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Tuesday: Japanese Proverb (Nihon-no Kotowaza)
11/11/2015 blog
Tenmo Kaikai So-ni-shite Morasazu (=Heaven’s vengeance is slow but sure./Justice has long arms./ The mills of God grind slowly, but exceeding fine.) (Laozi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi) This Chinese proverb by Laozi was adopted by the Japanese in Edo Period* (1603 – 1868). It took root in Japanese society, where the philosophy called “Poetic Justice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetic_justice)” has been highly valued. Humans are weak. They want to be recognized when they do something great, especially something very ethical. So, this proverb brings you peace by assuring that God knows when you did something right even though no other humans don’t notice it. “God knows.” – This is a key element of this proverb. Simply the Japanese …
Monday: One Point Japanese Clinic
11/10/2015 blog
-to Omoimasu/(I) think …… (Kabuki: Do you believe this is a MAN?) [Rules of This Sentence Pattern] Stating the speaker’s impression or opinion. Stating the speaker’s conjecture or judgement. You can ask the listener’s impression, opinion, and/or judgement by using “-to Omoimasuka. [Examples] Watashi-wa Ame-ga Furu-to Omoimasu. (= I think it will rain tomorrow.) Sensei-wa Gurando-ni Iru-to Omoimasu. (= I think the teacher is in the playground.) Naoko: Tanaka-san-mo Kino-no Paati-ni Itta-to Omoimasuka. (= Do you think Mr. Tanaka went to the party yesterday?) Toshihiko: Iie, Ikanakatta-to Omoimasu. (= No, I don’t think he did.) Kabuki-wa Omoshiroi-to Omoimasu. (= I think Kabuki is interesting.) Suzuki-san-no Inu-wa Totemo Kawaii-to Omoimasu. (= …
Friday: Japanese Hero
11/07/2015 blog
Morishita Yoko (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Morishita) (Worldly Well-Known Ballerina: 1948 -) (Have you ever seen her “Swan Lake” – AWESOME!) “Integrity” – That is the word which was created for this “Prima Ballerina” in this century. And that is the reason I chose her as a Japanese Hero! I am such a simpleton that I deeply admire those who can do what I can’t. Again Yoko is the one that can do what I can never do. She is willing to sacrifice what is important to her life to keep her integrity as a prima ballerina. The Queen of Ballet for a century is a very small lady even according to Japanese standard. …
Thursday: Japanese Food
11/06/2015 blog
Sakura (Horse Meat) Nabe/Momiji (Venison) Nabe (Sakura Nabe) (Ingredients of Sakura/Horse Meat Nabe) (Momiji/Maple Leaves Nabe) (Ingredients of Momiji Nabe) It’s getting colder and colder. What the Japanese want to have in this season, in addition to Botan Nabe, includes Sakura Nabe and Momiji Nabe. If you have studied Japanese before, you must know that “Sakura” means “Cherry (Blossoms)” while “Momiji” “Maple Leaves.” Bingo! Do you happen to know why horse meat is called “Sakura” and why venison “Momiji”? Let me show you… Sakura Nabe: Remember the color of Cherry Blossoms? That is the color of horse meat. That is why it is called “Sakura Nabe” instead of “Horse Meat …
Wednesday: Japanese Manga (Japanese Cartoon)
11/05/2015 blog
Sasuke (DVD Version “Sasuke”) “Sasuke” is a male name in Samurai Era/Edo Period. In those days, the Japanese usually didn’t have family/last names. So, it’s nice and clear that the main character of this Manga is a boy in the picture above, who is a Koga School (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dga-ry%C5%AB) Ninja. Americans tend to think of (Japanese) Ninjas as “cool.” But that’s not it. It is NOT easy to live as a Ninja. Ninjas were professional spies and assassins. Once you are born to some Ninja family or community, you are destined to be a Ninja. You have no choice. Whether you can survive or not solely depends on how lucky you are and how skillfully trained …
Tuesday: Japanese Proverb (Nihon-no Kotowaza)
11/04/2015 blog
Jigoku-no Sata-mo Kaneshidai (Money is the key that opens all doors./ Money is a good master key./ Money makes the mare to go.) (Courtesy to notable-quotes.com) It is said in most religions that you cannot take your money to the Heaven/Hell. According to those religions, humans are not advised to keep their wealth at the time of death. The less attachment to the material wealth, the better. “The Church Business” makes dough that way, right? Now here is a Japanese proverb that says that you have to be wealthy enough at the time of your departure (to the other world) so you can bribe demons in the Hell, who are going …
Monday: One Point Japanese Clinic
11/04/2015 blog
Tokuiwaza/One’s Special Art (Judo Morote Seoinage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoi_nage) I am a Judo Athlete. People ask me what my favorite technique (Tokuiwaza) is. That is the one GIF image above – Morote Seoinage, which is what my Judo Sensei (coach) thinks mine is. I don’t know exactly what my Tokuiwaza is at all, honestly. I cannot do any Judo technique perfectly, so I don’t have any Tokuiwaza. Need more practice – that’s what I mean. The expressions like “Tokui” or “Tokui-de aru” are used very often in Japan. So I want to discuss today. As a matter of fact, like all other Japanese words, “tokui” has many meanings. However, here are some expressions …
Friday: Japanese Hero
11/03/2015 blog
Shotoku Taishi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Sh%C5%8Dtoku) (One of the Most Respectable People in Japanese History) There are a few historic figures who have been widely recognized as “(leaves) nothing to be desired” in Japan. Obviously Shotoku Taishi is among them. All that Japanese people learn about him at school is simply worship him. There is no room to criticize this figure. This is proven by the fact that Shotoku Taishi has been used as the figure on Japanese currency notes called Nihon Ginko Ken (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknotes_of_the_Japanese_yen) most often. (100 Yen Note Released in July 5, 1956) (1,000 Yen Note Released in January 4, 1965) (5,000 Yen Note Released in January 4, 1986) (10,000 Yen Note Released in …
