This is a really cute video a Korean student made of his student life.
yes that sums it up.
But in a Japanese JHS...
Yeah, yeah, for all you who watch any kind of anime...it is more or less exactly like that. There are rows of students. There is assigned seating (typically boy girl boy girl but sometimes a row of boys and a row of girls). There are the window seats that everyone wants, accompanied by windows that they are allowed to open as they please. On the other half of the classroom there are the windows to the hallway, that also have opening functions. This is a semi popular hangout spot in the ten minutes between classes, where another classes students come for a visit.
Speaking of these windows, they are also accompanied by curtains that can be shut when the students are changing into and out of their gym outfits, as they have separate changing areas for guys and girls. A larger curtain adorns the outside facing windows which is also covered at this time, but also whenever the touch screen is in use.
A bit of an irregularity in many classrooms and a large step forward, my school had large touch screen TV's in every room. For myself, I personally put them to use for powerpoints and short video clips and such when relevant to the lesson. These TV's are hooked up to a laptop that every classroom and teacher desk in the school sports (for more on this charming hardware please check out ). The laptops are stationary objects and never moved from their classrooms.
In the convenient location of next to the television, is the teachers domain. In my classrooms, the teacher prevails over the class upon a mini stage. This stage is perhaps half a foot high and deceptively easy to fall off. Just ask me! This stage is always on the right hand side in every classroom. Essentially all the students west.
Behind the teacher is a 3 meter or so long blackboard...greenboard? well it is a chalkboard. I hate chalk. The chalkboards are magnificent and beautiful and can move up and down and are occasionally concave so that students from either side will not have a hard time seeing the opposing side of the board. However, it is these chalkboards that I find the most behind the times. Even my middle school had SOME whiteboards. Maybe it is just because I hate chalk (have I mentioned that?), but I cannot stand these blackboards even more so than the laptops. Also with these boards come the chalk dust. The chalk dust that covers EVERYTHING. There is a permanent coating on the floor that makes the floor boards very soft. Soft enough to run and slide on. Soft enough to slip off the stage.
There are cubbies at the back of the classrooms. They are filled with papers and other school artifacts that go untouched. The students book bags all resemble plastic sports bags that guard their desk. Girl will occasionally have fashionable bags instead, especially if they are not on a sports team. These bags are deceptively expensive and are treated...well like a regular school book bag - slung around, plopped down, tripped over (ok the last one is largely me, but they are like obstacles in a katamari game!). They actually have hooks on the side of their desk which is used for a smaller bag is they have such an item.
Above the cubbies is yet another of my favorite chalkboards with the daily schedule on it. As well as paper posting of anything important, but ignorable.
These students themselves, have 6 classes a day each class lasting 45 to 50 minutes. The time depends on the school and if there are any important up coming activities that they have to practice after school for (like field day, school festival, graduation...). Classes start at 8:45 but for the fifteen minutes before that they have home room. The class that the students start in is essentially their homeroom and more or less the students will always stay in that class and the other teachers will come to visit that room. However there are a few classes that have their own room, like science, cooking, home economics, there are a few English classes that go to the actual English room ( we have 2), and well P.E. but really how could you even consider doing that in the classroom. Ok, so there are less classes actually in the classroom but all these classes and the ones that take place in the classroom rotate throughout the week. There are 4 morning classes and midday, the students lunch for 30-45 minutes each day and if they are in elementary school they then get to have recess for another 30 minutes. In middle school they are expected to bring their own lunch, but my elementary school provides lunch for the students. Following lunch there are two more classes and a homeroom closing that the students then go through before being officially released for the day.
Psyche. Afterschool, students are required to join a club. Such as handicrafts/cooking club, art club, judo club, chorus club, ping pong club, soccer team, baseball team, tennis team, basketball team, badminton team, volleyball team, or the track team. Whew I think that is all the teams and clubs. Notice how we do not have kendo. How sad. They typically stay at school until around 5pm (they get there around 8am).
These activities and schedules and even setting is largely based on a JHS setting, I tried to throw in a few elementary examples, but if you are curious for more information, please don't hesitate to ask me!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I always feel like
Somebody's watching me.
Paranoia seems to be a bit big in Japan. Especially involving the internet. They are extremely hesitant to put things on places like Youtube, lest they be recognized by a facial recognition software that pins them to one or another misdemeanor.
The question is not whether or not they have the software, they do. A company, Omron, prides themselves on their facial recognition software. A elite software which is simple as walking into the building. That is all you have to do to get past security for the day. No card keys or finger print scans needed any more. This system runs on a video feed and determines a persons identity via their facial features. It calculates how far apart their eyes are, the exact positioning of a mouth, or a ten point ear analysis. They say that this software is to help establishments determine when a VIP or blacklisted member walk through the door and how to appropriately deal with them.
