Hello! from Japan

About Japan and my life

japanese culture

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]

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

21 Famous Japanese proverbs

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Hi, How are you?
I’ve been busy working as usual… But I’m making my living doing what I love so I have no complaint! Life is great.
I teach Music and English every week, and I’m getting ready for new music project.
Oh, and me and my friend are planning to start a Youtube channel.
I will inform here when we are ready!

This time I listed some of the most popular Japanese proverbs.
I like learning proverbs because we can learn important teachings.
While I was doing some research, I found that there are a lot of similar sayings in English.
It is very interesting to know different words (often animals or objects) are used to express the same meaning, and see the different way of seeing the world.
Here is the list of them.
Have fun learning Japanese and expressions!

kids learning

1.船頭多くして船山に上る/ Sendou ookushite funeyama ni noboru.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Sendou means “A leader on a ship”.
If there are too many leaders on a ship, it will sail to a wrong place.

2.ちりも積もれば山となる/Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru.

Many drops make a shower.
Chiri means “Dust” and Yama means “A mountain”.
Even a very small/little thing like dust, it will be like a mountain if it piles.
It is used to talk about either good or bad result that a habit/practice brings.

3.藪をつついて蛇を出す/Yabu wo tsutsuite hebi wo dasu.

Let sleeping dogs lie.
Yabu means “Bush”, and Hebi means “a snake”.
If you do unnecessary thing like poking at the bush, a snake (or a trouble) will come out, so just let well alone.

4.笑う門には福来たる/Warau kado niwa fuku kitaru.

Good fortune and happiness will come to the home of those who smile.

5.嘘つきは泥棒の始まり/Usotsuki wa dorobou no hazimari.

Lying leads to stealing (and it gets worse, so don’t form a bad habit).

6.二度あることは三度ある/Nido aru koto wa sando aru.

What happens “Nido” (twice) will happen “Sando” (three times).

7.明日は明日の風が吹く/Ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku.

Tomorrow is another day.
The direct translation is, “There will be different wind blowing tomorrow”.
This is often used to tell someone to take it easy and be optimistic.

blowing

8.終わり良ければすべて良し/Owari yokereba subete yoshi.

All is well that ends well or It will all come good in the end.

9.百聞は一見にしかず/Hyakubun wa iken ni shikazu.

A picture is worth a thousand words or Seeing is believing.

10.二兎を追う者は一とも得ず/Nito wo oumono wa itoumo ezu.

He who runs after two hares will catch neither.

11.残り物には福がある/Nokori mono niwa fuku ga aru.

There is fortune in leftovers.
It is often used to tell someone that there is unexpected good in what others have left behind, so don’t give up/let’s be positive even if you are (or something is) left behind.

12.七転び八起き/Nana korobi ya oki.

Ups and downs.
The direct translation is, “Fall seven times, stand up eight times”. Even if you fall seven times, you can be successful by standing up eight times and keep on going, so never give up.

13.石の上にも三年/Ishi no ue nimo sannen.

Perseverance prevails.
The direct translation is, “Three years on a stone (will make the stone warm)”. Be patient and you will achieve your goal.

14.猿も木から落ちる/Saru mo ki kara ochiru.

Even homer sometimes nods.
Saru means “A monkey”. The direct translation is, “Even monkeys fall from trees”.

15.芸は身を助ける/Gei wa mi wo tasukeru.

Art brings bread.
Gei means “Art”. Mi wo tasukeru means, “Help someone”.

16.将を射んと欲すれば、先ず馬を射よ/Shou wo inn to hosureba, mazu uma wo iyo.

Do not shoot straight for the top (instead, see things well first and start with something that will lead to success/goal).
The direct translation is, “If you want to shoot the general, first shoot his horse”.

17.初心忘れる可からず/Shoshin wasuru bekarazu.

Don’t forget your first resolution or Never lose your humility.

18.千里の道も一歩から/Senri no michi mo ippo kara.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Sen means “A thousand”, and Ri is an old unit of measure which is about 4 kilometers.
So, Senri is 4,000 kilometers. “Senri” is used to talk about a long journey.

a lot of books

19.泣きっ面に蜂/Nakittura ni hachi.

