A typical Life

I believe the following to be a beautiful and insightful piece of writing and very appropriate as the calendar turns over and 2008 begins…

… and in another year everything will be different yet again. It is always like that, and always will be; you are forever standing on the brink, in a place where you cannot see ahead; there is nothing of which to be certain except what lies behind. This should be terrifying, but somehow it is not.”

Excerpted from Consequences, a novel by Penelope Lively

With this quotation in mind, I challenge you to stand on the brink of 2008 with hopefulness, firm in the knowledge of where you have come from and in awe of the possibilities that lie before you!

Happy New Year!

First of all I wanted to show you all my finished elephant Amigurumi rattle:

Isn’t he just adorable? Well I think so and I hope my friends baby enjoys playing with it.

I also discovered an new item for my Japan to do list - I want to take part in a Stamp Rally which I discovered through DannyChoo.com. These stamps can be collected at various train stations and at other popular destinations in Japan.  Some of the stamps look absolutely stunning and I can imagine tons of uses for them. I’ll be buying a stamp book at the 100 Yen store to carry with me when I am out sightseeing so that I won’t miss one!

I also found one item that I will definitely not be purchasing while I am in Japan - a suit that is washable in the shower and doesn’t need to be ironed! The Mainichi Daily News wrote an article on this and there are versions for both men & women. I just can’t imagine how it would look after a few washings but it’s certainly very innovative!

Have a great weekend!

In you have read my about me page you will know that I love to knit and crochet. A couple of months ago I found out that two friends of mine are pregnant so I decided to make them baby blankets and amigurumi dolls as gifts. I was very fortunate to run across a pattern for these wonderful Japanese inspired creatures at CrochetMe a while back. Amigurumi are knitted or crocheted stuffed dolls that usually have a large head in proportion to their body and are just adorable. You can use your imagination to create anything that you want….

Last year I made my hubby a Baseball Dude which is proudly displayed in his office bookcase….

And now I am working on an elephant to go with the baby blanket that I just completed. I have decided to make a rattle out of the toy by inserting a hollow plastic egg filled with beads into the body. Here is the work in progress….

I’ll be sure to post a photo of it when it’s complete….

A newly graduated train conductor in Japan opened the doors of the train after it had started to move. This was reported by the Mainichi Daily News and I must admit that I wondered on how this had made the newspaper since no one had been hurt. I then pondered the discipline that this poor 28 year old would probably face. My guess, based on my limited understanding of how mistakes are dealt with in a Japanese business setting, was that he would probably be demoted and suffer for a number of years cleaning the tracks or doing some other type of menial work as a result of a “rudimentary error”.

The same day, in the same paper, I read a different article about a boss who punched an employee so hard that the employee died. This event did not take place at the place of work but in front of the employees home and seemed a lot more news worthy to me. The boss was quoted as saying “I was just giving him a telling off, but I went too far”. The boss has been arrested for the fatal assault and I would be interested to know what his punishment will end up being and what caused such a reaction on his part? It seems ridiculous that this type of behavior exists in modern day Japan.

I can’t help but think that the Japanese conductor in the first article will be getting off light if all he suffers is having to clean the tracks for eternity…at least he is still alive.

If you are in Japan, there is no official Christmas holiday and you are probably working like any other day. You probably just assumed that Christmas would be a day off and it must have come as a bit of a shock when you moved to Japan and found out that it isn’t a national holiday and that you had to work!

This reminds me of when I first moved to the United States from Canada and assumed (you know the saying, making an *** out of you and me) that Boxing Day was a holiday . When I asked what everyone was doing on Boxing Day they looked at me as if I was nuts and had no idea what I was talking about. This is not a holiday that is celebrated in the United States and I think it’s a terrible thing…..one needs a day to recover from all of the festivities - it’s just civilized!

Boxing Day is celebrated in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and most other countries that were once or still are considered part of the commonwealth that is England. The history of the holiday dates back to the 1600’s and there are a number of different stories about it’s inception. I have read that it is derived from the tradition of giving gifts to the servants as they finished their work on Christmas day and allowing them to take the following day off. Other stories are that it is the day that the church alms boxes were opened and the contents distributed to those in need or that it was the day that people boxed up items that they no longer needed and donated them to charity.