To me it sounds like something every pachinko place will have in the near future in order to stay on top of their loaded patrons and squeeze more coin of them.
But with technology like this, it keeps people on their toes in constant fear of Skynet or something. And as such, they are afraid to see their own selves on Youtube.
Paranoia seems to be a bit big in Japan. Especially involving the internet. They are extremely hesitant to put things on places like Youtube, lest they be recognized by a facial recognition software that pins them to one or another misdemeanor.
The question is not whether or not they have the software, they do. A company, Omron, prides themselves on their facial recognition software. A elite software which is simple as walking into the building. That is all you have to do to get past security for the day. No card keys or finger print scans needed any more. This system runs on a video feed and determines a persons identity via their facial features. It calculates how far apart their eyes are, the exact positioning of a mouth, or a ten point ear analysis. They say that this software is to help establishments determine when a VIP or blacklisted member walk through the door and how to appropriately deal with them.
To me it sounds like something every pachinko place will have in the near future in order to stay on top of their loaded patrons and squeeze more coin of them.
But with technology like this, it keeps people on their toes in constant fear of Skynet or something. And as such, they are afraid to see their own selves on Youtube.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
If at first you don't Succeed...
try and try again.
Ok I AM a bit of a go-getter. But some things in life are hard and you have to decide how much you want them. As you must know if you have read anything else on here: I work in Japan as an ALT. Don't let the title fool you. When I teach, I assist in nothing. I have the full class time to make the biggest clown of myself and teach those peanut-eaters (the gallery) as much English as I possibly can. However there is only one of me and 500 of them. Therefore I am spread out quite a bit and cannot be any one grade let alone class's English instructor. (For me in my JHS there are 3 grades, 6 classes per grade and 2/3rds of the grades have split classes, therefore 12 classes in English per grade.)
It is a great job. Let me tell you. I have wonderful students, who really appreciate me and what I do. And they try very hard to communicate with and please me. I have great teachers that I work with and a very helpful and generous company (especially with the vacation time). However, all of this, it was no easy task to acquire.
Many people have the misperception that Japan hires anyone, and that they are always looking for English teachers. This is just not true. First off, when you come here and try to speak to most anyone, they are extremely hesitant to speak to you. And even then will typically do so in very broken poor English. This is because Japan does not have as big of an emphasis on their English program as you might think. Sure they started early integrating it in their school systems, but they spread their teachers thin, having them go to multiple schools and seeing their students only once a month.
What most people do not know, is that there are way more (tens of thousands more) English teachers in Korea. Any given Koreans' English is almost bound to be better than any given Japanese persons. They study way harder there. Almost until 10pm at night. Additionally, I saw my kids, the same ones, 3-5 times a week.
Yes, Japan has marvelously integrated English into almost every useful public system and have become a slight degree more foreigner friendly than Korea in that one aspect. But Korea is catching up. Rapidly.
The point of this, is that Japan English teachers are not that prevalent and if you want to see prevalence, then you should visit Korea. So yes, the Japanese English teachers are a bit renowned. They were the first country to do anything like it, which opened a whole bunch of jobs for people like me. But over time, as more and more people became interested in these positions, they have been able to become selective about who they can choose. Oddly the surplus of interest and the competition of Korea does not mean it creates more jobs for the English teacher. Jobs here are on a slow incline. If you check the stats of foreign teachers in Japan of the years, you will notice a very slow incline, where in Korea is is more like a radical Everest sized spike. As such, actually acquiring a Japan in Japan can be rather difficult.
Many people have the misperception that Japan hires anyone, and that they are always looking for English teachers. This is just not true. First off, when you come here and try to speak to most anyone, they are extremely hesitant to speak to you. And even then will typically do so in very broken poor English. This is because Japan does not have as big of an emphasis on their English program as you might think. Sure they started early integrating it in their school systems, but they spread their teachers thin, having them go to multiple schools and seeing their students only once a month.
What most people do not know, is that there are way more (tens of thousands more) English teachers in Korea. Any given Koreans' English is almost bound to be better than any given Japanese persons. They study way harder there. Almost until 10pm at night. Additionally, I saw my kids, the same ones, 3-5 times a week.
Yes, Japan has marvelously integrated English into almost every useful public system and have become a slight degree more foreigner friendly than Korea in that one aspect. But Korea is catching up. Rapidly.
