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お正月

Happy New Year!

We rushed back from Saga to celebrate this holiday with 義人, lest he be alone for the night. In Japan, New Years is one of the biggest holidays, and definitely trumps Christmas. We spent all of the 31st preparing food and decorations.
Early in the morning 千尋 and I trekked out to find some door decorations, which consisted of a beautiful paper and straw piece called Shimekazari and two pine tree branches. We also sourced a two tier rice cake ornament {about the size of a large book} with a mikan {mandarin} on top – which was placed in the entrance hall.

After a small break we got right in to cooking. 夏帆 and I made Mitarashi Dango {small mocha-like balls that are dipped in sauce}, as well as three large bento boxes, filled with very specific food. There was a place for everything, though I’m not sure if this is a nation-wide thing or just a 千嘉ちゃん thing.

At around 7:00 we ate dinner, which was huge and included our bentos, Tempura, Ozoni, and Soba. It is traditional to eat soba as your New Year’s Eve meal – called toshikoshi soba {year bringing noodle}. My host father told me that eating long noodles will give longevity, and also reminded me that almost everyone in Japan will be eating this dish. I find that really amazing, how one nation can become so unified in their actions – not linked to any religion, as far as I know.

Happy New Year from Tokyo {with Mt Fuji peeping over the horizon}


Following this we all watched to Kohaku show, a huge, over-the-top annual production that I can only describe as Carols by Candlelight x 10000. A survey last year stated that over 50% of the country watches this show every year, roughly sixty-three million, six hundred fifty thousand people!

As the turn of the year approached we set out for two shrines. The first of which appeared to be very isolated {which I later found out was due to our early arrival –about 20 minutes before midnight}. After tossing some coins as an offering, we rung the bells and bowed twice, clapped twice and prayed. Following this we bowed once again. As I’m not sure if the Shinto Gods speak English, I began every prayer with 神様、ごめん！英語を話して。{Kami sama – sorry! I will speak English}, followed by my wishes for the New Year.

The second shrine we visited had a small queue, and we soon found out from a very cute おばあちゃん{grandmother} that the shrine only permitted entry after it hit midnight. It was very cold so we were given matcha tea to sip as we waited. Finally, the gongs sounded, signalling the New Year. Again, we approached the shrine and prayed in the same manner before moving to the side to get some Amezaki. Amezaki is pretty much sake with ginger and sugar, so a lower alcohol content. It tasted very interesting, but was piping hot, so warmed everyone from the inside.

I was given a New Years Otoshidama – the Japanese equivalent of Chinese lucky pockets, I think. Inside contained money from family and distant relatives. It was really kind of my host family to include me in this tradition. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year, as well as good luck and good health for the year to come.

-H

How to make other foreigners hate you

Many times I’ve heard stories about how hostile foreigners are to fellow tourists or foreign workers in Japan. People have told me that I’ll be ignored, and that they won’t offer me any help. Though I myself have never confirmed nor denied this theory, I have to wonder if it is the mono-culture of Japan that pushes people to become hyper-aware of… foreigners. That’s a topic for another day.

Personally, I hold nothing against fellow visitors to the country – Wednesday found me chatting with a lovely pair of kids from England – however there are definitely a few people that have made a negative impact.

Kaho and I were on our way to Shibuya when a group of kids boarded the train. They had clearly been living here for a while and felt comfortable in the environment. They then proceeded to cuss and critique others around them. I will tell you this now: JAPANESE PEOPLE KNOW THE WORD F***!!! I guess what annoyed me most was their complete disregard for the place and time at which they were speaking. You wouldn’t do that in your own country, so why someone else’s?

The next thing that really unsettled me was that they would stare and whisper about other foreigners on the train. Now I’m not perfect, and I do have a habit of voicing my guesses on where other foreigners are from based on accent {e.g. I think she’s from Ireland, etc.} but I wouldn’t dream of blatantly staring at and talking about them!

