Word of the year

Hmm... This is rather biased, I believe.

They should be "stamps" and "others"

Hmm...

Sprite and 7UP

I found the information below through the internet. It is surprising to know that Sprite and 7UP are not sold well in Japan. Tastes differ.

Softdrink you would like to drink once again:

1. Mellow Yellow
2. Hachimitsu Lemon ("Honey Lemon")
3. Ambasa
4. Sprite
5. 7UP
6. Kiriri
7. Kocha Kaden
8. Mountain Dew
9. Dr. Pepper
10. HI-C

http://narinari.com/Nd/2006066108.html (Written in Japanese)

What?

I saw these statues of owls for the first time. I have lived in Tokyo for more than 25 years, though.

Leah Dizon gets hitched

Leah Dizon announced that she got married. But, unlike Howard Stern's news below, I couldn't find any article with the phrase "get hitched." Of course, you can't find much information about Leah Dizon in English. Is she really American?

Should great detectives be test smarters?

Now, Veronica Mars has got it going on in Japan. I like this series in that each episode not only introduces one single mystery to be solved but also one big mystery to be solved in the final episode. I think that Veronica Mars, the heroine of this show, really looks like Nancy Drew. Both of them help their fathers who are professional detectives.

By the way, Japanese people really like mystery novels whose detectives are high school students. Jimmy Kudo (a.k.a Shinichi Kudo) in "Case Closed" is a highschooler. Also, Hajime Kindaichi, another popular detective in Japan, is also goes to high school. But, Hajime Kindaichi is not a top student. He often takes an F in class. One of my friends who love to read mystery
novels insists that great detectives be good at high school subjects as well as crime cases. Now, I would like to refute him, because I think that skills to solve crime cases are not related to those to get high scores in academic subjects of Japanese high schools. I will make three points below.

The first point is that knowledge to solve crime cases are hardly learned in school. Sometimes, great detectives may need knowlege of chemistry for cases in which some poison is used, but it won't be learned in highschool chemistry class. Although you may need language skills to understand dying message written in foreign languges (Nobody leaves a dying message in a real crime), you won't get high scores in tests of foreign language class in Japan, which is mainly occupied with fill-in-blank grammar questions. Social studies and math also seem to be irrelevant.

The second point is that in Japan, problem solving skills is not required to get high grades in any academic subjects. If you can cram, you can get high grades.

Now, you may insist that they try to cram if needed. In Japan, getting higher grades at school is very important to be successful. Great detectives are smart enough to know it. So, they will try to become top students to be successful. The answer to it will be my third point. Grate detectives in any mystery stories do not have any common sense. They are not interested in becoming a winner. They show up for any crime scene even when they are not asked
to come, which is unlikely to ordinary people in the world.

Therefore, great detectives are not always good at academic subjects, especially in Japan.

What does it mean?

I found this notice along the lane where few people pass by. I felt that everything we do is being recorded anywhere, anytime. That is scary.

Workstation

In the United States, your workstation is usually a cubicle.

In Japan, your desk is connected to your colleagues' desks. It may be good for all the employees to be cooperative. You cannot concentrate on your own desk work, though.

Fukutoshin Line

Yesterday, Fukutoshin Line, a new subway line in Tokyo, opened.

How disparate Japan is!

Today I went to Shiroganedai, which is a upscale residential area in Japan. And we found a BOOKOFF. The BOOKOFF is totally different than other BOOKOFF stores. It has a coffee shop like STARBUCKS. Although the BOOKOFF really suited Shiroganedai, knowing the existing of this store gave me a bad feeling. I thought that BOOKOFF is for people who aren't rich. As a matter of fact, though, they are giving a better service to the riches.

I've just come back from Kyoto!

I've just come back from Kyoto, where there was a wedding of my old friend. While walking around Kyoto, I felt that it is not as packed as Tokyo and it is very clean.

Although I like Tokyo because I was born there, I wish it could be clearner and less crowded.

Surprised and...

Recently, I noticed that Beni Arashiro has got it going on in an advertising poster hung in a train. I am kind of surprised by the fact. I think she is attractive, but she's not that famous.



Another thing that surprised me is that an American, who is teaching English at the same place, told me that he liked a group called "AKB48." Actually, I didn't know those people. And then, I checked it out though the Internet. I sighed, because they are teenagers wearing school uniforms. I thought that Americans and Europeans who are over 20 do not like those girls. But, probably I was wrong.

makeup and retake

A makeup (test/exam) is a test taken in school because you were not able to take a previous test. But, I wondered how you call an exam that you take again because you failed it the first time.

My American colleague told me that it should be called a "retake." He also said, though, "it's very rare." In Japan, it's not uncommon. I have taken a retake a couple of times. And one of my Japanese colleagues said she had taken many times.

I think that this difference comes from that of term exams between Japan and the states. In Japan, sometimes the mean score of a term exam is around 50 percent. And 75 percent is a very good score at times. However, as you know, 75 percent is C in the states.

Oops... I made a mistake.

