Hello! from Japan

About Japan and my life

Taka

Vegetarian & Vegan in Japan: What to eat and avoid

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Japan’s diet is largely based off of fish and seafood products, so being a vegetarian/vegan in Japan can be difficult sometimes.
But now that we have a lot of tourists from all over the world, the number of vegetarian/vegan-friendly restaurants are increasing to meet the demand.
With pre-planning and checking what and where to eat, vegetarians and vegans can fully enjoy their stay!
Here’s the vegetarian/vegan survival guide to Japan.

What to be careful

You need to avoid 出汁/Daishi as fish (usually Bonite Flake) is used to make it.
It is the foundation of Japanese cuisine and is found in everything from brought to sauces, etc. 
There are some vegetarian friendly kind of Dashi which is based on seaweed or dried mushrooms, but they are not very common.
So you need to be careful every time you see soup or sauce as Dashi is usually in them.
But don’t worry, we have a lot of rice ,vegetable, and bean products. 
Below are the recommended food for vegetarian/vegan.

Recommended food

精進料理/Shojin Ryori

It is a Zen Buddhist temple cuisine and is entirely vegan (no fish, meat, or other animal products are used).
Tofu and wild plants, and various seasonal food are used to make this beautifully decorated cuisine.

漬物 Tsukemono/Japanese pickled vegetables

There are many kinds of pickled vegetables, or Tsukemono in Japan.
Tsukemono appeared long time ago before refrigeration to preserve food.
Salt,vinegar,rice bran, sake lees, miso, and soy sauce are usually used to make Tsukemono ,and the most popular kinds are Daikon (Japanese radish. This tsukimoto is called Takuan), Cucumber, Eggplant, Carrot, and Ume plums.

蕎麦 Soba/Buckwheat noodles

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and they are thin. 
Soba is served either chilled (called Zarusoba) with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth.
It often comes with onions, sesame, and wasabi.
As hot broth contains Dashi, you need to order Zarusoba.
Note that うどん (Udon/wheat noodles) is also popular, but it is usually comes in hot broth with Dashi in it.
If you would like to try Udon, you should find つけ麺 (Tsukemen/Dipping noodles) that comes with noodles and sauce aside.
As long as you avoid dipping in the sauce, it will be OK!

ラーメン Ramen 

It is probably the most popular kind of noodle in Japan.
Ramen shops are everywhere and every place has its own style so it’s really fun trying the different shops.
For vegans, it is hard to find the one to eat as almost all broths contain Dashi. However, there are some vegan friendly ramen restaurants. 
If you would like to try Ramen in Japan, check these places below.

Tokyo
Sora No Iro  (There’s one in Nagoya as well)
Afuri
OUKA

Osaka
Veggie Ramen Yuniwa

Kyoto
Engine Ramen

カレー Curry 

Japanese curry is different from Indian curry. 
Less spice is used and rice and roux come together. 
You can find vegetable curry at most curry restaurants, but it’s likely that roux was made with meat. 
Coco Ichibanya, one of the largest curry chains in Japan, offer an entirely vegan curry so this is the place to go.
For details, check the link here: Coco Ichibanya

寿司 Sushi 

It is not easy to find vegan/vegetarian sushi, but it’s possible to find some. 
At a sushi restaurant, you can order Kappamaki (seaweed rolls with cucumber) , Takuan-Maki (pickled daikon radish roll), and Inarizushi (Vinegared Rice stuffed in a fried tofu pouch. You need to check it wasn’t made with dashi).
Here are some vegan/vegetarian friendly sushi restaurants.

Tokyo
Mominoki House
Shirokanedai Suchicho

※For other places, check the link of the recommended restaurants at the end.

おにぎり Onigiri/Rice ball

Onigiri, or rice ball is made from white rice and often wrapped in 海苔 Nori/Seaweed. 
Many kinds of Onigiris are available at convenience stores and supermarkets. 
Make sure you find the ones that don’t have any fish or meat inside. 
焼きおにぎり (Yaki onigiri/Grilled rice balls with soy sauce on top) can be found at most 居酒屋 Izakaya/Japanese pub.
It usually comes with cold green onions and pickles on the side. Perfect food for vegans/vegetarians!

