Japan-Oh-Rama

An Unschooling Life: Unschooling in Redbook

2009-10-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

An Unschooling Life: Unschooling in Redbook: "please note that we"

Grow your business while lowering your costs with our turnkey Web solutions and services. Professional Web design and development, Web hosting, SSL certificates, domain name registration and more. Make Money Online.

Working in Japan

2009-07-05T18:57:00.001-07:00

Many foreign residents from English speaking countries, work in Japan as language instructors. The demand for native language instructors remains high, with some major language schools even operating recruitment offices overseas.

Other professional fields, in which qualified foreign residents have a good chance to find work, include translation, IT, modeling, gastronomy and entertainment. Being in Japan while job hunting and Japanese language ability are two keys to increase your chances of finding a job in Japan.

Foreign nationals, who wish to engage in paid activities in Japan, require a visa that allows them to work in Japan. It is not permitted to engage in any paid activities on a tourist visa.

There are about a dozen types of working visas, each allowing the holder to engage in paid activities only within a defined professional field, e.g. as an engineer, instructor or entertainer. A job offer in Japan is required to successfully apply for most types of working visas.

Permanent residents of Japan and spouse visa holders (i.e. those married to a Japanese national or permanent resident of Japan) are allowed to engage in any paid activity regardless of the professional field.

Student visa holders are not allowed to engage in paid activities, unless they attain the permission of the school and the immigration office. Even then, students are only allowed to work a set maximum hours per week.

Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland, who are 18 to 30 years old, can also consider a working holiday visa for working in Japan for up to one year.

Maniac Love Nightclub

2009-06-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Maniac Love Club was opened in 1993 and it's got reputation of the most respected techno club in Japan. The club is not too big, but it's very well organized, so no one complains about its narrowness. In the mezzanine, there is a nice bar with a large choice of drinks and snacks.

The music of the club ranges from house and drums and busses to techno, using one of the best sound-systems in Tokyo. The resident DJs of the Maniac Love club are famous far beyond the borders of Japan: Wada, Yama, Shinkawa and others. The club attracts many Japanese people and foreigners by its unusual interior, stylish audience and good-quality music.

Saturday techno parties take place in the Maniac Love Club every week, and they are considered to be the coolest techno parties in Tokyo. The guests dance all night long till the Sunday morning, when it's time for the after hours. The After Hours Party is a gorgeous party only for the hyper active clubbers, when all the visitors are served with free coffee. The party starts at 06:00 and lasts till the midday. Some people skip night party and arrive only for the After Hours, famous for its incredibly popular DJs and great music. The Maniac Love Club was the first one to start the after hours parties.

The Muzik Magazine published the list of the best clubs in the world. The Maniac Love Club was the only one representing Japan in the list, and it occupied the 13th position. In Tokyo, the Maniac Love Club is a recognized leader of the dancing parties arranging, and it keeps attracting the dance lovers from all over the world.

Please notice that entrance for the visitors under 20 years old and without an ID is not allowed.

Asakusa and Sensoji Temple

2009-06-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

Asakusa is a big district of Tokyo, situated to the east from Ueno, on the bank of the Sumida River. Asakusa is famous for the countless shops, cinemas, nightclubs and recreation centers. The historical center of the district is Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple. It is the oldest buddhistic temple in Tokyo.

According to the legend, in 628 two brothers were fishing in the Sumida River and caught the statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. They tried to put the statue back into the river but each time it returned to them. The village headman decided that it was a divine sign and 17 years later the temple to Kannon was built. During the centuries, the temple was reconstructed and enlarged more than once. Today Kannon ensemble consists of 10 buildings and occupies quite a big territory. Modern main temple and standing nearby five-tiered pagoda are the exact copies of the buildings destroyed during the air-raids of World War II. Inside the temple, where mysterious semi-darkness reigns, lavishly decorated altar Gokudzi with the statue of the goddess shines. Kannon is one of the most respected and loved goddess of Buddhist pantheon. She symbolizes boundless kindness and mercy towards all suffering. Three main gates - Kaminarimon, Nitemmon and Hodzomon - also have been recently restored. The main gate Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is decorated with huge red lantern that has become the symbol of the temple. On the right, the God of the Wind, and on the left, the God of Thunder, guard the entrance to the temple.

The Nakamise Street, leading from Kaminarimon Gate to the main hall of Sensoji Temple, is especially popular with the tourists. There a variety of shops of all kinds are situated. Even the name of the street is translated as "among the shops". Here one can buy everything from traditional Japanese souvenirs to confectionary and spicery.

Asakusa district is famous for numerous festivals and celebrations that are regularly held there. Sanja-Matsuri, the festival of Sensoji Temple, is the most important among them. As well as overwhelming majority of traditional celebrations, it is a festive procession along the streets, accompanied by singing and dancing. In July, in Asakusa the annual festival of Japanese flowers Hozuki-ichi is held. In the middle of December, around the temple and in its premises there is grandiose fair of Japanese arts and crafts - Hagoita-ichi.