The point of this, is that Japan English teachers are not that prevalent and if you want to see prevalence, then you should visit Korea. So yes, the Japanese English teachers are a bit renowned. They were the first country to do anything like it, which opened a whole bunch of jobs for people like me. But over time, as more and more people became interested in these positions, they have been able to become selective about who they can choose. Oddly the surplus of interest and the competition of Korea does not mean it creates more jobs for the English teacher. Jobs here are on a slow incline. If you check the stats of foreign teachers in Japan of the years, you will notice a very slow incline, where in Korea is is more like a radical Everest sized spike. As such, actually acquiring a Japan in Japan can be rather difficult.
For Example, let's have a look at my personal experience:
I actually was accepted and hired by the first company I applied to...Interac, for those who need reminding. At first, I didn't hear back for weeks. And the position wasn't even a guarantee when I did finally hear back. In the mean time I made the most of my time and I applied to a few other companies. 45 to be exact.
It is one of those things that I just wanted bad enough. I taught for a year in Korea and discovered I loved the work and the kids, which is crazy since for those who know me, they know I typically want nothing to do with kids. Which is still true! ...Asian kids are just different. And cute. Anyways I wanted to continue that, only in Japan.
Japan is super competitive for jobs and very often only accepts applicants who are applying from within the country, since there are enough of them, English speaking natives in Japan looking for jobs. If you are job hunting and dead set on Japan. Then my advice is to move over to Japan first and then look for a job after. And then get your stuff sent to you. By hiring people who are already in Japan, the companies can often get around not having to sponsor your Certificate of Eligibility for your visa. Not that it is difficult, it is just a nice lot of time and investment into a person to get one. Additionally, they can usually interview people in person when they live in Japan, which is a bonus to them, it gives them a certain amount of security that you will not cancel or run off once you get to Japan. Apparently Japan just doesn't have contracts like Korea and it is very easy to break contracts with very minimal consequence. Basically they are glorified toilet paper.
So if you are serious about applying and finding a job in Japan. It can be done. I actually got more than one offer. And I did it with my preferred placement running against my odds. I wanted, in particular, placement in the Kansai region, which is extremely difficult since so does everyone else. As such, the region can have a nice fat lot of people to pick from. The less picky you are the easier it is for you.
When I told you I applied to 45 places...I wasn't lying.
there is more down there...trust me
I didn't just make all these up, I did this so that I could keep track of the ones I applied to so that I wouldn't reapply to them. Also it helped me to get a good comparison of all the ones I applied to.
Funny story
As an after thought, I decided to include an embarrassing story of one of the places I applied to. What you first need to understand, is that for a lot of these places, you apply by email by sending your resume and cover letter and photo and whatever else they may want of you to a listed email address. They sort through the herds and find the finest goose of the flock. Regardless, in the process, instead of sending my cover letter, I sent this document. YOU WHAT!? Yup. Can't take that one back.
But oddly enough, two or three weeks late, I got a reply from the school. They were most amused, and appreciated my organization and my perseverance. I turned around my situation and got several interviews and a job offer out of the craziness. Though I did not take the offer, it kind of goes to show that...umm...crazy good stuff can happen.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Japan's Pricetag
What the What?! Do I really need $5000.00 to move to Japan!?No. You need more than that.
Ideally you should really move to Japan with at least 500,000￥.
At this point most people are like what the heck?! I am moving there to make money, not to spend all of it! Well, it's a trade off. It's crappy I know, but you need money to start a new life somewhere, anywhere.
Don't want to buy in?
If you don't want these money worries, my advice is to move to Korea. The EPIK program is nice and generous and pays for your flights (they pay a set fee so if you get a cheap flight, you really tend to make money - I think my flight was $480.00 and they reimbursed me somewhere around a grand). In addition they house you for free and give you three free meals a day during training. I apologize, I can't seem to remember if they pay you for the training or not... But they DO they pay you exactly a month from when you start. They also provide you with free housing and furnishing for your entire time in Korea. Sometimes, as in cases like mine, they even pay for your bills; that is because the place I stayed in was so cheap that they had to find a way to use the rest of my budget for housing. However, if you place costs more than the housing budget, then you may end up paying a little bit extra a month. I am talking like a hundred dollars or less.
So what do I need all these monies for?
The biggest thing you need money for is your apartment. It costs a nice handsome price for something that could equal a New Yorker's closet space. Why does it cost so much? Japanese apartments have a lot of hidden fees and such. You have to pay for things like key money, insurance and a few months rent ( just in case).
So now I have a place what about the rest of the money?
