Okaeri , Tadaima - I'm home

There are two salutations for going home. They are very heartwarming words.
For example, when I enter into my home , I say "Tadaima" to my family who be my home. "Tadaima" means "I'm home" in English. And my family members say "Okaeri" or "Okaerinasai" to me after I say "Tadaima".
It is so simple word, however, I feel relief when I hear this word, "Okaeri". Also family members feel relief when I can get home safely.
I feel that these words "Okaeri" and "Tadaima" symbolize family ties.
I'm happy that I have my family who say "Okaeri" to me.

I want to introduce a Japanese song of the title "Okaeri" by Ayaka. Ayaka is popular J-pop singer among young people now. This video is Ayaka sings and Hiromi Uehara, very talented Jazz pianist, plays piano. I found special version "Okaeri". It is so excellent.

Okaeri by Ayaka with Hiromi Uehara

Takeshi's Castle

I was surprised at knowing Japanese TV show is (was ?) on air in Argentina and Spain. Do you know "Takeshi's Castle" ? and have your watched it ? "Takeshi" is Takeshi Kitano, Japanese comedian and he is famous as a movie director in the world.

The program "Takeshi's Castle" was on air in Japan about 20 years before. It was very interesting and I have watched it. Ordinary people can participate in games of the show. It was a popular TV program.

There is a similar TV show and it was a special show in a year. This is Sasuke and it is on air in some other countries.

I like other program. The title is "Kinniku Banzuke" . Some athletes , models or actors challenge some original games in the show and the one who gets best score in total becomes No.1 athletes. I like a game "monster box". Monster box calls "Tobibako" in Japanese. Tobibako is one of gymnastics for students. I have done it when I was a student. As I explain simply, we jump on the springboard and stride over the boxes. Moster box is a game that how many boxes we can stride. World record is 23 boxes ( 3m 06ch.)

I am glad that other countries people enjoy these programs.

Showa, and Heisei

There is a special name of era in Japan. Now is in Heisei 平成 period, 20 years. The name is changed and decided in the year after our emperor would die. In short 20 years passed after former emperor was died. We write and use this Japanese era, when we submit the documents.
Showa 昭和 is the name before Heisei.
Recently we remember the lifestyle nostalgically in Showa period. We often say "Showa was good old period". Though we underwent the terrible war at Showa period, everyone work hard to survive after the war. Japan grew economically after Tokyo Olympic in 1964. And we try to do best to be rich. We think the recovery was succeeded after the war.
Now we can buy anything that we want. Fortunately I have been able to live without worrying about eating until now. However, I sometimes feel that Japanese people don't have an aim to live or survive after our economic recovery. So we will look back Showa period. I don't like to look back the past personally. However, we might have been happier at Showa period than Heisei.

End of Summer - Shonen Jidai

When I woke up this morning and opened the window, cool wind comes into my room. This wind makes me feel the the end of summer.
I have a favorite song for the end of summer.
The title, "Shonen Jidai 少年時代 " that Yosui Inoue sings is so beautiful song. This is written about boys life in summer and almost Japanese know this song.
Yosui Inoue is very popular and famous Japanese artist of folk song and rock. He has been written a lot of good and beautiful songs until now.
Just now, at the end of the summer, I want to listen to this song.

Shonen Jidai

Ai 愛

"Ai" in Japanese means "love". We often name "Ai" for girls name in Japan.
Ai Fukuhara is a table tennis player and very popular in Japan. Table tennis isn't popular in Japan, however, almost of Japanese will know Ai Fukuhara, as "Ai chan" of table tennis.
Why we know her ? When she was a little girl, we have seen her plays. She was so cute. (She is certainly cute now.) I remember she was hitting a ball and practiced with her mother crying. She begun table tennis at about three years old. And she won many games. Everyone said she was genius for table tennis. Now she is nineteen years old and participate this Olympic.
Her popularity is not only in Japan. She is an idle in China. Because she played in Chinese Pro League. She speaks Chinese very well. When Japanese athletes normally play in China, the games are perfectly away for Japan. I have heard the booing for Japanese players or athletes several times. However, Ai chan is special. I read the news that she has a lot of Chinese fans.
Each nationalities has prejudice or hate for particular nation. History is generally the reason of needle, especially China and Japan has long history until now. But one person can change the bad feelings to friendship.
"Ai " 愛 becomes a go-between for China and Japan.

Teishoku 定食

When you go to Japanese food restaurant, you see “Teishoku” 定食 in the menu. Teishoku is main dish with rice and Miso soup. For example, Tempra Teishoku, Yaki zakana Teishoku (Grilled fish), Sashimi Tsishoku, Tonkatsu Teishoku, etc. Teishoku is good for nutrition. Also we are happy to eat various dishes one time. Teishoku is one of popular lunch munu for business persons. And the menu of Teishoku is sometimes changed by each day depending on a restaurant. We call it "Higawari Teishoku".
I want to introduce a Japanese restaurant, Teishoku-ya. Ootoya 大戸屋 is one of chain restaurants. There are a lot of Teishoku in the menu. The price is very reasonable in Tokyo. The restaurants exist in big towns or cities. Almost Teishoku are about 800 Yen. There are the photos of all Teishoku in the menu. We can select the food that we want to eat. The atmosphere in the restaurant is comfortable. I am satisfied with the volume of food for the price. The music in the restaurant is Jazz or relaxed music.
Sometimes I went to Ootoya alone for lunch. It is OK for one person. I am always satisfied with the Teishoku. If you want to eat Teishoku in Japan, I think Ootoya is the best restaurant.

Postcards in summer (暑中見舞い and 残暑見舞い)

We don't recently write a letter or postcard to friends. We can contact them easily now. Almost people use e-mail of cell phone or computer. Even elder people can use e-mail and contact with grandsons or granddaughters with photos. Handwriting is rare thing in daily life or business. It is so convenience, however, e-mail is sometimes literal and it is difficult to feel emotions of the sender. There is a custom to write postcard in summer in Japan.
"Shochu Omimai Moshi Agemasu" and "Zansho Omimai Moshi Agemasu" are first phrases to write in postcards. Japanese write postcards to ask friends how he or she has been getting along in summer. "Shochu" 暑中 means the hot period from the end of rainy season to Liqiu (August 7 in this year). and "Zansho" 残暑 means the heat after Liqiu. So we write "Shochu Mimai" before Liqiu and "Zansho Mimai" (We call each postcards as "Shochu Mimai " and "Zansho Mimai".)
I have received a Shoshu Mimai from my friend this year. I was very glad. Receiving a letter or postcard is glad and special for us. (Do you think so ?) As I mentioned before, we seldom write a letter now. However, I think that this is good custom.

This is image of Shoshu Mimai