Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Japanese Music of 2010 Posted by Ginny on Dec 31, 2010
2010 was a notable year in Japanese music. In particular it was a big year for Hikaru Utada (宇多田ヒカル,). She held her first major US/UK tour and broke the record of being the artist with the most consecutive number of chart topping albums in Japanese music history. Later in the year, she announced that she…
Japanese Christmas Songs Posted by Ginny on Dec 25, 2010
I thought it would be good to get in the Christmas spirit by posting some Christmas songs in Japanese. The first one is the Japanese version of “Silent Night” : This one is the Japanese version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” : Lastly, this the Japanese version of “Jingle Bells” :
Japanese Boxed Lunches Posted by Ginny on Dec 1, 2010
I will never forget my first Japanese Bentō (弁当). A bentō is a packed meal in a container, and depending on the bentō, different items are placed in the container. kyarakutā bentō (キャラクター弁当), which is shortened to Kyaraben (キャラ弁) is a type of “character bento”. The bentōs in this category are cute, and made to…
Japanese-North Korean Relations Posted by Ginny on Nov 22, 2010
In reaction to the news about North Korea’s attack on a South Korean island, Japan is on high alert. At this point, the Japanese government is not planning on gathering armaments and forces to combat the North Koreans. There is, however, a fear that the North Korean attack will escalate. Ever since the bombing of…
Unique Places to Visit in Japan Posted by Ginny on Nov 16, 2010
Going sightseeing in Japan is a feast for the eyes. Here are some must see places in Japan. Akihabara (秋葉原) is a great place to get electronic goods, video games, computers, anime figurines and DVDs, comic books and other items. There are some high end stores that offer the latest technological products on the market…
The Three Great Gardens of Japan Posted by Ginny on Nov 13, 2010
The Sanmeien (三名園,) are three of Japan’s famous gardens. Let’s take a look at these three gardens. Kenrokuen (兼六園) means “six attribute garden”. Some of the attributes that make this garden special are : spaciousness, seclusion, serenity and scenic subtleness. Kōrakuen (後楽園) means “garden of after -pleasure”. The daimyo Ikeda Tsunamasa (池田綱政) used the garden…
Japanese Festivals in November Posted by Ginny on Nov 10, 2010
November is the time for some interesting Japanese festivals. Take a look at some of these festivals : The Onomichi Betcha Festival (尾道 ベッチャー祭り) is a festival where men dress as demons and pretend to thrash children as they walk by. It’s an old custom that traces back to a time when people believed that…