White Kazoku (Family)

Today's topic is dog. Hachi in Shibuya is very famous, However, the most well-known dog now is a white dog of "White Kazoku (family)".

White Kazoku is a campaign charactor of Soft Bank that is one of mobile phone in Japan.
(There are three mobile phone campanies in Japan. The others are NTT (Docomo) and KDDI(AU.))

Family members are father, mother, daughter and son. This family appears in daily TV comercial. This white dog is the father (お父さん) of the family. You might be think a dog is father of human beings. He can speak Japanese. Father's voise is dubbed by a famous actor.

When I saw these TV commercials at first, I thought it was strange. However, the situation is very funny. There are a lot of version of commercials. I attached the site of TV commercial series. When you see them, you will like him.

White Kazoku's commercial series

Father, Otou-san, お父さん (white dog) is very cute...

招き猫 (Maneki Neko)

Which do you like, dogs or cats ? We often ask someone a question about pets. I like dog better than cats. There are a lot of people that have pets and dogs and cats is so common for pets.

(I have no pets.)

Now cats (Neko 猫) is very popular. I heard a news in TV that some photo books about cats are sold well. I like kitten, however, I am a little bit scary about big cats.

Maneki neko　招き猫 is very cute and I like it. It is a traditional ornament for bringing customers in business or 商売繁盛 Shoubai Hanjou (this is a slogan that we use when we hope that business prospers)

We sometimes see it in shops or restaurants in Japan. Maneki (verb, Maneku 招く) means beckon. This is a cat for bring good luck.

Animals or pet sometimes heal in our life. Maneki neko isn't real animal. However, the look is so cute, it might bring fortune to us.

Haruichiban 春一番

Spring comes. Beautiful cherry blossoms (Sakura) bloom now. Everything begins in April. New term begins at school. Recruits who graduate from university or high school join a company.

There are some words that express each season. Haruichiban 春一番 is a very symbolic word for Japanese spring. Haruichiban 春一番 means the first gale of spring in the end of February or March. We can hear this word in weather report. "Haru" 春 means spring and "ichiban" 一番 means first or No.1.

When haruichiban blow, it is a sign that long winter in Japan ends at last and we feel spring. Everyone wait for spring. March in this year was very cold after haruichiban blew. We couldn't take off winter coat for a long time. Now it becomes warmer in April.

I hate the gale, however, I like the sound of Haruichiban, I don't know why.


I want to add new part "My favorite phrase " in my blog. I will update when I'm touched or find good phrases. Please sometimes check it.

Strawberry Shortcake

I think that most well-known cake for Japanese is Strawberry shortcake. The shape is different from other countries one. I love it and sometimes I want to eat. I have eaten it when I was a child. Strawberry shortcake was one of favorite cakes for especially children at this time.

Strawberry (Ichigo 苺) is very popular fruits. It is sweet and has acidity. Ichigo gari いちご狩り is a event in spring. Ichigo gari means picking fresh strawberries. We normally can eat them that we want to eat per one time ichigo gari within limited time, for example, 30 minutes. I have gone to Ichigo gari several times. Picking and eating fresh strawberry in the air is so nice.

Strawberry shortcake is made of sponge cake, whip cream and strawberry. All ingredients are tempting. Japanese shortcake is delicious. If you visit Japan, please try to eat.

Japan Academy Prize

33rd Japan Academy Prize is announced yesterday. It is the award for Japanese films. I saw two films that were nominated best punctures. I introduced them, "Dear Doctor" and "Villon's Wife" in my blog.

The Picture of the year is "Shizumanu Taiyou" 沈まぬ太陽. It was made that based on same title's novel by Toyoko Yamasaki 山崎豊子. Toyoko Yamasaki is well- known novelist in Japan.

I want to introduce Japanese actors were awarded this time.

The best male actor is Ken Watanabe in "Shizumanu Taiyou". If you saw Hollywood movie, "Last Samurai" , you will remember him. He is very talented actor. The best female actor is Takako Matsu 松　たか子 in Villon's Wife" I like her performance and she is very popular and one of beautiful Japanese female actor.

The best male and female actor in supporting role is Teruyuki Kagawa 香川照之 in "Tsurugidake" 剣岳 and Kimiko Yo 余　貴美子 in "Dear Doctor". She appears in "Departure" おくりびと that were awarded best foreigh film in Academy award last year. I think they are essential actors in Japanese films. They can play any roles.

When you want to see Japanese film and if they appear in the films that you pick up, they must be good Japanese films.

Her Challenge

Figure Skating for women in Vancouver Olympic game is No.1 topic now. The most popular skater in Japan, Mao Asada is an idol for us and almost Japanese people cheer her. Her performance was excellent yesterday. She jumped triple axel and it is first time at olympic. We could see her performance many times at news or TV program.

I saw her especial TV program last week. I was touched her interview. The music of free skating this year is "The Bell" by Rachmaninof and the tune is very heavy and solemn. Her performance or music has been always lovely and cute. Her character and impression are pure and cute, too.

Two musics were selected this time, "The Bell " and another classic. Another music matched her character. However, she decided "The Bell", heavy one. She said in her interview. If she would skate with another classic, her performance wouldn't change. It is useless for her to skate with similar tune. "The Bell" is her challenge.

Certainly I thought the music was mismatched when I heard first time. However, I admired her decision. I thought she was just an athlete. I hope she gets gold medal. But I'd like to see her challenge and best performance.

Almost Japanese people will cheer her tomorrow. "Mao chan Ganbare!!"

Taiyaki たいやき

There are a lot of Japanese cakes (wagashi 和菓子). Taiyaki たいやき is one of hot cakes and shape is a fish that is called Tai 鯛 (bream). The mold is made in the shape of fish. Taiyaki is sold at the special stand,"taiyaki-ya" 鯛焼き屋. It is one of food of cold season, however, we can eat all the year around. Bean paste is put in the body of taiyaki. Taste is simple but it is so delicious. Tai, bream is thought as a lucky fish in Japan. It is eaten as congratulatory food. Japanese "Medetai" めでたい means happy or auspicious. "Tai" of Medetai rhymes with "Tai" as fish.

There is a song of Taiyaki. The song is "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" . It was a song in TV program for children in 1975. And it became big hit in the year.

I ate Taiyaki today. Taiyaki is well-known cake in Japan. I recommend you to eat it when you visit Japan.

Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun