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Taka

3 things you should know about Japanese tea

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Do you like drinking tea?
Japanese people drink a lot of tea, especially green tea.
Tea culture is one of the most important parts of our food culture.
According to the survey done by Ministry of Agriculture, the market size of tea in Japan is about 100 billion yen a year (as of 2016).
Among a lot of prefectures that produce tea, Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and Mie prefectures take 70% of the tea farms (17,800, 8,610, and 3,040 hectare respectively).
Thanks to the growing popularity of Japanese food, the amount of Japanese tea exported increased 4 times during ten years from 2006, and the number is expected to get bigger each year.
It’s all about Japanese tea this time.
Have fun reading!

  1. History of Japanese tea

    About 1,300 years ago, tea was introduced to Japan from China.
    It was only available to riches and noblemen who used it to cure illness.
    Later in the Kamakura Period (1192 to 1333), the custom of making/drinking tea from
    powdered leaves (Matcha of today) became popular thanks to the founder of Japanese Zen Buddhist, Eisai, who learned the tea culture in China and brought it back (this was the start of tea ceremony in Japan).
    Drinking tea became popular among people of all social classes during the Muromachi Period (1333 to 1573).
    Kiki-cha, or the game of guessing the names of tea by sipping and smelling became popular  and to this date, we enjoy drinking teas on various occasions.

  2. Tea ceremony

    The Japanese tea ceremony is called 茶道 (Sado/the way of tea).
    Zen Buddhism was the main influence that created this art of serving and sharing time of drinking tea in a group.
    Matcha is usually drunk during the ceremony with certain manner.
    Seasons are important elements to the enjoyment of tea, and 手前 (Temae), the art of serving tea differs every season.
    Different utensils, equipment, hanging scroll are used according to the season, and the configurations of the tatami (4.5 mat room) changes.

  3. Types of Japanese tea

    There are many types of Japanese teas and their taste and smell differ greatly.
    Below are 5 major kinds. All of them are available at a major supermarket in Japan.
    If you have a chance, you should try them all to see which one you prefer!

    抹茶　Matcha/Powdered green tea

    Tea plants that have been grown under shade are used to make Matcha powder.
    They are ground down and whisked with hot water to make Matcha tea.
    It has bitter flavor and refreshing, enjoyable scent.

    煎茶　Sencha/Loose leaf green tea

    It is the most popular kind of tea and widely available in Japan.
    Unlike Matcha leaves, it is made from tea plants that were grown in full sun.
    To make tea, you need to put Sencha leaves in hot water and wait until the water turns green.
    It is said that drinking Sencha has many benefits for health such as lowering cholesterol and body fat.

    ほうじ茶　Hojicha/Roasted green tea

    Roasted stems and leaves are used to make Hojicha.
    It has a nutty, warm flavor and the color is brownish.
    Since it doesn’t have much caffeine compared to other types of tea, it is an ideal drink for the morning or late at night.

    玄米茶　Genmaicha/Green tea with roasted brown rice

    It is made from green tea with roasted rice.
    Roasted rice adds nutty flavor making the tea less bitter.

    麦茶 Mugicha/Barley tea

    Roasted barley is used to make this type of tea.
    It is usually packed in a small bag and infused in water.
    It doesn’t have much bitterness, and is caffeine-free.
    It is usually served cold and especially popular in the summer time.

Not to mention, Japanese tea goes really well with Japanese food.
Paring Japanese teas with vegetable and seafood is very common.
You can find Green tea (usually Sencha) at any Japanese restaurants.

My brother is a tea specialist by the way.
He visits farms to find fine tea leaves and blends them.
He makes many kinds of teas from Green tea to Chai tea.
Although he is only 2 years older than I am, we live very differently! haha

This is me and my brother in Kyoto.
About 10 year ago!

What’s your favorite kind of drink?
Post a comment below!

See you next time.
Taka

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Japanese secret agent “Ninja” explained

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Hi! How are you doing? March is almost over!
Most schools and companies start new year on April 1st and people are busy preparing for the change during this season.
I don’t have many changes except that I will be busier from next month. haha
I will keep on creating music and posting useful information here.
Please come visit here sometimes!

Alright, about “Ninja” this time.
If you are interested in Japanese culture, I’m sure you have heard the word “Ninja” somewhere.
Maybe from Anime, Manga, Movies, or Magazines.
But what really is Ninja? Do they still exist?
What did they do? Where can we appreciate Ninja today?

I gathered info and wrote about this mysterious agent.
Have fun learning about Japanese culture and Ninja!

What is Ninja?

Ninjas are assassins, spies or secret forces with special techniques in feudal Japan.
Their work were espionage, infiltration, sabotage, assassination and guerrilla attack.
As the name 忍者 (忍/Nin means to hide, and 者/ja means person. The word 忍 can also be pronounced “Shinobi”, so Ninjas were called Shinobi as well) shows, they were the ones that lived in secrecy like CIA of today.

It is believed that they existed and were particularly active from Muromachi period to Edo period (From 1,336 to 1,868).

Most records of Ninja were destroyed or well-guarded.
Therefore, there are very few official documents about their activities and existence.
We only know some of the secret information passed down orally, and have little information from very few books written about Ninja.

Iga and Koga (Mie and Shiga prefecture today) are the two places that are rich in Ninja history.
Those places were ideal hideouts for refugees and bandits who became Ninjas.
A lot of Daimiyos(warlords) would hire ninjas of Iga and Koga in the 15th and 16th century to bring victories to the battles.

In the 17th century, they were hired as spies or guards by the central government, Tokugawa Shogunate, to protect the government and the Edo Castle (They were called “Oniwaban”. Some people claim that Ninja and Oniwaban were different, but we do not have enough information about their activities and relations).

Later on, Ninjas were romanticized in plays like Kabuki (Japanese traditional drama) to entertain audiences.
Many of the images that people have about Ninjas today are exaggerated or unreal mostly because of Kabuki, movies, and animes.

Ninjutsu(Ninpo)

忍術 Ninjutsu (or sometimes called 忍法 Ninpo) were the many different kinds of skills practiced by Ninjas.
It is believed that Ninjutsu was developed by the samurai of Nanboku-cho period (1,336 to 1,392) and polished by groups in Iga and Koga later.
Ninjutsu involved training of disguise, escape, free running, assassination, medicine, etc.
Below were the famous Ninjutsu using the 5 elements of nature.

Katon(Fire) no Jutsu

Using fire, make smoke to block enemy’s view and run away.

Suiton(Water) no Jutsu

Hide underwater (most people could not swim back then, so trained Ninjas had advantages just being able to swim).
Ninjas used bamboo pipes to stay in the water for a long time.

Mokuton(Plant/Tree) no Jutsu

Hide yourself using a cloth that looks like the skin of tree/plant.

Kinton(Metal/Gold) no Jutsu

Distract or misdirect using concealed weapons like Shrunken (hidden hand blade).

Doton(Earth) no Jutsu

Make holes on the way of escape, and stay there to hide yourself from enemies when running away.

Famous Ninjas and legends

As we have very limited information of Ninja and their activities, we can not know if all information about them are correct, but below are the popular Ninjas and legends that exist on old books.

Fujibayashi Nagato

He was a leader of the Iga ninjas in the 16th century.
They fought against Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful daimyo at the time.
Later on, Nobunaga invaded Iga to kill all Ninjas there.
Fujibayashi’s family escaped and went into hiding to preserve their culture.
Nagato’s descendant, Yatake wrote the book about the training of Ninja called Bansenshukai.
Another famous leader of the Iga ninjas was Momochi Sandayu, who taught Ishikawa Goemon and Kirigakure Saizo.

Ishikawa Goemon

He was a Ninja in Iga and was a student of Momochi Sandayu.
After the attack of Nobunaga, he ran away and spent 15 years stealing things from wealthy family and temples.
He planned to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s (he was a preeminent daimyo at the time) wife in 1594.
He was caught and put alive in a cauldron with boiling water.
The execution took place at the gate of Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto.

Hattori Hanzo

He trained Ninja skills in Iga and served Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Together with remaining Ninjas after Nobunaga’s attack, he helped Ieyasu to become the ruler of Japan ,and his family worked as guards of Edo Castle.
Even to this day, Hanzo’s legacy remain.
There’s a gate called Hanzo’s Gate/Hanzomon at Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and Hanzomon subway line runs from Hanzomon Station in the center of Tokyo.

Mochizuki Chiyome

She was the wife of a samurai, Mochizuki Moritoki of Shinano (Nagano prefecture today) and worked as a female ninja in the 16th century.
She is from Koga and  formed the all-women ninjas known as Kunoichi and served under Takeda clan.
She recruited prostitutes, refugees, orphans, etc and trained them to be entertainers like Gaisha or Miko (Shinto maiden),who were allowed to travel freely.
They disguised and worked as spies to gather important information from rival warlords or sometimes to assassinate them.

Ningu, the unique weapons

Ningus were the tools that Ninjas used.
Most of them were portable and very well designed.
Here are the 4 major Ningus.

Shuriken

It is a hidden hand blade.It was used to distract or misdirect, or to kill the target at a distance.
There are many shapes of shrunken.
The major kinds are Bo shrunken (Stick shrunken),Hira Shrunken (flat shuriken), and Shaken (wheel shuriken).

Fukiya

It is a Japanese blowgun.
They were typically around 50 cm long and Ninjas used special darts with poisoned tips.
(The pipe was sometimes used for Suiton no Jutsu as well).

Kunai

It is a multi-functional weapon.
Ninjas used it to make holes in walls and grounds.
A rope can be attached to the ring and it helped Ninjas climb the walls or trees.
It could also be used in hand to hand combat.

Makibishi

They are sharp, spiked small objects.
Ninjas would throw them behind to slow down pursuers.
There were mainly two kinds of it: Tetsubishi (Iron caltrops) and Tennenbishi (Natural type of caltrop).
Some planted on the ground in advance and used it to defense.


Shuriken and Kunai

Where to appreciate Ninja/Ninjutsu today

Below are the places where you can learn more about Ninja today.
They are great for both visitors and those who want to deeply understand its art and culture.

Modern Ninja school/Shop

There are many Ninja schoold where you can experience being a Ninja.
Among them, NINJA DOJO and STORE is one of the most popular.
You can learn to use Shrunken and Fukiya ,and get some Ningus as souvenirs.

Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Closed irregularly)
Access: 3 min walk away from Shijo station

VR Ninja Dojo

On March 18th of this year, VR Ninja Dojo opened in Kanda, Tokyo.
You can were Ninja clothes and enjoy the world of Ninja using VR technology!
*There is VR Ninja Dojo in Kyoto as well.

Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm
Access: 5 min walk away from Kanda station

Ninja museum of Iga-ryu

Ninja museum of Iga-ryu is a museum of Ninja in Mie prefecture.
It is a great place to learn the history of Ninja.
On display, there are a lot of tools and clothes that actual ninjas used.
Visitors can enjoy watching a show of Ninja as well.

Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Closed from Dec 29th to Jan 1st)
Access: 5 min walk away from Ueno-shi station

Edo Wonderland

Edo Wonderland is one of the most popular Ninja spots located in Tochigi prefecture.
As the name shows, you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of Edo period here.
It is like an amusement park with a lot of attractions including Ninja shows.
You can also appreciate cuisine from Edo-period and the place makes you feel like
you were a citizen of Edo!

Hours: 9:00am to 17:00pm
Access: 15 min by bus from Kinugawa Onsen station

Ahh, Ninjas are so cool, aren’t they?
I remember reading books about Ninja like crazy when I was a kid.

Although most of the Ninja culture has already died out and we don’t have real Ninjas alive now, the mysterious/secret skills they had still attracts a lot of people.


Btw, this is me wearing Ninja like clothes! Looks so evil lol
(This attire is called Kuroko, clothes for assistants of stage performers)

The pic was taken when I was a stage actor.
I used to appear on the stage in Shinjuku Kinokuniya where as many as 418 people can seat. It reminds of the good old days.

See you next time!
Taka

 

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

6 things you should to do in Fukuoka

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Hi! How’s it going?
It got really cold the other day and snowed a bit but nice and warm these days in Japan.
This time, let me introduce Fukuoka prefecture.
It’s my first time to write about Kyushu area.

Fukuoka is a prefecture in Kyushu, which is located southwest of main island, or Honshu.
Kyushu is Japan’s third largest island.
Fukuoka city in Fukuoka prefecture is one of the largest cities in Japan, and Hakata area has been serving as an important port and commercial center.

Fukuoka is close to Korea and the airport is always busy with people traveling.
It is one of the most progressive cities in Japan and has a lot to offer!
Below are the popular things/places in Fukuoka prefecture.
Be sure to check them out!

    1. See Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival

      It is an annual festival held in July for 2 weeks and has the history of over 700 years.
      Two kinds of floats are used during the festival: Kazariyama floats and Kakiyama floats.
      Kazariyama floats are larger floats which are over 10 meters tall.
      During July 1st to 14th, 14 of them are displayed outside.
      Kakiyama floats are smaller and they are about 5 meters tall.
      In the morning of July 15th (at 4:59am, just before sunrise), the race of festival floats is held using them.
      There are 7 of them and each of them weights about 1 ton.
      Unlike floats in Takayama, they don’t have wheels and participants need to carry them in teams.
      It takes about 30 minutes to complete the course and floats run one by one in five minute intervals.
      Parades and practice runs for the race are held from July 10th to 14th and all floats are lined up in front of Kushida Shrine, where the start line is.
      Kushida Shrine is located about 15 to 20 minutes away from Hakata Station (five minutes walk away from Gion Subway station or Canal city Hakata).
      It gets really crowded during the event but it really is an exciting event!


      画像提供:ソザイング

    2. Eat at Yatai/Food Stalls

      If you want to eat out and try some local Japanese food, Nakasu is the place to go!
      There are a lot of Yatai/Food stalls along the Naka River.


      Hakata Ramen is a must-try Japanese food there.
      It has green onions and boiled or roasted pork (called Char Siu in Japanese) on top.
      Although the soup varies slightly from shop to shop, almost every soup of Hakata ramen is whitish and cloudy.
      Pork boned are boiled well until the soup gets white and cloudy and it is mixed with soy sauce.
      It tastes like milk, and goes well with thin noodles.
      If you are really hungry, leave the soup after finishing the first.
      You can order Kaedama, or extra noodle and put it in the same soup to keep enjoying the great taste of Hakata Ramen!
      As an option, you can add some toppings like half-boiled eggs, Takana( Pickled and mustard leaf with red peppers), or
      Beni Shoga (pickled ginger root).

      写真提供：福岡市

      Motsunabe is another popular food in Fukuoka.
      Motsu means offal or internal organs of cows and pigs, and Nabe means hot pot.
      So, Motsunabe is a hot pot with various offal and vegetables like leek, garlic, and cabbage.
      It might sound a little too exotic to people from western countries, but it really is tasty and people say it has good effects for beauty since it contains high amounts of collagen.

      Karashi Mentaiko(Pollock roe with red chili pepper spices) is also popular in Hakata area.

    3. Visit Kyushu National Museum

      Opened in 2005, it is Japan’s first new national museums in more than 100 years.
      The building is carefully designed, and contains large number of historically important artifacts including prehistoric relics that show the history of trading link among Japan, Korea, and China.

      Access: About 10 to 15 min walk away from Dazaifu Station.
      Hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm
      Price: 430yen to enter

    4. Relax at Sumiyoshi shrine

      It is one of the oldest shrines in Kyushu (about 1,800years old) and is surrounded by large Japanese cedars and camphor trees.
      The shrine is dedicated to safe travel by sea.
      Sailors would visit the shrine before leaving the port to pray for the safe trip.
      The main hall is rebuilt in 1623, but it still has the ancient architectural style.
      Inside, there is a Noh theater with a traditional style stage.

      Access: About 10 min walk away from JR Hakata station.
      Hours: 6:00am to 9:00pm
      Price: Free to enter

    5. Pray at Dazaifu Tenman-Gu

      It is a shine dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian Period (750-1185), who is known as the god of learning.
      So, this shrine is busy with a lot of students praying for academic achievement and passing exams.
      About 6,000 plum trees are planted around and they bloom beautifully from early February to mid March.Hours: 6:30am to 7:00pm (closed from Dec 31st to Jan 3rd).


