Archive for 'Uncategorized'
The Three Major Daimyō Posted by Ginny on Mar 13, 2010
There is a famous poem that Japanese children are taught to recite: (1) 鳴かぬなら、殺してしまえほととぎす, (なかぬなら、ころしてしまえほととぎす) (2) 鳴かぬなら、鳴かして見せようほととぎす (なかぬなら、なかしてみせようほととぎす) (3) 鳴かぬなら、鳴くまで待とうほととぎす (なかぬなら、なくまでまとうほととぎす) The first line means, “If the cuckoo does not sing, kill it”. This line refers to the だいみょう (大名) Oda Nobunaga (織田 信長). Nobunaga is considered one of the three great daimyōs. He was known…
Toyota Posted by Ginny on Feb 19, 2010
Toyota (トヨタ) has been in the news recently, and not for very postive reasons. A series of recalls, including the most recent recall for anti-lock brakes in Toyota hybrids, has consumers worrying about the safety of Toyota cars. The recalls have coincided with Toyota’s struggle to emerge out from the recession. Due to the recalls, Toyota plants in…
Prime Minister Posted by Ginny on Feb 13, 2010
This year in the U.S., Presidents Day will be the fifteenth of February. I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce Japan’s equivalent of a president. In Japan, instead of a president, the head of government is the prime minister. In Japanese, the prime minister is called そうりだいじん. In order to qualify as a prime…
Donburi Posted by Ginny on Feb 7, 2010
A どんぶり is a rice bowl dish consisting of some meat, vegetables and rice. There are different varieties of どんぶり. Let’s take a look at some of them: どんぶり is an eel rice dish. First the eel is filleted, boned an dipped in sweet soy sauce. Then the eel is broiled over the grill. Depending…
Answers to the Word of the Day Posted by Ginny on Feb 4, 2010
1 – アレルギ (allergy) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-12-2009 2 – エンタメ (entertainment) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-14-2009 3 – ゲットする (to get) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-15-2009 4 – 敵 (enemy) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-16-2009 5 – みかた (ally) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-17-2009 6 – 美しい (beautiful) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=11-06-2009 7 – どうそうかい (class reunion) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-20-2009 8 – そつぎょうせい (graduate) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-21-2009 9 – そっくり (similar in appearance) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-26-2009 10 – たいしょくする (to retire) https://blogs.transparent.com/wotd/today/japanese.htm?date=10-27-2009…
Word of the Day Posted by Ginny on Feb 1, 2010
1 – アレルギ 2 – エンタメ 3 – ゲットする 4 – 敵 5 – みかた 6 – 美しい 7 – どうそうかい 8 – そつぎょうせい 9 – そっくり 10 – たいしょくする 11 – 雪かき 12 – そうじする 13 – だめ 14 – 乾燥する 15 – おいしい 16 – 便利
Winter Festivals Posted by Ginny on Jan 31, 2010
Who said that you have to stay inside for the winter? Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean it has to be boring! Around late January and February, winter festivals are all the rage in Japan. You’ve probably heard of the famous Sapporo Snow Festival, but did you know that there were other winter festivals in Japan? Every region has…