20 25 260

6 June

2008 No. 260

390

ISSN 1348-7906

MATSUI MakotoDancing Brilliantly, the Life of an Actor who Plays Female RolesPeople in

Japan

People in Japan

with English Furigana

Harajuku Town of Young People and Fashion

e-gaikokujin.com has assisted a growing number of lead-ing Japanese companies, and research monitors have been involved in everything from in-house testing of websites and mobile Internet platforms, to crash testing laptop computers.

All work is paid. Register now! There are NO sign-up fees and registration takes only a few minutes.

4,000

20

100

Paid Research

www.e-gaikokujin.com

Topics & Events

June Issue Contents 6

Topics & Events 4-5

Entertainment & Trends 6-7

Japanese Pop Culture 8

Insight into Japan

9-16Japanese Practices, Close Up Japan, Japan Watching, Japanese

History Makers, Working in Japan

Growing Company

18-19

Business Spotlight 20-21

Hot Products 22

People in Japan

23-25

Parody Talk 26-27

The International Couple Scene

28-29

Scenes of Japan Photo Gallery

30-31

Special Report

33-35

Visa Q&A Q&A 36

HIRA-TAI Forum 37

My Japan 38

From the Editorial Desk

39

Chindougu Series

41

Japanese Cooking Class

43

Cover Story 44-46

Exploring Towns

47

1 5 8 3

400

6

6

8

This is a very dynamic and gorgeous festival held in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The Hyakumangoku parade, which re-enacts the first lord of Kaga MAEDA Toshiies entering of Kanazawa Castle in 1583, is the festi-vals main event. It becomes a topic of conversation every year that they have a famous actor take the role of Toshiie. In addition, various traditional events passed down through gen-erations for 400 years, including Kagayuuzen lantern floating and the tea ceremony, will be held from June 6 to 8.

100mangoku.net/

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

2007

93,000

6

21

22

This is the biggest toy fair in Japan where people can both examine and buy toys. Lots of companies from overseas and Japan participate in the event every year and it is always crowded with many people. In 2007, the fair attracted more than 93,000 visitors over two days. Not only toys but also party goods, sundries and character goods are exhibited and on sale there. Events at the show such as a stamp rally, lottery and stage show have also proved popular. Held June 21 and 22 at Tokyo Big Site. Admission is free.

www.toys.or.jp/

2008

International Tokyo Toy Show 2008

20

Check our website for details! WEB

No reservation or registration required.1,000

KyotoOsaka

20 the Year! 20

19

20

1889-1915

5

18

6

8

600

In the latter part of the 19th century in Europe, numerous magazines regarded as art in their own right were published, and eventually influenced the creation of many art magazines in Japan in the 20th century. The exhibition Utopia of Images and Letters Japanese Modern Art and Art Magazines, 1889 - 1915 introduces the main art magazines of the period while highlighting the paintings of the time and the mutual relation-ship of the two. After May 18 some of the exhibits will be changed. Held until June 8 at Urawa Art Museum (Saitama Prefecture). Admission fee: Adult 600 yen.

www.uam.urawa.saitama.jp

Utopia of Images and Letters

7

2,730

Haiku is well-known as the shortest form of Japanese poetry and is loved by many around the world. There have been many great haiku poets in Japan, and among them Basho is the most highly reputed. For the first time a collection of Bashos poems is available in English, translated by well-known American poet Jane REICHHOLD. The book divides Bashos work into seven periods. Furthermore, the original of each poem, transcriptions in Roman letters, literal translations and explanations are included. The book also offers an insight into haiku techniques and the use of haiku terminology. Published by Kodansha International. 2,730 yen.

BASHO The Complete Haiku

Admission fee for Tokyo parties will be 00 yen for party coupon holders.

00

Hirag

ana T

imes

Toky

o Part

y Adm

ission

Cou

pon

00 y

en

190

2007 M-1 Champion, Sandwichman2007

M

-1

Official sites

sandwichman.fc2web.com/

In Japan the comedy boom just keeps on going. Almost every day you can see and listen to comedy programs on the TV and radio. There are various styles of Japanese comedy, but it can be said that rakugo, which is performed by only one person, is the most traditionally characteristic among them. In rakugo a storyteller sits on a mat on stage and tells a well-known funny story. No matter how many times they have already listened to the story, skilful storytellers can make the audience laugh.

Recently, however, manzai, where a pair of comedians engages in quick and witty dialogue, seems to be gaining popularity. In manzai there are two fundamental roles tsuk-komi (the straight man) who starts the story with a silly topic and boke (the funny man) who continues the story with unexpected twists and makes the audience laugh.

In recent years there have been many legendary duos such as Cont No. 55

and Yasushi&Kiyoshi. KITANO Takeshi, who is well-known around the world as a movie director and SHIMADA Shinsuke, who is a famous compare on Japanese TV, both used to be comedians during the comedy boom of the late 80s. These days Bakusho Mondai and Taka and Toshi are taking over their places as household names.

55

80

There are some contests that produce popular comic duos. The most well-known one among them is M-1 Grand Prix, an annual comedy contest in which both professionals and amateurs can participate. 4,239 duos participated in 2007. The final contest is held at the end of the year with nine finalists and is broadcasted on TV throughout Japan. The winning pair is not only awarded 10 million yen in prize money but will also become known to the whole country and can become very popular.

M

-12007

4,239

9

1

Endless Comedy Boom

Right: boke, TOMIZAWA TakeshiLeft: tsukkomi, DATE Mikio

OSHIMA Kimie who performs rakugo in English

T h e 2 0 0 7 w i n n e r w a s a n u n k n o w n p a i r n a m e d Sandwichman. They came through a consolation round and then won the competition. The pair them came up to Tokyo from Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) and were performing man-zai with little success, and therefore struggled to get gigs. However, soon after their victory, their life changed and their schedule was filled three months ahead. This is just a rags to riches story.2007

3

Besides manzai there is a kind of comedy in which only one person performs a sketch. These comedians are called pin geinin and they make people laugh with original perfor-mances that includes singing, joke telling and visual humor, as well as appearing in female dress, SM costumes or even naked. Some of these performers become popular with chil-dren because of the unusual way they act. However, people soon get tired of them and their fame is short-lived. They are known as One shot performers.

SM

Photos courtesy of Tokyo Comedy Store (page 7)

P7

These comedy performances can be seen on TV and in comedy theaters. Since Japanese comedy is based on word play, it can be difficult for foreigners to understand it. However, these days English comedies for foreigners like

rakugo performed in English and performances by mainly for-eigners at Tokyo Comedy Store and other places are also popu-lar. In the future, globalization in the world of comedy might be developed, too.

English Rakugo

www.english-rakugo.com/Tokyo Comedy Store

www.tokyocomedy.com/

The World of GOLDEN EGGS, an American comic-like animation series, has become a topic of conversation since it was broadcasted on CS TV. Now the DVD is on sale and it has also been used for a NISSAN TV commercial. It looks as if it was created in America, but in fact a Japanese company, PLUS heads inc. is creating it.

CS

DVD

CM

It is the story of the people and animals living in a leg-endary town called Turkeys Hill that resembles a local American town. In each story the daily lives of unique charac-ters and turkeys described. More than 100 characters includ-ing Turkeys Hill residents appear in the series. Surprisingly, only two people provide the voices (except for guest voices).