      Access: About 5 min walk away from Dazaifu station.

      Hours:
      6:00am to 7:00pm (April and May)
      6:00am to 7:30pm (June to August)
      6:00am to 7:00pm (Until mid September)
      6:30am to 7:00pm (late September to November)
      6:30am to 6:30pm (December to mid March)
      6:00am to 6:30pm (late March)
      ※Opens until 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays
      Price: Free to enter

    6. Take pics at Fukuoka Castle

      It is a castle also known as Maizuru Castle or Seki Castle made in Edo period (1603 to 1868).
      The construction started in 1601 by the first lord of Fukuoka province, Kuroda Nagamasa, and it took 7 years to complete.
      There are more than 1,000 cherry blossoms around, and it is a very popular place for tourists visiting in Spring.
      Sadly, during the war period around 1873, most of it was destroyed in order to use the site for military and only ruined walls and a few turrets remain on the site now.
      Still, it is a great place to learn about history there and take great pictures!

      写真提供：福岡市

      Access: About 10 to 15 min walk away from Ohori Koen subway station.
      It is always open and the admission is free except during illumination events.

By the way, Fukuoka is known as the place where a lot of beautiful women are.
They are called “Hakata Bijin” (beautiful women in Hakata/around Fukuoka area).
Fukuoka has been an important place for import-export and many different kinds of races were mixed in the area.
It is believed that it contributed to the produce of somewhat exotic, beautiful look!

Access

From Tokyo

Take an airplane at Haneda Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
One way flight costs around 16,000yen to 41,390yen and it takes about 2 hours.

From Nagoya

Take an airplane at chubu centrair international airport to Fukuoka Airport.
One way flight costs around 6,000yen and it takes about 1 and a half hours.

From Osaka

You could either take Shinkansen (bullet train) or airplane.
By train, take Nozomi, Hikari, or Kodama train at Shin-Osaka station and it goes directly to Hakata station.
One way fare is 14,480yen for non-reserved seat and it takes about 2 and a half hours.

By airplane, take a flight at Osaka International Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
It takes about 1 hour and the fare ranges from 13,400 to 27,000yen.

As an alternative way, you could take Kansai International Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
They have LCC flights and the ticket price can be as low as 3,690yen for one way and it takes about 1 hour to get to Fukuoka.
However it has less daily flights so be sure to check the flight schedule!


Here’s today’s music!
This instrumental tune is called “Lotus”.

I came up with the main theme while I was walking through the garden in Kyoto (and also in Himeji).
Featuring Banjo by Ryosuke Toyomaki and Violin by Mori de Maigo (They are my friends).

I carefully constructed the beat for this tune.
If you listen carefully, you hear the hi-hats are beating slightly differently on left and right.
I did that purposely so that it would create more space and make the music alive.
And I played the bass, piano, synth, and guitar over it.
Hope you dig it!

See you next time!
Taka

 

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Be prepared for the longest Golden Week!

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Have you ever heard of “Golden week”?

It is a Japan-made English expression for the vacation time from the end of April to the 2nd week of May.
If you are planning to come to Japan (or traveling in Japan) during this time, be prepared!
For many workers, Golden week is the longest vacation time of the year.
Hotels get booked quickly and plane and bus/train tickets get sold out pretty easily.
In addition, since we have the change of era in the middle of Golden week this year, it is even longer than usual and could be really crowded everywhere!
Here is the detail about this vacation week of Japan.

How the week became “Golden”.

Nine official holidays were declared in 1948 by the Japanese government,
and people started taking vacation at the end of April and in the beginning of May.
A lot of people spent money for traveling and entertainment during the period.
It was named “Golden Week” by Hideo Matsuyama from Daiei Film company in 1951 since the ticket sales of movies were the recorded high.
(At that time in the radio industry, the time with the highest listener ratings was called “Golden time”, so he named after that.)
And it still is the Gold-Making week for many business owners!

Golden Week of 2019

The Heisei Era (the current era which lasted for 30 years) will end on April 30th this year.
The current emperor, Akihito is passing the throne to his son, Naruhito on the day.
The new era of Naruhito’s reign will begin the following day.
So, including the event, this year’s vacation time is really long.
Counting from April 27th, Golden week of 2019 consists of 10 days.
Very “Gold” for a lot of workers and students!

・April 27th and 28th:Weekends
・April 29th:Showa day, the previous emperor’s birthday. Greenery Day was on this day until 2006.
・April 30th:Citizen’s Holiday, Day of Abdication
・May 1st:Coronation Day of the new Emperor
・May 2nd:Citizen’s Holiday
・May 3rd:Constitution Memorial Day
・May 4th:Greenery Day (this holiday is dedicated to the nature since the emperor loved it)
・May 5th:Children’s Day (this is also considered as the boy’s festival. Parents pray for healthy, successful life of their sons)
・May 6th:Substitute holiday for Children’s Day (Because it’s on Sunday this year)

Although it might be the best time to hang out with your Japanese friends,
hotels and flight tickets can be really expensive during this time.

Alright, Here’s today’s song!
This is my song called “Looping Days”.
It is about the everyday life in big cities.
Lyrics are somewhat sarcastic.
And I made the music lively to make it even more sarcastic lol
City lights are bright and you live in the material world,
but it’s hard to find a true friend/partner there.

今日も単純な事を繰り返す
We live the same day like everyday.

自分勝手な行動は決して許されず
We are not allowed to do what we want.

