Hello! from Japan

About Japan and my life

Culture

eSports:Why is it underdeveloped in Japan?

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Nowadays, we hear a lot of news about bursting popularity of eSports over the last two decades. Japan makes and sells a lot of video games every year but surprisingly, eSports is not so popular compared to other countries. Why?

eSports: What’s been going on in the world and Japan

eSports is a kind of sport competition using video games. It is often held online between players individually or as teams. Now that the network technologies have been improved and services like Live streaming and 5G appeared, eSports is growing popularity internationally. In fact, 106 million people viewed the 2017 Worlds eSports competition and global revenue is growing to more than $1 billion over the past few years. The number of eSports players and fans are getting bigger and bigger each year. Many game developers provide funding for tournaments and everyone in the world can enjoy watching the games online from anywhere now, and even the International Olympic Committee is thinking about including eSports for future Olympic events: In 2017, Olympic committee concluded that eSports could be considered as a sporting activity which involves preparation and intense training that can be comparable to athletes in sports.

Nonetheless, eSports is still underdeveloped in Japan because of anti-gambling laws which prohibit paid professional gaming tournaments. For example, under a law called “Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations”, organizers of an event can not give a monetary prize over 100,000 yen (About $930) to a winner of a competition. Viewers can not bet for competitions and tournaments can not be held at a venue that has no permission for holding such events.

Japan is on the way to join the trend

Seeing the rapid growth of eSports all over the world, the Japanese government started to look it as a new way to boost its economy. In 2019, eSports revenue in Japan was over $56 million and the market is just getting bigger and bigger. The Ministry of Japan hopes to make $2.6 billion a year by 2025 and now legal experts together with game industry are trying to create guidelines to promote and organize eSports tournaments and events.
Some events to use eSports to help rehabilitate people with disabilities and also to promote their engagement with society were held several times and most people in Japan are positive about the growth of eSports. Tokyo alone have over 9 eSports cafes where customers can play games and brush up their skills to win for a tournaments with high spec PC and gadgets. 

Japan has been a leader in making video games and there are a lot of skilled video game players. I’m sure there will be a lot more professional players from here once the environment for eSports is set!

Thank you for reading today’s post.
See you next time,
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.
Multicolors
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]

Karoshi: Why do many Japanese die from working too much?

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People work really hard in Japan. When I was working as a teacher at a major language institute in Japan, I taught 8 lessons, had a meeting for an hour, checked homework for students between classes, and prepared for next day. That was my typical day and I kept that for a few years. When I was working for a marketing company, I worked from noon to 1:00 am almost everyday. I’m one of a guy who puts a lot of time for work but workstyle like this is pretty common in Japan. You need to work a lot to advance and as you get promoted, your responsibility gets heavier and you will have to work even more. I guess this sounds a little awkward for people in western countries where workers in higher positions can have more time and power to ask subordinates to work for you. And it’s sad to say but many people die from working too much. Here’s all about Karoshi and what’s been happening in Japan.

What is Karoshi?

Karoshi (過労死) can be translated as “Overwork death” in Japanese. The major medical causes of it are heart attack and stroke due to stress and a starvation diet. The first case of it was reported in 1969 with the stroke-related death of a man (29 years old worker in the shipping department of a major newspaper company). There had been many cases like this until late 1980s and the Japan Ministry of Labour finally began to publish statistics on Karoshi in 1987. Next year the Labor Force Survey reported that about quarter of male employees worked over 60 hours per week (typical time for work is 40 hours a week). Since then, Japan has been trying to reduce the work hours but 3,970,000 people (6.7% of the population) are still overworking as of 2019 BuzzFeed News .

What is causing it?

Japan’s rise from WW2 and the huge war reparations we paid in the post-war decades are regarded as the trigger for Karoshi. We had no choice but to work really hard to get to the point where we could surpass companies overseas to evolve. As a result, it got more and more competitive within a company as well. Advancement is earned through back-breaking effort so people seldom leave their jobs until late to get the best result and show loyalty to the company.

Is the situation getting better?

Being competitive and productive is important, but now that Japan takes the 3rd largest economy in the world, we have been trying to curb cases of Karoshi through policies. In 2016, the federal government announced its Premium Friday plan with that workers would get the chance to leave at 3pm on the last Friday of each month. And nowadays more young people claim to leave their office without working overtime based on their contracts, so the work environment in Japan is getting better each year. Also, after the spread of coronavirus, more and more people started using hours efficiently working remotely. I hope this will be a way to stop this intense work culture. After all, we only live once and enjoying it is much more important than suffering from it, isn’t it?

What is important to you in life? Send me a comment to [email protected]

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.
Multicolors
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

3 things you should avoid when meeting a Japanese (for the first time)

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Hi, how’s everything? 
This time I wrote about 3 things you should avoid when meeting a Japanese person for the first time. If you don’t know these 3 things, making a Japanese friend could be difficult, so it’s important that you know them!