100

2

Although the people on the screen speak Japanese, there are subtitles in English. There are lots of devices including gags, dances and a cooking class used to keep the audience from getting bored. Japanese variety programs often take advantage of Japanese subtitles in order to emphasize humor, so anima-tion with English subtitles feels fresh. It seems especially popular with people studying English.

The World of GOLDEN EGGS Relaxing Animation with English Subtitles

PLUS heads inc.

PLUS heads inc.

www.plusheads.com/

DVD on sale. Vol. 1 and 2 each 3,990 yen. Vol. 3 and 4 each 3,980 yen.

DVD

Vol. 1, 2

3,990

Vol. 3, 4

3,980

Recently, takeaway services are becoming more common and the number of people using takeouts is increasing. It is very convenient for people in this day and age as it saves time otherwise spent cooking. Delivery services like pizza are also convenient as you dont have to go out to eat.

In fact, this kind of delivery service has worked itself into the lives of many Japanese. In Japan this service is called demae (delivery), and many restaurants including noodle, ramen, sushi, and eel restaurants generally offer this service. Although not as common as in the past, delivery services are still often used.

No. 027

Meals Delivered to the Door

In western countries, delivery services are mainly for pizza and ethnic dishes. They are delivered packed in disposal containers such as paper boxes, just like those served by take away shops. However, in Japan many shops use the same dishes as those used in restaurants when delivering food, and then come back later to pick up the containers.

Food delivery services are essential for those who cant go out because of illness or injury. Of course, you can take advantage of them in the office, too. It can be said that food delivery is a splendidly convenient service when you are busy with meetings or when you dont feel like going out in the rain.

recently takeaway becomes common and at home taking back

(that) eat people also increased at home to cook it saves time

as for busy people in this days very convenient is further

convenience that go out (that) you dont have to pizza like

delivery service is

in fact this service since the past many Japanese

lives in has rooted in Japan this service demae

is called and noodle ramen sushi eel

such as restaurants at generally is offered

although not as common as in the past still delivery service often is used

in western countries delivery services mainly for pizza or ethnic

dishes are they served by takeaway shops just like paper such as

disposal containers in (that) put in the condition are delivered however

Japan in the case of dishes in a restaurant (that) used in the container served

are commonly delivered and containers later to pick up (they) come back

food delivery illness or injury by (who) cant go out for people

are essential of course also in the office (you) can use

food delivery when meeting in the rain going out

when you dont feel like or with working when you are busy splendidly

convenient service (is) it can be said that

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare introduced metabolic syndrome checkups to general health examina-tions in April 2008. The mandatory checkups will be given to approximately 56 million people aged between 40 and 74 who are enrolled in health insurance systems. The introduction of the checkups is aimed at preventing people from becom-ing victims of lifestyle-related illnesses such as strokes and heart disease. The checks are also expected to reduce medical expenses.

2008

4

40

74

5,600

The new health examination includes the measuring of waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar level and cholesterol level. Men with waist measurements of more than 85cm, and women with waist measurements of more than 90cm are cat-egorized as Care Required. In addition to this, those exceed-ing standard levels in any two of the measurements of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, are diagnosed as suffer-ing from metabolic syndrome.

85cm

90cm

2

At present opinion differs internationally on waist measure-ment standards. In the U.S.A. the standard level is 102cm for men and 88cm for women, while in Europe it is 94cm for men and 80cm for women. In China and Southern Asian countries it is 90cm for men and 80cm for women. Only Japan has a stricter standard level for men than for women when it comes to waist measurement.

102cm

88cm

94cm

80cm

90cm

80cm

Not Well-grounded Standard LevelThe 85-cm standard level for Japanese men is almost the

average waist measurement of middle aged people. If this standard level is used, some 20 million people will be poten-tial metabolic syndrome patients, that is, one in two men

10

An 85-cm Waist is a Danger Signal for Men!?85cm

MHLW by year April from

metabolic syndrome checkups was introduced years years of

health insurance system people enrolled in approximately million people

has become mandatory strokes and heart disease such as

life-style related illness to prevent is aimed and medical expenses

reducing also is expected

at present metabolic syndromes waist measurement standards internationally

differ in the U.S.A. standard level (is) (for) men

(for) women in Europe (for) men (for) women

in China Southern Asian (countries) (for) men (for) women

waist size standard (for) women than (for) men stricter

only Japan has

in health examination waist size navel around size blood pressure

blood sugar level cholesterol level are checked first with waist size

(for) men more than (for) women more than when becoming care required

is categorized in addition blood pressure blood sugar level cholesterol among

categories in standard levels those exceeding metabolic

syndrome as is diagnosed

and one in five women. However, one survey looking at the health checkup data of about 2,400 residents shows that those regarded as having metabolic syndrome to some extent can live longer.

85cm

2,000

2,400

Mr. OGUSHI Youichi, a professor of the medical depart-ment of Tokai University made a trial calculation based on the medical examination data of 50,000 people. According to his calculations, 94% of men and 83% of women will be found to have abnormal results under the current checkup system. In other words, there is a possibility that 60% of male and 50% of female examinees, which number about 30 million people, will be advised to go for further check-ups at medical facilities.

5

94

83

3,000

Under the current system height is not factored in, so the levels dont seem to be well-grounded. As a result, some peo-ple are even speculating the pharmaceutical companies have contrived with amicable politicians and bureaucrats to make half of the medical examinees become patients. In all cases, the medical expenses are likely to increase.

11

Audio Version Information

i

Pod

www.hiraganatimes.com/

English and Japanese are recorded in alternative order sen-tence by sentence. This means you will be able to understand them even without using a textbook.

Texts are recorded a little slower but still close to normal speak-ing speed, so they will be easy to listen to and will be ideal for those people wanting to learn Japanese and/or English.

You will be able to directly listen to recordings on your PC, or download them on your iPod and other mobile devices.

Features

Audio version is sold with annual magazine

or PDF version subscriptions. See page 39.

PDF

P39

Tokai University medical department of Ogushi Youichi professor examinees

50 thousand (people) of medical examination data based on made a trial calculation

the trial calculation according to mens womens

some abnormal (results) will be found in other words

the examinees among males 60% females 50% it occupies

about million people medical facilities check-ups will be advised

a possibility there is it is said

under the system each persons height is not factored in

to be well-grounded it doesnt seem as a result pharmaceutical companies

medical examinees half of to make (them) become patients amicable politicians

and bureaucrats with have contrived that some people are speculating

in all cases medical expenses are likely to increase

mens waist that Japanese standard level

middle aged people of the average almost the same is this standard level by

one in two men one in five women total about

million people metabolism or potential patients will be however about

residents of health check up date according to to some extent

having metabolic syndrome can live longer that result shows

In Japan, there is a school event called Sports Day. It is held at all schools from kindergarten to high school, and all students are obliged to take part. There are various events, including a sprint race, a relay race, a three-legged race, team work gymnastics, ball games, a mock cavalry battle, and a tug of war, and each student participates in some of these events.

It once used to be held in the fall, but these days many schools hold sports days in May, soon after the new term begins, because it promotes friendship among new classmates. Sports days are usually held on Sunday, so that students fam-ily members can see the results of their childrens effort.

5

On the day, students family members sit around the school ground and whenever their children appear in events parents start taking pictures or videos of them. During the lunch break the students enjoy a homemade lunch with family members. It just looks like a picnic.

Some parents say since there are students whose parents cant come due to work commitments, schools should stop parents having lunch together with their children and provide a school meal even on sports day. It seems the Japanese tradi-tion caring for the unfortunate still remains.

