Tag: Japanese culture

This Is How You Lose Your Day

There is a day you feel you win the day, and there is another day you feel down and are completely lost. Life is difficult to live with complete happiness as you know. You cannot live a life always filled with a smile but filled with desires, jealousy, tiresome, and such negative feelings. You want to conquer such negativity, but actually, you should embrace such feelings to admit yourself. I know that. But, life is not that easy. You don’t have to be depressed, but you can feel down.

Anyway, yesterday was a day like that. I went to bed without achieving some of my daily routines. Watching YouTube videos that seem at least fun to me at the time but actually not that worthy to watch, and gradually sink into the deep ocean of sleeping, realizing I lost the day, the feeling of regret that I couldn’t do something I should have done. Believing to keep doing something almost every day makes you somebody, I would think like that.

But anyway, that is life. The point is that you should not feel down that much and pretend you feel really down. As long as we are fine enough to smile at anyone, it’s totally OK. Then, I remember the line of a very famous Japanese pop music “Donna Tokimo (At any time)” by Makihara Hiroyuki. This song is full of great quotes.

Original Version

“消えたいくらい辛い気持ち 抱えていても 鏡の前 笑ってみる まだ平気みたいだよ”
Even though you have a painful feeling of wanting to disappear
Smiling at a mirror, I think you are still okay. (Translated by myself)

Searching the song, I found that there are some other language versions. I hope you would check out and feel positive again soon. Thank you for reading!

English Version
Spanish Version

What Beer and Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) means to Japanese/ One of the best combinations Ever

Beer and Yakiniku make your day just perfect

Living and growing up in Japanese society for 28 years, my favorite food gradually has changed due to the changing of my life stages (french toast is a stable favorite food for me throughout life though). I don’t boost or want to be biased though, Japan is also famous for its unique diverse food culture. Japan is often criticized as a nation of peer pressure or lack of diversity. However, in terms of food or culture of cuisine, Japan is a nation of the great diversity of food culture, I think. Of course, you cannot have the real rural traditional Italian pasta in Tokyo, but it may have great quality for it, and it is really easy for the nation to access such high-quality cuisines at a cheaper price.

Every nation has a great food combination in its unique culture. At this time, I’d like to introduce you to one of the greatest food combinations (actually food and drink) in Japan. It’s sometimes described as a metaphor for a great combination. It is, Beer and Yakiniku. Beer is beer (My favorite, and the most well-known beer brand in Japan is Asahi’s SUPER DRY ). Yakiniku is a Japanese for BBQ, but Yakiniku can be enjoyed at a Yakiniku Restaurant with a small table and a kind of portable cooking stove.

Please imagine a day. It’s a very rough day. The work you dealt with the day was very heavy and your boss is just an asshole. You somehow struggle to survive and try to finish the day, and you did it. Then, looking at the clock, it shows 7 o’clock pm. You are very hungry. Your best colleagues suddenly hit upon a magical idea and tell the other ones “It was a rough day. Why don’t we go and celebrate our great work with beer and yakiniku, eh?” Then, the word can be imagined with a clear picture and the hint of the smell, and you wish to drink the cold beer with it as much as you can. Yakiniku and beer are very addictive. Meanwhile, you suddenly found that every familiar colleagues are surrounding at a table, and waiting for the coming of beer and yakiniku. Then, you do cheers and the happiest moment in your day would arrive.

This is what we Japanese reminds when we heard the word yakiniku and beer. Most of us cannot stop drooling a lot with these words. I had never thought that there would be a great combination more than BigMac and Coke when I was a teenager. Being an adult sometimes works.

Thank you very much for reading, and have a great day.

Fall/Autumn is the best season for…

There is a popular Japanese idiomatic expression “◯◯の秋（◯◯’s Fall/Autumn）”. What it means is “Fall is the best season for 〇〇”, and the famous expressions are like, “食欲の秋(Fall is the best season for appetite because it’s the season for harvest)”, “スポーツの秋（for sports because the temperature is suitable and the ratio of sunny days are relatively higher than any other seasons in Japan.）” or “読書の秋(for reading books because the sun set around 5pm compared to the summer season of 7pm)”. After all, Fall in Japan is maybe the best season for everything in Japan.