そして完璧な態度で役柄をこなす
And we act like robots

息をつく暇も無く回り続けている
Working crazy without having any time to rest.

特に不自由な事は無いけれど
It seems that we have everything we need,

何か足りないといつも思っている
But always feel that something is missing.

そんな時に限って空は雨模様
Then it starts raining.

何処に逃げようたって　いずれ濡れるのさ
Wherever you go, you will get wet anyways.

あぁ嫌になっちゃうな　なんて
“I really don’t like this.”

言葉投げかけてみて
I talk it to myself.

思い通りにいかなくて辛いよ
I can’t have the day I want.

あぁ嫌になっちゃうな　なんて
“I really don’t like this.”

言葉投げかけてみて
I talk it to myself.

今を駆け抜けたい
I want to live today as I want.

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

Ohh, I’d better make my plans for Golden week!
See you next time.
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Where to go during Sakura season in 2019

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Hi, how are you? I got a slight fever the other day but getting better now…

From the end of March to May, Sakura trees bloom all over Japan.
The season of Hanami is just around the corner!
Hanami, or flower viewing (most of the times referring to the viewing of Cherry blossom) is one of the most popular customs in Japan.

People gather and sit under the cherry trees and spend time with a boyfriend/girlfriend, friends, or family.
Most people drink and eat together admiring the beautiful scenery.
Popular Hanami spots get really crowded with people and food stalls, so if you are planning to enjoy the event, you’d better plan ahead!

Hanami usually lasts until late evening each day.
The viewing of Sakura at night time is called Yozakura (night sakura).
Here is a brief history about it and some great spots to enjoy the event in Japan!

Short History of Hanami

It is said that the custom of Hanami started during the Nara period (710-794).
Ume, or plum tree was popular, but by the Heian period(794-1185),
Sakura became the most popular tree/flower.
Back then, people believed that Kami (God of nature) was inside the trees and made offerings to pray for a good harvest year.

Originally, Emperor Saga of the era started having the flower-viewing parties and only the elite of the Imperial court did the practice.
Later on, people began gathering under the Sakura trees and started enjoying drinking sake and eating food sharing time together, and by the Edo period, it spread all over the Japan and it still is one of the most popular events of Spring.

There are about 600 kinds of Sakura in Japan.
Among them, Somei-Yoshino accounts for 80%.
Other popular kinds are Shidare-zakura (it has dangling branches), and Kawazu-Zakura (it has big, beautiful petals and deep pink color).

Popular Hanami spots

In Tokyo


Sumida-park

The park is near Tokyo sky tree, and is one of the most popular Hanami spots in Tokyo.
It has about 640 Sakura trees lined up by the river for about 1 km between the Azumabashi and Sakurabashi bridge.

Closest station: Asakusa station

Chidori-ga-fuchi

About 260 Sakura trees stand along the moat of the imperial palace.
You can rent a rowboat to explore the moat if you would like.
In the evening, the trees are illuminated and visitors enjoy the beautiful view of Yozakura.

Closest station:Hanzoumon Station

Meguro river

It is located in Nakameguro area near Shibuya.
Over 800 Sakura trees are there lined up for 4km along the river.
Cherry blossom festival takes place every year during Hanami season.
You can enjoy the view of Sakura until 9pm each day.

Closest station: Tennoz Airu Station

Inokashira park

It is a beautiful park in my hometown, Kichijoji.
There are about 500 Sakura trees there and you can rent a small boat.
It gets really crowded with visitors, photographers, and street performers during Hanami season.
There is a Zoo and shrine inside of the area as well ,and near the park, there are a lot of nice cafes so you never get bored visiting the park!

Closest station:Inokashira park station

In Osaka


Temmabashi

It is a great place to enjoy Hanami in Osaka.
There is a street of Sakura called “Sakura no Tourinuke” which is open only for a week during the Hanami season.
You can admire 134 kinds of Sakura there from 10:00am until 9:00pm
(From 9:00am on weekends).

Closest station: Temmabashi Station

Osaka castle park

Over 4,000 Sakura trees are on the spacious grounds of Osaka castle.
With the majestic Castle, it is a great place to take beautiful pictures of Sakura trees!

Closest station:Osaka castle park station

Sakuranomiya

It is a park about 15 min train ride away from Osaka station.
The 4.2km long promenade along the river is lined up with around 4,800 Sakura trees.

Closest station:Sakuranomiya Station

In Kyoto


Maruyama Park

It is one of the most popular parks for Cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto.
There are over 680 Sakura trees including Somei Yoshino, Shidarezakura, and Yamazakura.
The park has a big Shidarezakura which is 88 years old, 12m high!

Closest station:Maruyama Park Station

Kiyomizu temple

Founded in 780, it is a world heritage site in Kyoto.
Around the temple, there are about 1,500 Sakura trees and you can enjoy the view from the popular Kiyomizu Stage.

Closest station:Kiyomizu Gojo Station

Arashiyama

It is located in the outskirts of Kyoto and famous for beautiful bamboo forest.
A lot of Sakura trees can be found near Togetsukyo Bridge below Arashiyama mountains.

Closest station: Arashiyama Station

According to weather map,
The prospects of the date of first bloom are March 22nd in Tokyo
March 20th in Nagoya, and 23rd in Kyoto and 25th in Osaka this year.
Sakura usually blooms for about one week.
If you are planning to visit Japan in Spring, don’t miss Hanami!

By the way, this is my music called “Edge” released in the Spring, 2015.
I wrote this song to encourage people having difficulties in life.