1.Physical contact (kissing or hugging)

We don’t usually have physical contact with friends or family. Japanese don’t have the custom of kissing on your cheek or hugging as a greeting and keep some distance to respect other people’s personal space (this maybe why the coronavirus does not spread much in Japan despite the large population). Because of globalization, we do have some people who doesn’t mind such physical contact nowadays, but it’s better to avoid doing that at first and get to know each other little by little.

2.Call someone without 〜さん (-san)

It is rude to call someone without -san if the person is the one you meet for the first time. -san is an honorific title that can be used for both male and female. We call each other using nicknames or without -san once we get closer but until then it’s better to use this when you call the person to show respect. (More about Japanese honorifics, check the link here: https://hidanotaka.com/japanese-honorifics/ )

3.Ask some opinions

In many Western countries, it is pretty normal to talk about things like politics and lifestyles, etc and ask some opinions to someone, but if you do that to a Japanese you meet for the first time, there will be an awkward moment. People in Japan generally don’t give opinions clearly by saying what is Good or Bad. Instead, we often consider the situation and the relationship with the person talking with and give some vague opinions. This is to respect different values and also to avoid conflict. Until you get to know each other well, it’s better not to ask some opinions or he/she will only get confused what to say.

People become friends gradually and it takes a while to be trusted as a friend in Japan. But as long as you respect others and keep on communicating, you will be able to build good relationships!

Thank you for reading and enjoy making Japanese friends!
Oh, and you can always be friends with me.
If there’s anything you want to know about Japan, just send me a message to [email protected] 

See you next time, 
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.
Multicolors
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

3 Tips to make a good impression at a new workplace in Japan

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How’s it going?
It is the rainy season and very humid in Japan right now.

It seems that Japanese government is starting to welcome travellers and business people from Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand again soon (from Aug if things work well). For those who are coming to work in Japan for the first time, I’m giving 3 tips to make a good impression at your new workplace.

You might get nervous and worried if you have no experience working in Japan, but don’t panic! With these 3 tips in mind, you will be able to start off well at your new work.

1.Take notes

It is very important to bring a note and a pen and take notes at your new office. It is of course to memorize what you learn there, and also to show others that you are carefully listening to them.

Japanese workers tend to worry about a new colleague thinking if he/she can work well with their team. By taking notes as you listen what they say, people there will know that you are trying to learn the ropes. It is a good way to build trust with your new teammates!

2.Say “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu”

The next tip is to say “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu” to people you will be working with. We often use this phrase when we introduce ourselves and also at work. It is like saying “Let’s work together!”. The phrase is polite enough, but if you want to be more polite, add “Douzo” and say “Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu”. Casual way of saying this is to simply say “Yoroshiku”.

Instead of shaking hands (of doing shaking hands), we often say this at work.
[Slow Speed]よろしくお願いします/Yoroshiku onegai shimasu
[Natural Speed]よろしくお願いします/Yoroshiku onegai shimasu

3.Say “Osakini shitsurei shimasu”

We use this phrase when we finish working and go home. It means “I’m going home (before you)”. Most Japanese people work as a team and always concern teammates. You can use this phrase to show that you care others that are still working in the office.

[Slow Speed] お先に失礼します/Osakini shitsurei shimasu
[Natural Speed] お先に失礼します/Osakini shitsurei shimasu

These are 3 tips that will help you start off well at a new workplace in Japan. Unlike many western countries where people think and work more indivisually, people in Japan always think and care others (that’s why everyone’s so polite and crime rate is low here).

Good luck with your new life! And enjoy working in Japan.

See you next time.
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.

Multicolors
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected] 

How’s your life in Japan? (Online interview with Sean)

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How are you doing?
We had another online interview with a foreign resident in Japan.
It was really fun talking with him and we got some interesting opinions about life in Japan.

He came to Takayama city about 3 year ago!

0:13 日本に来たきっかけは？
What brought you to Japan?

1:29 日本に馴染むのは大変だった？
Was it hard to fit in the different culture?

2:08 日本が外国人にとっても住みやすい場所になるには？
What should Japan work more on for foreign citizens?

3:35 どうやって日本語を習得した？
How did you learn Japanese?

5:11 日本の幼児教育について
About early child education in Japan.

7:23  先輩移住者としてアドバイス
Tips for new-comers

9:06  今回インタビューをしてみて
After the interview

I hope this will be helpful for someone thinking about coming to Japan in the future!

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.
Multicolors
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]

What is Japanese curry?

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What do you think of when you hear the word “Japanese food”?

Sushi? Tempra? Ramen? Miso soup and rice? Sure, they are popular and delicious but “Japanese curry” is actually one of the most common type of food in Japan.

Curry was original brought to Japan from India by the British and it became popular in the late 1960s in Japan. It has been loved since then and Japanese style curry is one of the most loved dishes in Japan now. The curry we make is different from Indian curry, and there are many kinds of it.

Curry roux blocks. You can get them at a Japanese supermarket or online.

What is Japanese curry?

Japanese curry is usually not spicy, and curry sauce is served on top of cooked rice. Some people try making curry roux from scratch using powders and various spices, but most use curry blocks. Pre-made curry is also available. You just need to warm the curry in vacuum-sealed bags in boiling water or using a microwave, and then pour it on rice.

Curry rice usually comes with Fukujinzuke (non-fermented pickles with a sesame-flavored soy sauce, sugar, and a selection of chopped vegetables like radish, cucumber, eggplant, lotus root, ginger, perilla, and sword bean) or Rakkyo (picked Chinese onion) on the side.

Kinds of Japanese curry

There are many different types of curry rice in Japan.
Among them, below are most popular kinds.

・Beef/Pork/Chicken Curry: Served with stewed Beef/Pork/Chicken with vegetables.

・Katsu Curry: Served with a breaded pork cutlet on top.
(Recipe: https://www.justonecookbook.com/katsu-curry/ )

・Soup Curry: A watery, broth-like curry sauce served with chicken leg and vegetables.
(Recipe: https://www.justonecookbook.com/soup-curry/ )

・Keema curry: Ground meat and minced vegetables served with an egg.
(Recipe: https://www.justonecookbook.com/keema-curry/ )

Katsu curry with Fukujinzuke on the side

How to cook

As an example, I will explain how to make the easiest and the most popular one: Beef Curry. Most commonly used ingredients for a Japanese Beef curry are potatoes, onions, Beef, and carrots. 

First, you need to pour some oil in a large pot and cook beef and vegetables until they get tender. (It is the best to cook meat first and take it out to a plate and then return it when you boil vegetables).
Then add some water and boil for about 20 min (make sure to cover and simmer). Skim the dark foam off the top when the water comes to a boil.
After that, turn off the heat and add curry roux. Mix until the roux gets melted. Finally, cook it on low heat for about 5 min and let the roux melt completely. Serve it on cooked rice. People usually use a spoon to eat.

It’s very easy to cook if you have curry blocks. 
Some people put garlic, spices, or wine in when they make curry.
Once you get comfortable making it, I recommend that you experiment adding whatever you like to make your own style.

This is what I made (without carrots because I didn’t have them….)

Popular Curry restaurants in Japan

CoCo Ichi

Established in 1978, it is the most popular Japanese curry chain restaurant. You can make your own CoCo Ichi curry by customizing the rice portion, toppings, and spice level. You can even order vegetarian curry in that only plant-based ingredients are used. https://www.ichibanya.co.jp/english/

Go! Go! Curry!

Started business in 2003, Go! Go! Curry! has restaurants in many places in Japan especially in Kanazawa and Tokyo areas. The style of curry they serve is called “Kanazawa Curry”. Black, rich taste roux is used and it is rather salty than spicy.
http://gogocurry.main.jp/english/public_html/

Besides curry rice, we have curry udon (curry over udon noodles), and curry bread (a curry-filled pastry). And there are many regional specialty curries such as Hokkaido Sika Deer curry, Scallop curry, Natto curry, Matsusaka beef (one of the best beefs in Japan) curry, Oyster curry, and more.

Japanese people really love curry. If you get interested, I recommend that you order curry roux online and try cooking it home. And if you have a chance to come to Japan, make sure to visit curry restaurants and try different kinds of curry!

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]


Interview with a foreign worker from Mexico

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How’s everything?
We had another online interview with our new friend from Mexico, Uriel-san.

30min interview movie with English subtitles!

0:38 日本に来たのはいつ？　When did you come to Japan?
1:37 どこで日本語を学んだの？ Where did you learn Japanese?
2:08 日本に来たきっかけは？ What brought you to Japan?
3:17 メキシコでは日本語を学んでいる人は多い？ Do many people study Japanese in Mexico?
3:43 どうやって日本語を勉強したの？ How did you learn Japanese?
5:27 日本での仕事は? What do you do in Japan?
6:32 いつから高山に？ When did you move to Takayama?
6:49 地方の生活は慣れた？ How’s life in countryside?
7:18 初めて日本に来たときの苦労 Did you have any difficulties when you first came to Japan?
8:02 日本に移住してから苦労したことは？Did you have any difficulties after moving to Japan?
8:40 日本とメキシコの文化の違い Differences between Japan and Mexico.
10:52 日本の食べ物はどうですか？ How’s the food in Japan?
12:35 日本でメキシコの料理を食べる？ Do you eat Mexican food in Japan sometimes?
13:20 ホームシックになる？ Do you get homesick?
14:12 他の外国人移住者と交流はある？ Do you meet other foreign workers?
14:50 東京にいた時は交流の機会はありましたか？ How about when you were in Tokyo? 
15:55 交流イベントの重要性 The importance of meetup events.
16:32 多文化共生を実現させるには？ What can we do to live in harmony?20:44 先輩移住者としてアドバイス Tips for new-comers.
21:56 これからも日本に？ Will you stay in Japan?
22:29 高山での生活における改善点 Any improvements suggested for Takayama?
25:03 今回インタビューをしてみて After the interview

I hope it will be helpful for those who are planning to move to Japan to know about what’s it like to live here.

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]

Bento boxes can make your life easier!

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Lunch box (or Bento in Japanese) is a single-portion, home-packed meal, or take-out meal popular in Asian countries. Now that many stores and restaurants are not open like they used to, making lunch box might be a great way to shift your lifestyle! Here’s some info about it.