12

Why do the Winners at School Sports Day not Receive Awards?

by Hiragana Times editor-in-chief

in Japan Sports Day called school event there is

kindergarten from high school to at all schools (it) is held and all students

take part sprint race relay race a three-legged race

team work gymnastics ball games a mock cavalry battle a tug of war various events

there are and each student some of these events participates

once in the fall (it) used to be held but

through playing sports friendship among classmates it promotes

because these days new term begins soon after in May

(that) hold school there are many Sports day usually

on Sundays are held students family members also childrens

efforts of results can see it is because

on the day students family members around the school ground

sit down and their children appear whenever all at once

pictures or videos (parents) start taking during the lunch break students

homemade lunch with family members eat just

it looks like a picnic

The event that most families are interested in is the sprint race (50 ~ 100 meters) in which six or seven students com-pete. The parents enthusiastically cheer on their children. If children finish in the top places, their parents will be very pleased. I remember my daughter used to come last in these races during her elementary school years.

50 100

In my childhood, the students who finished in the top places were given an item like a notebook. However, schools nowa-days dont even honor the winner so the students who lose the race wont feel miserable.

1

However, observing my daughter, who didnt mind losing, I doubted that policy was good. Gradually, I have begun to think that it is better from an educational point of view for children to experience the joy of victory and sorrow of defeat when they are younger.

One day I told my opinion to Mr. S, a friend of mine who is a member of the education board. If the winners are awarded something, students might be encouraged and continue to make efforts to improve, I said. He strongly rejected my idea, saying No way. Giving awards is total nonsense.

S

He went on to explain, There is a big difference in physical strength depending on the date of birth among the students of the lower grades, and no matter how hard the students with less physical strength try, they can never win. The sprint race for lower grade students is something like a height competition in which it is impossible for the smaller children to take the lead. You can take it as a measuring event of physical strength for students. Japanese are really considerate, arent they?

13

he this way explains in the lower grades

date of birth depending on in physical strength there is a big difference

students with less physical strength no matter how hard they try

cant win for lower grade students sprint race

for the smaller children to take the lead (that) it is impossible height competition

it is something like in other words a measuring physical strength

as (you can) take it Japanese really (are) considerate arent they

some parents from due to work commitments parents cant come

students (that) are pity since with family members lunch

taking stopping on sports day even school meal (school) should (provide)

that there is an opinion the Japanese for the unlucky people

caring tradition still remains it seems

in my childhood in the top place when (students) finish like a notebook

item were given however these days

even if (you) become first place especially

(you) are not honored students who lost

wont feel miserable that it comes from consideration

however who didnt mind losing my daughter observing policy

for her was good I doubted

gradually I when they are younger joy of victory and sorrow of defeat

to experience from an educational point of view it is better

to think have begun

one day education board of a member friend of mine

Mr. S to my opinion I told students who won

if they are awarded students

might make efforts I said then he

giving awards is total nonsense saying strongly

he rejected

most families interest students with (that) compete sprint

meters meters race is the parents

on their children enthusiastically cheer in the top places if (they) finish

their parents will be very pleased I remember my daughter

during her elementary school years used to come last

In the latter half of the 18th century a series of poor har-vests led to a major famine in Japan. It was said that its vic-tims numbered approximately 1.4 million people. Thousands of homeless came into Edo (present-day Tokyo) from local regions in order to find work. However, there were almost no jobs available. Being driven into a corner, some began attacking Edos wealthy rice wholesale dealers and merchant houses. Public security in Edo was declining.

18

140

Under these circumstances, in 1787 HASEGAWA Heizo (1746 ~ 1795), a Shogunate officer was assigned to arrest vicious criminals in Edo such as robbers, murderers and arsonists. Heizo was born in a high-class samurai family and when he was young, he spent his life gambling, chasing women and drinking. Thanks to that, he had a great deal of knowledge about Edo and had also built up personal networks in various fields. As a result, he produced great results and was feared by Edos criminals, who knew him as the devil Heizo.

1787

1746 1795

14

Devil Inspector who Solved a Homeless Issue

HASEGAWA Heizo

Onihei Hankacho DVD series No. 1 of Vol. 1Sold by Shochiku Co., Ltd.

3,990 yen

1

1

3,990

DVD

18th century of in the latter half Japan poor harvests continued and

worst famine by was attacked its victims

million people numbered it was said that Edo present-day Tokyo to

local regions from work to find thousands of homeless

came in however Edo in jobs

(there were) almost no for living (who) were driven into a corner

among them wealthy rice wholesale dealers and merchant houses

(who) attack there were some in Edo public security was declining

under these circumstances year Shogunate officer HASEGAWA Heizo

robbers murderers arsonists such as vicious crimes

to arrest was assigned Heizo high-class samurai family in

was born and (he was) young when gambling chasing women drinking such as

too much playing life spent thanks to that Edo

knowledge (he had) a great deal of and various personal networks had

as a result in crackdown great results (he) produced and criminals

from the devil Heizo as was feared

However, in spite of his efforts, crime levels did not fall. Heizo thought about why people commit crimes. Then he concluded that crime would not diminish unless people could live their lives independently. Heizo provided work for those who were homeless or those who were not accepted back into society after serving time in jail, and he asked the Shogunate to set up a work-skill training institute where they could learn suitable work skills.

Human Character Loved by all GenerationsHis request was granted and a work-skill training institute

was built in Ishikawajima (near present-day Tsukuda Park in Chuo-ku, Tokyo). Heizo had difficulties with financing as the budget was not sufficient. However, he succeeded in inspiring the trainees to work hard and obtained excellent results. Every year about 200 trainees completed their training course. For the trainees future, Heizo saved the money that they earned while training and paid it to them after they left the institute. All thanked Heizo. Crime in Edo decreased rapidly, and pub-lic security was restored.

200

15

In the Meiji era, a century after Heizo died, the Meiji government was forced to establish an unfair treaty, which approved extraterritorial rights with western countries. Such countries considered the punishment for criminals in Japan to be too heavy. Therefore, it was impossible in Japan to punish western criminals for crimes committed in Japan. The gov-ernment negotiated with these countries to revise the treaty. When they mentioned the work-skill training institute set up by Heizo as an example of the treatment of criminals, it played an important role in having the treaty revised.

The nove l On ihe i Hanka Cho (Dev i l He izo s Investigation Note) by IKENAMI Shotaro, in which Heizos challenges are described, became a best-seller. It was broad-cast on TV as a drama series and made into movies, and was even performed on the stage and became a comic book. Heizo carried out his strong intention to never permit evil, while remaining sympathetic to the arrested thieves who he treated in a fatherly way. This warm-hearted image of Heizo has been loved through generations.

however Heizos efforts in spite of crimes

did not fall Heizo crimes why break out thought

then (he) makes them to live their live independently unless crimes

would not diminish that conclusion (he) reached Heizo homeless and

after serving time in jail even (who) were not accepted to those work

provided and the persons suitable work skills

(where they) could learn training institute to set up the Shogunate (he) asked

its desire was approved and Ishikawajima present-day Tokyo Chuo-ku

Tsukuda Park near in (it) was built training institute budget

was not sufficient and Heizo financing had difficulties with however

their motivation inspiring and excellent results (he) obtained

every year people about completed the course Heizo for living

not having difficulties while they were training (that) earned money saved

after (they) left the institute paid all Heizo thanked

Edo crimes rapidly decreased and public security was restored

after Heizo died a century later (in) the Meiji era government

western countries from extraterritorial rights approving unfair treaty

was forced to conclude for criminals punishment (was) too heavy that

it is due to reason in Japan westerners crime even committed

in Japan (Japanese) could not give verdict government its

unfair treaty revision negotiated at that time

criminals for treatment of an example as Heizo

set up work-skill training institute mentioned (that) and for revision

it played an important role

Heizos challenges (that) described novel Devil Heizo Investigation Note

Ikenami Shotaro written by best-seller became TV (drama)

series and made into movies furthermore theater drama and

comic book (they) became to never permit evil strong intention carrying out

while arrested thieves to sympathy remaining

father way like (he) treated warm-hearted Heizo

through generations people from has been loved

16

When promoting a product, it can be said that there will be many more opportunities to directly meet executives to pitch products in western countries than in Japan. Staff will then be assigned to finalize any agreement. This is the top-down system. However, the way of promoting things in Japan is quite different.

