a common name; we share a common planet and common responsibilities. I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations and a shared commitment to a better, freer world.

I am touched by your friendly gesture, and
I wish you all the best.

[Something in Japanese],
Barack Obama

**Read more about Obama, Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama,_Fukui).**

Gloryfication

09-12-2008, 11:16

The mouse is biting some PC users

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45262000/jpg/_45262884_-3.jpg There were 115,000 new cases of work-related upper limb problems last year

As the computer mouse celebrates 40 years since its first public appearance, its role in every day routine has become widespread.

The humble mouse gave people a way to interact with their computers - both at home and at work.

What started off as a wooden shell with two metal wheels is now standard office equipment alongside the keyboard.

But this device is part of a rising problem costing the UK economy £300m a year in lost working time, sick pay and administration.

Office workers using computers constantly are at risk from repetitive strain injury (RSI), more recently known as non-specific arm pain (NSAP).

Report early

This is a collection of symptoms covering work-related upper limb problems, which can affect the hands, wrists, necks, arms and upper back.

There were 115,000 new cases last year, up from 86,000 the previous year, according to statistics by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45262000/jpg/_45262887_-4.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif Make sure you feel really comfortable and listen to your body - do something about the problem rather than allowing it to get worse http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif

Sonia Job, RSI sufferer

"I have noticed an increase on people with upper limb problems," said Pauline Cole, a spokesperson for the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (ACPOHE).

"A lot of people are using computers more, even in jobs you wouldn't traditionally expect it," she added.

She believes reporting aches and pains early on is key because the condition is much easier to treat if treated from the start.

'Crunching feeling'

But back in 1991, Sonia Job was not aware that spending long periods of time in front of a machine was causing her health problems.

"It started off with pains on my neck and right shoulder blade. Sometimes I can't move my neck to the left or right, and I can't put my chin down to my chest" she said.

The "crunching feeling" at the top of her back only got worse as she continued physically overstretching herself when writing emails and putting together spreadsheets at work.

These days the pain can prevent her from driving a car and it makes every day tasks like doing the washing up difficult.

"Make sure you feel really comfortable and listen to your body. Do something about the problem rather than allowing it to get worse," she advised.

Regular breaks

Physiotherapist Pauline Cole recommended taking regular breaks away from the computer, rotating tasks, taking care with posture, and using a headset to type while on the phone.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif TIPS TO AVOID RSI
Try to avoid prolonged or repetitive tasks
Use both hands
Take short breaks rather than one long one
Keep warm - cold muscles don't extend properly
Report pain or other symptoms straight away
Use a headset when talking and typing
Rotate work tasks to vary routine
Follow guidance from your individual assessment
Customize your mouse settings to use it occasionally with your other hand

Individual assessments should be provided by employers for each staff member and reasonable adjustments made to meet their needs.

People working at a number of different desks, for instance in call centres, would benefit from adjustable office equipment such as computer screens and chairs.

Regular breaks and access to occupational health specialists should also be given to all employees.

However, there are concerns that these basic requirements are not being met at schools where children use computers daily.

Bunny Martin, who runs charity Body Action Campaign, said schools tend to have a single standard computer set-up for nine and 15-year-olds alike.

Individual needs

The charity runs a film and animation programme for children which is aimed at teaching them safe practices when interacting with technology.

Ms Martin said around 60% of children she meets have first symptoms of NSAP, including strain-related pain in the neck and shoulders.

She is concerned that young children are spending excessive amounts of time on machines, texting on mobiles and playing computer games.

But as tech has evolved, the computer mouse has also come a long way over 40 years to meet the diverse needs of its users.

There is even a "footmouse" that gives the users the ability to move the cursor and click the buttons with their feet.

Other types of the device include ergonomic, trackball, vertical, cordless, scroll, for left and right-handed people, and in smaller sizes for children, among others.

But to ensure individual needs are met, physiotherapist Pauline Cole reiterated: "One size does not fit all, and that's why the workplace assessment is important in the first place."