It never rains but it pours.
The direct translation is, “A bee comes to someone crying”.
One misfortune rides upon another’s back.
Well, that happens a lot, doesn’t it?

20.出る釘は打たれる/Deru kugi wa utareru.

A nail that stands will be hammered down.
This one explains Japanese society well I think.
If you don’t conform to the rest, you’ll get hammered down….Ouch

21.猫に小判/Neko ni koban.

Cast pearls before swine.
Neko is “A cat”, and Koban is “Gold”, so the Japanese version is “Cast gold before cat”.

cat

Thank you for reading!
If there’s anything that you want me to write, let me know!

Have a great month,
Taka

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

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]

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?

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]

4 things you should know before visiting Japan

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Japan is a country with many rules.
If you do not know about them, you could be in trouble with neighbors, friends, etc.
In the worst case, you could be charged or caught by police (or both!).
Here are 4 major things that you should know before visiting/moving to Japan.
Learn about them for yourself and for others to make your stay enjoyable!

  1. Know where to park

    There aren’t many (almost none!) free parkings in Japan.
    You could be charged if you park on the road without any permissions or at someone’s premises.
    If you are going to live in Japan and planning to use a car, you should know where is OK to park.
    If you are travelling by car, you will need to find a coin-operated parking (usually located near a train station)
    It costs around 300 yen for an hour of use.

  2. Follow the rules when throwing away trash

    We recycle trash and you need to separate garbage into categories when you throw away.
    You might find it hard to find a garbage can outside other than at convenience stores or stations (there aren’t many places to throw away trash outside to keep the road clean and tidy).
    This might confuse you if you are traveling in Japan for the first time.
    If you are going to live in Japan, you will have to follow the local rule when taking out the trash as the way to separate trash is slightly different depending on the area (Usually the city office gives you a guidebook after giving you the resident card).
    When you throw away household garbage, you have to check the garbage calendar to know what kind of trash is picked up on the day. Then you have to put it in a specific garbage bag and take it to the designated area.

  3. Keep it quiet on public transport

    You have to refrain from talking on the phone while using public transport.
    Keeping privacy is very important in Japan, and you have to think of others (not to disturb them) in public.
    People keep themselves to themselves and don’t usually get involved in other people’s business.
    It is an etiquette to keep things clean and quiet so that other people around you can be comfortable.
    I think this custom is quite different from western countries where people enjoy interacting with strangers.

  4. Take some cash with you

    If you are planning to visit country side, you should take some cash with you.
    Japan is a very safe country and there isn’t much crime of stealing money.
    So in some places, especially in country side, people still use cash a lot and some stores don’t have card readers.
    It you go to an area where there’s no convenience store, you will have hard time finding an ATM ,so you should get some cash before traveling.
    *Btw, you don’t need to pay any tip at anywhere in Japan, so you don’t need to worry about carrying cash for that.

Above 4 things are major rules that anyone coming to Japan should know.
You might think that following rules can be stressful sometimes, but it is very important to keep things organized and be respectful to others in Japan.
If you are polite and respectful, people will like you and it will get much easier to make friends/settle.
Enjoy your stay in Japan!


This is me writing music at home.
Another recording session in Tokyo is coming soon!

You can listen to my music here:
Skyhigh
Soundtracks

Have a nice day!
Taka

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

What’s it like to be a Japanese student?

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Hi! This time I wrote about the school life in Japan.
I have experience being a student both in Japan and the US and I can tell that the education system in Japan and in other countries are really different.
In Japan, we are required to take classes at an elementary school for 6 years and then at a junior high school for 3 years.
After junior high, most people go to a high school for 3 years and then to a university for 4 years.
Education we get from elementary school up to high school is mandatary.
There are a lot many things to talk about when it comes to the education system in Japan and I can’t cover everything here so I focused on the school life in junior high school and high school.
Below is the typical day of a junior high/high school student in Japan.
Please note that it is just a sample schedule and it slightly varies depending on the school you attend. Here we go!

A typical day of a Japanese student


7:00am
Good Morning! Have breakfast and wear Seifuku

Most students wake up around this time, eat breakfast, and get ready for school.
Seifuku is a school uniform with a school badge on it.
Usually they have a formal look with a white shirt, black jacket with black pants for men and skirt for women. (Btw, I attended a high school that didn’t require students to wear uniform which is kind of unusual. So I used to wear leather jacket and I had yellow hair(sometimes Orange) because I was so into rock music. haha)

Don’t forget to take your textbooks and be on time for school before the morning meeting starts!