Hagoita is a traditional colorful wooden racket that is used in hanetsuki (traditional Japanese New Year's game, something like badminton). Originally, hagoitas were rather simple but since the Edo period they have been lavishly ornamented and used as a decoration or present. Famous kabuki actors and beautiful noble Edo women are traditionally painted on hagoitas but nowadays you can buy hagoitas with the portraits of popular singers and sportsmen. In November, in Asakusa a relatively new, but already very popular holiday Tokyo Jidai Matsuri commemorating the history of Tokyo and Edo culture is celebrated. The colorful procession proceeds along the streets around Sensoji Temple, representing the famous plots from the city history. But the most popular festival is a summer parade of fireworks on the Sumida River. Annually about one million people come to enjoy the unforgettable enchanting spectacle.

Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport

2009-06-23T16:36:00.001-07:00

Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport is a small airport that was opened in June 2009 to serve the area between Nagoya's Central Japan Airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The airport is located between Shizuoka Prefecture's two main cities, Hamamatsu and Shizuoka, and is named after the prefecture's most famous landmark, Mount Fuji, which is located 80 kilometers away.

Shizuoka Airport is conveniently located near the expressway, while the Tokaido Shinkansen passes directly below it. However, there are currently no plans to build a new station for easy train access to the airport. Instead, access by public transportation is provided by buses (see details below).

JAL, ANA and Fuji Dream Airlines, a new airline based in Shizuoka, are operating flights to six domestic destinations: Sapporo, Fukuoka, Okinawa (Naha), Kanazawa (Komatsu), Kumamoto and Kagoshima.

Furthermore, there are regular international flights to Shanghai and Seoul, as well as various charter flights.

Miyazaki Travel Guide

2009-05-20T22:41:00.001-07:00

Miyazaki City, capital of Miyazaki Prefecture, is located on the south eastern coast of Kyushu. With one of the warmest climates on the main islands of Japan combined with attractions such as resorts, beaches and sports facilities, Miyazaki was the top honeymoon spot and a popular destination with domestic travelers until the 1980s.

The city has since seen falling visitor numbers, but is now making a comeback due to the efforts of a former comedian, Higashikokubaru Hideo, the current governor of Miyazaki Prefecture. His celebrity and constant efforts to keep Miyazaki in the public eye, have begun to revive the Miyazaki brand.

Miyazaki City is also near attractions such as Takachiho to the north and Kirishima to the southwest, which are both important sites of Japanese mythology and beautiful places to enjoy nature.

Sake no jin

2009-05-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

Sake no jin is an annual sake fair, attended by about one hundred sake producers from across Niigata Prefecture, a prefecture well known for its high quality rice and rice wine. Sake no jin is held on a weekend in mid March at the Toki Messe convention center in Niigata City.

Everybody over the age of twenty is welcome to attend the fair and taste from a large variety of Niigata sake. Admission to the fair is free. However, if you wish to do some tasting, you need to pay 2000 yen in exchange for a sake cup to be used to taste from hundreds of types of sake and sake related products on display.

In addition to the sake brewers' stands, Sake no jin features a number of stage events including a tasting challenge and dance and song performances. There is also a food corner with Niigata specialties.

Travel Guide: Gujo Hachiman

2009-04-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

Gujo Hachiman is a small, riverside town in Gifu Prefecture, known for its pristine waterways and its distinctive summer dance festival. The town was founded in the 16th century following the construction of Hachiman Castle.
Gujo's waterways function in much the same capacity as they did in the 1600s. Walking through town provides visitors with a look at the many canals, fountains and waterways that are still used for washing rice, vegetables and laundry. Townspeople cooperate to keep the canals clean and the water fresh; as a result of their efforts, Gujo's drinking water is a source of local pride.

Gujo Odori is the name of the large summer dance festival held in Gujo Hachiman. The festival started over 400 years ago and continues today for a period of thirty-one festival nights between July and September. During the four days of Obon in mid August, dances continue all through the night.

Gujo is also a leading producer of food replicas in Japan. Many of the food replicas, used by restaurants to decorate their windows and inform patrons of their dishes, are produced here. Visitors can try their hand at creating wax shrimp tempura in some of the workshops.

Kirishima Travel Guide

2009-04-19T23:51:00.000-07:00

Kirishima is an active volcanic mountain range that lies on the border between Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures. It is made up of mountains, highlands, volcanic lakes and hot springs and offers good hiking through beautiful mountainous surroundings. Although geographically separate, Kirishima and Yakushima Island make up the Kirishima-Yaku National Park, one of Japan's oldest national parks.The mountains of Kirishima play an important role in Japanese mythology. They are said to be the site where the god Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, was sent to rule over the earth and establish the lineage of Japanese Emperors. At the top of Mount Takachiho-no-mine you can see the spear sunk in the mountaintop, which Ninigi no Mikoto used to descend to earth.

