Onomatopoeia

How do we explain slight difference or situation to other people in our conversation ?  I think Japanese often use onomatopoeia and it is easy for us to explain things, feeling, atmosphere or situation concretely.  Especially there are a lot of onomatopoeias of repeating one word twice. We can understand several shades of meaning more clearly. 

We can express actual sound by onomatopoeia.
 Pan Pan , Pata Pata : a pat or hitting something
 Don Don : beat a drum 
 Bun Bun : the sound that bees are humming 
 Gishi Gishi,  Mishi Mishi : the sound that something ginds   

For example, When we want to say softness of feather or cushions, we say  "it is so Fuwa Fuwa. ふわふわ. Or when we have dizziness, we say " my head gets Kura Kura くらくら, Gura Gura ぐらぐら, Fura Fura ふらふら." Impression of the situation changes by differences of initial letter. We imagine  "Kura Kura" and "Fura Fura" is slight dizziness but Gura Gura is heavy dizziness. We can express slight differences of dizziness

These words are a few of abundant onomatopoeia. Expression is different by each people, however, it is convenient to give many information and express various situations. 

Makoto 誠 - Sincerity

There is a or some meaning for Chinese Character. 誠 (Makoto) means sincerity, honesty or seriousness. I like this character. I think shape is good. 

Now a book is sold well and reputable in Japan. Author is a football player, Makoto Hasebe  長谷部　誠 and he is a captain of national football team. Now he plays in VfL Wolfsburg of Germany. Football is more popular in Japan after 2010 FIFA World Cup and most of Japanese know about him. his sincere comment after national team was beaten by PK was impressive for me. 

I bought and read his book. He wrote about his philosophy, habit or private life. His personality is sincere and earnest like his name. "Seijitu" 誠実 means sincerity and I like this word. There is a Japanese proverb "Na wa Tai wo Arawasu" 名は体をあらわす. The name expresses the character or substance. He is just like this proverb. 

Sincerity is virtue for human being. "Seijitsu" is important for especially our society and sincere person is confided in our life. Sometimes it is unfavorable to be too earnest, however, I want to be sincere. 
  
The royalty on this book is used as donation for victims of this earthquake.

The Danger Past, and The Japanese Nation Forgotten ?

I don't like to criticize someone or something. Because I feel negative mind. However, I was disappointed about Japanese politicians. 

Japanese PM survives a no-confidence vote in parliament

They think about only protecting their party or own interests. Perhaps most of Japanese were disappointed and disgusted their attitude. Why are they committed to victims of this earthquake?

Opponents don't have effective solutions for correspondence of nuclear power plant problems or recovery of disaster area. They waste our money and precious time.

There is a phrase, Nodomoto sugireba atsusa wasureru 喉元過ぎれば熱さ忘れる.  When hot foods or water pass through our gullet, we feel hot. However, we forget the feeling after the foods have passed. This means 'The danger past, and God forgotten". All of politicians might do their best for victims' life. However, as if the danger past, and the Japanese nation forgotten ? Politicians don't understand how victims are sufferring and the danger don't past now. Don't they think present situation in Japan is crisis? 

It is so shameful things.   

JIN

I think everyone have wanted to go back to the past once. It might be regret for our choice or attitude at that time. And we sometimes imagine that the fact might change if the accident or event didn't happen. 

I watch a TV drama every Sunday now. The title is "JIN". The story is originally manga. I didn't know it before I watch the drama. But the drama was so popular two years ago in Japan. The series this year is second. A brain surgery goes back to the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Bakumatsu 幕末). JIN is his name. The story is fiction, however, some historical persons appear in the drama. Ryoma Sakamoto, who is popular among us, is one of them. 

It is interesting and the scenes of operation in this drama seems to be real. The actor of protagonist, Takao Osawa is popular among Japanese women and the actress of heroine, Haruka Ayase is cute and remarkable.

I read news that this drama will be on air in 80 other countries. You might be able to enjoy it in your country. Also I think that it is better to watch after knowing the history of Bakumatsu.

JIN official site and gloval index 

Soyokaze 微風

Today is sunny day. May in Japan is so calm and fresh. We cam feel lively breeze. So I love this period. However, this fresh season is very short every year. June in Japan is so humid and uncomfortable. Rainy season will come soon.  

Soyokaze 微風 in Japanese means breeze. I like this sound. And I like to watch flowers or green leaves are trembling by soyokaze. Also it is so nice that clothes after washing are shaking under the sun. I feel happy.

I remembered about wind. I watched a documentary in TV about Hayao Miyazaki's work. He said wind or breeze was so effective item and a key of story in his film. For example, when a character makes a serious decision, it winds definitely. Certainly when something happens or change in our daily life, we might feel wind or breeze.

I wish soyokaze brings to happier things and hope in our future.        

Healing Voice

Beautiful voice and sound often can heal and encourage us. The feeling depends on each person. I think everyone have some favorite voices. 

In my case I love voice of a vocalist of Spitz, is very famous rock band. There are my favorite songs of them, however, I especially love their song "Kaede" 楓. It is sad love song. Kaede means maple tree in Japanese. I think his voice is soft and has special wavelength. I am always fasinated by it and feel confortable. His voice is just my healing voice.

Kaede by Spitz   

手をつなごう Hand in Hand

I often hear some songs to encourage people or for hope after March 11th. We might want to feel Kizuna (bond) of people and hope brighter future. 

I heard a song in radio yesterday. "手をつなごう" te o tsunagou (hand in hand) is a song for bond.of people. 

I recognize that everyone can't live and do nothing without other people. Compassion and imagination is necessary for us. 

I especially realize that our history is changing this year. We need to join hands and help each other. 

手をつなごう by Ayaka