I think the final thing that this group of people did was behave in a superior manner. Please! Just because you have been living here for longer, does not make you a higher class citizen. Of course I’m not going to go around spouting about how great I am at Japanese if I have stayed here for less time than you, so no need to worry about that! I know that it sounds like I am complaining, but it was a really rude way to behave, and I could see others in the carriage becoming uncomfortable.

I guess my main message is, maybe sometimes foreigners ARE hostile to other foreigners, especially if they’ve stayed in Japan for a prolonged period of time. But, perhaps it is people like those I witnessed on the train who create this divide. This post sounds incredibly ‘us vs them’, and I am in no way trying to create a divide between Japanese people and foreigners, but the fact remains that there is a difference – whether it be in language, looks or cultural awareness. I am not saying that you need to love everyone, but perhaps when you are a visitor, behave in a respectful manner, so that those who have walked in your shoes are more eager to help out. Do this first, before declaring that foreigners hate other foreigners.

Rant over. J


-H

How to make the most of the 博物館

In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve visited an Australian museum since I was 11, and from what I can remember, the entrance and inner workings are pretty self-explanatory. I have, however, been to very many museums and art galleries in foreign countries. Perhaps I don’t notice things about Australia because it is second nature to me – but I definitely noticed some things about the Tokyo National Museum worth sharing.

One of the perks of staying with a host family is that you get to see how they function in their own environment – not a synthetic tourist versions, chewed in to bite sized chunks for easy understanding. The first thing that I picked up is that it is really important to get to the museum early. Especially for popular exhibits such as the one I visited recently, the Terracotta Warriors, you really should try to arrive before the museum opens.

I suggest looking up the opening times in advance and aiming to arrive ten minutes early. I can guarantee that there will already be people there. When we arrived, just as it opened, there was already a line around 200 people long to enter the exhibition space. I’m not complaining, Japanese lines move really fast, or at least this one did, but if lining up is not for you save yourself the trouble and get there at opening time.

Source: GOVERNMENT, T. (2015). The Great Terracotta Army of China's First Emperor / Official Tokyo Travel Guide GO TOKYO. [online] Gotokyo.org. Available at: http://www.gotokyo.org/en/event/exhibition/h25/492.html [Accessed 25 Dec. 2015].


My second tip only really applies to students, and this is: bring your I.D. card. You can get really good discounts, or sometimes even free entry if you are a student. In Australia, I’ve never had to show I.D. to prove that I am a student, but in every place where I’ve bought a student ticket in Japan, I’ve had to prove my age. Possibly a foreigner ‘perk’? Nevertheless, flashing your I.D. can save you a lot of cash, and I highly recommend it {this also goes for older people who are studying at university to get their PhD or Masters, as my host father is}.

While in the museum, I noticed that most of the visitors would whizz through the exhibition, barely taking a moment to catch their breath. Don’t be worried to linger, and also, don’t be worried if you block someone’s view. There are so many people crammed in to one space, and being a ‘tall scary foreigner’, it can sometimes be a little worrying. Don’t hesitate to politely move throughout the space, and take your turn in front of artefacts. There will usually be a little English to describe or state what the object is, but not a total comprehensive translation of the Japanese. I think that this is actually a nice way to enjoy a museum, as you are forced to look rather than wait around and read. Appreciate the information given and focus on the ancient object on which the information is based.

I hope that these tips have been a little helpful, if only to make more sense of the Japanese museum scene. I really recommend visiting this exhibition if you get a chance, particularly if you are interested in Chinese history.


-H

Christmas in Japan

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are all having a good day. Today, I decided to interview my host sister about Christmas in Japan. For easier reading, I have tidied up the English and translated a little, but the content is still the same. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

An Interview with 中山夏帆

How do you celebrate Christmas in Japan?
Every year I celebrate Christmas with a Christmas party, with family and friends, at my house. However, most people celebrate with lovers. Lovers will usually go to Ginza, Ropongi, Shibuya or Harajuku to see a Christmas tree. Most famous Japanese sights will have a large Christmas tree at this time of year. Then, most lovers will have dinner in a restaurant or café, and eat Christmas cake whilst exchanging presents. Sometimes, lovers will propose at this time.