You could also try 赤飯おにぎり (Sekihan Onigiri/Red rice and Azuki bean balls) at a convenience store.
It used to be a sacred food and we traditionally eat it on special occasions through out the year such as birthdays, weddings ,and holidays and it is believed that the food ward off the evil spirit. 
I recommend it if you want to try something different!

豆腐 Tofu 

There are plenty of Tofu restaurants in Japan and you can enjoy delicious Tofu meals. 
But don’t assume that all Tofu restaurants offer vegetarian food. 
Most places use Dashi , so you should check before ordering. 
Below are major kinds of Tofu in Japan.

ごま豆腐 Goma Dofu 
It is sesame Tofu, made from ground sesame paste, water, and Kudzu powder (starch powder made from the root of the Kudzu plant). I has the name “Tofu/Dofu”, but actually soy is not used to produce this food.
It is a popular dish served on Shojin Ryori dish.

湯葉 Yuba 
Yuba is Tofu Skin, which comes from boiled soy milk. 
Yuba is formed on the liquid surface during the boiling of soy milk.
It can be a little expensive but has a lot of benefits on health like anti-aging and good for smooth skin.

高野豆腐 Koya Dofu 
It is freeze dried tofu, which is a very old traditional preserved food. 
It is like a sponge, and you need to soak it in the water before eating. 
When you order it at a restaurant, make sure that it is not soaked in Dashi!

湯豆腐 Yudofu 
This is probably the safest for vegans to order. 
Yudofu is boiled Tofu. Kombu kelp is usually put in the hot water with Tofu.
It is especially popular during cold winter season. 

串カツ Kushikatsu/Fried sticks  

It is a kind of fried food with varieties of food on sticks. 
At a Kushikatsu restaurant, you can order Eggplant, Mochi, Mushrooms, Asparagus, Onion, but don’t use the dipping sauce as it usually contains Dashi.

天ぷら Tempura 

There are a lot of vegetable options for tempura. 
Popular ones are, Katocha (pumpkin), Renkon (lotus), Satsumaimo (Sweet potato), Eggplant, Mushrooms, Sansai (wild mountain greens), 
Here again, watch out for the sauce as it contains Dashi.
You can sprinkle some salt instead to enjoy this Japanese food. 
At some places, tempura contains egg in the batter so you need to check before eating out at a restaurant. 

味噌 Miso 

It is made primarily from soy beans and salt and it is generally vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Miso is suitable to people on most diets and it has a number of health benefits. 
But you need to be careful about Miso soup which again contains Dashi.
So, look for miso paste which consists of fermented soy beans, salt and optional grains like wheat and rice. 

Snacks

団子 Dango

It is a Japanese dumpling and sweet, which is made from rice flour. 
It is usually offered on a skewer and has varieties of flavors like sweet soy sauce and red beans. 

餅 Mochi

Mochi is rice cake, and usually served with soy sauce or wrapped with seaweed.
It is popular throughout the year, especially during New year’s days. 

煎餅 Senbei

Senbei is rice cracker.
It’s available everywhere in Japan and there are many kinds of it.
Just make sure you don’t get one with dried fish or shrimp in it.

枝豆 Edamame 

These green, young soy beans can be found at most restaurants and convenience stores. 
It is a very popular snack at pubs and people often order it with beer or sake. 

Recommended restaurants

Tokyo 
Teikoku Hotel(Variety of Food)
Mothers Organic Restaurant (Organic Food)
Komaki Shokudo (Shojin Ryouri)
Veganic to go (Vegan Food)
Omusubi Chaya waseda ten (Organic rice balls)
Organic Vegan Lunch Kaimon Asakusa (Shojin Ryouri)
SUMI-BIO(Vegetable dishes)

Nagoya
ORIBIO Cafe Dining(Variety of Food)
Oyasai (Organic Vegetables)
Vegecafe Lotus (Vegetables and sweets )

Osaka
Sangmi (Healthy dishes) 
Paprika Shakudo Vegan(Variety of Food)
Green Earth (Healthy dishes) 
Atl (Variety of Food)

Kyoto
Ain Spot.Journey (Vegan restaurant)
Little-Heaven (Vegan restaurant)
Biotei (Fresh vegetables)
Shigetsu (Shojin Ryori)
Izusan in Daiji-in Temple (Shojin Ryori)
Dairoku-ji Ikkyu (Shojin Ryori)
Ajiro Main Shop (Shojin Ryori)

When you want to tell Japanese waiter/waitress that you are vegetarian/vegan, it is better to tell that you don’t eat any meat or fish instead of telling them that you are a vegetarian/vegan because some people don’t understand exactly what you can or cannot eat.
Here’s a sentence that might be your help.

