A Happy New Year! あけましておめでとうございます！

It was late to say a happy new year for everyone.

あけましておめでとうございます！今年もよろしくお願いします！

Japanese people, especially office worker usually don't work until 3rd January. So tomorrow is first day to work. I will work from tomorrow.

I am so excited in 2014. Olympic winter game and soccer World cup in Brazil. I cheer every great performance of athletes.

I hope you enjoy and have a lot of happy things in this year. Please keep good health !       

ゆるキャラ ２ (Yurukyara)

I introduce very popular ゆるきゃら Yurukyara now.

くまモンKumamon
http://kumamon-official.jp/

ふなっしー Funattushi
http://terawarosu.jimdo.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0OeVzKxBuI

バリィさん
http://www.barysan.net/

Ｓｏ cute....?

Full Moon 中秋の名月

Moon is so beautiful today....

風立ちぬ The Wind Rise

I saw a film of Hayao Miyazaki. 風立ちぬ "The Wind Rise" last week. This is last film that he produce. All character in his film are single-minded. Japanese that the characters speak in it is so polite and beautiful. There are people who criticize this film. However, I like it simply as a story of  an architect of airplane. He loves airplane and his dream is flying in the air. This period that he lived is during hostilities.

Also I enjoy a love story. I sniffled. Young couple are so pure and single-minded.

The song in ending is ひこうき雲 (hikoukigumo) "contrail" The singer is 松任谷由実 Yumi Matsutoya. and  superstar in J-pop for a long time. We call her Yuming ユーミン She makes a lot of albums and hit songs in Japan. She sings in Stagio Ghibli's film,  魔女の宅急便 "やさしさに包まれたなら" Yasashisani Tsutsumaretanara    Her lyric is especially great and emotional. I love a lot of her songs. If you learn Japanese, her lyrics is so beautiful and might be useful for learning Japanese. 

I hope you can see this film in your country near future in the theater.

The Wind Rise Trailer

 

 

Two Big Topics

Recently we heard two big topics about Japan. One is that Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki retired. 
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/09/07/editorials/an-anime-icon-retires/

Another is Tokyo won the competition for Olympic game in 2020. 
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/08/national/tokyo-wins-bid-to-host-2020-olympics/

We are so sad for his retirement. A lot of children and even adults are big fan for his animation film. We enjoy the story and are touched his message for our life, sometimes warning about egoism of human nature for nature.  His delicate and beautiful pictures always give an impact to our heart. 

We hope being the host country of Olympic game leads to economic effect  for Japan. I am glad to see a lot of games in our hometown Tokyo ! Foreign people were worried about nuclear problem in Fukushima. However I live in Tokyo and we are safe. It is no problem. (I am worried about big earthquake.)

I think two topics are symbolic for our present society. Nature and economy are very important for our life. We must not forget that we can live thanks to nature. And we feel happy economically and emotionally.     
   

Japanese Film in Cannes Festival

I heard delightful news. A Japanese directer, Hirokazu Koreeda won award in Cannes Festival.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/05/28/entertainment-news/koreedas-film-wins-jury-prize-at-cannes-festival/

I like his film, 誰も知らない "Nobody Knows". It is a serious theme about society or family. It was shocking story for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLtMmJoBIB4

We are glad many people know and see Japanese films. His new film そして父になる "Like Father,Like Son" seems so interesting. Masaharu Fukuyama, very famous singer and actor appears in it. Now his TV drama series, "Galileo" is on air and so popular in Japan.

I want to see Like Father, Like Son soon. (We can see it in October in Japan.)

Like Father, Like son trailar    

Amazing Music Video

I didn't know about this MV of Muse, UK rock band. The song is Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)

This animation was created by a Japanese comedian, Tekken. It is amazing !

Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)

明けましておめでとうございます！

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu 明けましておめでとうございます。

 This is Japanese New Years a greeting. When we meet someone at first time new year, we say this phrase.

And we say next, "Kotoshimo Yorosiku Onegai shimasu" 今年もよろしくおねがいします。 This means "Please treat me this year as well as you did last year."

How did you spend this new year ? Kotoshimo Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu.  

Change my handle name

I change my handle name. Please call me Ricky and continue reading my blog ! 

ありがとう ２０１２

How do you spend Xmas season ! A few days for this year. I appreciate you read my blog. Thank you is Arigato ありがとう in Japanese. I'm happy to be able to have some great experiences for me. I want to say "Thank you" for all of things.

Please continue to read my post next year !  I introduce my favorite Japanese song ありがとう by いきものがかり Ikimonogakari. The female vocal has fantastic voice and I love her voice! This song was sold a lot last year. It was a theme song of TV drama series.  