Thursday: Japanese Food
11/02/2015 blog
Botan Nabe (https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botan_nabe) (Botan Nabe) (How It Is Served) The Daylight Saving Time ended. It’s WINTER! Speaking of winter, the Japanese think about “Nabe Ryori (the cuisines served in the pot as it is).” Today I will talk about Botan Nabe (pictures above). As all Nabe Ryori do, Botan Nabe warms you up. Something special about Botan Nabe is its beauty of the way the wild boars are served. Look at the picture above! Doesn’t it look like a piece of camellia flower? Yes, “Botan” means “Camellia.” Now you got it! You can explain to your friends why this particular Nabe Ryori is called “Botan Nabe.” Ingredients of Botan Nabe …
Wednesday: Japanese Manga (Japanese Cartoon)
11/02/2015 blog
Hakushon Daimao/The Genie Family (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Genie_Family) (Hakushon Daimao and his daughter, Akubi) “Hakushon” is an onomatopoeia of sneezing in Japanese. “Mao” literally means “Satan,” “the Devil,” or “the Prince of Darkness [Evil].” On the other hand, “Dai (Grand/Big)” was added to the beginning of the word, “Mao.” So, “Daimao” was supposed to mean something very powerfully evil. However, as you see in the picture above, “Hakushon (Sneezing) Big Satan” is far from that image. Actually, this “Satan” cannot even use magic “properly,” because of which he is always laughed at. In addition, his nature is also far from that of Satan’s. Hakushon is very innocent and warmhearted – and HILARIOUS!! Listen …
Tuesday: Japanese Proverb (Nihon-no Kotowaza)
11/02/2015 blog
Sukikoso Mono-no Jozunare (=What one likes, one will do well./Liking shows where one’s talent lies.) (Og Mandino: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Og_Mandino) Do you happen to have heard the name of Og Mandino, the author of the million seller titled “The Greatest Salesman in the World?” I declare that I am an Og Mandino nut. I knew his name for a long time before I actually read the very work of his – a million seller. But… as he himself mentioned in his book, I didn’t quite relate myself to the title because I did not think I was a salesman. I have read more than 1,000 “self-help” books since I was a college student. Yes, …
Monday: One Point Japanese Clinic
10/27/2015 blog
“Amainaa… (=You are naive.)” (A Good Example of “Naivety”) My husband and I had a big argument on parenting. We have 13-year-old and 11-year-old boys. As you could easily imagine, our 13-year-old always plays a computer game of any kind. He loves “killing games” with guns and other firearms. My hubby is very concerned about his son’s attitude, but recently he learned that there was a teenage sniper who killed whomever he didn’t like and his concern about his 13-year-old got to the climax. He screamed at me, saying, “Sooner or later, he will go and kill someone he hates. He’s got an anger issue. He doesn’t talk to me …
Friday: Japanese Hero
10/24/2015 blog
Matsushita Konosuke (The First Japanese Millionaire:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konosuke_Matsushita) Matsushita Konosuke (1894 – 1989) was a self-made artisan, founder of Panasonic “Kingdom”, and philanthropist. When he was young, he was an Edison, trying to make something useful “abundantly” for every Japanese. (Forked Socket) (Light Bulb) (Flash Light) While he was an artisan, his mission, he believed, was that he (and his company) will manufacture useful household products, which means that they would unload burdens from Japanese housewives, very inexpensively and abundantly. He used the word – like “running water.” Yes, that is exactly what he did, which made him the first millionaire in Japan. When he was asked what made him so successful, …
Thursday: Japanese Food
10/23/2015 blog
Kiritanpo (Akita) (Akita’s Local Favorite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiritanpo) (Authentic Way of Eating Kiritanpo) (Where is Akita?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akita_Prefecture ) Let me begin talking about local favorites! Today’s cuisine is “Kiritanpo” from Akita Prefecture. Because of its location, they have harsh winter. So, they came up with the idea that they take advantage of the snow they have to make an igloo-kind building called “Kamakura.” (Their Winter is Harsh!) (People’s Wisdom – Kamakura) (Warm People Up: Nabe Ryori with Kiritanpo) (Fluffy Akita Puppy) (Local Festival) They live in deep snow every winter, but their ancestors have come up with great ideas for their offsprings – how to live with the local harsh weather in winter. That’s …
Wednesday: Japanese Manga (Japanese Cartoon)
10/22/2015 blog
Shingeki-no Kyojin/Attack on Titan (Original Comic Version) I didn’t know about this manga for a long time. In my facebook page, however, some of my friends started to mention it quite often, which drew my attention. I, partly because of my obligation that I have to know what my students/clients expect me to know, went to YouTube.com and watched its first episode… How negative! How gross! That was my first impression on this TV episode. What’s the point? Are the Japanese getting mentally sick? Probably so, unfortunately. This manga was started to appear in Shonen Magazine (Magazine for Young Boys) in 2009 and it spreaded out as TV series (still going!), …