You need it to furnish your place. Some places and contracts, especially ones with Leopalace, will have furnishings including: a TV, bed frame, TV stand, table, microwave, fridge, and washing machine. Please note that if you want to go with your own place you have to buy all these things. If that is the case, you can find pretty sweet deals at the local recycle shop. But overall, the majority of these appliances can be pretty expensive in Japan. With that being said I still bought my toaster oven at a recycle shop for 1,500￥.
Furnishings check.
Apartment check. Furnishings check. Everything else check.
Now what?
After that, and perhaps most importantly, you need a phone. You are require to have one so that your company can contact you in a pinch. Sure, you can get a pay as you go one, but if you are planning on staying in Japan longer, I personally really recommend getting something with a bit more snazz. Japanese smart phones have truly unlimited data, also you can use them to pay your bills by simply walking in a store (however, I think this may be an android only service), or use them for a nifty app that tells you exactly when trains arrive and the fastest route from point A to B (Jorudan). Overall they are just really useful.
Can't I just use my old phone?
Short answer. NO. You can absolutely not use your old phone. Also Japanese stores do not sell only the SIM cards either. So quit asking. I swear that is like the first thing that people fresh off the boat ask. Can I buy a cheapo phone and switch the SIM card? Still a neg. The SIM card you buy has to match the functions of your phone (ie: data plans). This leaves you with two choices, go cheap or go all the way. Personally, I have an iPhone. They had a deal for Japanese citizens that made it free when they purchased it. NOT being a Japanese citizen I paid 46,000￥ for it. However, my monthly rate is cheaper.
OK so now for a break down of your start up costs:
Apartment Total: 198200￥
- Key Money (non-refundable deposit): 50,500 ￥
- Key Exchange Fee: 3,150 ￥
- Fire Insurance (good for 2 years): 20,000 ￥
- Data Entry Fee: 2,100 ￥
- Rent for August (Partial): 12,410 ￥
- Rent for September : 55,020 ￥
- Rent for October : 55,020 ￥
Furnishings at recycle shop prices! 57,000 ￥
- Toaster oven 1,500￥
- Microwave 5,000￥
- Rice cooker 3,500￥
- Fridge 8,000￥
- Washing machine 12,000￥
- Bed 8,000 ￥
(find online or at sayonara sales) - TV 10,000￥
(for whatever reason even the analog ones are still expensive!) - Kotatsu 9,000 ￥
(including table and kotatsu futon)
(new its pretty hard to fund used)
Apartment oddities 30,600
- Dishes 6,300￥
(pots, pans, utensils, plates, bowls, mixing bowls, spatula, ladle, chopsticks) - Futon x2 10,000￥
- Sheets 3,000￥
- Towels 1,200￥
- Bathroom supplies 800￥
(toilet paper, scrubber...) - Shower supplies2,600 ￥
(shower rack, shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste, soap...) - Kitchen supplies 800￥
(trash cans, soap, sponge...) - Cleaning Supplies 1,500 ￥
- Closet stuff 1,400 ￥
(coat hangers/organizers) - Shelving 500 ￥ per
- Fan 2,500 ￥
Phone (varies)
- iPhone 46,000 ￥
- pay as you go4,000 ￥
What do you do with all the left over money?
Eat.
Pay bills.
Transportation.
These are all things you need to consider as well. Since you are not going to get paid for possibly 2 months. But you get paid for training? Yes this is true...However this will come with your first pay check. For most that pay check comes the month after they start working. Hypothetically, say you start working in April. You will not get paid until the end of May. Therefore, if you come over in March for training, you need to make sure you have enough money to cover food expenses (which are higher) until you get paid. Personally I go through about a 10,000￥ a week. I cook all of my meals. You can of course pay much less. Also since you pay for three months of your apartment, you clearly don't have to worry about paying that, say for three months, but you do need to worry about paying for the gas, electric, and water bills for each month. In addition to those bills, you will also get your phone bill too. And on top of that, there is your insurance that you need to pay every month.
And I know some of you right now might be saying 'but they said I will get paid for transportation'. And you will. But it is a reimbursement. You get reimbursed the exact amount that you spend for transportation. AFTER you spend it. So you need to have enough to make it to your first pay check and then they will reimburse you for all the money that you previously spent on transportation. Also, they say up to 20,000￥ they will typically not go too far over it, and on the flipside they will only pay you for how much it costs you to get to your schools and get home from them (so no funny business!). If that means it is only 6,000￥ then they only reimburse you for 6,000￥.
