Japanese expression ~14~ Tongue twister 早口言葉（はや くち こと ば）

  I have heard the English tongue twister.
She sells sea shells by the seashore.
Yesterday, I heard the tongue twister on radio like below.
"a cup of proper coffee in a proper copper coffee cup"
  I introduce some famous Japanese tongue twisters.

なまむぎ　なまごめ　なまたまご　（生麦　生米　生卵）
namamugi  namagome  namatamago
raw  wheat,  raw rice, raw egg

となりの　きゃくは　よく　かきくう　きゃくだ　（隣の客はよく柿食う客だ）
tonarino kyakuwa  yoku kakikuu  kyakuda
the guest of neighbor often eat persimmons

I found a funny phrase on Internet.
こつそしょうしょう　そしょう　しょうそ
kotsusosyousyou   sosyou  syouso
It means,  won the suit for the osteoporosis
I can't pronounce this one.

Japanese traditional culture ~31~ marrige

Well, I will get married in December this year.
I've got some topics on marriage of Japanese people.
I will write something about it from September.

You can see the Japanese kimono right side on this picture.

Japanese traditional culture ~30~ Ｆａｎ Sensu せんす 扇子

  These are fans which can be folded. If you come to Japan in the summer,
you will experience so hot temperature. Using this fan, called "sensu"
could be one of the ways to cool down your body. But, these tools are
not so popular in daily life nowadays, I think. I don't often see the people
who are using these stuffs. I often see these stuffs at souvenir shop.

  When I went to Germany two years ago, I bought the left one. It was because
I wanted to show someone this. I thought this kind of stuff would be
unusual for European. But I did not have a chance to do that.
  The left one was not cheap... Maybe it costed about 2000 yen.
I think it's good quality. It has a dragon's drawing.

昇　means "rise (to the sky)".
龍  means dragon.

I am trying to write something. The work I wrote during the bon vacation
was 27 papers. If I entry the competition, I would need to write more than
50 papers at least. The long story should be more than 100 papers...
Oh, I need more training....

Japanese traditional culture ~29~ paper fan (Uchiwa うちわ)

  I wonder if there are paper fan like this in foreign country...
This is stuff, called uchiwa is essential to summer life.
But most of the buildings have an air conditioners so you don't need to
keep this uchiwa with you.
 

 These bars are called "senkou". Buddhist usually offer these senkou to
the spirits if front of the grave. The smell of the smoke is unique.
The smell reminds me the Bon season.

  I found this blog counted 10000 viewers. I keep writing this blog
from October last year. About 60 countries' people have checked this blog before.
Thank you so much. I want to know what kind of things you want me to write
about Japanese culture on this blog...

Japanese traditional culture ~28~Bon okuri

Today, I will go to my family's grave.
This event is called bon okuri. The spirits of dead go back to
the next world. We need to clean the grave.

Japanese food ~35~ かきごおりkakigoori

Kakigoori is the best sweet in this season!
This is made by smashing rock ices.

And, various kinds of sirup are on it. It's so colorful.
This one is called rainbow color Kakigoori.
I guess this Kakigoori is peculiar to Japan.

Japanese traditional culture ~27~ Bon mukae

  During this season, there is a Buddhist ceremony to welcome the spirit of the
dead. Yesterday, I went to a temple which is located 20 minutes by car.
In Buddhism, it is said  that the spirit of human has gone to the next world
after person died. And the spirit of dead protects his or her family from
the next world.
  Maybe the season of Bon is the only chance to live together with the spirits of dead.

  In this season, a lot of people who are working at urban cities such as
Tokyo and Osaka go back to their hometown. So, we often see the broadcast
that tells about the traffic jam of high way. For children who live in Tokyo,
it is the chance to talk with their grandmother and grandfather. And they would
play in nature.

  There is a big event on August 15. That is the day when the Second World War ended.
At the day, a grave ceremony is held. The atmosphere of whole Japan becomes solemn.

Japanese traditional culture ~26~ Bon vacation Obon Yasumi

I have about one week vacation from today.
This is called Bon vacation which comes from the custom
of Buddhism.
Because I got free time for a while, I will be able to write something
here.
I need to go to bed at first.

Japanese Education ~ 9 ~ 読書感想文（どくしょかんそうぶん）

　Japanese elementary school usually assign the students
to write a 読書感想文(dokusyo kansoubun) in summer vacation.
  That is an essay after you read a book. This homework often
annoy children because they don't get used to writing an essay.
And they don't know what and how to write it.
  As one of the students asked me how to write it at the
Japanese class, I wrote a direction to write it...

Japanese saying ~ 19 ~to と

とらぬ　たぬきの　かわざんよう
とらぬ without catching
たぬき a raccoon dog
かわ hide
ざんよう count
 This saying means "you shouldn't count a raccoon dog's hide
before you catch it."
Hundred years ago, hunters used to make their living by catching
raccoon dogs and sell the hide. This saying tells us not to count
without firm ground.

 English saying seems to be like below.
Count one's chickens before they are hatched.
The animal is chickens not raccoon dogs.

 Today is my only holiday in a week....
 It's so precious time...
I'll spend the time for writing my work and practicing the piano(a little bit).
I'll go for a walk at first.(I'm short of exercise these days.)

Japanese traditional culture ~25~ souvenir

  One of the students in my English class brought me a souvenir.
He is 6th grade of elementary school(11~12 years old.).
He told me that he went to Hokkaido during his summer vacation.
(In Japan, students are in summer vacation.)
  This means he gave the thanks for everyday's class.
Do you do that in your culture?

 Of course I was pleased to get it. ^ ^