この世界の何処かの君に届くだろうか
I hope this song will reach you somewhere in the world

誰もがガラスの中　怯えて生きているけど
Life is fragile and everyone’s scared,

どんな時も　そう大切な物はきっとその目の前さ
But there’s always hope right in front of you

何処で迷っても　たとえどんなに苦しもうとも
Even if you get lost or how much you suffer,

手を伸ばして　いつだって　今以上求めていく
Spread your wings and live with aspirations.

隣り合う孤独には　背を向けてさよならを
Say Goodbye to the loneliness and live your life.

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

What do you do in Spring in your country?
See you next time!
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

People and Music: 2 things I love in life!

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Hi, how are you?  It’s already the end of Feb now. Time goes so fast!
We get a lot of tourists from all over the world in Japan these days.
It’s always fun to meet someone new from a different country and be friends.
A few weeks ago, I met a singer from China.
We both like Jazz, so we hit it off well.
Music is great because it is universal.
It’s about the feeling we share, and that’s all you need to be close!
You can do that even with someone you don’t know.
Isn’t that great?

Here is the movie of our acoustic session at home.
This is a famous Jazz tune, “Lullaby of Birdland ” composed by George Shearing in 1952 with a slight variation to it.
She’s got a really great voice and I hope for her success in the future.

Talking about the relationship between China and Japan, China has been a huge influence on Japan with its religion, food, language (kanji), philosophy, law, and architecture.

It is believed that the relationship started sometime in the 1st century according to “History of the Later Han Dynasty” (it says that King of Japan received the Golden Seal of the King of Japan from the emperor Guangwo of the later Han dynasty in 57).
Since then, there have been a lot of import and export activities, and we are the top two-way trading partners now.

However, there have been large mutual dislikes between Japanese and Chinese in recent years due to the wartime crimes, The Senkaku Islands dispute, and etc.
It has been only these few decades since we started improving the relationships after the wartime, and there are a lot more to work on.
I hope that our relationship will continue to get better.

By the way, here is 19 years old me playing the guitar in Florida.

I’ve been trying to be with people from all over the world to learn more about different cultures.

It’s has been my big dream to get everyone from different countries together to create a place where we can understand each other.

Music and English have been my great tools to do that ,and I feel that I’m very fortunate to have been able to meet amazing people!

If you haven’t visited Japan yet, come visit!
And let me know if you need any help with your trip.

See you next time,
Taka

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

7 frequently asked questions about Japan

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Hi, How’s it going? 
Japan is finally getting warmer, and the Spring is coming soon!
You can enjoy beautiful Sakura in Spring, so it is one of the best time of the year here.

This time I wrote about 7 frequently asked questions by foreigners.
I meet and talk to tourists or friends from other countries everyday,
and they often ask me these questions.
I hope this will help you understand how things are in Japan!

  1. Why Japanese wear masks?

    If you go out in city areas of Japan,
    you will see a lot of people wearing masks.
    You might wonder why they do that.
    One reason is for health.
    In big cities like Tokyo (It has more than 9 million people living as of 2019),
    risk of contagion and disease is high.
    People wear it to prevent from getting cold or catching flu.
    The air is polluted in crowded places, so a mask is a good defense against dust and pollen.
    In addition, some people wear masks not to spread their sickness to others.
    “Think of others” is a very Japanese way of thinking and living.

    Another reason is to just cover your face to hide physical imperfections.
    For women, they wear masks on the days when they don’t put make ups.
    Many different kinds of masks are available these days,
    and some people wear a mask as part of a fashion.

  2. Why do people sleep on trains/buses?

    Japan is a very safe country and people won’t steal your stuff even if you fall a sleep in public (except in some dangerous areas).
    So, you can get yourself a break during your commute.
    Most business people work a lot of overtime (it is common to work over 12 hours a day…. very competitive in city areas) ,
    and especially for those who work/study at a place that is a few hours away from home, commuting time is often used for getting some rest.
    But still, don’t forget to keep your variable items with you at all times!

  3. What are the differences between Shinto and Buddhism?

    Shinto is the native religion of Japan.
    Shrines(places with Torii, or holy gates that separate the holy area and the world outside of it) are the places for Shinto, and people worship the gods of nature(or Kami/Spirits) there.
    In Shinto, there is no fixed dogma or book, and the main theme of it is love and reverence for nature.
    Purity is very important and death is seemed as a pollution(sometimes birth as well).
    It is believed that you can bring good spirits by clapping at a shrine, so people do that before a prayer.

    Buddhism is originally from India and came to Japan from China in the 6th century.
    Japanese temples are based in Buddhism,
    and there are a lot of sects of Buddhism in Japan.
    The goal is to learn the teachings of Buddha and reach the enlightenment by praying, meditating, training, etc.
    Temples are the places where monks train themselves.
    Funerals take place at temples as well (Weddings are held in a shrine).


    Both Shinto and Buddhism exist without any conflicts today and they have huge impact on Japanese culture.
    Calming yourself down is important at a temple, so prayers are silent in a temple.

  4. Is it OK to drink tap water in Japan?

    Yes, the purification facilities are excellent and well maintained, so water in Japan is very clear.
    Although, some people (including me!) prefer buying and drinking mineral water, because it taste better and more natural.

  5. Why are people so polite?

    Respecting others (and also to keep some distances) to avoid any conflicts is very important and it is like a nonverbal manner in Japan, especially in crowded areas.
    Unlike western countries, people live/work for groups than for individuals.
    Depending on the person you talk to, people use formal or informal languages,
    and usually to strangers or to someone you meet for the first time, formal communicating is used almost all the times in Japan.
    So, you will think that people are super (or even too) polite,
    and you might find it hard to close the distance with others at first.
    It takes time to build trust and be real friends…!