Since Japan is just so expensive, please do not fool yourself into thinking that once you obtain 500,000￥ that that is the end all and you are set to go off to Japan. Please notice I did not cover a single before-cost in this blog. This is largely because I did not come from America, or the U.K. or any place that could be useful to you. I came from Korea. And as such my process was very different from your own. But for curious readers I highly recommend checking out The Rising Daikon's breakdown of the monetary units required for that.
NOW!
With all that being said, and for people still freaking out about Japan's pricetag, companies, like Interac, will often give you a cash advance and can help you out a bit (which you pay off bit by bit via your paycheck in an amount that you find convenient). Other companies, like JET, will pay for your plane ticket over, as well as part of your housing. Additionally, you can choose things like cheap housing, only eatting things from the dollar store, minimizing your furnishing (you don't need that toaster), sleeping on the floor (Japanese style!), which are all valid and available options to a penny pincher looking for adventure. But my advice, make the most of your time here...whatever that means...Just live and don't regret it!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Closing time
A time when emotions duel each other for excitement and tears.
I was just party to my first Japanese Junior High School graduation.
The graduation consisted primarily of what you might expect. The handing out of certificates. The official seal of completion from a school. With 300 students this took about as long as you would expect, with the calling out of the names (about an hour). But what surprised me most was how efficient and orderly the students were. There was always a line of only 5 people ever waiting, who would mount the stage one at a time preceding their call and face the audience. At that time they would respond 'Hai!' to the calling of their name, cross the stage, bow to the principal, receive their diploma, and exit stage front. There were certain pathways they took which all made it seem very orderly, I really wonder just how must practice went into it.
The stage itself was decorated with a very elaborate arrangement of flowers, styled with symbolic meaning in a very Japanese traditional fashion. In addition it also had the school flag as well as the Japanese flag.
The students themselves were decked out in their usual. The winter school uniform. They also had a special addition of a fake flower corsage that decorated their name pin. This corsage was blue for the male crowd and pink for the ladies. In addition their teachers had corresponding real flower corsages pinned upon their breast.
When Japanese suit up they really suit up. Of course I was wearing a suit, what are you talking about. But they wore suits. They have elaborate silk ties with blingy chains adorning them and sparkly hair decor for the ladies. Nearly everyone had their finest piece of jewelry on.
Nextly, speeches were made...in Japanese...of course
I sat next to the new student council who sniffled and made soft noises the entire ceremony.
For the last act the 3rd years set up and mounted the bleachers and sang the school song. Now this is apparently a singing school and as such they sang a bit more and a bit more. A nice total of 3-4 songs. But if you look closely, I am pretty sure some of the men are just faking it.
Afterwards
There is a tradition that is pretty familiar to most schools where the students teachers and parents all form two rows making a pathway for the 3rd years to walk through. This is their grand exit. The pathways starts out in the field and leads straight out the front gate, where they should never have to enter again.
During this walk there is much hugging and crying and gift giving. The young ones give gifts as memorials and well wishes to their sempais as forget-me-nots. Photos, towels, cards, and small gifts were seen in everyone's hands. And finally they reach the outer limit, where all their parents are waiting, camcorders at the ready, their eyes glistening at the corners. And to home they go.
Goodbye my 3rd years. And good luck!
I was just party to my first Japanese Junior High School graduation.
The graduation consisted primarily of what you might expect. The handing out of certificates. The official seal of completion from a school. With 300 students this took about as long as you would expect, with the calling out of the names (about an hour). But what surprised me most was how efficient and orderly the students were. There was always a line of only 5 people ever waiting, who would mount the stage one at a time preceding their call and face the audience. At that time they would respond 'Hai!' to the calling of their name, cross the stage, bow to the principal, receive their diploma, and exit stage front. There were certain pathways they took which all made it seem very orderly, I really wonder just how must practice went into it.
The stage itself was decorated with a very elaborate arrangement of flowers, styled with symbolic meaning in a very Japanese traditional fashion. In addition it also had the school flag as well as the Japanese flag.
The students themselves were decked out in their usual. The winter school uniform. They also had a special addition of a fake flower corsage that decorated their name pin. This corsage was blue for the male crowd and pink for the ladies. In addition their teachers had corresponding real flower corsages pinned upon their breast.
When Japanese suit up they really suit up. Of course I was wearing a suit, what are you talking about. But they wore suits. They have elaborate silk ties with blingy chains adorning them and sparkly hair decor for the ladies. Nearly everyone had their finest piece of jewelry on.
Nextly, speeches were made...in Japanese...of course
I sat next to the new student council who sniffled and made soft noises the entire ceremony.
