築地市場のレッスン (Tsukiji Market Lesson)

築地市場のレッスン

Tsukiji Market

Normally you wouldn’t think of going to a food market as a destination for your travels when abroad, but when in Tokyo there is one food market that stands above them all. This market is the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market (東京都中央卸売市場 Tōkyō-to Chūō Oroshiuri Shijō), or as it is more commonly known the Tsukiji Market (築地市場 Tsukiji shijō).Tsukiji is located near the TsukijishijōStation on the Toei Ōedo Line and Tsukiji Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. Tsukiji Market is the largest fish and seafood markets in the world. They handle more than 400 different kinds of seafood including 300 kg tuna.

Operations

The market is open most mornings (excluding Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays) at 3:00am. At this time lots of new seafood in brought into the market for their auctions. This includes the famous tuna auctions. The auctions start at 5:20am and are done by 7:00am. At this time the seafood is handed over to the winners, some destined for restaurants in other locations while some is destined for local stalls within the greater market. If you are looking for an interesting time, or some of the freshest seafood then there is no better place than the Tsukiji Market.

Tuna Auctions

One of the coolest things to witness at the market is the tuna auctions where different verities of tuna are sold to the highest bidder. The most famous are the Bluefin tuna prized for their fatty meat and used in sushi and other applications. Unfortunately due to the popularity of the tuna auctions they have been forced to implement a restriction to the number of tourists allowed in to view the auction. The current limit is 140 visitors, so if you want to get in to see it then make sure to be there early. Otherwise the main market is not open to the public until 9:00am.

So if you find yourself planning a trip to Japan and you enjoy fresh seafood then take a look at the Tsukiji Market. Who knows you might find something new to try eating. So until next time...

 じゃね。

日本の交通機関のレッスン一 (Japanese Transportation Lesson 1)

日本の交通機関のレッスン一

Public transportation

One of the best things about Japan is the public transportation system. If there is a place in Japan you want to go then there is a way to get there without owning a car or taking a taxi. From the Large scale travel across the country or the daily commute to school and work, there is a way to get you there.

 

Rail Transportation

The use of rail travel is prevalent throughout Japan. The majority of the rail lines in Japan are operated by the Japan Railways Group or JR Group (JRグループ, Jeiāru Gurūpu). There are other private rail lines in Japan but for the most part the JR Group is the name to know. The two main types of rail systems in Japan are the urban light rails and the faster rails for hops between metropolitan areas.

Shinkansen

When it comes to travelling from one city to the next, especially large ones like Tokyo and Osaka, nothing beats the speed of the Shinkansen (新幹線, new trunk line) or “bullet train” as it has become known to the west. This network of high speed rails crisscrosses Japan for a total of 1,483.6 miles of track and has a top speed of 186 mph. because of these lines and other lines of the JR Group, It is simple for a person to get across the country and at a fast pace.

Subways and Light rail

When it comes to the cities the rails are not lacking. Many of the cities have light rail or subway systems for public transportation. One such system is the Tokyo Subway (東京の地下鉄, Tōkyō no chikatetsu). The two networks that make up this subway are the Tokyo Metro and the TokyoMetropolitan Bureau of Transportation (東京都交通局 Tōkyō-to Kōtsū-kyoku, also called Toei). These networks combined have 274 stations and 13 lines.

 

So if you need to get around Japan try the wonderful rail systems. So until next time…

じゃね。

日本携帯電話のレッスン一 (Japanese Mobile Phone Lesson 1)

日本携帯電話のレッスン一

Cell Phone Culture

Japan has long been a leader in mobile phone technology. This has led to a widespread adoption of the technology in Japan. As of 2008 31.3% of elementary school students and 57.6% of middle school students owned a cell phone. In Japan cell phones are called keitai denwa (携帯電話, literally portable telephone), but that word is often shortened to just keitai. Because of the widespread use of mobile phones, and the advanced technologies available, Japan has formed a subculture around cell phones.

Flip Phone

The most common type of keitai found in Japan is the flip phone or clam shell. While other types such as touch-based smart phones are becoming popular, the flip phone still reigns supreme. These phones are often decorated and will have a charm hanging from it, though this behavior is more common amongst young girls and women. Because respecting others is important to Japanese culture it is commonplace to not talk on a phone in public. Instead many will turn their phone to silent and text instead. Because of this heavy use of texting many phones in Japan have a higher character limit than those found elsewhere in the world.

1seg

One of the coolest technologies found in many Japanese mobile phones is a TV broadcasting system known as 1seg. Imagine being able to catch live news on your commute to work, or watch some TV on your phone while on break. With 1seg this is all possible and that is just the tip of the iceberg. The best part of 1seg is that there is no extra cost to the user. The TV broadcasts are being sent over the air to any 1seg enabled devices.

So if you find yourself lucky enough to be in Japan pick up a keitai and see for yourself just how nice they are. So until next time…

じゃね。

日本健康のレッスン一 (Japanese Health Lesson One)

日本健康のレッスン一

Sorry for the laps in my posts everyone. I have been dealing with a terrible cold that has been traveling amongst all my friends and family, but I am back to my normal self now. It is this that brings me to today’s topic… being sick in Japan.

West vs. East

Here in the west we tend to leave it up to everyone else we encounter on a daily basis to protect themselves from us and our germs. If we are sick we may take some precautions such as using tissues, but seriously how often do you see that. In Japan, and much of the east for that matter, it is reversed. It is up to the person who is currently sick to protect others from their sickness. In reality this is a better method for the sole fact that it can be difficult to tell who you meet is sick or was that just a normal cough and sneeze.