“Watashi wa niku to sakana ga taberare masen”

Which means

“I can’t eat any meat or fish”. 

If you are not comfortable saying this, you could write the sentence on a paper and show it.

Food culture in Japan is great and if you choose the right ones, you can enjoy having meals anywhere in Japan.
Eat well and have fun visiting/staying!

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]

A Simple guide to train travel in Japan

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Hi, how are you?
I’ve been busy writing and working on music and getting ready for new projects.
I just got an art work for my new album and the final version of my songs after mixing.
I think I will be able to release it at the end of this month.
Wait for it!

This time I wrote about train system in Japan.
Japan has a very efficient transportation network. The whole country (expect Okinawa) can be reached by train.
Japanese trains are very safe and clean, and they keep time very well.
Using trains is a very convenient way for visitors to travel in Japan.
However if you are a first timer, you might have hard time understanding how it works.
Here is info about trains in Japan and how to travel using them!

Train Categories

There are 5 kinds of trains in Japan.
You need to choose one depending on your purpose.

1.普通 Futsu (also called Kakutei)/Local

This train stops at every station.

2.快速 Kaisoku/Rapid

It skips some stations.
The price for 普通 and 快速 are the same but 快速 is usually more crowded.

3.急行 Kyuko/Express

It stops at fewer stations than 快速.
In most cases, the price is the same as 普通 and 快速.

4.特急 Tokkyu/Limited Express

It only stops at major stations.
To use this kind of train, a limited express ticket (called 特急券 Tokkyuken) is required in addition to the cost for the regular tickets (they are called 乗車券 Joshaken).
The additional price is from about 500 to 4,000yen depending on the distance you travel.

5.新幹線 Shinkansen/Super Express

It is the fastest and best kind of train to travel distant regions in Japan. Just like 特急, a limited express ticket is needed.

Seat classes

When you take a long-distance train, you get to choose between Ordinary and Green (first class) seats.
Green is less crowded and you will have spacious seats compared to Ordinary ,but the additional 30% to 50% fee is required.
Many of Shinkansen and limited express trains have 自由席 (Jiyu seki/Non-reserved seat) and 指定席 (Shitei seki/Reserved seat).
It costs around 300 to 700 yen to have a reserved seat.
※If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you don’t need to pay the additional cost and make seat reservations for free. You just need to talk to the worker at the counter to reserve your seat.
※Hayabusa, Hayate, Komachi, Kagayaki, and Hokkaido Shinkansen only carry reserved seats.

Seat reservations can be made from a month prior to the travel date at ticket offices, ticket machines, or online.

On Shinkansen, smoking is not permitted on trains, but there are some areas where you can smoke on long-distance trains.

How to buy a ticket

If you are traveling the short distance, you can either buy prepaid IC cards (Suica, for example) or get tickets at ticket machines.
Here is the instruction to get a ticket at a ticket machine for short-distance travelers.

1.Check the map above the machines and find your destination and fare.
2.Put the money into the machine and select the right price.
3.Choose the number of tickets.
4.Collect your ticket(s) and change.

If you want to travel for long distance, you should get a ticket at a ticket counter.
You need to tell where you would to go at what time, and whether you are taking an ordinary or green, reserved or non-reserved.

Going through the gates

With your ticket, you can go through the gates to the paid fare zone.
Insert the ticket into the slot and pick up the ticket that comes up on the other side.
If you are using an IC card, you can touch the IC card reader.
※If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you must go through a manned gate and show your pass.

If you have a limited express ticket, make sure you insert it with your regular ticket.
When you are at your destination, leave the paid fare zone through the gate.
You just need to do the same as you entered.
If you traveled without paying the correct fare, you have to pay the difference at a Fare Adjustment machine or at a manned gate.