Suppose that you are going to promote a service to compa-ny A. In general, a low-ranking staff member will take care of you at first. If this staff member thinks your service is useful, he or she will recommend it to his or her supervisor and then, if the supervisor thinks it is worthwhile, he in turn will advise his executive about it.

A

A

After this, they will have a conference and a decision will usually be made not only by the executives but also with the staff involved. Since everyone participates in the decision-making process, it is rare that somebody is blamed for intro-ducing your service even if your service is not useful. This is the typical Japanese system of decision-making.

On the other hand, if they think that the service your com-pany is providing might not be useful for them, the person in charge will not express his or her opinions, and he or she will often say We will try to study it, leaving you with some expectation of making a deal. In general, the Japanese wont say No on the spot. In order to understand what they are really thinking, experience is required.

N

o

It Takes Time to Do Business with Japanese Companies

product promoting when western countries in executives directly

(that) meet and explain opportunities Japan than (are) many more

it can be said and staff are assigned and (that) agreed

contents (they) finalize so-called top-down (it) is

however Japan in promoting ways is different

after this meeting having executives not only, but also staff involved of

on acceptance decision will be made usually in what is accepted

everyone in the decision making process participates since your

service is not useful even if introducing for

somebody is blamed that it is rare Japanese

decision making typical this is

suppose you a service company A to promote

are going to in general company A of low ranking positions staff

will take care of (you) this staff your service (is) useful

that if thinks supervisor to (he/she) will recommend then

supervisor the worth if recognizes executive (he) advises on the other hand your proposed service is not useful

hat if (they) think person in charge clear opinion will avoid and (we) will study it

saying (that) leaves (you) expectation replay often in general

Japanese on the spot clearly do not say

how they are thinking in order to understand experience

is required

Japan Living Familiarization One Week Tokyo Program

Japan Living Know-how and Basic Japanese will be Taught While Exploring Tokyo.

This unique program offers an opportunity for those including expa-triates and their families, foreign stu-dents newly arrived in Japan or those who wish to practice Japanese they have already studied, to put into prac-tice must-know information about daily living including that about trans-portation, food and shopping.

1

Japan Living Minimum Japanese text (with audio) provided

Tokyo Hot Spot Explorer map and Recommended Menu guide provided

On-the-spot Familiarization Lesson including Japanese practice

Japan Living Advisory Lessons (essential knowledge for living in Japan)

You will visit a Japanese home and learn Japanese cooking

You can enjoy chatting in Japanese with friendly Japanese conversation partners

Opportunity to meet Japanese and people from around the world

Spots only locals visit included in the program

Explore Tokyo by yourself after the lessons

Whenever you require assistance, you can call our support line

Flexible program and operated year round

Features

Details will be available at

www.japanliving.jp

18

Recently a mobile phone Web site called Mobage is gaining in popularity. Since it appeared in 2006, its subscribers have grown to number more than 10 mil-lion and numbers still continue to increase. The provider of the service is DeNA Co., Ltd. (CEO, NAMBA Tomoko).

2006

2

1,000

At the time they set up the new company, they were run-ning an Internet auction and shopping site called Bidders. Based on the skills they cultivated there, they opened an auction site called Mobaoku (Mobile Auction) for mobile phones in 2004, and a year later they listed their stock on the TSE Mothers Index.

1999

2004

2005

Noticing that people were inter-ested in gaming sites, they launched their own gaming site Mobage-

Town (Mobile Game Town) in 2006. This is a site where people can enjoy good qual-ity games free of charge. They made it possible to play for free by making profit through a result-reward system. At Mobage-Town you can enjoy more than 150 games rang-ing from easily playable mini games to real-time fighting games.

150

Mobage-Town also has the same func-tions as those of SNS (Social Networking Service) and Weblogs. It has spread explosively among junior and high school students by word of mouth and the num-ber of users in their 20s and 30s has also increased after it was advertised on TV in 2007.

Growing Company

DeNA Co., Ltd.

Rapidly Growing with the Needs of Mobile Phone Users

CEONAMBA Tomoko

19

SNS

2007

CM 20 30

Mr. TANAKA Satoshi, the person in charge of advertise-ment says about its popularity, People use it because it is fun and useful. We are most pleased when we hear users say its lots of fun. We also receive many requests from them. Our CEO, Ms. Namba always tells us to work for the users instead of the company.

As user numbers continue to increase rapidly, the system engineers are busy increasing server capacity. However, there are some disruptive users who leave abusive comments on the site. DeNA is making efforts to prevent such troubles by increasing the number of site moderators from 100 to 350.

DeNA

100

350

According to business results as of March 2008, p ro f i t s fo r f i s ca l 2007 reached 29 bi l l ion yen, double that of the previous year. While they are improv-ing their current services, they are also seeking to cre-ate new sources of revenue. They are supplying nearly 20 services, including SNS sites for the middle-aged and seniors, online hobby c lubs and Everyone s Wedding in which people can exchange wedding information.

2008

3

290

2

SNS

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Overseas they entered the Chinese market, which has 500

mi l l ion mobi le p h o n e u s e r s . T h e y a d a p t e d Mobage-Town f o r C h i n e s e use rs to make it easier to use, and s ta r ted the service in 2007. Additionally, in the U.S.A. they set up a subsidiary company and at present are conducting market research. By 2008 they are planning to start the service in English-speaking countries.

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2007

2008

DeNA is contributing to Afan Wood (The C.W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust) in order to enrich Japans woodland. Since its foundation, the companys policy has been to provide good services for its customers which also benefit society. Even when they were in the red, they used to hold events for people to enjoy recycling and reusing like fashion shows and flea

m a r k e t s a f e w times a year, and donated profits f r o m t h e m t o Afan Wood. In addition, the staff actually go to the wood in Nagano Prefecture where they work hard to revive it.

DeNA

C.W.

2 3

DeNA Co., Ltd.

dena.jp

DeNA staff at Afan Wood

DeNA

What with the different language, different culture and often no family or friends to turn to for sup-port, moving to Japan can be a daunting prospect. Thanks to the people at Welcome Furoshiki, however, it neednt be. Welcome Furoshiki is a non-profit community service that provides new foreign residents to Japan in the Tokyo-Yokohama and Osaka-Kobe metropolitan areas with essential information for making the most of their new surroundings.

It does this by sending representatives to visit newcomers at their home or office and presenting them with a colorful blue and white furoshiki (a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth) filled with helpful material such as maps, earthquake preparedness information, newspapers, medical and church information, and a variety of brochures and flyers provided by Welcome Furoshikis numerous sponsors.

