In Japan, it is getting colder. In this morning, it is 18.4 degree.
I feel so cold.
On this column, I will write about how Japanese people express the
sound of animal's ''Nakigoe''.
Nakigoe means
Naki = bark(dog), meow(cat), croak(crow)...
goe = voice
In Japanese, we have only one word to express dog's bark, cat's meow, crow's croak... and so on.
So it is difficult to translate.
Maybe you can guess what I want to write about.
When I was kid, I used to think people all over the world express in the same way.
Because I used to think everybody must hear the same sound in the same way.
But it was not true. Each culture has each expression.
I remember I got so surprised to know that.
Dog = Wan Wan !! (I have heard people say ''Bow wow'' in America.)
Cat = Nya ~~ Nya ~~
Cow = Mo~~ Mo~~
Sheep = Me~~ Me~~~
Pig = Buuuu Buuuu
Lion = Gaooo
Frog = Kero Kero
Crow = Kaaaa
Mouse = Chuu Chuu
Horse = Hi Hiiin
Chicken = Kokekokko~!
Chicken is kind of difficult. ^ ^
I think there are many expression in the world about chicken.
By the way, how about an ambulance?
We say ''Pii Poo Pii Poo~~''
If I have chance, I want to know how people in the world express the Nakigoe.
Thanks for reading. Please give me any advices.
Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SeeMyJapan
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Japanese food ~5~ Raamen
The day before yesterday, I went to eat Raamen. Raamen is very popular food in Japan.
If you come to Japan, I recommend you try raamen once.
Do you know raamen? Maybe yes. I checked Whikipedia and it says raamen is known in the Europe.
Originally, raamen came from China.
Raamen is consisted of noodle and soup. And there are thousands of variations. Each raamen shop has each taste. And each district has each taste. Each people has each favorite taste.
There is a word.
''Raamen ya meguri''
meguri means like ''a tour''
I know some people whose hobby is raamen ya meguri.
Raamen mania go to raamen shop even it is very very far from where they live.
I have heard a ramen enthusiast went to Kyushu district(it is the west area of Japan) from Tokyo.
It is more than 800 km!
And they eat raamen even if they make a line for long time.
I ate the Tonkotsu raamen.(see the photo)
Tonkotsu means, the bone of pork. The cooker make the soup base from pork's bone. They would take a lot of hours to make it.
And you can eat rice. It was free. And also, 17th was service day at that raamen shop. And sui gyoza was free! Sui gyoza is boiled gyoza.(the right dish on the photo)
You can add soy sauce, or onion, garlic, pepper, or sesame. But some Japanese people don't add garlic because it your mouth becomes stink.
The price was 800 yen.
= 7.72 Euro
= 10.09 US dollar
= 30.61 ringgit
It is little bit oily and salty. It is difficult to explain the taste with words.
I am a little raamen mania.(But I don't go far away just to eat raamen.)
My hobby is raamen ya meguri.
I checked this photo and I noticed I did ''watashi bashi''.(See the last column about table manner) ^ ^;
Please give me any opinions and advice.^ ^
Facebook page
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
Japanese traditional culture ~3 ~ What is the bad manner of chopsticks?
I write about table manner of Japanese culture.
I am writing this column from a viewer's opinion.
Thank you very very much for giving advice!
You may have learned how to use chopsticks(we say ''hashi'' in Japanese)
But you may have not learned the bad manner of hashi.
So, on this column, I introduce the bad manner when you use hashi.
I translate directly.
1 Mayoi bashi
Mayoi = be at aloss
Bashi = hashi
It means, you are at a loss which dishes you are going to eat. You should not move around
over the dishes.
2 Yose bashi
Yose = move to
Bashi = hashi
You should not move the dish by hashi.
3 Watashi bashi
Watashi = lay across
bashi = hashi
You should not lay the hashi across rice ball.
4 I don't know the name of this manner
At the funeral, we give foods for the dead person. I guess some of Buddist do this like this way.
5 I don't know the naime of this manner.
Don't give foods to the other person by hashi.
If you do that in front of Japanese people, they would be so shocked and embarrased so much.
This manner is absolutely bad. ^ ^ ;
Buddist do this at the funeral. The celemony is called ''syuu kotsu''
syuu = pick up kotsu = bone
After the body was cremated, people pick up the bone like above and put on the bone box.
If you do this, it reminds you the Syuu kotsu. So this is very bad manner in Japanese culture.
Maybe you have never heard of this manner.
But this is common rule in Japan. I think almost all people know this manner.
By the way, I don't know if the Japanese Christian follow this manner. I am not Christian.
Maybe they would respect for this Japanese manner of chopsticks.
Thanks for reading.
I want to know what kind of Japanese culture you are interested in.
If you like, please let me know.
I am writing this column from a viewer's opinion.
Thank you very very much for giving advice!
You may have learned how to use chopsticks(we say ''hashi'' in Japanese)
But you may have not learned the bad manner of hashi.