Great things about using lunch boxes

Using a lunch box, you can save the amount of money and time you spend for lunch break. You won’t need to look for a restaurant that is open and safe, and waste money for buying food outside. In addition, you can make sure that the food you are eating is safe and good for your health because you know what’s inside. Furthermore, you can use your time at home wisely by preparing a large portion at home and carry some leftovers for lunch. Making Lunch boxes might be one of the best solutions to do well in the era of coronavirus!

Types of Lunch boxes

Containers range from disposable, plastic, wooden, to stainless steel. The one I recommend is a stainless steel bento box. It is tough and easy to clean. Also, it can keep food warm and look simple and cool. Anyone from kids to adults can use and carry it to school or office easily and it’s eco-friendly as well.

Bento box in Japan

Traditional Bento usually includes rice, fish, or noodles, with pickled and cooked vegetables and salad. It is widely available throughout Japan. You can easily find one at a convenience store, a supermarket ,or at a station. Many different kinds of containers are available including hand-crafted lacquerware.

In a family, homemaker usually prepares Bento for husband or kids in the morning. Some even try making Character Bento (called Charaben) which is a style of arranged Bento that features food decorated to look like characters from manga, animals, people, and so on. Now that SNS is a popular tool, amazingly made Charaben sometimes go on viral.

Speaking of Bento boxes, there is a special kind of Japanese lacquerware bento box in the area where I am (Takayama city of Gifu prefecture). It is Hida Shunkei Bento Box. Shunkei-nuri, which is made of a thin board created from lumber by original technique, is used to make this kind of beautiful red, brownish bento box. If you are interested in getting one, I can find and send it for you so let me know!

Hida Shunkei Bento box

There’s always a way to make your daily life better.
I will keep on posting info about Japan and its culture ,so come visit this site when you get bored staying at home all day!

See you next time.
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me to [email protected] . 

What is City Pop?

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Hi, how’s everything?  
I guess most people in the world spend majority of the time at home nowadays, so I wrote about Japanese music that can make your time in the house more interesting. It is kind of an old style of music, but we can still get inspired by the sound of it. 
And I heard a news that City Pop was becoming popular in the western countries last year. It seems that the genre is regaining the popularity and kind of a trend now. Here is about City Pop!

What is it?

As Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone said that City Pop was “Not a strict genre term but a broad vibe classification”, City Pop is about the urban, futuristic feeling of 70’s to 80’s in Japan, and the word simply meant, “Music made by city people”. It is western influenced Japanese pop music that was popular during bubble economy time in Japan including a wide range of styles such as Funk, R&B, Soft Rock, and some even included Jazz Fusion, Latin, or Caribbean elements. During that time in Japan, new devices and electronics like Walkman, Cassette Decks, and FM Stereos were hip gadgets and the music style was associated with those emerging technologies. Young people were enjoying modern lifestyle listening to City Pop that had the latest sounds of electronic musical instruments.

Recommended artists

Tatsuro Yamashita 

He was among the most successful artists of City Pop music. Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Spacy number 14 on a list of the greatest Japanese music albums of all time in 2007.

Haruomi Hosono

He is a famous composer, singer, and record producer and he is one of the most influential pop music artists in Japan. Using electronic sounds, he contributed a lot to City Pop and numerous electric genres.

Mariya Takeuchi

She is one of the most popular pop singers in Japan. Over 16 million records were sold so far, and her early work during 70’s and 80’ is largely associated with City Pop. She’s wife of Tatsuro Yamashita.

I love listening to various kinds of music from different times imagining what people were thinking and doing. Music takes you back to the era and I think it is great that we can feel the atmosphere at anytime, anywhere just by playing it. When you get bored at home, I recommend that you dig some music that you don’t usually listen to!

Have a great day!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]

Interview with a foreign worker in Japan

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Hi, it’s been a while since I posted something here on my blog.

We used to have a lot of tourists from overseas in Japan but because of the virus, we have none these days.
I hope things will get better soon and everyone will be able to travel freely soon.

Although we do not have any tourists from different countries, we do have foreign workers living together in the community.
Me and my friend, Aya interviewed one of them and asked about life in Japan to share it to those who are planning to live in Japan.
Here’s the video of it.

Interview with Luke-san from the States

Interview with Luke

0:32 日本に来たのはいつ？When did you move to Japan?

2:19 日本の良い所は？Good things about Japan?

3:08 アジアで他に興味がある国は？ Interested in other Asian countries?

3:50 他国で働く事は普通？ Is it common to work overseas?

4:51 どうして日本を選んだの？Why did you choose Japan?

5:48 生活に慣れるのは大変でしたか？Was it hard to get settled?

8:23 日本の都会の生活はどうでしたか？ How was your city life in Japan?

9:34 日本の地方(高山)の暮らしはどうですか？How is your life in Takayama?

13:18 友達は作りやすい？ Is it easy to make frieds/meet new people?

13:55 これからも日本に滞在する？Are you planning to stay in Japan?

15:09 多文化共生に日本が必要な事は？ What should Japan work on to live in harmony with foreign workers?