For the last act the 3rd years set up and mounted the bleachers and sang the school song. Now this is apparently a singing school and as such they sang a bit more and a bit more. A nice total of 3-4 songs. But if you look closely, I am pretty sure some of the men are just faking it.
Afterwards
There is a tradition that is pretty familiar to most schools where the students teachers and parents all form two rows making a pathway for the 3rd years to walk through. This is their grand exit. The pathways starts out in the field and leads straight out the front gate, where they should never have to enter again.
During this walk there is much hugging and crying and gift giving. The young ones give gifts as memorials and well wishes to their sempais as forget-me-nots. Photos, towels, cards, and small gifts were seen in everyone's hands. And finally they reach the outer limit, where all their parents are waiting, camcorders at the ready, their eyes glistening at the corners. And to home they go.
Goodbye my 3rd years. And good luck!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Japan in Real-Time
I am terrible with names. Just ask mum. I named my first dog 5 times (after every Disney princess) until it settled on Belle...who was of course stolen two weeks later...
Anyways, this title, Japan in Real-Time, was only ever meant to be a temporary one until I thought of something that was witty and personally fitting.
Anyways, this title, Japan in Real-Time, was only ever meant to be a temporary one until I thought of something that was witty and personally fitting.
Well that day has finally come. I have changed my name to The Sushi Complex, not to be complicated for everyone who was checking into me, but to make it more personal. However with the new name and personalization, has come a new domain name as well to match my title. Japan in Real-Time is more or less a lot like every other Japan blog you might have come to know. I just wanted to take that step apart from the everyone.
With that said, I apologize for being difficult!
That seat is saved...
And so is that one. And that one.
In some ways Japan has not yet left childhood. You have the comics, the anime, the pen cases, and all other manner of bright colorful objects of childhood that are quite commonplace in the adult world. But one thing I think is truly amazing, is the seat saving.
Between cafes like Starbucks or restaurants ( using the term loosely) like McDonald's, you might find yourself hard pressed to find a seat. In Japan it is natural to go and scout out the situation and reserve seating or a table by placing a personal item upon the furnishing. Marking your territory. This lets everyone else know that that seat is claimed. This personal item may be a cell phone, a handkerchief, or even a purse. The amazing thing for this is not that they save the seats as you would for a childhood friend in a cafeteria, it is that all other people respect that and will not relocate their items or worse take them. They simple recognize that someone has prior claim and will move along.
Interestingly, when visiting another country, say Korea, they might still do the same thing to save their seat; however, Koreans are not so big on doing this and will line up first, order, and seat scout later. Therefore, unless the item is very evidently a personal item, like a purse, they (the Koreans) will sit down anyways wondering who the hell left their handkerchief there. Thus making the Japanese tourist later retrieve the item from the now occupied seat and find a new one.
In some ways Japan has not yet left childhood. You have the comics, the anime, the pen cases, and all other manner of bright colorful objects of childhood that are quite commonplace in the adult world. But one thing I think is truly amazing, is the seat saving.
Between cafes like Starbucks or restaurants ( using the term loosely) like McDonald's, you might find yourself hard pressed to find a seat. In Japan it is natural to go and scout out the situation and reserve seating or a table by placing a personal item upon the furnishing. Marking your territory. This lets everyone else know that that seat is claimed. This personal item may be a cell phone, a handkerchief, or even a purse. The amazing thing for this is not that they save the seats as you would for a childhood friend in a cafeteria, it is that all other people respect that and will not relocate their items or worse take them. They simple recognize that someone has prior claim and will move along.
Interestingly, when visiting another country, say Korea, they might still do the same thing to save their seat; however, Koreans are not so big on doing this and will line up first, order, and seat scout later. Therefore, unless the item is very evidently a personal item, like a purse, they (the Koreans) will sit down anyways wondering who the hell left their handkerchief there. Thus making the Japanese tourist later retrieve the item from the now occupied seat and find a new one.
There is exactly one stool in this picture that is not on reserve.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Not you usual Cup of Noodles
As far as the museum goes, it is very small, but for its size, it is decently interactive with panels you can open and such. Unfortunately it is all in Japanese. It includes a house, more like a shack, which is a representation of the house where Momofuku Ando invented the instant chicken ramen. There is even a chicken pen outside. Inside you will find a huge cooking vat and the noodle shredder and various other equipment that he used to create his famous recipe.
One of the other, more like the only other, main attraction the the museum (which is in fact free) is the instant ramen tunnel. This is a timeline tunnel of all the different flavors of ramen that have been created since its birth in 1958. The timeline appears to only be limited to the Nissin variation of ramen products, but that is not much of a limitation, as you can see there is easily a few hundred ramen here. And to answer you question, no, these are not all currently on sale right now in Japan. Nissin frequently improves or varies their products to match the public's taste desires, as well as to keep their recipes and products innovation and to keep people coming back for seconds...or this is Japan so it might be more like thousandths with the amount of ramen they seem to eat!