Japan Rail Pass

It is also called JR pass (JR is the major train company in Japan).
This pass can be used by foreign tourists only and you will get unlimited use of JR trains including Shinkansen, Limited express, Express, Rapid, and Local trains, as well as Tokyo Monorail from/to Haneda Airport, and Ferry to Miyajima.
(Note that you can ride on JR buses with it, but can’t use highway buses)
If you are staying Japan for a while, you should get it for your convenience and also to save money.
There are two kinds of it: Ordinary and Green (first class).
You can purchase the pass online.
After making the payment, you will receive a voucher.
Within 3 months of buying it, you need to exchange it to the pass in Japan.
(You can exchange it at major JR stations and Airports. You need to show your passport upon receiving your pass)
Details are on the link here:Japan Rail Pass

The price of the pass is
For 7 days: 29,110yen (38,880yen for Green)
For 14 days: 46,390yen (62,950yen for Green)
For 21 days: 59,350yen (81,870yen for Green)

※You could upgrade your Ordinary seat to Green seat by paying additional fee.
※The pass can’t be shared or given to another person.
※You could purchase the pass at stations in Japan (instead of online) at an increased cost.

Note that you can’t use the automatic ticket gates with the pass.
Pass holders need to go through the manned gate and show the pass and passport.
The seat reservation is optional, but when you want to reserve a seat, you need to talk to staff at the station (You can’t reserve your seat using ticket machines).

When you are on train, you need to follow the manner.
To learn about it, check my another post: 13 things to avoid doing in Japan

Train system in Japan is great and once you know how to use it, you will feel very comfortable traveling in Japan.
I hope info here will be your help!

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]

13 things you should avoid doing in Japan

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Planning to visit Japan? That’s great! You are always welcome!!
But if you don’t want to be an annoying tourist, you should check these things that visitors should be aware.
Japanese culture is quite different and there are certain manners and don’ts.

I have worked with foreigners for 3 years ,and I have 2 years of experience working at guesthouses in Japan.
I have met over 4,000 visitors all over the world so far, and I sometimes find that some people make the same mistake without knowing that they are bothering others…
So, here are the things to avoid when visiting Japan to make your stay comfortable (for others as well!) and enjoyable.
It’s not so complicated to follow the rules and behave well once you know the things below!

1.Don’t take pictures at cemeteries

Tombstones in Japan are well made and they look very interesting to foreigners.
But please do not take pictures of them unless you were allowed to.
Cemeteries are where the spirits of people passed out are resting.
Please do not disturb them!

2.Don’t be late

Be on time when you are meeting someone or joining an event.
When Japanese people say it starts at 7:00, it starts at 7:00.
Most people even come 5 to 10 min earlier so that the plan goes smoothly for everyone.
This is particularly important at work.
At worst case, you might be considered as inefficient and lose your position if you show up late without any reason.

3.Don’t block the way on escalators

As a lot of people use escalators, you need to stay on the same side as others to make some space.
Don’t stand randomly and block the way for those who want to walk up.
The side you keep varies depending on the area.
In Tokyo, you need to stand on the left. In Osaka, you stand on the right.
(In some places like Kyoto, it’s kind of mixed. Just follow what others are doing!)

4.Don’t forget to take off your shoes when going into a house

In order to keep the place clean, you need to take off your shoes when going into houses in Japan.
This rule applies to other places like temples, shrines, or Japanese style restaurants as well.
At some places, you can find slippers for indoor. If you do, you need to use them!
If you are not sure what to do, just see what others are doing and do the same.

5.Don’t keep wearing toilet slippers when you leave the restroom

At some toilets, you find vinyl slippers.
These are for the restroom area only, so make sure that you use them when you going into the toilet and take them off when leaving the area (I sometimes see some foreigners walking around the house wearing these toilet slippers…)
Again, this is to keep the house clean.

6.Don’t forget to throw away used toilet paper in a trash bin

In some countries, you throw away toilet paper in a trash bin, but not in Japan.
You have to throw it away in the toilet and flush.
Toilet paper is the only thing that you can throw away in the toilet, and please refrain from throwing away other things like tissue paper as that might be stuck in the pipe.