What would you think of your “◯◯’s Fall”? In my opinion, it is the best season for breathing. Air, basically, doesn’t have “the season” like any other vegetables or fruits. But, I personally think it definitely has the season. Without any doubts, I believe that It’s fall that we can enjoy the most delicious air. Living in a countryside of Hokkaido, I somehow feel a kind of zenith of deliciousness of the pure, aesthetic, sophisticated cold air. We can just describe it as a clean cold air in country side, but I would rather feel something else that can make me feel so happy.

You can feel such air when you get out the entrance, or a night you opened a window and sip a hot milk. You realize the air is somehow connected to the earth, and realize how pure the air can be. Winter air is much strict, and too cold to enjoy to me. But, I would like to share this feeling with you someday. We are not eating something, but eating air too. This is said by Haruki Murakami. That would be one of the reason why you feel something’s wrong when you eat Italian pasta in Japanese restaurant and don’t take it as the same taste you had in Italy. Air is such an important factor in our lives, and why don’t we enjoy our air more from now?

Real Good Japanese Songs: “Kaerou” by Fujii Kaze

Today, I’d like to talk about music especially the real good Japanese music. Perhaps Maroon 5 or Lady Gaga is not the real good music for the most of Americans. You must know there are much more, sometimes hidden, great songs or artists. Of course this is my taste and choice, and I am not supposed to argue with another Japanese. I’m actually a bit confident in the real good songs, so if you feel like the song, I’m really appreciated.

Today’s Song: “Kaerou” by Fujii Kaze

If you are familiar with Japanese culture, he is the one who you should remember in today’s J music scene. He has a great talent to make beautiful songs and gorgeous but catchy and light songs. More and more companies try to offer him to collaborate with commercials. The most famous one was with HONDA’s new car commercial song of “Kirari”.

Just by my intuition but nearly 60% of the Japanese youth recognize him these days, he is still a new pop star in today’s J music scene. But this song “Kaerou” ,meaning let’s go home in English, is a bit hidden but one of his early masterpiece which will be accepted and acclaimed from the every generation and gender in Japan because the song is about “death” or “forgiveness”. That’s why there are many comments from 50s or over 60s people’s comments just aside from teenagers ones.

Like another his songs, you would find yourself in peaceful mind after you finish listening his songs. But this one is a bit outstanding. I cried naturally and felt so fulfilling with this song. I have no idea why this young early 20s guy could write and sing this awesome song, you can really understand how beautiful and great singer he is. All right, the video contains English subtitles, and if you liked it, it’s my pleasure. I also put the English lyrics down below. Please enjoy one of my fav songs♪

You are melting into the sunset

I am fading into the sunrise

If our paths never cross again,

then, that is the way it is

You’re turning on the lamp

I’m searching for the light

We both have nothing to fear

nothing to lose

We both have nothing at all in the first place

See you, see you again

Those boy’s eyes aren’t innocent anymore,

Those evening bells are ringing out

but can’t be heard anymore

That is, that is almost like

Everything seems to be over

Far from it, we’ve got a long way to go

and I’ll never forget…

Ah, let’s forget everything and go home

Ah, let everything flow away and go home

Though that scar hurts

this thirst never be quenched,

it doesn’t matter anymore, let’s blow ’em all away

Let’s go home with a nice breeze

Let’s go home with gentle rain

What is the use of hating each other

I’m, I’m gonna be the first one to forget

You are worried about the future

I am still attached to the past

This is our last time,

I’m supposed to be a god,

but still, we’re too much human

I looked at the world without me

From above, and I found out

It keeps on turning exactly the same as always

That made me feel easy somewhat

See you, see you again

We said farewell right before the highway

Leaving all hustle-bustle behind, I walk alone

Taking, All my life was about taking

And not a bit of giving

Not knowing the meaning of this life I’ve lived

Ah, let’s give everything and go home

Ah, with empty hands, let’s go home

What we can give is just what we’re given

Let’s be thankful and be honored

I’m waiting for you, let’s go home

Let’s go home where happiness never ends

What can we take with us when we leave this world?

Let go of the burdens we’re carrying, one by one

What is the use of hating each other?

I’m, I’m gonna be the first one to forget

Ah, how am I going to live from today

Kendo practice after the end of the state of emergency

Kendo is one of the Japanese traditional martial arts and thought to be today’s best sports which represents bushido tradition. Japanese samurai used to practice their way (Dou) of ken (sword in Japanese), so it is called Kendo(剣道). Recent Japanese smash hit anime “Damon Slayer” characters are featured with such martial arts, so the popularity seems to grow these days.