What do you eat for breakfast on Christmas day?
Most years we don’t eat breakfast on Christmas day because we usually have a Christmas party the night before. Because we eat so much at that party we are too full for breakfast. Otherwise, we will eat a really light breakfast.

Do you give and receive presents?
Yes, with your family. In my house parents don’t receive any presents, so it is only an exchange among children. Most of the time, parents will place all of your presents at the end of your bed, as Santa Claus.

Is it a big event in Japan?
Yes, very big. In Japan, Christians don’t celebrate with festivities, so some of my Christian classmates are not allowed to go to any Christmas parties. Sometimes, I feel sorry for them, but most people in Japan are not religious in that sense, so will throw a huge Christmas party. It is a really big event in Japan, and most shops will throw an event. Everyone makes plans for this time of year.

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
I think… receiving presents, of course. In the past I didn’t know my parents were Santa Claus, but even now, we don’t speak of it due to unspoken agreement. Most families will do this. If you acknowledge this fact there may be bad omens.

What have you heard about other countries’ Christmas celebrations?
Probably, the one thing that all Japanese people know is that in Australia, Santa surfs his way to people’s houses to give presents. This is so strange for Japanese because Santa is part of Christmas, and Christmas is symbolic of snow, and large clothes.

Is there anything you want to say to readers?
Merry Christmas and have a good year!


-H

東大

The day before last saw me setting off early in the morning to visit the Tokyo National Museum. 義人 and 千嘉ちゃん accompanied me, and together we rode the train for an hour to get there. On the way, I was surprised at the lack of ‘dragon’s breath’. For those who are unfamiliar with this term, it refers to the white, smoky air that comes when you breathe out in winter. In Australia, at temperatures of 8 degrees Celsius, you can normally achieve this effect, however I didn’t receive the same result in Tokyo. Upon enquiring, I found out that it does occur, but at colder temperatures. This leads me to wonder, what is the actual cause of ‘dragon’s breath’ – how does it work? If anybody reading knows the answer, please let me know!

We arrived at the museum before it opened, to avoid the lines, and I was glad to be visiting with Japanese locals as they told me all of the tips and tricks to maximise the experience, as describe in my post about Japanese museums. The exhibition that we went to see was the Terracotta Warriors, and it included hundreds of ancient artefacts, including several actual Terracotta Warriors. I was surprised to discover that, originally, all of the Terracotta Warriors, were painted to look more human. As of today, most of the paint has faded or eroded with time.

At the Tokyo National Museum


After the exhibition, we traipsed over to the neighbouring building to view the feudal Japan artefacts. Featured there were several old Kabuki theatre costumes. In addition to this, we saw an old kimono, which was embroidered with my host mother’s family crest. For those who don’t know, in the old, old days, my host mother’s family were what my host father says is equivalent to ‘kings or royalty’ of their area. Though not actually related to the imperial family, they still have their own shrine in Saga, which is surrounded by mountains.

Following our museum visit, we walked around the neighbouring area until we reached a Soba shop. There, we were joined by 千尋, and all ate a delicious meal of Soba. I was an incredibly slow eater compared to my host family, but it was good to see how they eat Soba, so that I could learn how to eat it properly.

千嘉ちゃん had to go to work, so the rest of us made for Tokyo University. It is such an amazing campus with beautiful architecture and nature spots to relax. Probably my favourite spot was the huge pond, with gorgeous stepping stones that allowed you to view fish and ducks. 

Following this we stopped at the on-campus Starbucks and ordered Christmas drinks. In the seating area there was a life size robot, designed by students at Tokyo University. I’ll say this, the facilities there are really world-class, including a wind turbine-thing for testing cars. It really is a great environment for learning and extending knowledge in whichever field you choose to study.  


-H

Top 20 phrases you might need in Japan

As someone who has been to Paris and been unable to speak a lick of French, I can understand that travelling to a country where you do not know their native tongue can be daunting. And, for all those French speakers out there, the prospect of travelling to Japan with little to no language skills may seem impossible. Honestly, its not. Japan has been working really hard over the past few decades to bridge the gap between themselves and the Western world.