7.Don’t enter a public bathtub before washing yourself

When you use a public bath at Onsen(hot spring) or Sento, you have to clean yourself first before going into the bath to keep the water clean.
You can learn more about this on my another post :A beginner’s guide to Japanese bath, Sento

8.Don’t disturb others on public transportation

When you are using some kind of transportation such as train or bus, don’t talk loudly or make phone calls.
It is an etiquette to keep the public place quiet and comfortable for everyone.
Also, you should refrain from eating/drinking while you are on public transportation (it’s sometimes OK when there aren’t many people there).
You can learn more about this on my another post : 4 things you should know before visiting Japan

9.Don’t ignore smoking ban

When you smoke, find a smoking area.
According to JT (Japan TABACO INC.), about 18% of people in Japan smoke (the number declined to 1/3 of its peak in 60s) as of 2018 and the number is declining as more people are concerned about the secondhand smoke.
Smoking is a personal choice, but don’t forget that there are some people who don’t like it.
After smoking, throw away the cigarets at the smoking area.
It’s sometimes hard to find a smoking area, so if you a heavy smoker, you might need a portable ashtray with you when you travel (they are available at a 100yen shop in Japan).

10.Do not park at someone’s premises

If you are renting/using a car in Japan, you need to follow the parking rule.
When you park, you have to find the right place to park, and you can’t just randomly park.
You will be most likely be charged/in trouble if you do so.
Even if you find a parking spot, that might be someone’s premises.
If you are not sure, it is always good to park at a coin-operated parking.
I don’t know how many foreigners ignored this and got in trouble…. so please keep the parking rule.
You can learn more about this on my another post : 4 things you should know before visiting Japan

11.Don’t cut in line

When you wait in line, you have to wait and you can’t cut in line even if you were in a hurry.
You need to find arrows that point out where to wait at a convenience store, and when you ride on a train, you need to check what’s written on the platform and know where to stay in line.

12.Don’t misuse your chopsticks

Playing with chopsticks is a bad manner and people don’t like it if you do.
The major things that you should avoid doing are: pointing with your chopsticks, passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks, and resting chopsticks vertically in food.
They are considered in appropriate as they are done at a funeral (and pointing is just rude in Japan, so you should not point someone with your finger).

13.Don’t expect to find a lot of English speakers

This is kind of embarrassing, but you won’t find many fluent English speakers in Japan even though English is a compulsory subject in junior high and high school (according to a Swiss-based international language education organization, English proficiency of Japan ranks 49th out of 88 non-english-speaking countries) Reference: Asahi Shinbun

Most people can (kind of..) understand what English speakers are saying, but many have trouble communicating.
This is because these 2 languages and the way we communicate are very different.
It might be a good idea to make a Japanese friend who can talk in English before visiting Japan.
Or you can contact me when you need help!

If you know these 13 don’ts and follow the manners, you will have no problem staying in Japan!
I’d like to add one more thing that might help.
You should not be too casual to everyone.
It depends on the person you meet, but some people like to keep distance with people they are not familiar with.
If you approach too friendly, they might get scared away or feel uncomfortable.

Here are 2 things to note.
It is always good to use “- san” when you call someone’s name
(for example, if you see a lady named Kayo, you should say Kayo-san to make it polite and show respect in stead of just calling the person’s name).
And avoid too many physical contacts like hugging or kissing until you build good relationships with them.

I hope info here will be your help.
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]

A beginner’s guide to Japanese bath, Sento

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Hi, it’s Taka. How’s everything?
Yesterday, I had a strange dream.
A big gray circle thing appeared in front of me and covered my vision.
And then it pressed me to death!!
Just before dying, I saw 3 white cups with names on them.
They were disappearing but I wanted them to be there so I mentally forced to keep their existence somehow.
And then I could push the circle away and woke up.
What a strange dream it was. I still feel weird that I’m actually alive in this world.
It is said that dying in dream is a good sign, so I guess some nice things are waiting for me (well I want to think that way!).

Anyways, today’s about 銭湯/Sento!
銭湯/Sento is a communal bath house in Japan.
Customers pay for entrance and people of all kinds share the joy of bathing.
Sento is simply a place made for hot water bathing, and it is different from Onsen, which has numerous natural minerals or chemical composition.
The number of Sento grew in the post-war time as the population went up.
Back then, not many people have bath at home, so people would go to public baths.
After 1970, most new houses had a bath and shower unit, so the popularity of Onsen declined.
There were over 17,000 Sentos in Japan in 60s, but we only have about 2,600 now.
It is a fading tradition ,but you can still enjoy the Sento culture throughout Japan.
Here is a beginner’s guide to Sento, including some manners that you need to follow.