So, on this column, I introduce the bad manner when you use hashi.
I translate directly.
1 Mayoi bashi
Mayoi = be at aloss
Bashi = hashi
It means, you are at a loss which dishes you are going to eat. You should not move around
over the dishes.
2 Yose bashi
Yose = move to
Bashi = hashi
You should not move the dish by hashi.
Watashi = lay across
bashi = hashi
You should not lay the hashi across rice ball.
4 I don't know the name of this manner
At the funeral, we give foods for the dead person. I guess some of Buddist do this like this way.
5 I don't know the naime of this manner.
Don't give foods to the other person by hashi.
If you do that in front of Japanese people, they would be so shocked and embarrased so much.
This manner is absolutely bad. ^ ^ ;
Buddist do this at the funeral. The celemony is called ''syuu kotsu''
syuu = pick up kotsu = bone
After the body was cremated, people pick up the bone like above and put on the bone box.
If you do this, it reminds you the Syuu kotsu. So this is very bad manner in Japanese culture.
Maybe you have never heard of this manner.
But this is common rule in Japan. I think almost all people know this manner.
By the way, I don't know if the Japanese Christian follow this manner. I am not Christian.
Maybe they would respect for this Japanese manner of chopsticks.
Thanks for reading.
I want to know what kind of Japanese culture you are interested in.
If you like, please let me know.
Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SeeMyJapan
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Japanese lifestyle ~ 7 ~ learning English
If you travel Japan, you may be disappointed to know Japanese people can't speak
English than expected.
Yes, generally speaking, Japanese people are not good at English.
Especially, speaking ablility is very low. Actually, some Japanese industries are
very famous worldwidely. But we don't have enough English ability.
Not all business man can speak English.
Now in Japan, children start to learn English from elementary school.
But our genelation (I am 33 years old) used to start to learn from junior high school.
Maybe it is so late to start learning second language.
And I think some Japanese rich people who live in urban city(Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto
and so on) make their children go to English school besides the school.
In my case, I have stayed in Canada for eight months. And also I have stayed in New Zealand
for one month. And my favorite subject was English when I was in school, so I can speak and
write English.
Why Japanese people can't speak English? There must be some reasons.
Japanese people are shy. Maybe you know that.
So Japanese people don't lile to make mistakes when they talk in English.
We are very afraid of making mistakes in front of unknown people.
So, many Japanese people hesitate to practice English.
And, we are living in island. People don't travel abroad easily like Europe.
There are not many chances to practice. I am living in country side.
It is quite rare to see foreign people.
But Asia is becoming very huge market nowadays. People must talk English on business.
Situation must be changing. A lot of people must be visiting at Asia.
And it is also true that many Japanese business person are eager to learn English.
But now, I still hear Japanese people are not good at English.
So if you can, please learn Japanese (simple words are OK) before you come to Japan.
I will tell useful(or funny ) expression on this blog. I will help you.
If you have any opinion, please let me know.^ ^
Facebook site
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/SeeMyJapan
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!!
English than expected.
Yes, generally speaking, Japanese people are not good at English.
Especially, speaking ablility is very low. Actually, some Japanese industries are
very famous worldwidely. But we don't have enough English ability.
Not all business man can speak English.
Now in Japan, children start to learn English from elementary school.
But our genelation (I am 33 years old) used to start to learn from junior high school.
Maybe it is so late to start learning second language.
And I think some Japanese rich people who live in urban city(Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto
and so on) make their children go to English school besides the school.
In my case, I have stayed in Canada for eight months. And also I have stayed in New Zealand
for one month. And my favorite subject was English when I was in school, so I can speak and
write English.
Why Japanese people can't speak English? There must be some reasons.
Japanese people are shy. Maybe you know that.
So Japanese people don't lile to make mistakes when they talk in English.
We are very afraid of making mistakes in front of unknown people.
So, many Japanese people hesitate to practice English.
And, we are living in island. People don't travel abroad easily like Europe.
There are not many chances to practice. I am living in country side.
It is quite rare to see foreign people.
But Asia is becoming very huge market nowadays. People must talk English on business.
Situation must be changing. A lot of people must be visiting at Asia.
And it is also true that many Japanese business person are eager to learn English.
But now, I still hear Japanese people are not good at English.
So if you can, please learn Japanese (simple words are OK) before you come to Japan.
I will tell useful(or funny ) expression on this blog. I will help you.
If you have any opinion, please let me know.^ ^
Facebook site
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/SeeMyJapan
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Japanese traditional culture ~2~ a specialty store
Today, I went to a store specializing in Hashi(chopsticks). The name of the shop was Hashi-kyu
I have been interested in this shop since before.
At this shop, there are 400 kinds of hashi. The mister of this shop use the good quality of
woods. And each hashi is coated by special kind of lacquer.
It is good not only for use of yourself, but for the gift to someone.