Welcome Furoshiki was founded in 1983 by Oak Associates president Charlotte KENNEDY-TAKAHASHI, who came to

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Welcome Furoshiki 25 Years Serving Newcomers to Japan

Welcome Furoshiki

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Welcome Furoshiki

www.welcomefuroshiki.org/

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Japan in 1978 when the foreign community was far less devel-oped than it is today. Back then she found that not only was there limited information available on living in Japan, but that also many business professionals, embassy personnel, mili-tary, missionaries and teachers were isolated from each other and did not feel part of the international or Japanese commu-nities.

1983

1978

The organization she would build together with first director Tina PINNELL to help rec-tify that situation has since welcomed some 15,000 newcomers to Japan with the help of a diverse group of volunteer representatives.

15,000

Representatives are ex-pats of various nationalities and language capabilities, who understand what it is like to live in a new country, Welcome Furoshikis Director of Sponsors and Public Relations Michelle MAY says. Other representatives are Japanese who also have had international experiences that enable them to understand the needs of newcomers. Having been in the same boat as new-comers and with ample experience living in Japan, Welcome Furoshikis representatives can answer most questions a new-comer may have about Japan and their community.

After providing a welcome to families of the interna-tional community for 25 years, what does the next 25 years hold for Welcome Furoshiki? Speaking at an evening of Japanese culture at the International House of Japan in Roppongi to com-memorate their 25th anniversary and to say thank you to the sponsor companies and the 300 or so representatives who have made the organization a success over the years, the message from Kennedy-Takahashi was simple. We just want to be there. Given their track record, you can expect them to be just that.

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We offer information about part-time and contract jobs, as well as new employment opportunities.

www.hiraganatimes.comJobs in Japan

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A pen-style electronic dictionary that can scan and under-stand kanji is now on sale for the first time. This is a unique electronic dictionary with a built-in scanner, OCR software and dictionary database. It can read all kinds of printed mate-rial including newspapers, magazines, books and catalogs. You just have to move the pen tip over a kanji.

OCR

It has three functions: English-Japanese dictionary, Japanese-English dictionary and Japanese dictionary. With a normal paper dictionary or electronic dictionary it can take 6 to 10 seconds to find the meaning of a word, but with the pen dictionary it takes just two seconds. In addition, it can memo-rize words (up to 80) and can be used anywhere.

With the Beij ing Olympic Games and Shanghai Exposition near at hand, interest in China is growing and over the last few years Chinese artists have been gaining popularity.

@Gallery TAGBOAT is selling contemporary art in coop-eration with a gallery that trades art, and handles various works ranging from those of leading contemporary artists to those of promising young artists. They are trying to make it easy for art novices to purchase art.

Hot Products

@Gallery TAGBOAT Tel: 03-5412-8616www.tagboat.com/

Quicktionary 2 Kanji Reader 2

Open (Expected to be around 30,000 yen)

30,000

Japan 21 Inc.

Tel: 03-5456-8507www.scanpen.jp

Chinese Art Drawing More Attention

6 10

2

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Pen-style Electronic Dictionary with Scanner Now on Sale

Big Family ZHANG Xiaogang Room with Cloud No.5 GUO Wei

Coca Cola XUE SongGreat Criticism-Coca Cola WANG Guangyi

23

As the beautiful woman comes on to the stage, clap-ping and shouting rise from the audience as they are drawn to the womans elegance. But things are not what they seem as this beautiful woman is actually a man MATSUI Makoto, a leading actor in commercial theater who plays female roles.

People in Japan

People in Japan

Matsuis performance consists of two parts: a human drama and a dazzling entertainment show. He plays male roles, but when he plays female roles he becomes more ladylike than ordinary women, giving off a womans natural allure and sul-triness. Many repeat customers come to see his performances since they have particularly fallen in love with his female roles.

MATSUI Makoto

MATSUI MakotoDancing Brilliantly, the Life of an Actor who Plays Female Roles

Matsui has become a successful theatrical actor, but he had to endure many hardships. He was born in the dressing room of a theater in Kyushu as a child of a touring theater company performing for the masses. Since he kept changing schools and was surrounded by adults all the time, he never had the chance to go out and play with friends of his own age.

Hating the surroundings he had back then, and wanting to get out of them, he left home and headed for Tokyo alone on the night he graduated from junior high school. However, the place he was told by an acquaintance to visit to be taken care of was the office of a yakuza (mafia) group. Even though he was only 15 years old, he could distinguish what was right and wrong when he got there. He told them why he was there, and was later introduced to another job. That job was to be a host in Shinjuku.

15

Knowing nothing about anything, I almost became a yakuza member. Compared with that, being a host was much better, Matsui recalls. Drinking too much alcohol and provid-ing company to female customers at the age of just 15, he got a stomach ulcer and a duodenal ulcer, and had surgery a few months after he started working as a host. His parents did not come to visit their runaway son.

15

Getting back on his feet without anyone elses support, Matsui went back to his hosting job. I decided to start over and said to myself, I will just do it, Matsui says remembering those days. He worked hard hosting women who came to him to get away from loneliness. Matsui grew to be one of the top hosts at the club where he worked while experiencing con-flicts with other hosts over securing customers, complicated relationships with customers, risky situations and managing to clear a number of battlefields.

At one time, he was taken by a customer to see the play Fiddler on The Roof and was shocked to see such a sophisti-cated large-scale performance. It was entirely different from t h e p l a y s h e h a d e x p e r i e n c e d b a c k in Kyushu. This is what I want to do! he thought, and the actor in him stirred. With his mind made up, Matsui quit his hosting job, took out a loan and started a the-ater company on his own at the age of 25 with just 3 members.

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People in Japan

People in Japan

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3

Matsui learnt dance basics, how to wear kimono and do stage make-up, and the ABCs of touring, all by himself and in his own way. Ideas of choreography and design flowed out of his head. The most difficult part, however, was to draw audiences. He went around the country, visiting tour hotels, inns and city halls to introduce his theater company and plays. He had some bitter experiences such as being conned out of money by someone he trusted, but his hard work gradually paid off and Matsui started to get more opportunities to per-form in theaters.

Since the members of his group were students and not professionals, Matsui was perfectly aware that the audience came to the theater for Matsui, the leader of the company. He performed day after day, practicing and preparing night after night for the next day, working tirelessly. He has no master he dragged himself out of an abyss even though it has not been easy to keep on going all on his own.

After he started his own theater company, he got married and had children. With theater management, practicing for

plays, taking care of his family, and paying off debts among other things, so many burdens sat on his shoulder. T h a t w a s w h e n he was around 30 years old. It was the hardest time for me, troubled with human re la t ion-ships and work, Matsui says. But those experiences I had back then and when I was a host

have made the basis of my career. After going through all that, a whole new me who had overcome everything was made.

30

Looking at theaters losing ground to TV and movies, Matsui says, We have to keep the theaters alive. I would like to live up to the audiences expectation as long as I am want-ed. I also want to establish female roles that are not played in kabuki, or new schools. He gives off a strong yet sophisticat-ed aura that only a self-made actor who takes to the big stage can give.