16:42 外国人労働者が日本社会に溶け込むには？ Any good ways to get both Japanese and foreign workers together?

18:49 これから来る外国人労働者へアドバイス！Tips for newcommers. 

I hope it will give you some ideas of living in Japan.

Feel free to contact me [email protected] if you have any questions.
I teach Japanese/Japanese culture online (private class using Skype) as well.

Have a great day and stay safe!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

Discover the traditional sound of Japan, Koto music

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Hi, how are you doing?
Leaves have just started to change colors and it is a great season to travel in Japan.
If you have never been here in Autumn, you should definitely come to enjoy the beautiful nature!

autumn in japan
Autumn in Japan. (By yu62ballena )

This time, I wrote about a traditional Japanese instrument, Koto.
I’m learning myself Koto these days to brush up my composition skill.
Luckily, I found a teacher in the area where I am now and just started taking classes about 5 months ago. It really is fun to play and I get a lot of inspirations. 

Here is all about Koto.
I hope this will help you understand more about Japanese culture. 

What is Koto?

Koto(箏) is a Japanese musical instrument derived from a Chinese instrument.
It is said that Koto was made based on Chinese stringed instrument called zheng.
In Asia, there are similar kinds of instrument such as Yatga in Mongol, Gayageum in Korea, and Đàn tranh in Vietnam. Koto is made of wood, and usually about 180 cm in length. A regular Koto has 13 strings with 13 movable bridges. 

The strings are plucked with three finger picks covering thumb, index finger, and middle finger. 

koto
This is my Koto, Kogarashi-maru.

History

A same kind of stringed instrument was introduced from China in the 7th and 8th century. The first kinds made in China were said to have 5 strings and later on adding 2 more strings. 

When the instrument was introduced to Japan in early Nara Period (710 to 784), it had 13 strings. And that became a Japanese standard style of the instrument. 
It was considered a romantic instrument, and Koto became popular among wealthy people. The solo Koto music was established and flourished as a Japanese court music. Professional Koto players were usually blind people, but eventually it spread to the general public.

One of the most important Koto players in history is Yatsuhashi Kengyo (1614-1685), known as “Father of Modern Koto”.
He was a blind musician from Kyoto who made a new style of Koto music called “Kumi uta”. In this style, he mixed individual pieces together to make a whole music. He changed the traditional tuning to make a new harmony that fits better to his style.

During Meiji Period (1868 to 1912), western music was introduced to Japan and since then, composers of Japan have been trying combining western elements with traditional Koto music. Michio Miyagi, a blind composer, is considered as the first Japanese composer to mix them. He created over 300 new works and invented 17 string bass Koto. He helped increase Koto’s popularity, and his music Haru no Umi (Spring Sea) is still played today to welcome New Year each year in Japan. 

Koto players
Nowadays, it is common to see several players take different parts and play together.

Construction 

Most Koto are made of Paulownia wood and the body of a traditional Koto is made of Kiri wood, which is the Imperial family crest for the Empress. 
Traditional bridges are made of ivory, but nowadays plastic is widely used. 
There are many kinds of materials used for strings. Plastic and Polyester strings are popular, but silk strings are still used among professionals.
The main production area of Koto is Fukuyama city in Hiroshima.
Koto is traditionally placed on the floor when played. A player kneels and play with finger picks. 

As the body of a Koto resembles that of a dragon, top part of it is called the “Dragon shell”, the bottom is called the “Dragon’s stomach”, one end is consisted of “Dragon’s head” , “Dragon’s eyes (the holes for the strings)” , “Dragon’s tongue (the side part of the end)”, etc.  The other end of a Koto is called the “Dragon’s tail”. 

ji
These are the bridges called “Koto-Ji”

2 major schools: Yamada and Ikuta. 

The style flourished in Edo (Old Tokyo) is called Yamada style. In this style, players use picks with round edge.
In the case of the Ikuta style, which has been popular in other areas except Edo, players use square shaped picks and position them at an angle of about 45 degrees left oblique against the instrument. 

finger picks
These are Ikuta style finger picks.

Music scores are written vertically, from right to left. 
And a player read which string to play how long (and how).
Each string are named 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, 十, 斗, 為, 巾 from the lower to higher notes. 

koto score
This is a score for Koto music
This is me playing Koto.

Sadly, traditional instruments and cultures are fading away, but we can learn a lot from them and should not forget the uniqueness that we have in each country.

If you get interested in learning Koto, feel free contact me!

Have a nice day!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

3 easy steps to use chopsticks (and 9 don’ts)

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Chopsticks were originally from China, and they became popular in Japan and Korea by 500 A.D. Back then, people used chopsticks made from trees and bamboos but nowadays we see many different kinds of them.
Japanese chopsticks are generally shorter than Chinese or Korean chopsticks and we use them when we eat Asian cuisines (and sometimes even when we have food from western countries).
They are hard to use at first but once you get used to them, you will be amazed to know how useful they are.
Here is the easy, 3 steps guide on how to use chopsticks.

3 easy steps to use chopsticks

1.Hold the lower chopstick

Put the lower chopstick under your thumb, resting it on palm.
The end of your lower chopstick should be sticking out about 1 inch.