This article from the Japan Times offers a funny editorial on how there is a big buildup to Christmas in Japan but no actual Christmas! Bummer….

So, if you have to work on Christmas day make it a point of explaining Boxing Day to your boss and tell him that you would like a gift before you leave and the next day off in honor of the holiday. Since you have invested a lot of time learning and adapting to the culture of Japan wouldn’t it only be fair if they made this one concession to you?

Seasons Greetings to you and all of those that you hold dear! Regardless of faith, I think that this poem reminds us to celebrate the wonder and awe that is present in our lives everyday. The best gift that we can give to ourselves is a good outlook on life and since I believe that attitude is contagious I think that it is also the best gift we can give to those around us…

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long

Take a heap of child-like wonder
That opens up our eyes
To the unexpected gifts in life—
Each day a sweet surprise.

Mix in fond appreciation
For the people whom we know;
Like festive Christmas candles,
Each one has a special glow.

Add some giggles and some laughter,
A dash of Christmas food,
(Amazing how a piece of pie
Improves our attitude!)

Stir it all with human kindness;
Wrap it up in love and peace,
Decorate with optimism, and
Our joy will never cease.

If we use this healthy recipe,
We know we will remember
To be in the Christmas spirit,
Even when it’s not December.

By Joanna Fuchs

This has been a busy week for me but I did come across some interesting items that I wanted to share.

An article fro the Japan Times noted an exhibition that I will not be able to see in person titled Culture Filters. The artist, Osorio Zapata created the fabulous work to the right and others in which he explores “the breakdown of understanding that takes place when people with diverse backgrounds, customs and perspectives attempt to communicate with each other“. I love the interplay between the transparent and opaque bricks and feel that it captures the feeling of the foreigner in Japan well. Click on his name above to see more of his thought provoking work.

The Boroichi or rag fair in was held in Tokyo this past week was the subject of an article on Asahi.com. Boro has a duel meaning in the Japanese language and can refer to rags or a personal weakness or failing one tries to to hide. Vendors at the Boroichi primarily sell used clothing and household items, but the author uses the second meaning to allude to some of the scandals that beset Japan during the year. He quotes a writer from over 100 years ago as saying “In this world, there is not a thing that is useless. That is what you must realize when you go to Boroichi.” and concludes by stating that “One way to judge someone’s character is how he or she deals with his or her exposed weakness or failing. And in judging someone, we also become aware of our own weaknesses and failings and can reflect on past conduct. Indeed, there is not a thing in this world that is useless.” I love the sentiment that not a thing is useless and I would extend that to say not a person is useless, we all have value and a purpose - though some of us are still trying to figure it out …

Another great article from Asahi.com reminds us of the value of our time and to spend it wisely. It also shares and interesting tale of how an entire month was lost in 1872 when the Japanese switched from the lunar to a solar or twelve month calendar and how the government saved money by not having to pay one month of salaries to it’s workers.

Lastly, I will share one of my daily routines with you….I play the Sudoku puzzle from the Mainichi Daily News every morning. Most times I am successful but the other day they offered a difficult one that I went back to two or three times before finally admitting defeat.

Have a great weekend!

I’ve been pondering a lot lately on all of the reasons that I am looking forward to my return to Japan. I’ve been having a hard time nailing down my thoughts so I created a top ten list….

The ability to continue the journey that I started in 1994 and revisit my favorite places. I have already told you about the beautiful iris garden at Meiji Jingu Shrine. I am also looking forward to having fresh warm sembe in Asakusa again (pictured below from Gaijinphoto Magazine) and I want to see the cherry blossoms, feed the birds in Ueno Park, buy cooking gadgets and check gout the plastic food replicas in Kapabashi and so much more!

Japan is an amazing country that somehow manages to be very modern while still honoring it’s ancient past and traditions. This time I want to explore more of the country, it’s culture and history. I want to visit an onsen and climb Mount Fuji, go to Hiroshima, see more matsuri (festivals), visit more gardens and shrines and take a ton of photos.

The 100 Yen store - this is an awesome store and I can hardly wait to go shopping. It puts the US Dollar stores to shame!