Ebino Kogen and Kirishima Onsen are the two most prominent resort towns in the Kirishima area. Ebino Kogen on the Miyazaki side of the border, is a small village with a couple of hotels in a highland area surrounded by mountains and volcanic lakes. On the Kagoshima side is Kirishima Onsen, a more developed hot spring town with good baths and nice views over Kagoshima Prefecture.

Okuribito Filming Locations

2009-04-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

Okuribito is a Japanese movie about the profession of nokanshi (encoffineer), who prepare deceased bodies for funeral ceremonies. Known as "Departures" in English, the movie won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009.
Okuribito contains many scenes of rural Japan and natural beauty which probably made some viewers wonder where in Japan the movie had been filmed. The following article will answer this question.

The main location of outdoor scenes was the city of Sakata and surroundings in the Shonai Region of Yamagata Prefecture in northern Japan. Located along the Sea of Japan coast, the Shonai Region has no shinkansen connection and is hardly visited by foreign tourists, except for a few heading to the Dewa Sanzan mountains.

The unique building, which housed the encoffineer's company office, is the most prominent of several filming locations in the city center of Sakata. Several street scenes were taken there, as well. And the concert hall, where the orchestra plays in the beginning of the movie, stands directly next to Sakata's city hall.
Probably the most memorable outdoor scenes were those of the wide fields with a river and a snow covered mountain in the background. The mountain is Mount Chokaizan and the river is Gakko River. Most of the scenes were taken around the old Asahi Bridge just outside the town center of Yusa, ten kilometers north of Sakata.
The bath house Tsurunoyu, also repeatedly featured in the movie, is an actual public bath house in Tsuruoka City, 25 kilometers south of Sakata. Like in the film, the bath is run by an elderly lady. Enjoying the sudden increase in interest in her bath house, the lady postponed her plans to close the place down for good.
In between Tsuruoka and Sakata stands the home in which the movie's first scene takes place, and which also appears on the movie's Japanese poster. The house was designed by an architect, who also worked on imperial villas, and is now open to the public as cultural exchange facility.
Only a few of the outdoor scenes were filmed outside of the Shonai Region. Most prominently among them are the scenes of the outside of the main character's home. The interesting building stands a two hour car drive southeast of Sakata in Kaminoyama City, just south of the prefectural capital of Yamagata City.

Annual Events in Japan

2009-03-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

The following are Japanese national holidays and some of the most important other annual nationwide events. In addition, there are countless local annual festivals. Our event calendar can be consulted for exact dates.

* January 1 (national holiday)
New Year (shogatsu):
This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3. More information is available on the New Year page.

* Second Monday of January (national holiday)
Coming of Age (seijin no hi):
The coming of age of 20 year old men and women is celebrated on this national holiday. More information is available on the Coming of Age page.

* February 3
Beginning of spring (setsubun):
Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide. More information is available on the Setsubun page.

* February 11 (national holiday)
National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):
According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.

* February 14
Valentine's Day:
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday. More information is available on the Valentine's Day page.

* March 3
Doll's Festival (hina matsuri):
Also called girl's festival. More information is available on the Doll's Festival page.

* March 14
White Day:
The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday. More information is available on the White Day page.

* Around March 20 (national holiday)
Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.

* April 29 (national holiday)
Showa Day (Showa no hi):
The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day (now celebrated on May 4). Showa Day is part of the Golden Week.

* May 3 (national holiday)
Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):
A national holiday remembering the new constitution, which was put into effect after the war. More information is available on the Golden Week page.

* May 4 (national holiday)
Greenery Day (midori no hi):
Until 2006, Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29, the former Emperor Showa's birthday, due to the emperor's love for plants and nature. It is now celebrated on May 4 and is part of the Golden Week.

* May 5 (national holiday)
Children's Day (kodomo no hi):
Also called boy's festival. More information is available on the Golden Week page.

* July/August 7
Star Festival (tanabata):
Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday. More information is available on the Tanabata page.

* Third Monday of July (national holiday)
Ocean Day (umi no hi):
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.

* July/August 13-15
Obon:
Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors. More information is available on the Obon page.

* Third Monday of September (national holiday)
Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
Respect for the elderly and longevity are celebrated on this national holiday.

* Around September 23 (national holiday)
Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.

* Second Monday of October (national holiday)
Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):
On that day in 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.

* November 3 (national holiday)
Culture Day (bunka no hi):
A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace. On culture day, schools and the government award selected persons for their special, cultural achievements.

* November 15
Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
A festival for children, Shichigosan is not a national holiday. More information is available on the Shichigosan page.