So lastly and probably most importantly about this museum is its key feature. Here you can make your very own Nissin ramen. This recipe is not one that will go on sale anywhere. It is an original recipe that you can make and take home to eat, or to decorate your house and collect dust. It is a cheap fee of 300￥. You get a special cup which you then decorate to make original. It seems that many people like to go with the symbolic little mascot of the chicken that seems very affluent throughout the museum. Afterwards you then get to add your ramen noodles, your broth, and a choice of 4 toppings. Afterward the lid is then put in place and it is shrink-wrapped.I took a video of the process!
all cheese....
Here are a few AWESOME Cup Noodle advertisements that I feel like everyone should watch.
Now from 1992 in Stop Motion
Also here is a pretty good site with more pictures and a wonderful description of the museum.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Cotillion Class
Not that I ever went...
But I feel like this post is long over due. The Japanese have quite a few no-nos for your typical dining experience. Not just the usual don't eat with your mouth open and no elbows at the table or ( and in my house) no singing at the table... Moving on!
I have discovered a fair few more than your average table manners since living in Japan. And if you want Korean table manners...that will me a much longer post that will happen later if I decide to do it - as there seem to be a plethora.
First a few basics on how to hold.
Hold your chopsticks near the end. Use them to pinch the food and NOT to scissor. There are Japanese people, mostly men, who scissor their food, but it is considered improper.
Ok! Let's begin! 'Itadakimasu!'(いただきます) Which translates to 'I humbly accept' and is said at the beginning of meals to express your gratitude for the food and its preparation.
CHOPSTICK ETIQUETTE
#1
This one is pretty basic, but extremely important. Do not stick your chopsticks in your food. This is done at funerals and it symbolizes death. It is done to honor one who has passed on.
#2
Do not point with your chopsticks or lift them in the air other than to put food in your mouth. Additionally do not move plates, dishes, or tableware around with your chopsticks.
#3
When your chopsticks are not in use they go either beside the bowl, on the bowl, or horizontally in front of you with the tips pointing to the left. This really depends on how fancy the restaurant is.
#5
When serving yourself from a common dish that is shared and there is no serving utensils or chopsticks, you use the end of the chopstick that does not touch your mouth to serve food onto your plate. You then reverse your chopsticks again and eat normally from your plate.
#6
When sharing food from your own plate, it is best to transfer it to a smaller plate and then pass it to the person. It is highly offensive to pass it from chopsticks to chopsticks.
EATING ETIQUETTE
#7
It is rude if you do not finish EVERY SINGLE ( and yes I honestly mean that) grain of rice. It is likely acceptable at a restaurant, but at a persons home it is considered rather rude.
#6
Do not add soy sauce to your rice. There are some...seasonings if you will... that are acceptable and are presented as rice seasonings. There are also sauces from the dish you might be eating that is also acceptable to pour over it. (ex: if you are eating a boiled fish dish that has a juice that it was cooked in and is left over, it might be acceptable to pour it over your rice depending on the restaurant.)
#8
It is polite to lift your bowl off the table to avoid spilling its contents. Especially if it is a small bowl.
#9
It is polite to slurp your soup. They say that if you slurp it, it means that the soup tastes good. Also they say that the added air from slurping offers better taste to the dish.
#10
It is polite to position your dishes in the manner that they were received when you have finished your meal. (Lids, placements, etc)
#11
Do not mix your food. There is a type of rice bowl that is prepared with meat that covers the rice. This is considered to be the perfect balance and that you should eat it in the condition it is served and not stir or mix the dish.
#12
Eating and/or drinking while walking. It isn't done. Period. Yes, there are lots of vending machines in Japan, but there are the recycle bins right next to them. You are expected to drink your beverage at the location and throw it away or simply take it with you for a later time. Also eating on a subway. Again, it just isn't done. They will probably stare at you until you stop or sneak glances out of the corners of their eyes while making disgruntled sounds.
#13
It is extremely rude to blow you nose at the table. Actually it is quite rude regardless in Japan. They are a very non-nose blowing culture. Additionally, your handkerchief is something with which you never wipe or blow your nose.
#14
Wash your hands before eating. You are often given a moist towelette or if you are at a really nice place you are given a heated wet cloth to wipe your hands clean. But it is also common practice to wash your hands in a bathroom before you eat. (Yeah this should be basic practice around the world just some places will often fall short and in Japan this is very regularly, if not almost always done).