However foreigner friendly Japan may be, it is always really handy to have a few phrases up your sleeve. Whether it be to impress a friend or just find out where something is, I present my top 30 phrases you might need in Japan!

A photo for the sake of a photo ~ learn the phrases below to avoid looking like this ^^


Before I begin, I would like to explain the table below. The first column holds the English phrase, the second, the direct Japanese equivalent, and the third, the romaji. Romaji is Romanised Japanese words, and helps people who can’t speak Japanese to be able to read / speak the language {Think: Tokyo}. Also, I’m going to leave out the generic: hello, goodbye, etc – I’m sure you can figure that out yourself!

English
Japanese
Romaji
Where is the xxx?
xxx はどこですか。
xxx wa doko desu ka?
Can I go to the toilet?
トイレに行ってもいいですか。
Toire ni i-te moii desu ka?
Do you speak English?
英語を話ますか。
Eigo o hanashimasu ka?
Please look after me {nice to meet you}
よろしく｛おねがいします｝
Yoroshiku {onegaishimasu}
I’ll try my best
がんばります。
Ganbarimasu.
Sorry, I speak absolutely no Japanese
すみません、日本語を戦線話しません。
Sumimasen, Nihongo o zenzen hanashimasen.
I like xxx
xxxが好きです。
xxx ga suki desu.
I don’t like xxx
xxxがあんまり好きじゃないです。
xxx ga anmari suki jyanai desu.
I’m hungry
おなかがすいた。
Onaka ga suita.
I’m full!!
おなかがいっぱい。
Onaka ga i-pai.
Pleased to meet you
はじめまして。
Hajimemashite.
Shall we go to xxx?
xxxに行きませんか。
xxx ni ikimasen ka?
I gratefully receive {said before eating}
いただきます。
Itadakimasu.
Thanks for the meal {said after eating}
ごちそうさまでした。
Gochisousama deshita.
I understand {informal}
わかった。
Waka-ta.
I don’t understand {informal}
わからない。
Wakaranai.
Can you please say that again?
も一度言って下さい。
Moichido i-te kudasai.
How much is this?
いくらですか。
Ikura desu ka?
How are you?
お元気ですか。
Ogenki desu ka?
I’ll be back {when leaving home}
いってきます。
I-tekimasu.
I’m home
ただいま。
Tadaima.
I’m lost
まよってしまいしました。
Mayo-te shimai shimashita.
Wait a moment please!
著止まって。
Choto ma-te!

This has just been a brief compilation of some useful phrases and expressions. I find myself using them frequently in everyday life, especially ‘I’m full’ and ‘Please look after me’. I’ll admit I’ve never had to use the expression ‘I’m lost’, and hope that I won’t ever need to. But sometimes getting lost is the best way to find yourself.


-H

鞄

Hooray! Another awkward personal post! I was actually hoping to write about my experiences at Tokyo University and The Tokyo National Museum, but have been unable to upload my photos, so I’ll publish that post at a later date. You can find it here. So here it goes; what’s in my school bag for 学主因!

I think that this is kind of important as you don’t want to be the weird foreigner with the wrong shoes, or lacking class materials. Firstly, on your first day of school, I recommend bringing all of the shoes you need for your classes {and yes, there’s a lot}. You’ll have shoes that you wear to and from school, indoor school shoes, and indoor and outdoor sports shoes. At every Japanese school there is a shoe locker area, when you arrive, place your outdoor school shoes in the locker and put on your indoor ones; repeat in reverse when leaving. You might also have a locker outside your classroom, and this is where I recommend leaving your sports shoes, easily accessible for assemblies or PE classes. I’ve seen many girls carrying sports shoes in a drawstring bag, so this could also be a good idea.