* November 23 (national holiday)
Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
A national holiday for honoring labour.

* December 23 (national holiday)
Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):
The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.

* December 24-25
Christmas:
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese. More information is available on the Christmas page.

* December 31
New Year's Eve (omisoka):
December 31 is not a national holiday. More information is available on the New Year page.

If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will also be a holiday. If a day lies between two national holidays, the day will also be turned into a holiday.

Japanese Plum

2009-03-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Japanese plum or ume (sometimes referred to as a Japanese apricot) has played an important role in Japanese culture for many centuries. It was originally introduced from China.

The plum is associated with the start of spring, because plum blossoms are some of the first blossoms to open during the year. In the Tokyo area, they typically flower in February and March. The event is celebrated with plum festivals (ume matsuri) in public parks, shrines and temples across the country.

Like cherry trees, plum trees come in many varieties, many of which were cultivated by humans over the centuries. Most plum blossoms have five petals and range in color from white to dark pink. Some varieties with more than five petals (yae-ume) and weeping branches (shidare-ume) have also been cultivated. Unlike cherry blossoms, plum blossoms have a strong fragrance.

The actual ume fruit is more sour than the western plum or apricot, and is usually processed in various ways before eaten.

The most popular processed form is the umeboshi, a sour, pickled plum, which is usually enjoyed with cooked rice. Umeboshi is one of the most typical Japanese flavors. Umeshu, a sweet alcoholic beverage made of plums, is also very popular.

History of Kendo

2009-02-16T22:10:00.001-08:00

Kendo, meaning "Way of the Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or Kenjutsu.

Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.

Since the earliest samurai government in Japan, during the Kamakura period (1185-1233), sword fencing, together with horse riding and archery, were the main martial pursuits of the military clans. In this period kendo developed under the strong influence of Zen Buddhism. The samurai could equate the disregard for his own life in the heat of battle, which was considered necessary for victory in individual combat, to the Buddhist concept of the illusory nature of the distinction between life and death.
Kendō at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920

Those swordsmen established schools of kenjutsu (the ancestor of "kendo") which continued for centuries and which form the basis of kendo practice today. The names of the schools reflect the essence of the originator’s enlightenment. Thus the Ittō-ryū (Single sword school) indicates the founder’s illumination that all possible cuts with the sword emanate from and are contained in one original essential cut. The Mutō (swordless school) expresses the comprehension of the originator Yamaoka Tesshu, that "There is no sword outside the mind". The 'Munen Musō-ryū’ (No intent, no preconception) similarly expresses the understanding that the essence of kenjutsu transcends the reflective thought process. The formal kendo exercises known as kata were developed several centuries ago as kenjutsu practice for warriors and are still studied today, albeit in a modified form.

The introduction of bamboo practice swords (shinai) and armour (bōgu) to "ken" training is attributed to Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato during the Shotoku Era (1711-1715). Naganuma developed the use of kendo-gu (bogu) (protective equipment) and established a training method using the shinai.

In addition, the inscription on the gravestone of Yamada Heizaemon Mitsunori's (Ippūsai) third son Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato, the 8th headmaster of the Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū Kenjutsu, states that his exploits included improving the bokuto and shinai, and refining the armour by adding a metal grill to the men and thick cotton protective coverings to the kote. Kunisato inherited the tradition from his father Heizaemon in 1708, and the two of them worked hard together to improve the bogu until Heizaemon's death.

This is believed to be the foundation of modern kendo. Kendo began to make its modern appearance during the late 18th century. Use of the shinai and armour made it possible to deliver strikes and thrusts with full force but without injuring one's opponent. These advances, along with the development of set practice formats, set the foundations of modern kendo.

Concepts such as mushin, or "empty mind" are borrowed from Zen buddhism, are are considered essential for the attainment of high-level kendo. Fudōshin, or "unmoving mind", is a conceptual attribute of the deity Fudo Myo-O, one of the five "Kings of Light" of Shingon Buddhism. Fudōshin, implies that the kendoka cannot be led astray by delusions of anger, doubt, fear, or surprise arising from the opponent’s actions. Thus today it is possible to embark on a similar quest for spiritual enlightenment as followed by the samurai of old.

The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai was established in 1895 to solidify, promote, and standardise all martial disciplines and systems in Japan. The DNBK changed the name of Gekiken to kendo in 1920. Kendo (along with other martial arts) was banned in Japan in 1946 by the occupying powers. This was part of "the removal and exclusion from public life of militaristic and ultra nationalistic persons" in response to the wartime militarization of martial arts instruction in Japan. Kendo was allowed to return to the curriculum in 1950 (first as Shinai Kyougi "Shinai Competition" and then as Kendo from 1952).

The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF or ZNKR) was founded in 1952, immediately following the restoration of Japanese independence and the subsequent lift of the ban on martial arts in Japan.