2.Hold the upper chopstick

Lightly grip the upper chopstick with your thumb, index, and middle fingers just like holding a pencil.
The tips of chopsticks need to be lined up.

lower chopstick

3.Move the upper chopstick to pick up food

Lower chopstick remains stationary, and only upper one is moved to pinch and control the food. Be careful not to cross them or force too much.

chopsticks

Etiquette while using chopsticks

Not everyone follow these rules strictly these days, but it is always good to know manners to show your politeness.
Here are 9 things you should avoid doing while using chopsticks in Japan.

1.刺し箸/Sashi Bashi

Do not stub food with chopsticks.
There is another Sashi Bashi with different writing, “差し箸” ,which is to point someone with your chopsticks. This is also considered rude.

2.握り箸/Nigiri Bashi

Do not use chopsticks grabbing.

3.くわえ箸/Kuwae Bashi

Do not hold your chopsticks in your mouth.

4.立て箸/Tate Bashi

Do not leave chopsticks vertically in the bowl of rice as this is only done at the funeral as an offering to the deceased.

5.箸渡し/Hashi watashi

Passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another is rude as this is related to a funeral.
This is done when placing the bone of the deceased in a cinerary urn.

6.舐り箸/Neburi Bashi

Do not lick or suck on your chopsticks.

7.探り箸/Saguri Bashi

Do not use chopsticks to sift through the contents of a dish (or dishes) in search of something. This is considered greedy and rude.

8.寄せ箸/Yose Bashi

Do not pull a dish using chopsticks.

9.叩き箸/Tataki Bashi

Do not play with chopsticks like drumming.

It is also important to place chopsticks across your plate or dish after eating. This is the sign to tell that you are done eating and show appreciation to the one(s) who prepared your meal.

Many restaurants and markets in Japan provide you with a pair of wooden chopsticks that need to be broken apart.
They are called waribashi (割り箸). These are disposable ones.
If they are in a plastic bag, be careful when opening it.
There is usually a tiny toothpick with them and you may hurt yourself if you don’t know it!

Enjoy your Asian food with chopsticks!
See you next time,
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

23 important events/holidays in Japan

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How’s it going? It is the rainy season in Japan now, but it’s already getting hot! It feels like summer already.
Any plans for the summer this year?
I’m thinking about traveling a lot!

This time I wrote about some of the most important annual events and national holidays in Japan.
Hope this article will help you understand more about my country and culture!

In Japan, when a national holiday is on Sunday, the following Monday will be a holiday and a day between holidays will also be a holiday.

Some events below are from western countries and you can see how much we are influenced by different cultures (but at the same time we do keep some traditional events, which is very cool I think!).

January 1st  
正月/Shogatsu
New year Day

Jan 1st is the first day of the new year in Japan and many businesses are closed until Jan 3rd. Most people go back to their parents’ place and celebrate eating Osechi (An assortment of small dishes. Each dish has meaning, and people traditionally eat it to wish for good health and prosperity for the family for the year) ,and Mochi (rice cake).

Second Monday of January
成人の日/Seijin nohi
Coming of Age Day

Young men and women who are turning 20 are celebrated on this day.
They wear traditional Japanese clothes and celebrate together (legal drinking age is 20 in Japan, so many of them enjoy drinking).

kimono girls

February 11th
建国記念日/Kenkoku kinenbi
National Foundation Day

It is the day to celebrate the mythological foundation of Japan.
According to the earliest Japanese history record, the first Japanese emperor was crowned on this day in the year 660 BC.

February 14th
バレンタインデー/Valentine’s Day

It was brought from western countries and it became a tradition in the late 1970s (Chocolate companies ran advertisement and it became popular. Most Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during Valentine season).
In Japan, women give chocolate to men (Chocolate that is given to a loved one is called “Honmei-Choko”, to co-workers/bosses is called “Giri(obligation)-Choko, and to friends is called “Tomo(Friend)-Choko”). March 14th is called “White Day”, when men are expected to return the favor to the ones who gave them chocolates on Feb 14th.

chocolate

February 23rd
天皇誕生日/Nennou Tanjoubi
Emperor’s birthday

It is the birthday of the current emperor, Emperor Naruhito.

March 3rd
ひな祭り/Hina Matsuri
Doll’s Day (Also called Girl’s Day)

It is the day to pray for good health and happiness of young girls in Japan. It is a tradition to display Japanese dolls dressed in decorative robes of the ancient imperial court at home.
Traditional food like Hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) ,Chirashi sushi (many ingredients and raw fish are mixed and they are put on top of sweet vinegared rice) are displayed and served on the day.

hinamatsuri

Around March 20th
春分の日/Shunbun nohi
Vernal Equinox Day

It is the day around Mar 20th, when the March equinox occurs.
It is less popular now but people traditionally ate Botamochi on this day (rice cake covered with pasted red beans).

April 29th
昭和の日/Showa nohi
Showa Day

It is the birthday of the former Emperor Showa.

sakura and a bird

May 3rd
憲法記念日/Kenpo kinenbi
Constitution Day

It is the day to celebrate the promulgation of the 1947 Constitution of Japan.