Back to the actual bag – I’m using a backpack, but most school students use a handbag-style bag, and that includes guys. My bag has three pockets, so I’ll break it down…

In the very front pocket, I’ll have my wallet and phone {usually in my blazer pocket}. In my wallet I always have at least two types of identification, including student I.D. Actually, having your I.D. around as a student is really good because it helps you to get enormous discounts on things like museum and aquarium entry {so essential as a tourist}. Also in my wallet is my Pasmo, which, as mention in my previous post, you should keep easily accessible at all times. 

In addition to these items I have mints, Nurofen, a space blanket gifted to me by my worried mother {<3} and a pack of tissues. Tissues, I’ve found, are a real necessity in Japanese school life. When the teacher asks you to clean the bottom of your chair and desk before the girls on duty clean the classroom, you don’t want to be awkwardly asking random people for help. Keep a pack of tissues on you. At. All. Times. Usually you can get some for free in places like Shibuya and Akihabara.


Don't worry about fitting your coat in your bag, there are usually coat racks in the classroom!

I use the middle pocket for my pencil case, muffler, and any assigned reading I have to do. Also, this is where I keep my bento normally. A word of caution though, always ensure that your bento won’t leak or spill before placing it in your bag. If you are worried about this happening, I suggest placing it in a small paper bag and carrying it to school. You can hang it on the opposite hook of your desk!

Finally, the pocket closest to my back is for all of my school work, as well as all of the paperwork I need to carry {such as map of the school, timetable, passport scans, etc.}. As my school is the Imperial school, meaning that the princess attends, no mobile phones are allowed. Lots of school students will hide their mobile phone among their schoolwork, because hey, rules are meant to be broken, right? At the moment, no princess is attending, so the mobile phone rule is really just for keeping up appearances {and applies at any time when in school uniform}.

Although it may seem like a small thing, it’s actually really important to be prepared for school and have everything you need. Attending a new school in a different country {with a different language} is difficult enough without having to worry about forgetting things. 

Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially in Japan. My classmates all love foreigners, and are busting to help out all the time. Be prepared for school, but also prepared to roll with it if things go awry.


-H

Catching the train like a pro

For those who are used to the breezy and stranger-hating atmosphere of Australian public transport, you will be in for a shock if you travel to Japan. Their train system is incredibly efficient, and can fix many people in a single carriage. True, this does involve getting up close and personal with a random person you don’t know, but if you know what you’re doing, catching the train in Japan can be a lot easier. Thus, I present this guide to maximising your Japanese train experience!

In Japan, you can buy paper tickets for each train ride, but as I ride the train sometimes 4-5 times per day, a Suica or Pasmo is really important. Suica are for shorter term stays, whereas Pasmo function pretty much the same way as a myki. I really recommend getting one of these {probably Pasmo} and ensuring is has at least 5000円 {$50AUD} on it. Always have your train card ready when approaching the gates, most Japanese have a special holding pocket that they keep on an outside pocket of their bag. The worst thing you can do is hold up a crown of people by digging through your bag in search of your train card. So make things easier for yourself by having a consistent place for your train card, and taking it out in advance.

My second tip is: don’t be afraid to get close to people. If your train is looking really crowded, get on! Usually, there will be a little space {about 2 people’s worth} that is open per carriage. Even if this is not the case, make your way on to the train. The best method is to find a foothold on the edge, and hold the inner top of the train, if nobody else is coming, remain in this position until you hear the leaving tone, at which time, push yourself inwards and step back to avoid the doors. If others are coming in the train after you, get a grip on your bag and go with the flow. People will fall on you, and you them, so try to get a steady stance and make use of the available holding straps if needed.

This brings me to my next piece of advice, which is: don’t complain. I get it, you’re cramped and somebody is stepping on your shoe, but everyone else is functioning under the same conditions. This is the way that trains work in Japan, and if you are going to complain about it every time you utilise this method of public transport, maybe you should just take a taxi. Also, I’m pretty sure complaining loudly breaks a few of my rules from my post on Japanese train rules.

As also mentioned in the above post, a really important thing is that you don’t stand for sexual abuse. My host sister informed me that almost every school girl will be touched on the train throughout the course of her schooling life. It is really important that you make it known that someone is doing something questionable to you, whether this be by yelling ‘hentai!’ {pervert} or telling a friend you are travelling with and acquiring help.