And this shop supply the custom-made hashi.
And also, you can ask the mister to carve your name on your chopsticks.
I found the chopsticks for eating pasta. The end of chopstick was rolled. I hope to buy it and
introduce the chopsticks on this blog in the future.
You can get your original chopsticks here.
The price is from about 1500 yen ~ (19.03 US dollar , 14.62 Euro)
The high rank chopsticks are around 10000 yen... (126.84 US dollar 97.47 Euro)
I want my original hashi...
I am using this hashi at home.(below)
Japanese lifestyle ~6~ Ohayougozaimasu
I write about strange and misterious thing on this column.
Have you heard the word ''Ohayougozaimasu''?
Maybe many Japanese learner would learn this word at first.
Yes, we say Ohayougozaimasu when we meet people in the morning.
''Aisatsu(=greeting)'' is very important when you make good relationship
with someone. A freshman (a new employee) must be educated to do
''Aisatsu'' appropriately when they start to work at company.
I used to learn some kinds of important Aisatsu(=greeting) at job training.
Fresh man doesn't always have the habit of greeting.
Japanese greetings are such as...
1 Ohayougozaimasu =Good morning.
2 Otsukaresamadeshita
3 Arigatougozaimasu
4 Kashikomarimashita
= when you are ask to do something, you say this phrase(consent to do something).
This expression is polite.
5 Syousyou Omatikudasai = Please wait for a minute.(As you may know, Japanese people
have strict rule on time)
6 Shitsureishimasu = it means like''Excuse me''
7 Itsumo Osewa ni natteorimasu (it is hard to explain!! It means like ''thank you for
taking care of me'')
By the way, I have strange and misterious story.
I am working at Japanese restaurant. I started to work there two months ago.
I am working from 10:00 to 14:30. and 17:30 to 21:00 in the evening.
When I started to work, I learned that people who work in the field of restaurant business say ''Ohayougozaimasu'' whenever they start to work. So, I have to say Ohayougozaimasu
when I start to work from 17:30. Supposedly, in Japan,the workes at restaurant say ''Ohayougozaimasu'' even in the evening when they start to work.
When I noticed that, I asked the co-worker ''why is that''.
She just answered, ''this is our habit''.
I think most of Japanese people, who are working at the other industry, don't know about this.
Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/#!/SeeMyJapan ←Yoroshikuonegaishimasu!!
Have you heard the word ''Ohayougozaimasu''?
Maybe many Japanese learner would learn this word at first.
Yes, we say Ohayougozaimasu when we meet people in the morning.
''Aisatsu(=greeting)'' is very important when you make good relationship
with someone. A freshman (a new employee) must be educated to do
''Aisatsu'' appropriately when they start to work at company.
I used to learn some kinds of important Aisatsu(=greeting) at job training.
Fresh man doesn't always have the habit of greeting.
Japanese greetings are such as...
1 Ohayougozaimasu =Good morning.
2 Otsukaresamadeshita
3 Arigatougozaimasu
4 Kashikomarimashita
= when you are ask to do something, you say this phrase(consent to do something).
This expression is polite.
5 Syousyou Omatikudasai = Please wait for a minute.(As you may know, Japanese people
have strict rule on time)
6 Shitsureishimasu = it means like''Excuse me''
7 Itsumo Osewa ni natteorimasu (it is hard to explain!! It means like ''thank you for
taking care of me'')
By the way, I have strange and misterious story.
I am working at Japanese restaurant. I started to work there two months ago.
I am working from 10:00 to 14:30. and 17:30 to 21:00 in the evening.
When I started to work, I learned that people who work in the field of restaurant business say ''Ohayougozaimasu'' whenever they start to work. So, I have to say Ohayougozaimasu
when I start to work from 17:30. Supposedly, in Japan,the workes at restaurant say ''Ohayougozaimasu'' even in the evening when they start to work.
When I noticed that, I asked the co-worker ''why is that''.
She just answered, ''this is our habit''.
I think most of Japanese people, who are working at the other industry, don't know about this.
Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/#!/SeeMyJapan ←Yoroshikuonegaishimasu!!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Japanese traditional culture ~ 1 ~ chou chin
Chou chin is the object like ball.
When you travel in Japan, You would see the light fixture like above. This light fixture is called ''chou chin =ちょうちん 提灯''
This light fixture illuminate the surrounding softly. Usually, the coller of chou chin is red.For Japanese people, many people would remind the bar ( pub ), seeing this chouchin because
nowadays, we see this chouchin in front of the bar.
The history of chochin goes back to before Edo period(1603~1868).
Peple used to carry with this chouchin when they walk around at night. So, this chou chin was
like a flashlight at that time. People used to set candle inside the chou chin. But nowadays, Japanese people would not always do so (just use electric light) because it causes a fire.
Before the Edo period, only high class people can use this chouchin. After the Edo period,
this become popular among normal people. But we usually don't carry with this chou chin
in daily life.
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