Before going to a Sento…

Some Sentos do not have towels for rent, so bring a towel for drying.
You also need to take your soap and shampoo with you.
Some places won’t let you in if you are tattooed ,but you may be allowed to get in if tattoos are not too obvious.
(The reason for the ban was to keep Yakuza/violence groups away from a public area)

入り口/Iriguchi, Entrance

Most Sentos have traditional Japanese house/temple looking building with 暖簾/Noren curtain at the entrance.
Which is usually blue and has the Kanji 湯/ゆ, meaning hot water, or written 男 for men and 女 for women.(Men’s area usually has a blue Noren, and red/pink for Women’s area)
The price for entrance is around 400 per a person (varies slightly depending on the area) and it is fixed by Tokyo Sento Association.
You pay at the front desk and go inside of the dressing room.

脱衣所/Datsui Jo, Dressing room

It is a place to take off your clothes.
At a traditional style Sento, there is a tall barrier separating the sexes within one large room, and between the entrances is 番台/Bandai, which is a place where the attendant sits (this style is not common these days).
Dressing room is about 10 m by 10 m in size, and sometimes partly covered with tatami sheets.

There are lockers for the clothes.
Some places have metal or wooden keys for the lockers, while some don’t have them but just some baskets to keep your stuff.
The ceiling is usually 3 to 4 m high and there are coin-operated massage chairs and a scale to measure weight.
The women’s side usually has some baby beds.
At most Sentos, Milk drinks are available.
Drinking Milk after taking a bath is kind of a tradition that many people like.
Before entering the bathing area, make sure that you bring a small towel to dry yourself when you come back after bathing.

風呂場/Furoba, Bathing area

Going through the sliding door, you can find a spot and wash yourself.
There are usually buckets called 桶/Oke in front of each faucet.
You can use it to wash yourself.
Baths are not for washing yourself in, so make sure you clean before getting in.
After washing, make sure that you return your Oke at the place where you found.

If you have long hair, you need to be careful not to get your hair in the water.
You should pull your hair back with a hair elastic or clip.
Also, you can not bring towels into the bathtub, so keep it outside of the bath.
When you return to the dressing room, make sure that you dry off so that you won’t get the floor wet.
It is a manner to keep Sento clean for other guests.

Popular Sentos

Here are the popular Sentos in Japan.
Once you experience the joy of bathing at a Sento, you will find it very convenient and relaxing!

Tokyo

Kyoto

Osaka

Nagoya


Bathing at a Sento, you can not only warm your body up but also relax and keep your health.
Some Sentos are very big and have lounges where you can read manga, watch movies, and take a nap (this style is called “Super Sento”).
Visiting Sento will surely be a great experience.

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]

What is Zen? A basic guide to Buddhism

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Hi, How are you doing today?
These days, Mindfulness meditation is gaining popularity internationally.
A lot of leaders know and practice it including Steve Jobs.
He used Zen mindfulness meditation to enhance his creativity.
But what really is Zen?
What are the benefits of doing it?
Are there places to try Zen meditation in Japan?
Check the info below to learn about Zen meditation!

What is 禅/Zen?

It is very difficult to define what Zen is.
Zen is not a religion, belief, knowledge, or a theory.
It is to attain the spiritual enlightenment by controlling yourself.
Zen is based on Siddhartha Gautama’s teaching (He’s also called Buddha. Anyone who reached the enlightenment can be Buddha.
Buddhas are not gods, but teachers who help people to live life peacefully and not to suffer in after life).
It involves self-control, meditation practice, and the perception of the true nature.
And the enlightenment can be achieved by doing the proper meditation, or 座禅/Za-zen, which is a seated meditation (座 Za means to sit).
It is said that at the age of 35, Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment while he was doing Za-zan style meditation.

This attitude of spiritual awakening is the experience of “living here and now”.
In order to do the meditation well, you need to understand the followings.

