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.