Knowing the Kanji for your desired stop is really important. Though most trains will also have the English below, it makes things so much easier if you only need to glance quickly at the sign. Normally, the trains will also have an audio played before each stop, telling you what it is in Japanese {and sometimes English}. Do a tiny bit of planning before you go and write down or learn the Kanji for your stop.

Also, it is important to know which trains are express, as these ones might not go to your desired destination. On the board telling you the arrival time, there will most likely be a scrolling list of stations, look for the Kanji for your stop, and if it isn’t pictured, the train might not go there. However, be prepared to take a punt, if the sign is in green, then it probably isn’t an express train. Most express trains are depicted in red.

My final tip is for dealing with a crowded train alone. Everyone can look really awkward when squished up against strangers. Some people will pull their phone out and do other things, but in the long run, this action just makes it more cramped for everyone. Thus, I recommend the penguin stance: if you have a large backpack or bag, place it between your legs and make sure it stays there, then if the train isn’t so crowded that you can reach a support, make sure you won’t fall over. Following this, raise your head and close your eyes, adopting the stance of a penguin screaming at the night. If you are claustrophobic, picture somewhere else. Don’t be worried about the crowded train and just look relaxed, less you fall in to the worried, sweaty foreigner stereotype.

I hope that this guide has been a little helpful in explaining Japanese trains. Please remember that it is based off my own and my host sister’s experiences, so is most certainly not a comprehensive guide. Thanks!


-H 

Learning Kanji on the go

To those who don’t know, Kanji are Chinese characters used in Japanese language. They differ from hiragana and katakana as, firstly they are borrowed. So if you are of Chinese descent and are familiar with Chinese characters, learning Kanji will be much easier for you.  If, like me, you have had absolutely no exposure to Kanji before learning Japanese, you will need to work a little harder to be able to quickly recognise Kanji.

At present, Japan’s train system has easy to read English below each sign, and on most announcements. However, on ads, or in books, Kanji is used quite a bit, making it difficult to even know what to ask the meaning of. This is why learning Kanji and the associated readings is so important.

A really easy way to learn some Kanji is on the train. Each station will have its name in Kanji, with the hiragana and English following. Once you know how to pronounce it, look at the Kanji. Most will only have one or two hiragana sounds to itself, however, if there is a small hiragana character, there might be three.

For example, さくらしんまち, pronounced in English as ‘Sakura shin-machi’ is one train station. The kanji for this station is 桜新町, meaning, cherry blossom new town. Most foreigners will know Sakura is a cherry blossom, and be able to deduce that the first Kanji, 桜, corresponds with this. Following, we have 新, meaning new. This is pronounced as ‘shin’ in this case, but can also be said as ‘atara’ {新しい}. Finally, there is 町, a very common Kanji that means town or city. This kanji is read as ‘machi’.

When on the train, pick one station that you want to learn the Kanji for. After figuring out the reading, trace the patterns on your leg whilst looking at it. Be sure to use the correct stroke order, which can generally be figured out as left to right, top to bottom. Once you feel confident, when the screen cycles to hiragana or English, try retracing the Kanji, and then check when it appears again.

After practising this for a while, you will have quite a few Kanji under your belt. Make sure to look out for familiar Kanji when walking around in Japan, as recognition will be the most useful thing in aiding your learning.

Sometimes, Kanji will have furigana above it; this is small hiragana above the character, to tell you how to read it. Whilst knowing how to pronounce the Kanji is important, I believe that knowing the meaning helps a lot more. When looking at a food label, or an ad on TV, as long as you recognise the meaning, you should be good to go.

Sometimes, the kanji will look like its meaning, as below

1.      Mountain 　　　やま　　　山
2.      River　　　　　かわ　　　川
3.      Rice Field　　　たんぼ　　田んぼ
4.      Eye　　　　　め　　　　目

Though difficult it is important to persevere. This has merely been the tip of the iceberg, and there will be more to come on Kanji in the future. Good luck!