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MATSUI Makoto s 2008 tour schedule is updated on his website 2008

MATSUI Makoto s website

www.makotooffice.com/

26

CIA: Why would conflicts decrease by holding the Olympic Games annually?Rep.: As you know, in ancient times they stopped fight-ing during the Olympic Games and also during the build up to them. Even in present-day conflicts they sometimes stop fighting during Christmas time. People can stop fighting as long as they have an incentive to. If the Olympic Games are held every year, cease-fires may be extended and peace time can be maintained. This is the reversal idea.CIA

CIA: Can we expect the modern Olympic Games to control conflicts?Rep.: Recently rioting broke out in Tibet, but the Chinese government announced that Tibet rioted in order to get in the way of the Olympic Games. If this were an ordinary time, the Chinese government would have sent their military out and forcefully quelled the riot as they had done in Tiananmen Square. However, since China is the host country for the 2008 Olympic Games, they must be gentle with the rioters. If they

by Hiragana Times CIA

!?

There is no end to conflict in the world. However, the NPO Citizens World Peace Conference has written a report saying the Olympic Games should be held every year in order to help achieve world peace. Next month they are going to announce it formally, but Hiragana Times CIA interviewed Mr. OHIRA Kazuhira, a representative of the association ahead of the announcement.

NPO

Hiragana Times CIA

The Holding of the Olympic Games Annually will Bring Peace to the World!?

27

had sent out the military, there would have been the possibility of many countries boycotting the Olympic Games just as they did in the Moscow Olympic Games. In fact, France and some other countries mentioned the possibility of boycotting the opening ceremony. CIA

2008

CIA: As an enormous amount of money is needed to hold the Olympic Games, there must be many countries who dont want to host it. Furthermore, if it were to be held every year, wouldnt it be difficult to find host countries?Rep.: The Games used to impose a great burden on the host country and city, so there were many people who opposed it. However, that changed with the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Mr. Peter UBERROTH, the chairman of the Olympic Games Committee, had great success in obtaining enormous sums from sponsorship deals by setting limits to one sponsor per business field. The Olympic Games, which used to be a mon-ey-losing event, became a huge money spinner.CIA

1

1

CIA: The idea sounds good, but is there any problem with it?Rep.: Of course, there is. Human beings are greedy animals. If they learn that they can make money through the Olympic Games, there would be a possibility of the Olympic Games becoming another cause of conflict over the benefits involved. In that case, the conflict would continue it would be endless.CIA

Comment from CIA CIA

Why do people like to fight? Japan fought against the U.S.A and now they have a good relationship as if nothing had hap-pened. As they can be friends this easily, they didnt need millions to die. So, from now on, to avoid innocent people being victimized why dont we decide the winner of an inter-national conflict in an event at the Olympic Games? How about deciding the winner by throwing a javelin or shot put-ting, events which resemble war?

CIACynically Insulting Agency

J

ames

28

Shampa from Bangladesh was a student in Tokyo when she first met her husband at a foreign food shop in Ueno where Hayato was working one day in 2003. He asked her a question in Bengali and she was astonished. Wow! A Japanese person can speak my language! she thought. As fate would have it, they were living nearby one another, so he began to help her with things like calling home.

2003

The two hit it off quickly and enjoyed going out around Tokyo, a completely new experience for Shampa. There are so many places to go out here, and you can be out all night long! I was so surprised, coming from Bangladesh where at night everything is pitch black except for the train station.

When Hayato proposed, Shampa accepted right away. But

when she called her family to tell them, they were against it. They asked me What? Are you sure? Youre really getting married to a Japanese man? And I told them, yes, Im sure, dont worry. Her uncle, the person who helped her come to Japan, also gave her grief over her decision. He had often told me, Dont get married here.

Shampa and Hayato

If you would like to be featured in this section, please contact us. editor@hiraganatimes.com

editor@hiraganatimes.com

You Speak Bengali!?

In the meantime, life in Japan presented its own chal-lenges. As much as the couple enjoyed going out, they found it extremely difficult to choose restaurants. Shampa is Hindu, and was concerned about eating at establishments that served beef. We often went into a restaurant only to leave again. We were always eating ramen, Hayato recalls.

The couple married in 2004 and their daughter Tomoha was born soon after. They decided to wait until she was a little older to travel back to Bangladesh. When they returned to Shampas home town for the first time in 2007, the familys criticism had disap-peared and they were joyous to meet her daughter.

2004

2007

They now live in Hayatos hometown of Sabae City in Fukui Prefecture. Aside from not being able to drive, Shampa says she enjoys life in rural Japan. At first I wondered how

29

people in this area would react to foreigners, but everyone has been kind and people often talk to me.

S h a p l a , t h e Asian food and g i f t s t o r e t h e couple runs, has become its own small international communi ty and they have made

friends from all around the world. Neither of them thought they would end up married to someone from another country, but the way they smile as little Tomoha plays in their store shows how much they are enjoying it. Of being in an international couple, Hayato reflects, Your world widens Its kind of exciting. Being Japanese and marrying another Japanese person everything is just ordinary.

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30

Scenes of Japan Photo Gallery

Hydrangea blessing God. Photographer: NORIGOE Takane

Photographer: OJ Kuma

OJ

Go away!

Don't come to me!

Don't bite there!

Einfo@

hiraganatimes.com

Taken at Chaguchagu Umako Festival in Iwate Prefecture. Horses take the leading roll. Photographer: Hanbee

In this section, we display photos t h a t s h o w c o n -temporary Japan. P h o t o s i n c l u d e images of Japanese scenery, people and other facets of Japan. Please send any photos you would like to be considered for publishing in this section by mail or e-mail (info@hira-ganatimes.com). N o t e t h a t y o u r photos will not be returned.

Shrine weddings have become popular again. At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Photographer: Hanbee

We are cool, aren t we? Photographer: Rob GOSS

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is boiled with water and you drink only the liquid near the top. Although it might be strong, why dont you try it?

Visit our international shopping portal for trouble-free, multilingual online shopping.

From International

From Japan Special

INTER FOOD

Charcoal Art Object

50cm

This is an art object made in Kishu using charcoal. It is 50cm wide and very impressive. The Manome Oak root is dug out, burnt in a furnace and then made into a splendid object.

33

Does anyone in the LDP ever think before they go on the record? Given the recent hash the Foreign Ministry made of floating the possibility of requiring foreign residents to have Japanese proficiency, it appears not.

?

At a January 15th (2008) press conference, Foreign Minister KOUMURA Masahiko announced the government was planning to begin discussions into the possibility of intro-ducing Japanese-language requirements for long-term resi-dents. Koumura gave no indication of when the talks would begin, which long-term residents might be affected or what levels of Japanese proficiency would potentially be required. The press conference was seemingly pointless given its lack of substance, and served only to fuel speculation that the for-eign community is about to get another dose of Japans lack of hospitality.

2008

1

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As yet, it is impossible to tell yet whether this requirement is being designed to make visa applications easier for those with high Japanese proficiency or if its another attempt by an out-of-touch ruling party to protect Japan from the foreign hordes at a time when ironically the Japanese economy is desperate for manpower.

In defense of the possible requirement, an official from the Foreign Ministry speaking on condition of anonymity was quoted by the Japan Times as saying the potential requirement is not about placing new restrictions by imposing a language-ability requirement. However, considering the governments poor track record when it comes to dealing with non-Japanese residents, many fear it will be exclusionary, or even worse, a case of some long-term residents being told to master the lan-guage or be forced to leave the country.

Japanese Proficiency Required for Visa!?

To compound matters, the Japanese government has been

actively complaining about the U.K.s plans to introduce similar requirements, with the Japanese Embassy in London expressing serious concerns and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the U.K. warning that any such measures would have a profoundly negative impact on Japanese companies in the U.K. It seems Japan expects there to be one rule for Japan and another for the rest of the world.