Japan's Chinatown

2009-01-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

Japan has three chinatowns in Yokohama, Nagasaki and Kobe. All of them originated as residential areas of Chinese merchants, who settled in Japan during the early 20th century, the second half of the 19th century and earlier.

Today, Japan's chinatowns are tourist spots, popular for their restaurants and "exotic" atmosphere, rather than residential areas of Chinese immigrants, even though Yokohama's Chinatown, for example, is still home to several thousand residents of Chinese descent.

Nagasaki Chinatown
Nagasaki Chinatown, also known as Shinchi Chinatown, is Japan's oldest chinatown. It was established as early as the 17th century, due to the fact that Nagasaki's port remained the country's only major port opened to Chinese trade during the era of isolation.

Over the centuries, the residents of Shinchi Chinatown have bestowed the city of Nagasaki which a Chinese flair not felt in any other of Japan's major cities.

Today, Nagasaki's chinatown is best known for its restaurants and their two most famous local noodle dishes, champon and saraudon.

Yokohama Chinatown
Yokohama Chinatown (Yokohama Chukagai) is Japan's largest chinatown, located in central Yokohama.

Yokohama Chinatown quickly developed, after the port of Yokohama had been one of the first Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade in 1859. It became the residence of the many Chinese traders who settled down in the city.

Today, a large number of Chinese stores and restaurants can be found in the narrow and colorful streets of Chinatown, while the number of actual residents has been decreasing.

Four colorful gates stand at the entrances to Chinatown, and five more gates can be found within. The Kanteibyo is a gaudily colored temple in the center of Chinatown. Constructed in 1873 by Chinese residents, it is dedicated to the Chinese god of good business and prosperity.

A recent addition to Yokohama Chinatown is Daska, promoting itself as a food theme park. Daska's theme is the Shanghai of the 1920s, and its main attraction are three floors of food stands, some operated by well-known restaurants from China and Japan, selling various Chinese dishes. English language information is rather limited.

Kobe Chinatown
Kobe's chinatown, also known as Nankinmachi, is a rather small chinatown, but offers a nice atmosphere and some good food.

Nankinmachi developed as the residential area of Chinese merchants, who settled in Kobe after the city's port had been opened to foreign trade in 1868.

Gujo Hachiman Travel Guide

2009-01-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Gujo Hachiman is a small, riverside town in Gifu Prefecture, known for its pristine waterways and its distinctive summer dance festival. The town was founded in the 16th century following the construction of Hachiman Castle.

Gujo's waterways function in much the same capacity as they did in the 1600s. Walking through town provides visitors with a look at the many canals, fountains and waterways that are still used for washing rice, vegetables and laundry. Townspeople cooperate to keep the canals clean and the water fresh; as a result of their efforts, Gujo's drinking water is a source of local pride.

Gujo Odori is the name of the large summer dance festival held in Gujo Hachiman. The festival started over 400 years ago and continues today for a period of thirty-one festival nights between July and September. During the four days of Obon in mid August, dances continue all through the night.

Gujo is also a leading producer of food replicas in Japan. Many of the food replicas, used by restaurants to decorate their windows and inform patrons of their dishes, are produced here. Visitors can try their hand at creating wax shrimp tempura in some of the workshops.

Travel Guide to Hanatoro!

2009-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

Hanatoro, which means "flower and light road", is a set of illumination events that take place in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto in March and the Arashiyama district of Kyoto in December. During Hanatoro the streets are illuminated by thousands of lanterns set throughout popular areas combined with flower and light displays.

Many temples and shrines are illuminated and have special extended viewing hours. In addition, live and street performances are held at stages around the area. The pleasant and unique atmosphere of Hanatoro attracts many visitors who can stroll the streets and see a different side of Kyoto.

Higashiyama Hanatoro:
The next Higashiyama Hanatoro will be held March 13 to 22, 2009.

During the March Hanatoro the streets of Kyoto's historic Higashiyama district are lined by more than 2400 lanterns that stretch from Shorenin all the way to Kiyomizudera. Nearly all of the popular temples and shrines in the district are illuminated and have extended opening hours.

The Hanabutai stage is set up in Kodaiji Temple Park where daily live music, dance and performances are held. Additionally, performance areas in front of the large central weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura) in Maruyama Park and Kiyomizudera are set aside for street performances.

Many shops also have extended opening hours during Hanatoro, and in combination with the illumination events makes for a pleasant evening atmosphere which attracts many people to the area during a time of the day when it is usually rather deserted.

Arashiyama Hanatoro:
The next Arashiyama Hanatoro will be held December 12 to 21, 2008.

Arashiyama is a pleasant district on the outskirts of Kyoto that holds its Hanatoro every December. For ten days, more than five kilometers of streets around the town center and along the river are lit up by lanterns. Many temples and shrines, such as Daikakuji, are illuminated and have special extended hours.