8:30am to 8:40am
Short morning meeting/Attendance confirmation

There’s usually a brief morning meeting of the classroom you are in.
Homeroom teacher will talk about upcoming events and check who came and who didn’t.
So if you skip a class, it will be on a record and teachers will most likely tell your parents…!

8:50am to 12:40pm
Study 4 subjects and then the lunch time!

Subjects you study are Japanese, History, Society, Math, Science, PE, Art, English, Home economics, and Information(PC class).
At lunch time, most school provide Kyushoku(school meal).
At a high school, there’s a cafeteria where you can buy your lunch.
Better go to the cafeteria as soon as the lunch time starts or you will have to wait in line!
I remember working with my friends taking turns the responsibility of getting food at the cafeteria for our group.lol

1:40pm to 3:30pm
2 more classes to go!
(Sometimes 3 more)

Most students get really sleepy during the afternoon classes after eating.
If the afternoon subjects are boring, it is very hard to stay awake…
But it will be over by 3:30pm so keep it up!

3:30pm to 3:15pm
End of classes of the day.
Now, clean up the class room!

All students are required to work together to clean up the room.
Classroom is usually divided in some groups.
Each group takes turn the responsibility of cleaning the room.
It really sucks when you have plans after school, but I think it is a good custom to learn to keep things organized.
Also, you become more considerate of your classmates and you will stop making mess in a classroom because you know that if you do, your friends will have to work more overtime.

3:45pm to 7:00pm
Club activities

Club activities are called, Bukatsu.
There are many kinds of Bukatsu: Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Swimming, Judo, Music, Reading…
And those who belong to a club but don’t show up for the activities are called Yurei Buin (Phantom member).
I belonged to a soccer club, badminton club, and music club.
But I was a Yuhei Buin for a few years in junior high and also in high school because there were some people I didn’t like!

Some students go home immediately without taking part of any club activities to attend Jyuku(cram school).
Usually, those who go to Jyuku to study more are from rich family and parents put emphasis on education.
Indeed, Japan has a very competitive society, which makes some parents Monster Parents(Parents who raise their children with an excessive authoritarianism and overprotectiveness)

By 7:00pm, all students are required to leave school.
The gate of school is locked at 7:15pm.
You’ve got to go home and do your homework!

More about Japanese school life

Senpai-Kouhai system

Senpai means earlier colleague(older person), and Kohai means later colleague(the junior or lower person).
It is an hierarchical relationship found in an organization especially in schools.
Kohai is expected to show respect to Senpai because they have more experience in life.
They need to use formal way of speaking(Keigo)when they talk to Senpai.
Senpai often helps Kohai giving advice to succeed in life. Kind of a mentor.
If you are entering a Japanese school or going to work in Japan, you have to learn and follow this rule/custom to keep the good relationships with others.

Summer vacation

Usually, students have summer vacation that lasts for about 40 days from the end of July until Sep.
A lot of homework is assigned to all students… and at some schools, it is required to study what you want and make a report about it which is called Jiyu-Kenkyu (Free Research/Study)
I think Japanese students should have longer vacation to enjoy life like in other countries.
Minimum number of school days in a year is 210 in Japan, compared to 180 in the States.

Test

There are three terms in a year and the new year starts in April.
Each term, students are required to take mid-term and the end of the term tests.

Kokuhaku

It is to confess love.
Back then(when?lol), it was popular to write a love letter and give it to someone you like, but these days it is getting normal to confess love using SNS like LINE (however, you still need to confess love face to face or the person you like might think that you are not brave enough and turn it down).
The most common phrase that is used to confess is “Sukidesu. Tsukiatte Kudasai”(I love you. Can we start seeing each other?)
If you are accepted, you can officially date with the person.
You must not go out with another man or woman after the confession or you will be considered that you are cheating.
Well, I guess that is the same in every country!

Did it make you feel like being a Japanese student?
Tell me what’s it like to be a student in your country!

Taka

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

See you next time!