See a Sumo tournament or basho in person.

Watch a lot of Japanese Professional Baseball in person and on TV, enjoy the fanatic cheering sections and their version of the 7th inning stretch where balloons are released instead of singing “Take me out to the Ballpark” . Click the photo from Japan Ball to see more Japanese baseball photos.

Japanese television - the food shows make you hungry and the variety shows are hilarious even if you can’t understand the language!

The food – Contrary to popular belief you can get really good food at reasonable prices in Japan. The bakeries offer very tasty treats (probably because most Japanese homes don’t have ovens) and the Japanese konbini or convenience stores have a lot of great food and offer far better quality that their US counterparts (I would bring home zaru soba or sushi in the summer that would rival some good Japanese restaurants at home!). Here is a link to a blog on konbini life which will show you some of the products offered. We also enjoyed sampling from the various food courts in departments stores where there was always a variety of delicious offerings from various world cuisines.

Enjoy and learn more about the arts & crafts of Japan. I love the fabric, the dolls, ikebana, kimono and the pottery just to name a few.

Finding items that the Japanese use in daily life at the local stores. I picked up some items last time that I am still using.

Not driving - I love the walking, taking the train and this time I am getting a bike!

This week I read a really cool article from the Daily Yomiuri on yokai or supernatural beings. Yokai stem from the Shinto belief system in which all things, living or inanimate, have a spirit and can turn into a supernatural being with mystical powers. Some yokai are simply mischievous and some are downright evil but most are incarnated into a grotesque or strange form and tend to be the product of pent-up emotions or unfulfilled desires or lives ended prematurely. The article highlighted the link between the upturn of interest in yokai and the downturn or lack of confidence that the Japanese people have in their economy which started back in the 1990’s.

The author, Sawa Kurotani, states in the article that:

“When a society fails to provide a clear vision and assure its citizens of positive outlooks for their future, people become disillusioned and lose their sense of connection to the collective to which they belong. One of the symptoms of this state of alienation, which Emile Durkheim famously called anomie, is increased suicide, which Japan has experienced since the late 1990s.

A surge of interest in the supernatural is yet another symptom of anomie. When social reality no longer makes sense, people turn to an alternative explanation for their predicament. As yokai represent an alternative reality that transcends the logic of modern society, the world of yokai may provide a kind of escape from the “real” world that is not so hopeful.”

This same effect has been documented in the United States post 9-11 and currently while the debate rages over military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is very interesting that during times of crisis people around the world turn to religion and spirituality for comfort.

So what does a yokai look like?

To the left is Zashiki-warashi, a child-like spirit that is said to inhabit the inner rooms of old houses and other buildings. Sometimes it plays with the children of the house, but it never lets the adults see it. Houses inhabited by zashiki-warashi have have extremely good fortune but that can change if the ghost child ever leaves.

You can see more pictures of yokai at The Obakemono Project and an overview of Japanese supernatural beings can be found at Mangajin.

I’ve noticed something lately that’s beginning to trouble me. When I tell someone that I am moving to Japan they immediately tell me how lucky I am and that they wish they could do it too. Often, if they have been to Japan, they tell me about how great their visit was and all about the highlights of their trip. This is great as I love to get advice about what to do and see!

But, here’s the kicker, the next part of the conversation inevitably moves to all of the things that I will miss at home and all of the American stores and restaurants that are in Japan.

Now don’t get me wrong I know that I am going to want to go to an American restaurant while I’m over there and that there will be a number of things that I will miss about home but I don’t want to spend all of my time before I leave planning on how to “Americanize” my stay.

This article from Japundit confirms what I already knew…if it’s American the Japanese love it, right down to the toilet paper.

Here are some tips that I have already received about foreign amenities in Mihama-ku:

Outback Steakhouse has a restaurant by the train station.
Tony Roma’s Ribs & Seafood is in the neighborhood.
So is Subway.
Kentucky Fried Chicken is there.
So is McDonalds, but where aren’t they?
The same can be said for Starbucks with seven stores in Mihama!
If I want ice-cream there is always Baskin Robbins
For shopping I could go to Costco or Ikea.

Now what is it that I will miss when I am in Japan? I know - Jamba Juice and my family!