Of the most spectacular attractions are the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge spanning the river and the bamboo forest behind Tenryuji Temple. Both are illuminated during Hanatoro with the Togetsukyo Bridge being particularly beautiful as it is lit up along with the surrounding mountainsides.

Japanese Dishes: Gyudon

2008-12-26T16:47:00.000-08:00

Gyudon (beef bowl) is a popular domburi dish consisting of beef and onion served over a bowl of rice. The meat and onion are cooked in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake giving the dish a sweet, salty flavour. Many chain restaurants (gyudon-ya) specialize in gyudon making it an informal, inexpensive dining option frequented by students, and ideally suited to travelers on a budget.

Typically, beni shoga (pickled red ginger) and shichimi (red chili mix) are available at the table and added to taste. Tofu or konnyaku (devil`s tongue) may be cooked along with the beef although these ingredients are more common in home recipes than at restaurants. Common restaurant additions are a beaten raw egg stirred into the finished product, or green onions sprinkled on top of the meat.
Between 2004 and 2006, a Japanese ban on imported American beef drastically affected the production and sale of gyudon, causing upset among gyudon lovers. However, the ban increased the popularity and frequency of butadon and tondon, which are both pork variations of beef bowl.

Gyudon ya are numerous and often open 24 hours. These restaurants operate in one of two ways. Either a staff member takes one's order as usual, or the meal is paid for in advance at a vending machine located near the restaurant entrance.

A side bowl of miso soup may come with the meal or be offered in a combo set. Other side dishes are salad and kimchi. Tea and water are offered for free with refill jugs available on the table for customers to serve themselves.

Travel Guide to Akihabara!

2008-12-18T22:34:00.001-08:00

Akihabara (short: Akiba) is a district in central Tokyo, famous for its many electronics shops. In recent years, it has also gained fame as a center of the gaming, manga and animation culture. A major redevelopment of Akihabara Station and surroundings is nearing its completion, giving Akihabara a new face.

Electronics

Hundreds of electronics shops of various sizes can be found around Akihabara Station and along Chuo Dori (Chuo Avenue). They offer everything from the newest computers, cameras, televisions, mobile phones and home appliances to second-hand goods and electronic junk.

A few major stores, such as Ishimaru Denki, Sofmap and Laox operate multiple branch stores mainly along the main roads, while many smaller shops can be found in the narrow side streets.

Note that some of the electronic appliances on sale are only suited for use in Japan due to voltage and other technical differences and limited warranty. However, several stores also feature a selection of products for overseas use and offer duty free shopping to foreign tourists on purchases of over 10,000 Yen (passport required).

Manga, Animation and Games

The character of Akihabara has constantly changed over the decades and continues to do so. A recent development is the emergence of Akihabara as a center of Japanese animation culture, as the number of stores offering video games, manga and animation related goods has notably increased.

In addition to conventional stores, various other animation related establishments have appeared in the area, such as cosplay ("costume play") cafes, where waitresses are dressed up like anime characters, and manga kissaten ("comics cafes"), where customers can read comics, watch DVDs and surf the internet.

Dewa Sanzan Travel Guide

2008-12-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

Dewa Sanzan ("three mountains of Dewa") are three sacred mountains in Yamagata Prefecture, each with a shrine on or near its peak. The mountains are named Haguro-san, Gas-san and Yudono-san and remain centers of mountain worship. Representing birth (Haguro-san), death (Gas-san) and rebirth (Yudono-san), the mountains are usually visited in that order.

Dewa Sanzan is a center of Shugendo, a folk religion based on mountain worship, blending Buddhist and Shinto traditions. Shugendo practitioners, called yamabushi, perform feats of endurance as a means of transcending the physical world. Training includes such tasks as long pilgrimages and endurance of the elements.

Evidence of Shugendo's most extreme test of physical endurance and religious devotion lies in the nearby Churenji and Dainichibo Temples. Here, two monks succeeded in preserving their own bodies as mummies through extreme diet modification and meditation. Although the practice is now banned, these self-mummified monks are considered living Buddhas for their achievement.

Part of Dewa Sanzan's appeal is its remoteness. Yamagata's heavy snowfall makes travel in the mountains difficult during the winter months when only Haguro-san remains open. The best time to visit is between July and mid September when all three shrines are open to pilgrims and tourists.

Japanese Entertainment: Pachinko

2008-12-12T17:36:00.000-08:00

Pachinko is a mixture of slot machine and pinball. The player is quite passive while playing pachinko. He or she is only controlling the speed with which many small steel balls are thrown into the pachinko machine.