I hope you enjoy this Xmas and happy new year ! Thank you ! ありがとう！！！

ありがとう　by いきものがかり         

任侠ヘルパー(Ninkyo Helper) - Beautiful World

I saw a Japanese movie 任侠ヘルパー (ninkyo helper). A member of  Smap, very famous J-pop group, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi appears in this movie. It was made a TV drama into a movie. He is very famous and speaks Korean fluently.

His role is a gang (yakuza) who belong to a violence group and he is ordered to manage a geriatric health services facility. However, the situation in it is worse. Only one home help cares all of old people. We call home help "Helper" The rooms are dirty and old people just sleep in narrow space.  He try to better the situation.

The issue of nursing is one of problem in Japan. Especially it is severe for poor people. It is difficult to placing facility and cost is expensive. The number of facilities isn't enough. Old people who live alone is increasing now.Nursing in home is so stressful. 
The story in this movie is exaggerated as an entertainment, but I thought about our future in Japan.


I liked a song of ending in it. It is "Beautiful World" of Love Psychedelico, J-pop band. It is one of my favorite bands. 

Beautiful World by Love Psychedelico.    

Recent Japanese Film

I saw two Japanese films recently. They are both very interesting and if you have a chance to see, you can enjoy them.

One is 夢売るふたり and another is 鍵泥棒のメソッド. I'm sorry there has no English title yet. They are now showing in Japan.

The director of 夢売るふたり is female, Miwa Nishikawa. I have recommended in my blog, "Dear Doctor" is her film. A couple lost their own Japanese-style bar by by fire. They commit marriage fraud for saving the money to run their new bar. Many women are deceived by the husband and they can save the money. However, the relationship of the couple is worse little by little... The performance of two lead characters, Sadao Abe and Takako Matsu are excellent.  

鍵泥棒のメソッド is comedy and the storyline is perfect.
A poor man who want to be famous actor, a hit man and a female editor of magazine are main characters. The hit man lose his memory by an accident in public bath. Since he looks rich, the poor man changes his locker key for the key of hit man and pretend to the hit man. The hit man can remember nothing and becomes poor actor. And many problems occurs around two men... 
I laughed a lot in the theater. Two actor, Masato Sakai and Teruyuki Kagawa are so well-known and great actors in Japan. Another character, Ryoko Hirosue is very cute and popular in Japan. She appeared in Japanese film, "Departures" おくりびと and French film, "Wasabi" by Luc Besson. So if you are a Japanese movie fun, you see them in many Japanese films.   　
　

Natsubate 夏ばて

It has been hot in Japan. We say Supper hot summer "mousho" 猛暑 This summer is "mousho".

We sometimes ask my friends in summer. "Natsubate 夏ばて shiteru ?" Natsubate means weariness from the heat in summer. And Losting our appetite because of the summer heat and "natsubate"is often used as same meaning.

When we have lost our appetite in summer, we eat light meal or foods that supply energy for us.
Representative light meal is cold Japanese noodle,  Soba or Somen. It is so simple to eat. It is eaten with "Mentsuyu" 麺つゆJapanese soup base. 
Eel (Unagi  うなぎ)  is representative food that supplys energy in summer.  I like both. 
I have good appetite anytime. However, I sometimes lost my appetite in hot summer like this year. 

I have necessary foods in hot summer. They are Edamame 枝豆 (boiled green soy-beans) and Suika すいか(watermelon) And it is important to supply water and salt content in order to suffer heatstroke. 

What do you eat to keep our energy and prevent natsubate in your countries?  
 
  

Parade in Ginza

We were cheering Japanese athletes in Olympic game in London. And we were given impression and great power for plays and performances.

Five hundred thousand people gathered and celebrated the medalists.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120821a2.html

A lot of medals got in this Olympic games. Wrestling, swimming races, female Football and volleyball, female table tennis team, male gymnastics, Judo, fencing, archery, etc...

Now sense of stagnation spreads in Japanese society. There are a lot of problems for energy, diplomacy and economy.  However, when we saw impressed performance and single-minded plays , we were encouraged.  No matter how the situation is bad, we have to do one's best in present situation.  And I was impressed by sportsmanship. The result is all and they can't excuse.

I was given a lot of energy and encourage in this Olympic game.    
 

Olympic in London 2012

Olympic game began today. I watch opening ceremony at TV. We can see a lot of exciting games and match. We have to watch some games at TV at early morning or midnight. Because there is time lag in London and Japan. I want to watch them at real time if it is possible. I will feel lazy at office...

Nadeshiko Japan (female football team), Kosuke Kitajima (male breaststroke swimmer) , Judo, Ai Fukuhara and Kasumi Ishikawa (table tennis players) .....  We hope Japanese players get medals and want to watch impressive games and performances.