I don’t know how many state of emergency was proposed in this 15 months though, we needed stopping kendo keiko (practice or lesson in Japanese) from 2 weeks ago. That was really sad though, actually, I hadn’t practiced by myself until yesterday. But today, I could play kendo with relatively good condition. The memory left inside the body was deleted in a good/ bad way, so my form or way of doing kendo was not bad actually, my master said to me.

“All you need is to hit a shot with your heart and body set together in 0.1 second. Don’t hesitate to relax for the fight, but you need to focus the 0.1. In the moment, I can live my life.

Busy, eh?

The Japanese school year begins from April, and that makes teachers extremely busy because there are thing you need to start from zero base. We try to make previous things better in every year, so I am also trying to do many new things. However, at the same time, you realize that you are spending too much time, and felt having lesser room in my mind. Or, I think I have a low capacity. I am always wishing that I could do anything that I wanted to do, but in reality, sometimes you find yourself too tired to do some new things.

My greatest mentor Tatsuru Uchida (a philosopher) once mentioned about mental health in his book, and he wrote there seems two signs that can prove you’re in good health. 1st is you find eatings yummy. 2nd is you feel you want to start new things. 3rd is that you feel like to write to somebody. And I absolutely agree with his idea.

Not only in Japan, but also in many other countries, this season is the turning point of a season, like winter to spring. Our bodies and mental must have been somehow affected by this seasonal changing unconsciously. Especially here in Hokkaido (the northern part of Japan), the temperature is like 17C yesterday, and 3C today, and tomorrow 15C,… You know, like a bitcoin chart or rollercoaster ride.

Spring is the loveliest season of all time for the most of Japanese, but at the same time, people are easily got tired or disappointed experiencing new fields or seasons’ difference. The changing of the environment is somehow tiring.

Then, what should I think like? I believe that I should think like do anything with just step by step. You cannot achieve anything immediately, but just gradually. Like a snail or a turtle. You are you.

Greatest News in 3 years! “POPEYE Web” is born!

Reading a paper in the 7 pm eating boring supper, the column of daily fortune telling says for the Capricornus that you would find great news on web or VR world. Slightly I laughed in my heart because that would be a little bit meaningless advice since it’s almost the end of the day. There would be no such opportunity, then I put my chopstick on a table. Then I started reading one of my favorite magazine: POPEYE. The motto of this magazine is “Magazine for City Boys”. I’ve ben reading this magazine for almost 10 years. Only one thing that I’m somehow collecting is maybe this magazine. I have almost all issues for several years. The atmosphere is the best. No other magazines can make this unique but gentle, funny but serious atmosphere. Starting reading the latest issue that I bought yesternight at a connivence store, then my eyes caught a strange article in the last page. It says “1 month has passed since POPEYE web was born!”. POPEYE Web? I immediately accessed the site and then I realized the fortune telling was right! The site makes my life three times more exciting one!

https://popeyemagazine.jp/

The landing page of POPEYE web. I swear I open this page every day! And my life would be more city boy look!

The page was really well made. I was almost crying. You never knew how much I appreciate this news. Please imagine that you are a huge fan of somebody who never appeared on internet. You love his/her saying or attitude on TV or books, so you try to pretend to get close to the person. And a month ago, but she or he suddenly started daily blog post and tell us about everything with their view. OMG… I’ve been never a fan of anybody but this magazine. This huge news means that everyday I can start my life with POPEYE’s morning call and finish with Good night by POPEYE.

Now I’m a bit exaggerated though, POPEYE magazine is one of the best Japanese magazine for me, and the magazine that influences me a lot. Then there was “about POPEY Web” page. I’m so thrilled to explain about this page for you guys that I’d like to make translation of the page.

“About” page. This writing style IS the POPEYE magazine…(TT)

POPEYE Webは世界でここだけにしかない架空の街です。

POPEYE Web is an imaginary downtown that exists only in here.

スポーツマンも学者も、ルーキーもベテランも、社交家も孤高の人も、海好きも山好きも、年齢、国籍、性別、趣味嗜好を問わず、どんな人が遊びに来ても楽しめる街です。キャラクターのポパイのように強くてやさしい街を目指しています。

Any athletes, scholars, rookies, veterans, the sociable or the isolated, people who love sea or mountain, any ages, nationalities, genders, any favorites can come and enjoy in this downtown. We are aiming to build a strong but kind town like the character of Popeye.