中道 /Middle way

It was the first teaching that Buddha taught after his spiritual awakening.
In order to stay free from possessions/greed, he found that taking the way between the extremes of self-mortification and self-indulgent is needed.
He believed that the oneness of the sprit and body is in the middle way of them ,and embracing both materialism and spiritualism is important.

四諦 Shitai/Four noble truths

These 4 teachings are to understand what is going on in the living world and how to deal with them.

  1. To live is to suffer

    We are not perfect being because we have physical and psychological sufferings.
    One can not live without aging, sickness, separation, encounters with unpleasant situations, etc.
    Knowing that to live is to suffer helps you understand that we are imperfect from birth to death.

  2. Attachment is the Cause of Suffering

    We have wants/desires and we get stressed or depressed because we can’t satisfy all of them.
    A person has to rise above attachments and should know where to put an end to his/her desires.

  3. The cessation of suffering is attainable

    By controlling desires, we can stay free from attachment, sorrow, troubles, and worries.
    The condition where one can calm his/herself down and feel completely peaceful is called 悟り/Satori, or Nirvana/Enlightenment.

  4. The path to the cessation of suffering

    There are 8 important ways to put these teachings above in practice.
    By learning the Eightfold path and leading a balanced life, one can live life peacefully.

八正道 Hashou dou/Eightfold path

It is the 8 ways to put thoughts into actions.

  1. The right view

    It is necessary to see things in the right perspective.
    Salvation is only attainable by knowing things as they are and doing the right things to stop making troubles in life.

  2. The right intention

    We are what we are because of what we think.
    We should aim at peaceful renunciation of non-sensuality and non-ill-will.
    Staying away from cruelty and having the right intention is needed.

  3. The right speech

    Avoid slander and gossip and stay clear of mindless idle chatter.
    One should not lie or deliver rude speech because that will distract your right intention.

  4. The right action

    Behaving peacefully and harmoniously with people/things around is needed to do the right action.
    The right action includes no killing, injuring, stealing, or having material/sexual desires.

  5. The right Livelihood

    Having more than enough will disturb you from seeing what really is important.
    One should only possess what is essential to sustain life.

  6. The right effort

    Clearing away unnecessary thoughts, controlling our minds ,and replacing unpleasant things with positive ones will help us take the right direction.

  7. The right mindfulness

    Focus on the emotions mentally and stay away from distractions to improve the ability to see things as they are.

  8. The right concentration

    Following the 7 things above and doing Za-Zen properly with concentration is the way to reach the enlightenment.

It is believed that Buddhism was founded based on these teachings (and some more) by Siddhartha Gautama about 2,500 years ago in India.
In the 6th century, his teachings were introduced from India to China, and to Japan in the 12th century by a monk named Eisai ,who trained himself in China and brought the teachings to Japan.
There are many kinds of Schools of Buddhism in Japan.
Among them, 曹洞 Soto, 臨済 Rinzai ,and 黄檗 Obaku are the three traditional schools of Zen Buddhism.

Benefits of doing Zen meditation

A lot of psychical and psychological researches have been done to find out the benefits of doing Za-Zen.
Researchers have found many benefits such as reducing stress, controlling anxiety, promotes emotional health, increasing focus, generating kindness, improving sleep, and decreasing blood pressure. (Reference: Healthline Media)

Where can you practice Za-zen?

Although you can do Za-Zen meditation anywhere quiet, you will learn a lot by doing it at a temple with a monk. (Here is a link to learn how to do it if you would like to try it by yourself: SOTOZEN-NET)
Below are some of the foreigner-friendly temples where you can try the meditation in Japan.

I tried Za-Zen meditation several times at a temple in Takayama in Gifu prefecture.
One session lasts 40 min.
At first, it was very hard to concentrate just sitting, but after a while I got used to it and it made me feel so peaceful after trying.
Although I closed my eyes, I say a lot of black dragons (and once a golden Koi fish) during meditation.
I wonder what they were… (Sometimes say them, other times I didn’t)

This is the place where I tried Za-zen.

I even got myself 座布/Zafu (a round cushion that you use during the meditation) and do it regularly at home.
Zen is not a religion and anyone can try at anytime.
If you are interested in Asian culture, I highly recommend that you experience Za-Zen meditation!

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]

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]