I can't sleep well for two weeks.....   

Holiday in Omotesando 表参道 and Harajuku 原宿

Today is a national holiday, umi no hi (the day of sea) 海の日. Almost people have (sanrenkyu) 三連休 (three day's holiday running in Japan. It is rainy season in Tokyo. But yesterday was sunny day and today is, too. It's like a summer.
I went to Omotesando 表参道 yesterday. Omotesando is one of my favorite place in Tokyo. Sando 参道 means the approach to the shrine and  Omotesando is the approach to Meiji Shrine. 明治神宮 Meiji shrine is one of recommended place. It is so holy and calm.
Now the approach is a fashionable street from Harajuku (station) to Omotesando (station). There are a lot of shops along the street and so many people come to shopping and walking around in holiday.  You will be surprised at many people. Harajuku and Omotesando are sightseeing spot in Tokyo for even Japanese and foreign tourists.  There are many sophisticated cafe, restaurants and shopping centers. We can find some trendy clothes and accessories.

I walked around with an umbrella for protecting sunshine and looked for some goods in many shops. I found my favorite item in a tableware shop.

What is this do you think ? It is a glass Hashioki 箸置き.  It is for putting on chopsticks. (put on 置く, chopstick 箸)

I think we seldom use hashioki every day. It is used for guests in our house and we can see traditional Japanese-style restaurant. I rarely use it, but I liked it. 

I walked for a long time under hot sunshine, but enjoyed shopping time. 

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo skytree is new tourist attraction in Tokyo.  It become the tallest tower in Tokyo. Tokyo Tower was tallest until April. So many tourists and people who live in near Tokyo visit there.
It is so tall and gorgeous.  

The building at next Tokyo skytree is a building of Japanese beer company, Asahi Beer in Asakusa, famous downtown area.  

Sumida river 隅田川 runs near this area. The river is very famous place as firework 花火 in summer.  

We can see a lot of beautiful fireworks in Tokyo. So firework festival in this year will be so  

exciting one.

Rainbow 虹 (Niji) on Golden Week

This week is golden week in Japan. Four days are national holidays this year. So we can have a rest enough for Japanese.  Some people go to their hometown, go for abroad, go shopping....'m

I saw a Iranian film "A Separation" in Shibuya 渋谷 yesterday, Bunkamura movie theater. Shibuya is one of big town in Tokyo and a lot of young people like to go there and shopping. A lot of people on crossing in front of Shibuya station is very famous. (You might be surprised at so many people...)

The film is very interesting story. I could know about a Iranian and Muslim life a little. Aged care is a serious problem in Japan and I knew it is a problem in Iran, too.
All of people in the story are kind and sincere. However, they tell a lie and hurt. but we can't blame them easily. Because they love and want to help their family. Two children in the film are innocent and cute.

I saw beautiful rainbow on my way from Shibuya near my house. It has been a long time to see rainbow. So beautiful. I was happy.....            

ゆるキャラ Yuru kyara

 There are a lot of cute anime character or mascot of products or baseball team. I recently like ゆるキャラ "yuru chara".  Yuru chara is abbreviation of Yurui Character and new Japanese word.

A adjective  original "Yurui" ゆるい means loose, gradual, slow, or easygoing. This meaning of "Yurui" for "yuru chara" is strange, unique and crude, but cute and funny. (It is very difficult to explain in English! )
Yuru chara is mainly a mascot to introduce the prefecture, city, place or event.
For example, "Hyikonyan" ひこにゃん is a mascot of Hikoneshi 彦根市 in Shiga prefecture. Sento-kun せんとくん is a mascot of ancient city, Nara prefecture. I didn't know how many kinds of Yuru chara, however, so many mascots in Japan. 

My favorite mascots are Oshinari-kun おしなりくん and Tomapi トマピー. And I found a funny mascot, nashite-kun ナシテ君. It is a mascot of a local TV station in Niigata prefecture. You might find your favorite mascot in site of yuru chara. ↓  

Yuru chara grand prix in 2011 site  　      

上を向いて歩こう SUKIYAKI

I found good music on YouTube. My favorite Brazilian singer, Ivan Lins sings SUKIYAKI in Japanese for us. Japanese title 上を向いて歩こう is very famous Japanese song all over the world. It is beautiful song, however, lyrics is a little sad... The title's meaning is that "let's walk looking up to not tear."

I am touched hearing the Ivan's 上を向いて歩こう. The arrangement is so good ! Now I knew he came to Japan for show in Bluenote Tokyo. I want to go.....

上を向いて歩こう　Ue wo muite arukou  by Ivan Lins