-H

A Day In The Life

As exams are over at 学主因, students use the last 1 and a half weeks of the school term to enjoy club activities. Thus, at the moment, I am not actually going to school, per say, but just joining random clubs as they enjoy their ‘high school life’.

For the past school week, my days have gone something like this…
6:30 – Wake up, for some reason I am still in Australian mode. As nobody is really active, I use this time in the morning to do holiday homework, study Japanese and write blog posts, as well as the standard social media roaming.

8:30 – Have breakfast downstairs with 夏帆 and 千嘉ちゃん, as the others are at work/university. Breakfast usually consists of a large variety of food, including leftovers from last night, cereal, assorted bread, fruit and salad. We choose what we like and how much we desire to eat, which I am grateful for, as apparently one of my friends staying here has to eat and enormous set meal everyday {delicious, yet too large to finish comfortably}.

9:20/40 – Leave for school. It normally takes me about one hour by train to get to school. The first leg, to Shibuya, is incredibly crammed – I’ve found that Shibuya is one of the most popular train stations {think Flinders Street x 10000}. Though the second leg is usually more roomy, and sometimes I am able to find a seat.

10:30 – Greet whatever club I am assigned to and participate in / watch their club activities. Most recently, I visited the Tea Ceremony Club, and was treated to beautiful Japanese candy and Matcha. All of the girls work fluently and gracefully, and are totally dedicated to their art. It was a very peaceful experience.

11:30 – Return home. You can see that the days are incredibly short at this time! After arriving at home I’ll usually do homework / study with 夏帆 downstairs. Throughout the whole day, the house is filled with music, as my host mother is a piano teacher. It is really lovely to listen to and also incredibly fun to meet some of her students. As it is the end of the year, my host mother is receiving many gifts for her work, and as a result 夏帆 and I get to enjoy sweets from all over Japan.

2:30 – Go somewhere. This part of my day is rarely planned, I might go shopping or exploring the city. Recently 桜 and I visited the aquarium. It was amazing and gorgeous, and there were even these amazing skeleton fish, pictured below. However, seeing some of the animals {such as a reindeer} locked in an incredibly small cage saddened me a little. I think that people can get caught up in the novelty and holiday spirit and neglect to stop and think about issues like that. I only hope that after hours those animals are able to enjoy a larger and more natural habitat.


Skeleton fish at the Sunrise Aquarium {courtesy of 桜｝

4:30 – Come home again. Around this time I will normally take a bath or shower and do homework until called for dinner, which is usually around 6:30/7:00. After dinner, everyone who is home will sit around the table and chat about everything and nothing. When the tea is cold in the kettle, I head upstairs to do some of my assigned reading before going to bed {around 10:30/11:00}

So there you have it, a day in my life. However, this is about to change as Winter Holidays are coming up. Around New Years, I will be visiting my host mother’s family shrine in Saga, Kyushu. I am incredibly excited and can’t wait to see her hometown!


-H

日舞

The other day 桜 and I visited the日舞 club {pronounced Nichibu}, this is the Japanese dancing club. It is an amazing art form that consists of a woman dancing in yukata to music, or sometimes, singing herself. This skill is needed as a Geisha {Japanese entertainer}, but can also be practiced as its own entity.

Upon arrival, we had to remove our shoes, before stepping into the Japanese tatami room. There, we were given a yukata to wear, as well as a fan. Before beginning, we chatted with the club members and ate Japanese candy. The clubs at 学主因 never fail to amaze me. There is always a club leader, who will be one of the oldest, and who is the best at that activity. The club leader is always so confident and kind, and knows exactly what she is doing. As most students will pick only one or two clubs to be a part of, and then practise very often, everyone in the club is enthusiastic and serious about learning the activity. It makes me wish that our clubs back home were similar.

桜 and I in yukata

Once everybody was ready, we were taught how to bow properly. This is a practised art form and I’ll freely admit that 桜 and I were not very good at it. In yukata, you first needed to move your right foot forward slightly, and then descend on to your left knee, keeping your back straight and your movements even. 