ところで、45年前に誕生したPOPEYE創刊号にはこんな言葉がありました。
「もはや、雑誌を編集者だけでつくる時代は終わりました」
その宣言通り、創刊から今までそれぞれの時代のユニークな能力を持った人がどこからともなく編集部に集まって、ワイワイと雑誌をつくってきました。
そんなPOPEYEが始めるウェブなので、もちろん編集者だけではつくりません。

By the way, there was a line on the very first issue of POPEYE magazine which was born 45 years ago.
“The era in which only editors make magazines just ended”.
As the declaration goes, from the beginning of the magazine to now, people with unique talents somehow gathered in editorial department and making magazine with a lot of laughs and good funs.
So, that POPEYE starts this web, of course we don’t make this with only editors.

現実の世界で出会ってビビッときた人たちをどんどん誘ってこの街の住人になってもらおうと思っています。文章が得意な人には記事を書いてもらい、ミュージシャンにはライブをしてもらい、話がうまい人にはラジオで喋ってもらい、格闘家にはカメラの前で瓦を割ってもらったりしようと思っています。雑誌とは違った手段で、よりフレッシュに現場の熱を伝えられそうでワクワクしています。

We’d like to invite people who we met in real world and fell in love to this town and want them to be a residence. The people who are good at writing, let them write, and people who are musicians, let them gigs, people who are good at talking, let them talk on the radio, fighters, we want them to break Japanese tiles in front of a camera. We are thrilled to be able to deliver the heat of the site.

このウェブサイトの拠点は今のところ東京です。そして、スタッフはすごく少ないです。おもしろいメンバーが集まり始めていますが、地方の街、世界の都市で起きていることには関知できていません。だから、世界中の都市に住む同じ波長を持った皆さんの情報をお待ちしています。ウェブサイトを見て少しでもいいなと思ったら、きっと僕らと気が合うはずです。身のまわりに起きていることを教えてください。

The foothold of this site is Tokyo for now. And there are a few staffs. Only funny interesting members are gathering here, we cannot sense events happening in country side of Japan, or cities in the world. So, we are waiting for your information who has a sympathy with us in the wold. If you look at the website and find it good, you must be our good friend. Please let us know what is happening around you.

POPEYE Webはみんなで創るウェブサイトです。

POPEYE Web is a website made with everyone.

Come join us!
popeyeweb@magazine.co.jp

I’d like to send the mail as soon as I can! LIFE IS SO EXCITING!!!
Thank you very much for reading this article! Let’s send email together and make the world better place ; )

Spring has come to everyone!

A photo of Meguro River in Tokyo sent from my friend

Hello guys. Finally, a new post here today. Spring has come. I have no idea though, the most of Japanese love to use this expression in English. Like, “Ah.. Sakura ga saite masune（ああ、桜が咲いてますね。「スプリングハズカム」ですね）. “Spring has come” desune (Ah.. Cherry blossom looks beautiful. Spring has come, eh?)” By the way, “Spring has come” is “Haruga Kita（春が来た）” in Japanese.

Yes. Spring has come. Spring means a lot for Japanese. Spring can be metaphor of “New Love”, “Passing the entrance exam” or such new things. It’s a new season for anything for Japanese. And the Sakura (cherry blossom) is one of the best metaphor of spring for Japanese.

Heavy Snowfall

My car looked like Kagamimochi

I live in a country part of Hokkaido, and from yesternight we are getting heavy snowfall for now. There were less snow compared to these years but the time of balance out anyway comes at some point. The point was simply yesterday and today. Such day, I suddenly woke up with a sound of snow plow truck. Hearing it in the borderland of dream and real, I feel like there comes certain amount of snow finally.

The merit of a heavy snowfall is that you can enjoy ski at a ski resort that was in trouble due to the lack of snow. And if you have too much snow and cause a traffic trouble, maybe the school would be canceled (I felt so happy about it when I was a student). The de-merit of it is just you need to clear the snow away with your spade. It is some work.

Have you noticed that the picture above of my car seems a bit strange? There is an orange on the car. It’s a joke for a Japanese traditional culture. In Japan, almost everyone put “kagamimochi” in your house or office (not these days?). It is cute.

Kagami mochi (鏡餅, “mirror rice cake”), is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration. It usually consists of two round mochi (rice cakes), the smaller placed atop the larger, and a daidai (a Japanese bitter orange) with an attached leaf on top.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagami_mochi