 Masks on trains

One iconic symbol that I am sure most people have seen of Japan is the rail system. Often you might spot someone riding the train that has a face mask, or surgical mask, on. Nine chances out of ten they are sick and are wearing said mask to protect other passengers. They might be a salary man dressed in a full suit, a little old lady heading out to shop, or a girl in uniform heading to school but no matter their walk of life they are looking out for other people. This trend is so prevalent that companies have created designer masks that younger people tend to buy. These masks are designed to be washable and reusable. You could have a different mask for different outfits if you wanted to.

If I was in Japan I might not have gotten sick or passed it around to my family. So keep in mind the health of other people and maybe when next you are sick wear a mask for others. So until next time…

じゃね。

日本歴史のレッスン一 (History of Japan Lesson One)

日本歴史のレッスン一

Tokugawa Shogunate

 Today we have a lesson in Japanese History and the Meiji Restoration. Prior to this period in time, control of Japan had been in the hands of the Shogun. A shogun came into power by succeeding or overthrowing the previous one shogun. During this time the emperor was still present but was nothing more than a cultural and religious figurehead. It was the Tokugawa Shogunate (徳川幕府) founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu that would bring an end to the feudal system of Japan and return control of the country to the emperor and his ministers. In November of 1867 the 15^th Tokugawa Shogun relinquished his power to the emperor and ushered in a new era for Japan.

Meiji Restoration

One of the main reasons for the Meiji Restoration was the fact that Japan had fallen technologically behind the rest of the world during their self-imposed seclusion. To combat this many changes were made of these reopening Japan to foreign trade was one of the most important. This allowed Japan to refortify its military power with new weaponry and techniques. This period in time also saw the abolishment of the class system in Japan and the end of the samurai.

The Last Samurai

During the Meiji Restoration steps were taken that removed the power of the samurai (侍) class. One such step was the outlawing of caring a sword in public. Up until this point it was a badge of honor for a samurai to carry his swords with him. While many ex-samurai were conscripted to serve in the new military others fought the abandoning of their privileged class. The Satsuma Rebellion (西南戦争 Seinan Sensō (Southwestern War)) was the last in a series of these uprisings. It culminated in the deaths of the rebels and the effective end to the Japanese samurai.

It was a time of change, but without it Japan may not exist today. So until next time...

じゃね。

神道のレッスン一 (Shinto Lesson One)

神道のレッスン一

Shinto

Shintoism, also called kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spiritualism of Japan. Even though Shinto is considered a religion by most of the world, in actuality it is a set of practices incorporated into daily life. Shinto (神道), translated as “Way of the Gods”, is the study and reverence of kami (神).

Kami

The word kami is often translated into English as God or spirit. The term in actuality refers to the “spiritual essence” found in everything. These kami can take on many forms from human-like, to animistic, and even abstract “natural” forces. In ancient times people would build shrines that would house kami. At these shrines people would honor these spirits in return for safety, fortune, or good will. Over time some kami became more prominent than others, these major kami are included in such tales as the creation myth.

Shrines

Shinto shrines are found all over Japan and act as conduits for communication with the kami. These shrines can be small and simple or large and more complex. The shrines have purification rituals and are usually marked by the torii (鳥居). This gate symbolizes the transition from the profane into sacred realm of the shrine. Other common markers are statues such as the kitsune (狐, fox) statues found at the entrances of shrines dedicated to Inari Ōkami (稲荷大神).

So next time you see a torii gate look for the shrine nearby and pay that kami a visit. So until next time…

じゃね。

日本文化のレッスン一 (Japanese Culture Lesson One)

日本文化のレッスン一

Setsubun

For our first lesson in Japanese Culture I decided to go with something timely. Around early February (the beginning of the traditional lunar calendar) the Japanese, like many cultures around the New Year, have a ritual celebration to bring good fortune in the year to come. This celebration is Setsubun (節分), literally translated as “Bean-Throwing Festival” or “Bean-Throwing Ceremony”. There are many ways to celebrate this time of year, but a few have become tradition.

Mamemaki

One of these traditions is the ritual of mamemaki (豆撒き, literally “bean throwing”). In this ritual the male head of the family would take roasted soybeans called fuku mame (福豆, “fortune beans”) and throw them out the front door to keep evil spirits out of their home while everyone says “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (鬼は外！福は内！, “Demons out! Luck in!). In modern times one parent might dress up as a mythological creature called an oni (鬼), while the other parent leads their children in chasing the “oni” away with the soybeans.

Oni and the kimon

The word oni is most often translated into English as demon or ogre. The oni were believed to come from the kimono (鬼門) or “demon gate”. Introduced from China the idea was that demons and evil spirits came from the north-east direction and this direction became known as the demon gate. When the Chinese zodiac was placed on a compass the direction of north-east falls between the ushi (丑, ox) and the tora (寅, tiger). This led the kimon to known as the ushitora (丑寅) or the “ox tiger” direction. This association with the ox and the tiger gave us the modern image of the oni with its horns and fangs as well as the tiger pelt it wears.

So if you feel like getting some good luck for the year to come, and want to do so in Japanese fashion, then grab some soybeans and chase those oni out of your house. So until next week...

じゃね。