Most of the balls just fall down the machine and disappear, but a few find their way into special holes. This activates a kind of slot machine. Like with slot machines, you win if the same three pictures appear. This occurs quite rarely in pachinko, but if it happens, you win countless new balls. When just playing for 500 or 1000 yen, you may likely just lose all your balls within a few minutes.

Pachinko machines can be found in pachinko parlors which are spread over the whole country. Many parlors also offer a corner with slot machines. One can recognize parlors easily because they are bright and colorful. Inside a parlor it is loud and smoky. Both men and women play pachinko and it is said that there are even a few pachinko professionals.

If you win balls, you can exchange them into goods that are available in the parlor's gift shop. But you can also bypass the law that prohibits gambling in Japan by exchanging the balls first into some special goods and then exchange them for cash at a small window just outside the parlor.

Japanese: The Samurai

2008-12-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

The samurai (or bushi) were the members of the military class, the Japanese warriors.

Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns; but their most famous weapon and their symbol was the sword.

Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). Strongly Confucian in nature, Bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior.

After a defeat, some samurai chose to commit ritual suicide (seppuku) by cutting their abdomen rather than being captured or dying a dishonorable death.

Japanese Restaurants

2008-12-01T21:40:00.000-08:00

A large number of restaurant types can be found in Japan. Below is an attempt to introduce some of the most popular restaurant types in categorized form:

Many restaurants in Japan specialize in just one type of food.

* Sushi-ya
Sushi-ya are restaurants which specialize in sushi. In most sushi-ya, customers can sit either at a normal table or at a counter (sushi bar), behind which the sushi chef is working.

* Kaiten-zushi
Kaiten-zushi are sushi restaurants, where the sushi dishes are presented to the customers on a conveyor belt. Customers can freely pick the dishes that they like as they pass in front of them or order dishes which are not available on the belt. In the end, the number of plates is counted to determine the cost. There are usually a few kinds of plates (differing in color or pattern), each being associated with a certain price of typically 100 to 500 yen. Kaiten-zushi tends to be less expensive than usual sushi-ya.

* Soba-ya
Soba-ya specialize in soba and udon noodle dishes. Most noodle dishes come either cooled with a dipping sauce or in a hot soup and with different toppings. The menu often changes slightly with the seasons, with hiyashi (cold) noodles popular in summer and nabeyaki (hot) udon popular in winter.

* Ramen-ya
Ramen-ya specialize in ramen dishes, Chinese style noodles served in a soup with various toppings. Every ramen-ya has developed its own soup, the most crucial ingredient for a restaurant's success. Several other dishes of Chinese origin, such as gyoza and fried rice, are usually also available at a ramen-ya.

* Kare-ya
Kare-ya are restaurants that specialize in curry rice (kare raisu) dishes. There is usually at least one kare-ya and one ramen-ya inside or around any major railway station.

* Tonkatsu-ya
Tonkatsu-ya serve tonkatsu, deep fried breaded pork cutlets. Korokke and other deep fried dishes are also available at many tonkatsu-ya.

* Gyudon-ya
Gyudon-ya specialize in gyudon (beef domburi). Gyudon-ya tend to be inexpensive fast food style restaurants.

* Okonomiyaki-ya
Okonomiyaki-ya specialize in okonomiyaki and sometimes monjayaki. Customers are usually preparing their okonomiyaki by themselves on a hot plate which is built into the table.

* Yakitori-ya
Yakitori-ya specialize in yakitori, grilled chicken skewers. They are particularly popular among salarymen after work. Along with ramen-ya, they are also popular places to go as a late night snack after drinking.

* Tempura-ya
Tempura-ya specialize in tempura dishes, such as tendon (tempura domburi) and assorted tempura.

* Unagi-ya
Unagi-ya specialize in unagi (fresh water eel) dishes such as unajuu and unadon (unagi domburi).

* Sukiyaki-ya
Sukiyaki-ya specialize in sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. They tend to be expensive and are not very numerous.

History of Japanese Anime

2008-11-26T20:25:00.000-08:00

Anime began at the start of the 20th century, when Japanese filmmakers experimented with the animation techniques that were being explored in France, Germany, the United States, and Russia. The oldest known anime in existence was screened in 1917 - a two minute clip of a samurai trying to test a new sword on his target, only to suffer defeat.

By the 1930s, animation became an alternative format of storytelling compared to the underdeveloped live-action industry in Japan. Unlike in the United States, the live-action industry in Japan remained a small market and suffered from budgeting, location, and casting restrictions. The lack of Western-looking actors, for example, made it next to impossible to shoot films set in Europe, America, or fantasy worlds that do not naturally involve Japan. Animation allowed artists to create any characters and settings.

The success of Disney's 1937 feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs influenced Japanese animators. Osamu Tezuka adapted and simplified many Disney animation techniques to reduce the costs and number of frames in the production. This was intended to be a temporary measure to allow him to produce material on a tight schedule with an inexperienced animation staff.