  6. Why are there a lot of vending machines?

    Vending machines are very useful for busy people, so they are everywhere for their convenience.
    In addition, there is very little vandalism in Japan.
    Vending machines can be anywhere, and they rarely get broken.
    Some companies set vending machines so that they can put some ads on them.

  7. Why the taxies are very expensive in Japan?

    Japanese taxies are expensive.
    It costs about 1,000yen to travel just for 2km, and they cost about 30 times more than in India!
    They are expensive because it costs a lot to maintain the service.
    In order to keep cars clean and safe, taxi companies have to check them regularly.
    Also, government is controlling the price to keep the quality of it ,so they can not lower the price easily.
    However, thanks to that, there is little accident and drivers are usually good.

It’s really fun to travel to other countries,
and learn about different cultures/lifestyles, isn’t it?
I’m planning to visit Korea sometime in May.

Where is your next destination?

(I went to a mountain in Shinhotaka area last week. I love nature!!)

Taka

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Literally convenient! Convenience stores in Japan

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Japanese convenience stores are really convenient!
They have everything you need from food to daily necessities.
Most of them are 24/7 and located near the station or on major streets. Although things are a little more expensive than supermarkets,
you can’t beat the great services that they offer!

There are about 50,000 of them in Japan (7,000 in Tokyo alone),
so you will see them anywhere you go.
Major convenience stores are Seven-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart.
Here is a brief introduction and guide to Japanese convenience stores!

Food

Bento (Lunch box)

There are many kinds of Bentos available at a convenience store:
Donburi(rice bowl dish), Soba/Udon Noodles, Rice with vegetables, Pasta, etc. And all of them are delicious!
Ingredients and calories are labeled on each product, so you can check what’s inside of them before eating.

If you need, you can tell staff to warm your Bento up in the microwave.
They usually ask if you would like to do that over the counter by saying
・温めますか？(Atatame Masuka?/Would you like to warm it up?)

If you want that, you could say
・はい、お願いします(Hai, Onegai Shimasu/Yes, please).

Or, if you don’t need to, you say
・いいえ、大丈夫です(Iie, Daijobu Desu/No, thank you).

By the way, you need to follow a certain way to open a wrapped rice ball.
I’ve seen a lot of foreign friends struggle, so here’s the step by step guide for a beginner!

First, pull the top part down (you need to flip the rice ball over and keep on pulling it all the way up).

Then, flip it and gently pull the right part off.

Finally take the left part off (Be careful not to rip the sea weed!).

Snacks

You can get candies, chocolates, cookies, fried potatoes, gums, ice creams and more!
You can also order Hot Snacks like fried chicken, Nikuman(Pork Buns) and Oden(Popular food for winter. It involves various ingredients simmered in a soy sauce broth).

You can never get bored trying different kinds of snacks at a convenience store!

Instant ramen

Ramen is very popular all over Japan.
There are many varieties of instant ramens at a convenience store.
Among them, the most popular one is Nisshin’s Cup Noodle.
For foreigners, Ippudo’s ramen is very popular.
You can try different flavors of instant ramens from Seafood to Tomato Curry taste.
I don’t really recommend instant ramen for health-conscious people, but if you are too busy/lazy to cook and just want to enjoy cheap Japanese dish, trying it will be a good idea!

Drinks

Mineral water, tea, milk, juice, beer, energy drinks, wine, whiskey, sake….
You can get almost any kind of drink you can imagine.
Some convenience stores have coffee machines inside and you can order fresh coffee.
For non-alcohol beverages, you can choose to get one in either bottle or carton (Bottled ones are usually a bit more expensive).

Daily necessities

Even if you forget bringing daily necessities like tooth brush or towels, you can get them at a convenience store.
Razors, gloves, notes, pens, lighters, as well as magazines and comics are available.
If you don’t mind spending some money, it might be a good idea not to put all daily necessities in your suitcase.
Instead, you can go to a convenience store and get everything you need after getting here!

Other convenient things

ATM

Yes, they have it! And dou don’t need to worry if you can’t read Japanese.
You can change the language on the ATM machine and withdraw/deposit anytime you want.

Copier/Scanner

If you need to print out/scan some documents, go to a convenience store!
Using the same machine, you can order some tickets for an event like a concert.

Shipping service

You can bring your luggage or package to a convenience store to send it to other places in Japan.
Price varies depending on the size and the weight.
(Letters are from 82yen, and a large package is up to around 5,000yen)

Free and clean restroom

The last but not the least, convenience stores have free restrooms!
And most of them are very clean.

You will be amazed to know how convenient Japanese convenience stores are.
If you have a chance to visit Japan, visit a convenience store to make your stay more comfortable!


Love convenience store food!lol

See you next time!
Taka

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Recording day in Tokyo!! New album is coming soon.

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Hi, How are you?
Can’t believe that it’s already Feb!
I currently live in Takayama in Gifu prefecture,
but I go back to Tokyo when I have a recording work
(or just on days off to see my friends and parents).

Before the recording session, I went to Nerima with my friend.
He’s a professional cartoonist, and we’ve been together since we were amateurs.
He’s working on the series of works he’ll publish this year.
I might be able to introduce his manga on my blog sometime soon.
It’s always inspiring to be with a creative person like him.