34

Does the Government Really Welcome gaijin?

Despite the reputation the Japanese have for being hospita-ble to visitors, Japan is not very friendly when those guests choose to remain. No matter how well non-Japanese speak, read and write Japanese, they will never be accepted as part of Japanese society unless Japan changes it perception of gai-jin. And in the currently growing anti-foreigner climate that kind of change seems unlikely.

Language ability alone will not suddenly give non-Japanese residents the protection of an anti-racial discrimination law, because Japan has no such protections in place for a group that accounts for nearly 2 percent of its population. That leaves landlords to continue to refuse to rent to outsiders and businesses to continue to put up Japanese only signs without falling foul of the law or public condemnation. It is also unlikely that language fluency will stop the National Police Agencys campaign of randomly stopping and grilling non-Japanese without the suspicion of a crime.

Fluency has its drawbacks, too. Without it, non-Japanese might be able to remain blissfully unaware of the inaccurate reporting in Japans media that has blamed them for rising crime rates and previously labeled them as spreaders of HIV-AIDS among other false accusations. Without being able to understand the language non-Japanese could also be oblivious to those uncomfortable and not uncommon situations on trains and in restaurants when Japanese talk about the gaijin in their midst.

Hopefully any language requirements will be introduced with good intent and will somehow prove to be a step towards Japan finally recognizing the rights of other cultures to exist on an equal footing. Given the choice of learning the language or choosing a more welcoming society, however, many cur-rent and potential residents from overseas will probably go elsewhere. Perhaps that is what the LDP and its supporters are hoping for.

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I am from the U.K. and my visa status is Specialist in Humanities/International Services. At present I am teach-ing English, but I am hoping to provide Japanese with a casual place where they can enjoy speaking English freely. Please advise me about what I should do in order to open an English pub and employ a few native English speakers as staff.

It is necessary for you to change your present visa status to that of investor/business manager. In general, the following is the process you should

follow. First you should prepare to set up a com-pany while also starting to prepare to open the pub.

You should also apply to change your visa status and after that has been permitted, you can open the pub.

In order to obtain an investor/business manager visa, you have to invest an adequate amount of money in your new business. With regard to having an office, you are required to prepare a pub space and an office space. As for hiring native English speaking staff, you should employ those who hold a permanent resident, Japanese spouse or Japanese resident visa.

2

Immigration LawyerOverseas Law Firm Training in the U.K. and Germany for two years

Office: 3-15-14-302 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

2

3-15-14-302TEL: 03-3985-4661FAX: 03-3985-4662

E-mail: kurokawa-office@mbg.nifty.com www.kurokawa-office.com

I Want to Open a British Pub

KUROKAWA Koji

Furthermore, please obtain permission to do business from a public health center. If you want to open the pub after mid-night, you should be aware that you need to report the opening of the pub to the local police station in accordance with the regulations for providing liquor at midnight.

37

HIRA-TAI Forum

Do You Want the President's Business Card?

Text: SUZUKI Kazuya (Japan)

At the entrance of my company, a sheet of paper which reads Do not enter without permission is posted. However, many sales people come to our office and say things like, We offer office coffee service, Dont you need temporary staff?, Why dont you replace your copy machine with a new model and so on.

Many of them, seem to be young people who have just graduated. As they often use funny honorific words, I can hardly stop laughing sometimes. Even if I tell them it is not needed or the person in charge is out of the office, I have been asked over the years by many of them Then please give me your business card?. My card must be given as proof of their sales calls to their superior.

I understand how hard it is to visit company after company,

b u t i t i s a nuisance for u s who a re forced to take part in their staff training. W h e n t h e y come to see u s d u r i n g busy t imes, I really wish they would g o a w a y . T h o u g h I e x c h a n g e b u s i n e s s c a r d s w i t h them, I feel strange giving my business card to someone I do not want to be friendly with.

Since they badly want business cards, my colleagues and I jokingly say, Lets put our business cards at the entrance and place a sheet of paper which reads Please take our business cards freely? Another option was Please ask us if you want business cards of people in higher positions; section chiefs 300 yen, department managers 500 yen and presidents 1,000 yen. This may be a good business.

300

500

1,000

38

What things do you like about Japan?

What things do you dislike about Japan?

The Customer is GodBeing treated like a deity whenever I

whip out my wallet. The service in restau-rants and stores is simply incomparable with the treatment I would get back home, where the customer is often viewed as a necessary evil. Overall, I appreciate how thoughtful and polite the society is towards others.

Name: Stephanie-ann POSTULONationality: CanadaJob: English teacherStay in Japan: 7 months

7

Japanese CultureI like finding vending machines with

flashy commercials down dark, winding streets. I like to see people bowing profuse-ly while talking on their cell phone. I enjoy the little things that make me think only in Japan.

Perpetual Construction at 4 a.m.

(Editorial Note) In Japan, construction on roads and railways is often carried out dur-ing the night to avoid disrupting services.

4

Japan Online School Corporation - Since 2004TEL: 0467-58-8710 MAIL: info@j-os.com

You will find the reason why so many people from more than 25

countries choose J-OS.

Japans View of Immigration DistressingWhile my country of origin is no stranger

to anti-immigration sentiments, I find the refusal on the part of most Japanese to rec-ognize the merits of immigration distress-ing. A shortage of workers, a society that grows steadily grayer... all of these prob-lems could be addressed by allowing more foreigners to enter the country.

Name: Benjamin WILLEYNationality: U.S.A.Job: IR Coordinator Stay in Japan: 5 years

IR

5

39

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In the middle of todays comedy boom, comedians have even been having suc-cess as writers. The book Homeless Junior High School Students written by TAMURA Hiroshi, one of the comedy duo

Kirin, about his experiences, became a best seller with over 2 million copies. Gabai Grandmother in Saga Prefecture, by SHIMADA Yoshichi, one half of the comedy duo B&B, and based on his real life also became a best seller, selling over 4 million copies.

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B&B

400

In April, Hiragana Times held its first party in Kyoto and about 40 people attended. We would especially like to thank the many members of Kyoto Romaji-kai who took part in the event. For Kyoto, we are currently looking for a foreign party volunteer. If you are interested in helping, please contact us.

4

Hiragana Times Party

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Insight into Japan will evolve further from the next issue. The articles will be described so that begin-ner-level students of Japanese can understand them more easily.

From the Editorial Desk

From the Editorial Desk

Editorial Note

The unauthorized reproduction, photocopying or copying of articles or photographs appearing in this magazine is strictly prohibited.Please keep in mind that articles printed in Hiragana Times may be published without notice in PDF format, on the Hiragana Times website, in other media related to Hiragana Times and possibly by third party media approved by Hiragana Times.PDF Web Hiragana Times Hiragana Times Publisher & Editor: HASEGAWA KatsuyukiAssistant Editors: Rob GOSS, SHIBASAKI AkemiIllustrations: YOSHIDA ShinkoDTP: NAKADA Natsuko

Insight into Japan Audio Series Now on Sale!

Insight into Japan section pages published between April 2005 and September 2007 are now packaged in a new audio ver-sion series (5 titles). Each title contains 3 parts and each part con-tains 6 articles and costs 630 yen.