During the 1970s, there was a surge of growth in the popularity of manga—which were often later animated—especially those of Osamu Tezuka, who has been called a "legend" and the "god of manga". His work and that of other pioneers in the field, inspired characteristics and genres that are fundamental elements of anime today. The giant robot genre (known as "Mecha" outside Japan), for instance, took shape under Tezuka, developed into the Super Robot genre under Go Nagai and others, and was revolutionized at the end of the decade by Yoshiyuki Tomino who developed the Real Robot genre. Robot anime like the Gundam and Macross series became instant classics in the 1980s, and the robot genre of anime is still one of the most common in Japan and worldwide today. In the 1980s, anime became more accepted in the mainstream in Japan (although less than manga), and experienced a boom in production. Following a few successful adaptations of anime in overseas markets in the 1980s, anime gained increased acceptance in those markets in the 1990s and even more in the 2000s.

Quick Tour of Tokyo

2008-11-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

Tokyo is Japan's capital and the country's largest city.

Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis (to) rather than a prefecture (ken). The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.

The 23 city wards (ku) are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents.

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities.

With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.

Japanese Traditional Music: Brief History

2008-11-12T22:11:00.000-08:00

There are several types of traditional, Japanese music (hogaku). Some of the most important ones are listed below:

Gagaku:

Ancient court music from China and Korea. It is the oldest type of Japanese, traditional music.

Biwagaku:

Music played with the instrument Biwa, a kind of guitar with four strings.

Nogaku:

Music played during No performances. It basically consists of a chorus, the Hayashi flute, the Tsuzumi drum, and other instruments.

Sokyoku:

Music played with the instrument Koto. Later also accompanied by Shamisen and Shakuhachi. The Koto is a zither with 13 strings.

Shakuhachi:

Music played with the instrument Shakuhachi, a about 55 cm long flute. The name of the flute is its lenght expressed in the old Japanese length units.

Shamisenongaku:

Music played with the instrument Shamisen, a kind of guitar with only three strings. Kabuki and Bunraku performances are accompanied by the shamisen.

Minyo:

Japanese folk songs.

Ramen

2008-11-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

Ramen is a noodle soup that was originally imported to Japan from China in the Meiji Period. In more recent decades, it has become a very popular dish in Japan, adapted to the Japanese taste. Ramen restaurants (ramen ya) number in the thousands, and instant ramen (invented in 1958) is popular both in and outside of Japan.

Ramen noodles are about as thin as spaghetti and are served in a soup that varies based on region, city and even specific vendor. Ramen's popularity stems in part from the fact that it is so inexpensive and widely available, making it an ideal option for budget travelers. In addition to freshly prepared ramen at ramen ya, supermarkets and convenience stores offer a large selection of instant ramen bowls.

Though ramen can be considered a one dish meal, gyoza are a common side dish offered at ramen ya. These Chinese style, pan fried dumplings are eaten with a soya and vinegar sauce. Shichimi (red chili mix) is usually available on the table to be added according to taste.

Ramen can be classified according to its soup base. The most popular ones are:

* Shoyu Ramen: Brown, transparent, soya sauce based soup
* Miso Ramen: Brown, non-transparent, miso based soup.
* Shio Ramen: Transparent, salt based soup.
* Tonkotsu Ramen: White, milky, pork based soup.

Ramen can also be named according to its ingredients. For example, chashumen is a ramen dish that features barbecued pork as toppings.

Japanese Language

2008-11-06T23:20:00.000-08:00

Japanese Language: Japanese (日本語 nihongo) is spoken in Japan, and essentially nowhere else. The Japanese language is distinct from Chinese and Korean, although the written form uses Chinese (kanji) characters, and is not known to be related to any other language.

Grammar
Japanese generally employs a subject-object-verb order, using particles to mark the grammatical functions of the words: 私がハンバーガーを食べる watashi-ga hamburger-o taberu, "I-subject hamburger-object eat". It is common to omit subjects and even objects if these are clear from previous context.

Verbs and adjectives conjugate by tense and politeness level, but not by person or number. There is no verb "to be" as such, but the polite copula desu can be used in most cases: John desu ("I am John"), Ringo desu ("This is an apple"), Akai desu ("It is red"), etc. Note that the exact meaning will depend on the implied subject!

The good news is that Japanese has none of the following: gender, declensions or plurals. Nouns never conjugate and almost all verbs are regular.

Reading and Writing
Reading and writing Japanese are advanced skills which take years of work to gain much real proficiency. Japanese themselves use three different writing systems of various complexity, two of which (hiragana' and katakana) are syllabic and relatively easy to learn with 50 characters each, but the clincher is the set of over 2000 Chinese characters known as kanji. The set of hiragana characters is illustrated in the Japanese Pronunciation Guide.