There are some interesting bars/cafes in Tokyo.
That day, we went to this one called Tsuribori Cafe Catch and Eat.
(The link is the blog of the one in Kichijoji. We went to another one in Nerima).
You can fish and eat the ones you get there.
We caught 10 fishes in total and got them fried!

And then the recording session.
I worked with a guitar player, and a recording engineer.
The guitar player is a professional studio musician.
He often plays on the stage and can play many kinds of music from Hard Rock to Japanese idols.
He’s a great composer as well.
And the engineer is one of the best ones in Japan. Man, seriously he’s amazing!
He worked for many major Japanese artists like Yuzu, Chatmonchy, pillows, KANA-BOON…!

That’s the team I formed in Tokyo!

First I compose, play all instruments, arrange, and sing.
And then after recording all my parts, I ask the guitar player to play over it.
He usually takes the solos on my songs.
And the engineer works on the mixing.
My last album, Skyhigh was made by this team.

This new album we are working on will be out in Spring this year.
Here is me working in the studio. No effects or mixing yet.

After the recording, I had some drinks with the team and went back to my hometown, Kichijoji, and met my brother.
We walked around Inokashira park, drinking a cup of chai tea.
It was really relaxing. I’m glad to have a nice brother like him.

How’s your 2019 so far?
See you next time!
Taka

Cost of living in Tokyo for a single person

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Tokyo is one of the most expensive places to live in the world…!
For those who are interested in living in Japan, I wrote about the cost of living and contracting an apartment.
Below is the cost for a single person living in Tokyo and what you need to know when choosing a place to live.

Average rent in Tokyo

There are 23 wards in Tokyo and the rent differs depending on the area you stay.
For a single person, 50,000yen to 70,000yen per a month (100 yen is about 1 USD. The price is for a single room which is about 20 to 40 square meters) is the average price of the monthly rent in Tokyo.
Expensive wards in Tokyo are located in central Tokyo,
and Minato ward is the most expensive place to stay.
(The rent there is about 60% more than the average rent in 23 wards. To check more about Minato ward/Roppongi, check the link here: Roppingi)
Below is the list of the most expensive wards of Tokyo (Average monthly rent).

Minato: 130,700yen
Chiyoda: 123,300yen
Chuo: 113,000yen
Shibuya: 112,200yen
Meguro: 102,300yen
Shinjuku: 100,700yen

Below are the least expensive wards

Suginami: 76,200yen
Itabashi: 72,200yen
Nerima: 70,700yen
Edogawa: 66,700yen
Adachi: 65,100yen
Katsushika: 64,700yen

(The numbers are as of 2019. Reference: https://www.homes.co.jp/chintai/tokyo/23ku/city/price/)

Other expenses

Utility fees

Besides the rent, you need to pay utility fees every month.
For a single person, it costs about 10,000yen per a month.
(4,000 for electricity, 3,000 for gas ,and 2,000 for water)
※You will also have to start paying local inhabitant tax (called 住民税 Jyumin Zei) from the second year on in Japan. It costs about 16,000yen per a month in Tokyo.

Food

If you are eating out or buying food everyday, it costs about 40,000yen per a month.
You could save money if you cook ,but things are expensive in Tokyo.
At least 20,000yen per a month is needed.

Transportation

It depends on the work you do, but if you need to pay for the transportation,
you have to pay about 4,000 yen a month for your commute.
You can use train and bus to get anywhere, so you won’t need a car in Tokyo.
They keep time and very comfortable except the rush hour time in the morning and evening
(Around 7:00am and 17:00pm).

Internet and Mobile phone

They cost roughly around 8,000 to 10,000yen per a month.

Income Tax, pension and Health Insurance

The amount you have to pay varies depending on how much you earn. 
For a person who earns 250,000yen per a month (which is the average income of a single person), about 40,000yen is needed to pay.

All in all, you will need about 160,000yen per a month to live in Tokyo.
(If you don’t go out for shopping or drinking!)

If you would like to save money, you could think about living outside of big cities.
Among all prefectures of Japan, Gunma, Yamaguchi, Tokushima are the cheapest places to live.(Average rent per a month is about 36,000yen in those areas)

Contract an apartment

It depends on the apartment, but there are usually 敷金(Shikikin) and 礼金(Reikin) that you need to pay when you move in.

敷金 Shikikin

It is a deposit. Usually the amount for 1 to 2 month rent is required to pay as Shikikin.
It is usually nonnegotiable as they are to cover any damages done to the apartment outside normal wear-and-tear.
When you move out, the landlord will check the condition of the room you used.
If you made no damage to it, deposit will be sent back to your bank account.

礼金 Key Money

It is the money paid to the landlord when moving into an apartment as to show the appreciation and the money is not returned after the lease is canceled.
It is an old custom started after WW 2 when everything was in the rebuilding phase.
It was very hard for land owners to maintain the building for living, so people would pay Reikin to help them.
This custom still remains to today, but it is negotiable.
If the place you would like to live in has expensive Reikin, you should talk to the owner.
In recent years, landlords and real estate agencies offer Reikin-free rental housing and they do not charge the amount.

更新料 Renewal fee

Contract is usually for 2 years and every 2 years, you need to renew your contract.
The average amount is about the 1 month rent of the place you are living.

I hope this helps you make a plan to move to Japan.
As I got a lot of help from locals when I was in the U.S, I really want to help you with your stay in my country.
If you are thinking about coming to Japan and need some help, just let me know!

Working and working everyday…!
Going to Tokyo for recording tom.

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

See you next time!
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]