For details or to order: www.febe.jp/hiraganatimes/Hiragana Times 2005

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Audio version titles

Japanese Perspectives

Close up Japan Tips for Living in Japan

Japanese History Makers

Tips for Learning Japanese

Special Service for Subscribers

For new and renewing subscribers: Receive one of your favorite title sets (three parts) for free.For existing subscribers: Whenever you introduce a new subscriber, you will receive one of your favorite title sets (three parts) for free. The above offer also applies to the subscribers you introduce. *Your name will be entered into the subscription order form by the subscribers you introduce.

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41

JAPAN QUIZAnswers: May issue 5

1.

It is used to stop crows from pecking the gabage bags

2.

It is said the cat attracts many customers.

Chindougu Series(Weird Gadgets)

Th

e More you Use it, the More Inconvenient it Becomes!

This hair dryer is ideal when you dont have much time in the morning. Whenever you take a step, air is sucked in through the soles and sent through tubes toward your head.

Gentle on the Environment

If the wind is blowing, this charger can give your phone up to 24 hours of charge time.

24

A Portable Wind-powered Battery Charger

Dry Your Hair While Walking

Japan Chindougu Society

www.chindogu.net/

You will see these in cities.

JAPAN QUIZ

Why are those plastic bottles by the entrance of the house?

What is th is tall chimney in the town?

1 2

Since the September 2007 "Cover Story" was so popular, we will introduce more Chindougu here.

2007

9

Party held twice a month.

2

Osaka

www.hiraganatimes.com

TokyoEvery Friday at Shinjuku

No reservation needed

For details

Kyoto HiraganaTimes International Party Opening!

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5

23

6

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1900 2100

ATC

6F

B

5

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1930 2130

1F

Osaka "A"Day: May 23, June 27, FridayTime: 19:00~21:00Location: ATC (Asia and Pacific Trade Center), 6F Mare PlazaOsaka "B"Day: May 3, May 10, June 7, June 14, SaturdayTime: 19:30~21:30Location: Viale Osaka, 1F Lounge "Fontana"

Oike DoriKyoto Shiyakusho-mae Sta.

Sanjo-Keihan Sta.

B1

Exit 1

KawaramachiDori St.

KiyamachiDori St.

Oike Dori

Kyoto Hotel Okura

Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Sta.

Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa

Anekoji Dori St.

Sanjo Dori St.Matsuya Kamo River

Sanjo-Keihan Sta.

The Empire Bldg., B1FModern Times

Kyoto City Hall

TeramachiDori St.

Tozai Line

June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th, 19:00 ~22:00Admission fee: 1,000 yen (One drink will be offered for those with reservations).Drinks and food are all 500 yen.

6

5

7

3

8

7

19:00 22:00

1,000

500

Location and reservation: Modern TimesThe Empire Bldg., B1F, Sanjo agaru, Kiya-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto

B1

Tel: 075-212-8385www.mtimes.jp/

On the evening of the first Thursday of the month.

1.

1

34

5

3cm

1cm

2.

A

1

a

3. 2

b

c

600W25

4.

1

34

43

1. Peel the potatoes, cut each into 3 or 4 pieces, and soak in water for 5 minutes. Cut the beef into pieces 3cm long. Cut the ginger into julienne strips. Cut the onion into wedges 1cm thick.

2. Combine the soy sauce, sake, sugar, water, and vegetable oil (A) in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the beef and the fresh ginger, spreading them out over the bowl. Add the potatoes and the onions, covering the other ingredients with them (a).

3. Make a drop-lid by placing a silicone baking sheet the same size as the bowl in Step 2 directly on top of the ingredients, and weighting it with a small dish (b). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, leaving the sides open a little (c), and heat in the micro-wave at 600W for 25 minutes.

4. Place in a large serving bowl. Cut each snow pea into 3 or 4 pieces, and scatter these over the top of the dish.

Niku-Jaga

This simmered dish is considered the epitome of home cooking in Japan. Soy sauce and sugar are used as flavoring in equal parts, and so the taste is both spicy and sweet. This spicy and sweet flavor-ing is very common in Japanese cuisine it is also featured in beef sukiyaki, chicken teriyaki, and sake-simmered fish. Traditionally, niku-jaga has been simmered in a pot on the stove, but cooking it in a microwave is simple and foolproof all the ingredi-ents are added at once and then brought to a boil.

4 potatoes (600g)200g thinly-sliced beef1 onion (200g)8 thin slices fresh ginger4 snow peas (string removed; boiled)A: 4 tbsp soy sauce, 4 tbsp sake, 4 tbsp sugar, 4 tbsp water, 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Ingredients [Serves 4]

4

Sachikos Japanese Cooking Class

Photos: SHIROTSUKA Yoshioki

Sachiko's Japanese Cooking Lessons in EnglishWritten by MURAKAMI Sachiko

Published by Japanbook Distributed by Randomhouse-Kodansha

1,890 yen

1,890

600g

200g

1

200g

8

4

A:

4

1

To Preparea

b

c

44

Takeshita-dori for the youthful, Omotesando for the chic, Meiji Jingu Shrine to get away from the chaos, and Yoyogi Park for the bizarre the Harajuku area has something for everyone.

Tokyos Youth Fashion Capital

Takeshita-dori is the first sight that greets many visitors to Harajuku. And what a sight. At almost any time of the week this narrow and noisy pedestrian street is packed with a mixture of teenagers and tourists shuf-fling shoulder to shoulder taking in the mixture of small shops that cater to Tokyos punk, gothic Lolita and hip hop youth cultures.

From loud t-shirts with incomprehensible English blazoned across them to leather gear bordering on SM and even blood-ied head bandages, a stroll down Takeshita-dori is like gaz-ing through a window on the various trends attracting young Japanese.

SM

To see these fashions on real life models, make time for a Sunday visit to Yoyogi Park, where many groups such as the teens holding up placards offering free hugs and the rockabillies with their love of 1950s American fashions, Elvis PRESSLEY haircuts and Cadillacs wile away the day posing for onlookers. Fortunately, the park attracts more than just posers, with musicians, dancers and sports circles often spread

out among picnickers over Yoyogis vast grounds.

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Harajuku Town of Young People and Fashion

45

Tranquility in the Heart of Tokyo

On the same side of Harajuku Station as Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu Shrine is the traditional ingredient thrown into the Harajuku mix. Originally completed in 1920 and dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji (1852~1912) and his consort Empress Shoken (1849~1914), Meiji Jingu and its surrounding forest fill over 700,000 square meters, making it a popular spot for Tokyoites for both recreation and reflection.

1920

The entrance to the shrines grounds is defined by a giant cypress torii (gateway) that straddles the gravel road which gently leads visitors passed the entrance to the impressive iris garden and a colorful wall of sake barrels and then onto the main shrine. The inner precinct of the shrine (Naien) includes the shrine buildings and a treasure museum home to artifacts of the Meiji Emperor and Empress, while the outer precinct (Gaien) is where you will find the National Stadium (the main stadium for the Tokyo Olympics), Jingu Baseball Stadium and a host of other sports facilities, not to mention the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery and the Meiji Memorial Hall, where the Meiji Constitution that led Japan into the modern era was first drafted.

Standing in the tranquil inner precinct looking at the wishes written on the walls of ema (votive plaques) surrounding the large tree that towers above the inner courtyard, it is hard to believe that you are in the heart of one of the busiest cities on the planet. Should you be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Shinto wedding procession passing by, you might even think you have been transported back in time!

Omotesando and Shopping

After recharging at Meiji Jingu, try a stroll around Omotesando, the area just beyond Takeshita-dori but millions of miles a