May 4th
みどりの日/Midori nohi
Greenery Day

It is the day to be thankful for nature’s blessings (it was on April 29th until 2006 as Showa Day. It was moved to this date and celebrated as a day of Golden week now).

May 5th
こどもの日/Kodomo nohi
Children’s Day (Also called Boy’s Day)

It is a day to celebrate children’s happiness.
As the counterpart to Hinamatsuri, this day is also known as Boy’s Day.
On this day, Koinobori (carp-shaped windsock) is displayed (there’s a Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon).
Traditionally, the big black carp represents father, red one represents mother, and small ones are children.
As it was originally the day for boys, some people display Samurai dolls at home on this day.
Kashiwa Mochi (Rice cake wrapped in Oak leaves), and Chimaki (Sweet rice wrapped in a bamboo leaf) are served on the day (although this tradition is less popular now).

koinobori

July 7th
七夕/Tanabata
Star Festival

It is a Japanese festival originating from Chinese Qixi festival.
It is believed that the Milky Way separates Orihime and Hikoboshi (Vega and Altair stars), and they are allowed to meet once a year on this day.
People write wishes on colored paper and hang them on bamboo trees.

tanabata

July 20th
海の日/Umi nohi
Marine Day

This is the day to give thanks to the ocean.
It was designated in 1995 as the first holiday in the summer months.
Many schools start Summer vacation around this time.

August 11th
山の日/Yama nohi
Mountain Day

This is another relatively new holiday set in 2016 to appreciate blessings from mountains.

August 13th to 16th
お盆/Obon

It is a Buddhist event for commemorating ancestors.
It is said that the spirits of ancestors return to visit relatives during this time of the year.
People visit graves and Obon dance is performed at many temples and shrines.
Some people hang lanterns in front of houses to welcome those spirits.
At the end of Obon season, people float lanterns down the rivers for ancestors’ spirits to go back to their world safely.

obon lanterns

Third Monday of September
敬老の日/Keirou nohi
Respect for the aged day

This is the day to honor and respect the elder people.
Events to assist the elders are held on this day.

Around September 23rd
秋分の日/Shubun nohi
Autumnal equinox Day

People reconnect with their families by visiting temples, shrines, and graves on this day. It is also the day to celebrate autumn harvest.

Second Monday of October
体育の日/Taiiku nohi
Health and sports Day

In 1964, Tokyo Olympics was held on this day.  
Most schools have an annual sports festival around this time of the year.
In 2020, it will be on July 24th when the opening ceremony of 2020 Tokyo Olympics is held.
After 2020 on, the name of this holiday will be changed to Sports Day.

November 3rd　
文化の日/Bunka nohi
Culture Day

It was originally Emperor Meiji’s birthday.
It is a day to promote culture, art, and academic endeavor now.
Festivals are held in schools and at many places in Japan, and selected artists receive awards. In 1946, post-war constitution was announced on this day.

November 15th  
七五三/Shichi go san

It is a traditional rite of passage and a festival day to celebrate girls of 3 and 7 years old and boys of 5 years old.
Children wear traditional Japanese style clothes and people celebrate the growth and well-being of them.
Chitose ame (kind of a red and white, long candy) is served to hope for their long, healthy life (a crane and a turtle ,which represent long life in Japan, are drawn on the bag of it).

Shihigosan

November 23rd　
勤労感謝の日/Kinrou Kansha nohi
Labor Thanksgiving Day

This is the day to commemorate labor and production.
Labor festival is held in Nagano each year to think about the environment, peace, and human rights.

December 24th and 25th
クリスマス/Christmas

It is not a national holiday, but Japanese people celebrate Christmas just like in many western countries (these days in city areas, people even enjoy Halloween wearing costumes on Oct 31st).
Christmas trees are displayed and decorated at stores and stations ,and people get busy buying presents (and cakes!).

December 31st 　
大晦日/Oomisoka
New Year’s Eve

Families get together and most people clean the house to welcome the coming year. Watching some special TV programs while eating Soba noodle is a typical thing people do on this day.
At midnight, you hear the sound of Joya No Kane (New Year’s Bell).
Monks at temples ring the bell 108 times to remove worldly passions such as anger and pain ,and purify everyone’s minds.

a bell at a temple

By the way, Japan has as many as 16 national holidays (on average) and a worker can take 20 paid days off a year.
However, because the work environment is very competitive and the number of employees are declining in Japan (due to the aging population combined with the diminishing number of children), most people take only about 10 paid holidays.
Reference: https://welove.expedia.co.jp/press/40915/

We do need to improve the work environment to enjoy holidays and event more!
How about in your country?
Do people have enough time to enjoy national holidays and events?
Give me some comments below!

See you next time.
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

All about capsule hotels in Japan

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Paying for food, transportation, shopping, and accommodation….
Traveling in Japan costs a lot of money.
If you are staying for a long time in Japan, you should plan out carefully.
There are a lot of delicious food and interesting goods, so without planning, you will end up spending too much money!