I was asked by somebody who is to write a speech on the future of Japan's nuke energy. She wanted me to help me write in Japanese. But, I was so stupid that I tried to answer the questions given to her. Anyway, this is going to be my humble opinions about this issue.

1) What is your opinion regarding environmental problems and nuclear power?

On the other day, Albert Gore, who wrote "An Inconvenient Truth," got a novel prize. It means that more and more people pay attention to environmental problems and their focus are fixed on reduction of CO2.Then, fossil energy is more and more avoided because it may produce greenhouse effect. Instead, people may rely on Nuclear Power more.

2) What is the latest status of nuclear power policy in your country?

A couple of incidents happened. So, people doubt the security of nuclear power stations in Japan. They are afraid that nuclear power can be dangerous. Also, they wonder whether present nuclear power stations in Japan are located in the best places or not.

3) What is your opinion of the current nuclear power policy in Japan and do you have any recommendations?

To tell the truth, I don't know much about nuclear power policy in Japan. Part of the reasons is because both the government and media didn't tell us enough information with clear explanation. Those who object to have a nuclear station just hold a demo against it. Most Japanese people don't know much about the merits and defects of nuclear power.

Japan for non-Japanese

I showed a vistor from the states around Tokyo today. I took her to Shibuya and Harajuku. She didn't seem to be interested in Japan's old stuffs (kabuki, sumo, shrine...) and very new stuffs (animé, costumes,...). Therefore, I felt difficulty showing her around. Even if you have a good command of English and you are Japanese, it is hard to teach others about Japan.

How Westerners view the case of Asashoryu

The phrase "Japanese spirits" sounds very stinky.

I don't like sumo. But, I was wondering how Westerners would think about the case of Asashoryu. I found an essay written by one of them. Basically, I agree with him.

According to the Japan Times:

Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007
Asashoryu fiasco illustrates incompetence of
sumo's leaders

Case closed?

Well, not quite like the JSA wanted.

Instead of a repentant yokozuna, it got a seriously depressed one who required medical treatment, resulting in days of more negative coverage of the sumo community.

It was another instance of the JSA's seriously backward ways.

The people who run the organization are old and antiquated in their thinking, and were more concerned with making an example out of Asashoryu, than taking into account the overall welfare of the sport.

Singer Gil Scott-Heron once said: "America loves to live in the past, even if it was only last week."

Well, it seems as if the JSA is still living in another century-- the 19th. The handling of Asashoryu's case illustrates this.

The Mongolian isn't the first 26-year-old who has done something unwise, and won't be the last, but it seems evident to me that he has been treated unfairly.

He most certainly has a different temperament than the foreign yokozuna (Akebono, Musashimaru) who came before him. So expecting him to act like they did is illogical.

Some people may not like that, but that's the way it is.

The prevailing opinion from the Japanese critics of Asashoryu centers around why he can't behave like the Japanese rikishi do.

But that is precisely the point ? Asashoryu is not Japanese. Expecting him to act Japanese is not realistic.

The punishment in this case clearly did not fit the alleged crime.

Back in December of 2000, maegashira Toki hit and killed a pedestrian while driving in Osaka. It was sad enough that somebody died as a result of his carelessness, but it didn't help matters that sumo wrestlers are prohibited from driving while still active.

Nevertheless, Toki, who is Japanese, was suspended for just one tournament for his negligence.

Seems like a bit of a double standard, doesn't it?

There will be those who say, "The yokozuna has to be held to a higher
standard."

I wonder what would have happened if Asashoryu's alleged transgression had been committed by a Japanese yokozuna?

That would be impossible now, because there hasn't been a Japanese yokozuna for more than 4 1/2 years, since Takanohana retired in January 2003.

Which brings us back to the JSA. Let's face it, folks, if sumo continues on its current course, it is on the road to oblivion.

The vacuum in leadership and vision in the organization is immense. Tickets sales and television ratings continue to decline for the six major tournaments held each year.

For years the official JSA Web site stated openly, almost proudly, "No English is spoken in our office."

Boy, that's really progressive, isn't it?

The J. League and Nippon Professional Baseball both have several staff who can speak English. But the sumo guys just don't get it.

What is even more worrisome is the lack of interest shown by the Japanese youth in sumo. It is often referred to as "Japan's national sport," but I don't think that is anywhere close to the truth now.

I will bet there are a lot of kids on the street who could not tell you the name of the two current yokozuna, but they could surely tell you who Ichiro and Hideki Matsui are.

Sumo still contains a great allure for those outside the country. It is synonymous with Japan and serves as a great ambassador for the nation.

But if the sumo elders don't get their act together quickly, the sport will continue on its downward spiral, which would be a real tragedy.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20070930jg.html

language matters in Japan

As soon as I got up, I went out to buy the Japan Times. It's Sunday. Help Wanted Ads was on the paper. That's what most English-speaking jobseekers in Tokyo do. There was nothing interesting. But, it is not unusual. Today, the things are worse. The paper announced that the price of the Japan Times will be 180 yen (1.50$) per copy from the current 150 yen on October 1st and later, which let me down a bit.

Today's issue was good, though. There's some articles about language.