Next, you had to lower your right knee, and sit in that position, with your hands gracefully on your lap, and then place your fan in front of you. Following this, you move your hands to your sides and traced the floor with your fingertips around to your front, creating a triangle shape. We then had to bow, with a straight back, and hold it for three counts before rising. The next step was to place your fan back in your yukata, and stand up in one movement. I greatly admire those who are able to do this gracefully!

Following this, 桜 {Sakura} and I learnt a short dance to, ironically, the song Sakura. We practised for a while before putting it to music, and though difficult it was really fun. After our dancing, we were able to watch the other club members, and it was really enjoyable. Everyone was so graceful and in control of their movements. I definitely want to give this art form another try!

Below are a few more vocab words…

1.      Eagle     　　　わし　　　　　鷲
2.      Sparrow　　　すずめ　　　　雀
3.      Gift　　　　　おくりもの　　贈り物
4.      Doll　　　　　にんぎょう　　人形


-H

6 things to avoid doing on Japanese trains

In Japan, trains are the most common way of getting places, and popular destinations always lead to incredibly crowded trains. There is a certain way to ensure you get the best experience from your train ride, but that is a post for another day. Today, I want to discuss 6 things that you should never do on public transport, especially as a foreigner.

Before beginning I would like to point out that some Japanese people do the things listed below. However, according to my Japanese friends, it often comes across as rude or disrespectful. Keeping in mind that if you are a foreigner you will most likely be visiting, you will be a guest in their country, and therefore, you should respect their rules.

夏帆 tells me that some Japanese people spend so much time on trains that they treat them as home, and behave in a certain way. However, this might not be the best move if you are a visitor to the country, especially not during rush hour. Also, keep in mind that these rules are for local trains only. By all means, break a few if you are riding the 新幹線  {bullet train} for an extended period of time.

1.      Don’t apply makeup
This is seen as selfish and disrespectful, especially because the act of putting on makeup is not always pretty. Though some Japanese break this rule, majority abide by it. So please, don’t get your powder out on the train.

2.      Don’t eat
This rule is for local trains only, as eating on the bullet train is okay. But seriously, nobody wants to sit on your food scraps, so wait until you are home, or at least seated. I’ve noticed that nobody eats whilst walking in Japan, and conclude that, perhaps, it is polite to find a place to sit or stand and eat? I’ll have to confirm this theory.

3.      Don’t drink
This is a pretty flexible rule. Sometimes, water or tea is okay, likewise fizzy drinks. However, like with food, please avoid spilling liquid everywhere. I would recommend never bringing a drink on the train during rush hour, as the risk is just too high. But if you want to sip on water on the way home, go ahead.

4.      Don’t swear
Swearing is a no brainer. It’s really impolite to do in front of strangers, especially if you are a visitor to the country. Even if in another language, please avoid swearing on the train. There are other foreigners around too. The other day a group of English students came on my train and started cussing like crazy {more about that another day}, and it made everyone in the carriage uncomfortable. Japanese people know the word: F***, so don’t even try.

5.      Avoid speaking loudly
This seems to be an international rule, and though the consequences are not as severe, it is just common courtesy to keep your voice down. I’m not saying you have to whisper, but try to refrain from yelling across the carriage. Unless somebody has tried to assault you, in which case, please yell へんたい {pervert} as loud as you wish.

6.      Don’t use your phone near priority seating
There are signs everywhere for this rule, however it is not really abided by. Pretty much everyone will be on their phones near priority seating, texting, playing games, looking at themselves in their camera. I think the basis of this rule is that, perhaps, the radiation from phones is bad for pregnant women? Honestly, I have no idea, and so while it is nice to keep in mind, this rule isn’t really enforced.

There you have it. My host sister’s top six rules for public transport in Japan. Please remember that, as in other countries, heaps of locals will break these rules, but that doesn’t always make it okay for you to. However, if you wish to eat food and apply makeup, whilst speaking loudly and swearing to your friend on the telephone, go for it, you can do what you want. Just don’t be surprised if those actions result in several dirty looks in your direction. Happy training!


-H

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