Here is an option for those who want to save some money during their trip in Japan: Staying at capsule hotels.
If you don’t care too much about the place to stay (or if you are a minimalist then definitely!), or looking for an interesting place to stay, booking capsule hotels is a great idea.

It will be a great experience staying at this unique accommodation and most of them are very comfortable and affordable.
Check the info below and learn all about capsule hotels!

capsule hotel and a laptop

Capsule hotels are cheap places to stay.
They were originally made for salarymen when they couldn’t make it home overnight.
Therefore, most capsule hotels are made only for men.
However, more and more capsule hotels are offering accommodation for women and foreigners recently.
At such places, they usually offer gender segregated sleeping floors for men and women and well maintained with security systems.
Such capsule hotels are usually found near major train stations and it only costs around 3,000yen to 5,000yen per a night to stay
(except at some premium capsule hotels that offer more space and luxurious experience).

sleeping lady

The type of capsules are different depending on the hotels.
A typical capsule is a fiberglass unit (about 1.2 m wide, 2 m long, and 1 m high), and has a single size futon mattress with sheets, blankets , and pillows, a TV/radio ,bed light, outlet, and WiFi inside with a curtain/door to cover the entrance.
Usually, two units are stacked and lined up side by side along the corridor.

capsule hotel osaka
This is the original capsule hotel in Osaka.

Bathroom/Shower room are shared with other guests like a hostel or guesthouse.
Some places have restaurants, laundry machines, vending machines, lounges with massage chairs, game/manga rooms, or even a Sento (Sento is the communal bathing place. About Sento, check my another post:https://hidanotaka.com/sento/).

inside a capsule hotel

Getting interested? But don’t rush!
Here are the things that you should know before going to a capsule hotel.

・You need to remove your shoes upon checking in.
You will be given a key with the number of the capsule you are using. You will have to return the key to check out, so don’t lose it!

・Smoking is not allowed inside of a capsule.

・You need to refrain from making too much noise or mess.
*Note that some capsule hotels are for a single stay.
At such places, you need to check out and check in again if you are staying more than a day.

Here are the recommended capsule hotels

In Tokyo

Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel
It is located close to Shinjuku station, near Shinjuku piccadilly movie theater.
This place has a 24 hour bath and sauna with a lounge, restaurant, and coin-operated laundries.

Check in: From 4:00pm until 3:00am
Check out: 10:00am
Price: 2,500 to 3,800yen for women, 2,600 to 3,600yen for men

Capsule Value Kanda
It is a popular capsule hotel near Akihabara station.
They have luggage storages and 24 hour room service.

Check in: From 5:00pm
Check out: 10:00am
Price: 2,900 to 3,400yen

Hotel Asakusa & Capsule
This place is located near Asakusa station.
It has a large shared bath, free wi-fi, and a lounge, and each capsule has a TV and Yukata robe.
Although they don’t serve food, it is a cheap, comfortable place to stay!

Check in: From 4:00pm
Check out: 9:30am
Price: 2,200yen
*You could choose to stay at a room here. It costs 4,400yen per a night.

In Osaka

Capsule Hotel Inn Osaka
It is the first capsule hotel appeared in Japan in 1979.
I went to this place about 4 years ago and it was quite comfortable!
It has a big sauna and spa, a restaurant, laundry machines, and a spacious TV room with sofas. It’s only for men, however!

Check in: From Noon
Check out: 10:00am
Price: From 3,400yen

In Kyoto

Smart Stay Shizuku
It is a brand new (opened in 2018) capsule hotel near Kyoto Station.
It has a manga/magazine room, massage chairs, coin-operated laundry machines, a sauna, vending machines, and a restaurant.

Check in: From 4:00pm untill 5:00am
Check out: 10:00am
Price: From 3,980yen

If you would like to stay at a luxurious capsule hotel, you could stay at First Cabin Haneda.
It is fancier than average capsule hotels and is inside of the Haneda International airport.
The price is a bit higher than average capsule hotels, but you will be able to enjoy spacious single room.
Check in time is until 7:00pm, and Check out time is 10:00am.
It costs about 6,000yen per a night to stay at a first-class cabin.

Narita Airpot also has this kind of service, at the place called Nine Hours Narita Airpot.
It costs 4,900 per a night on weekdays, and 5,900yen on Friday and weekends.
Check in time is from noon to 5:00am, Check out time is 10:00am.
*There are a lot of First Cabin and Nine Hours in major city areas in Japan! If you don’t know which capsule to stay, you should always look for them.

staff at a hotel

I hope this post will make your stay in Japan easier.
There are a lot more capsule hotels all over Japan, and they are very convenient.
You will have a very comfortable stay if you can use some Japanese phrases and talk to staff.
Check my another post to learn some useful Japanese phrases: https://hidanotaka.com/17-simple-japanese-phrases-used-in-hotels/

Taka playing the guitar
This is me playing my guitar.

If there’s anything that you want me to write, feel free to send me a message to [email protected]
Or you could simply give me a comment.

Have a great day!(or night)
Taka 

*I’m a professional composer.
You can listen/download my album below!
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

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.

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