Japanese: A language in a state of flux

...one may use loanwords just to show off -- despite there being plenty of Japanese expressions to convey the same meaning -- the other may not understand a word rooted in another language. In other words, communication is being lost -- not in translation, but because of no translation.

This is very true.

...Unlike kanji, which are ideograms whose combinations can convey intricate nuances of meaning, katakana characters are phonograms, meaning they convey only the sound of a word -- though their Japanized pronunciations often bear little resemblance to those of the English originals. It's also not unusual for imported words to take on different meanings in Japanese, such as ridusu (derived from "reduce"), which in Japanese refers only to "reducing"-- in other words, cutting down-- the amount of garbage we create.

I just didn't know that to "reduce" means to "cut down" in Japanese. Probably, my Japanese isn't that good.

But, the best part of the article is this:

Perhaps the next prime minister of Japan can demonstrate linguistic, as well as political, leadership. Whoever that person is, he would have to do better than his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, who, despite his nationalist policies and his "Beautiful Japan" slogan, often sprinkled his speeches with katakana jargon.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070923x1.html

The same page contained a different article by the same author:

"The English alphabet seems to be preferred because katakana phrases are ubiquitous and so they no longer sound fresh," Ito said. "When you consider the size of English-language school chains, and the fact that so many Japanese are studying English, few people find it odd to find English around them any more."

As a result, some movie titles and newspaper headlines today include "the" and "in" between Japanese words, although the grammatical concept of articles and prepositions has never existed in Japanese, Ito said. "It is quite a big deal (if everybody starts using those words), because it means Japanese grammar is changing as well."

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070923x3.html

I have to admit that the current Japanese is influenced by English. However, that change has never contributed to Japanese people's English language skills.

Surprisingly, today's issue had another article about the Japanese language. The article below explains Japanese idioms that contain "stomach," referring to Takashi Saito's book. He is well-known, but he hasn't reached the level of being called a popular linguist, such as William Safire or Deborah Tannen, I think.

Linguists gutted by body-talk blight
Traditional expressions are dying out as thought patterns change


On this point, Saito says: " 'Hara ga dekite iru' refers to having a calm mind even in times of urgency ? meaning someone who is able to deal with any situation calmly." To put this in its cultural context, he explained: "In the past in Japan, training in Zen or the martial arts strengthened your spirit and allowed you to keep your presence of mind even in the face of death."

It seems like he wants to connect expressions with "stomach" with Japan's traditions. I suspect that few old Japanese had the spirits of Zen or the other martial arts. Also, there's still many phrases that contain "stomach" in modern Japanese.

For example, "hara ga suwatteiru" literally means "stomach is sitting." It means "emotionally stable."

Also, some English idioms contain the word "stomach" in them:

turn sb's stomach: to make sb upset or sick

have butterflies in my stomach: to get nervous

This point is said in this article too.

...However, Japanese do not own the copyright on this line of thinking. In English, too, there are various phrases that make use of this central part of
the body.

...In Japanese, many other terms using hara still exist. There is, for example, hara wo kimeru, literally meaning "decide in your stomach," which denotes that you have made a firm resolution. Then there's hara-guroi, literally meaning "black stomach," an adjectival phrase for someone who is evil-minded.

Be aware of the atmosphre? Who cares?

I never support Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who announced his resignation on Wednesday. However, I don't like to hear people use the term "Be aware of the atmosphere," to describe how little he understands what Japanese people really want.

I believe that you should be assertive in public. To make others understand what you feel, you've got to tell them that. It's not fair to say "that's not what I want" without stating your intention.

The Japanese society requires its nations to acquire the skills to be aware of the atmosphere more often than the other societies are. Although some may say this is the virtue of Japan, I believe that this rediculous custom is making our life uncomfortable. It seems that Japan will be better if we are able to state our opinions freely.

As you know, Mr. Abe's case doesn't apply to "Be aware of the atomosphere" situations. Simply, he didn't listen to people around him and Japanese citizens.

Stereotypes don't fade away.

Most Westerners still seem to believe that the Japanese have characteristics some Japanologists such as Ruth Benedict referred to. I doubt that many Japanese youngsters have a national sense of patience or self-control.

According to International Herald Tribune (9/11/07):

Some say that a national sense of gaman (that suffering in silence is a virtue) and a feeling of guilt by World War II survivors contribute to the resistance to using morphine to help ease suffering.

American pop culture only for Japanese

When I lived in Missouri, I realized that there's so many things Japanese people don't know in the United States. But, at the same time, I came to know that Americans don't know something about the United States that most Japanese people know. For example, in Japan, everybody who likes mystery novels knows Ellery Queen, an American writer. His name is not that popular in the US. Some old people may have seen the drama series, but few Americans have read "Tragedy of Y," which is a must for Japanese mystery fans.

Also, American writers who are translated into Japanese by Motoyuki Shibata, a guru of translation, aren't read by young American litterary people. Basically, they prefer classics, such as Steinbeck, Twain, Hemingway, and Vonnegut.

It's not a bad thing. Also, most Westerners know much more about classical Japanese than Japanese youngsters.