#15
Toothpicks. Use them. Japanese are very fond of them. Especially if you are male. It is most polite to cover your mouth when using them.
#16
Miso soup. Eat the contents out with your chopsticks and take the bowl to your mouth and drink the broth out as if the bowl were a cup.
DRINK ETIQUETTE
#17
When serving drinks, it is polite to fill everyone else glasses before your own. Additionally it is also polite (especially if you are youngest or want to make a good impression to pay attention to the others drink levels and to refill them if they need it).
#18
When drinking alcohol and someone wants to serve you a drink, you have to down you current glass (rather quickly) in order to graciously accept their offer. It is rude to reject their offer. If you do not drink, ask them to serve you a glass of something else. In Korea we would pour each other sprite in lieu of soju.
And lastly, when you have finished your meal, you state "Gochisousama deshita!"(ごちそうさまでした), which means 'Thank you for the meal'
But I feel like this post is long over due. The Japanese have quite a few no-nos for your typical dining experience. Not just the usual don't eat with your mouth open and no elbows at the table or ( and in my house) no singing at the table... Moving on!
I have discovered a fair few more than your average table manners since living in Japan. And if you want Korean table manners...that will me a much longer post that will happen later if I decide to do it - as there seem to be a plethora.
First a few basics on how to hold.
Hold your chopsticks near the end. Use them to pinch the food and NOT to scissor. There are Japanese people, mostly men, who scissor their food, but it is considered improper.
Ok! Let's begin! 'Itadakimasu!'(いただきます) Which translates to 'I humbly accept' and is said at the beginning of meals to express your gratitude for the food and its preparation.
CHOPSTICK ETIQUETTE
#1
This one is pretty basic, but extremely important. Do not stick your chopsticks in your food. This is done at funerals and it symbolizes death. It is done to honor one who has passed on.
#2
Do not point with your chopsticks or lift them in the air other than to put food in your mouth. Additionally do not move plates, dishes, or tableware around with your chopsticks.
#3
When your chopsticks are not in use they go either beside the bowl, on the bowl, or horizontally in front of you with the tips pointing to the left. This really depends on how fancy the restaurant is.
#4
You might think this is fundamental, but in Korea it is acceptable. Do not feed others with your chopsticks.
You might think this is fundamental, but in Korea it is acceptable. Do not feed others with your chopsticks.
#5
When serving yourself from a common dish that is shared and there is no serving utensils or chopsticks, you use the end of the chopstick that does not touch your mouth to serve food onto your plate. You then reverse your chopsticks again and eat normally from your plate.
#6
When sharing food from your own plate, it is best to transfer it to a smaller plate and then pass it to the person. It is highly offensive to pass it from chopsticks to chopsticks.
EATING ETIQUETTE
#7
It is rude if you do not finish EVERY SINGLE ( and yes I honestly mean that) grain of rice. It is likely acceptable at a restaurant, but at a persons home it is considered rather rude.
#6
Do not add soy sauce to your rice. There are some...seasonings if you will... that are acceptable and are presented as rice seasonings. There are also sauces from the dish you might be eating that is also acceptable to pour over it. (ex: if you are eating a boiled fish dish that has a juice that it was cooked in and is left over, it might be acceptable to pour it over your rice depending on the restaurant.)
#8
It is polite to lift your bowl off the table to avoid spilling its contents. Especially if it is a small bowl.
#9
It is polite to slurp your soup. They say that if you slurp it, it means that the soup tastes good. Also they say that the added air from slurping offers better taste to the dish.
#10
It is polite to position your dishes in the manner that they were received when you have finished your meal. (Lids, placements, etc)
#11
Do not mix your food. There is a type of rice bowl that is prepared with meat that covers the rice. This is considered to be the perfect balance and that you should eat it in the condition it is served and not stir or mix the dish.
#12
Eating and/or drinking while walking. It isn't done. Period. Yes, there are lots of vending machines in Japan, but there are the recycle bins right next to them. You are expected to drink your beverage at the location and throw it away or simply take it with you for a later time. Also eating on a subway. Again, it just isn't done. They will probably stare at you until you stop or sneak glances out of the corners of their eyes while making disgruntled sounds.
#13
It is extremely rude to blow you nose at the table. Actually it is quite rude regardless in Japan. They are a very non-nose blowing culture. Additionally, your handkerchief is something with which you never wipe or blow your nose.
#14
Wash your hands before eating. You are often given a moist towelette or if you are at a really nice place you are given a heated wet cloth to wipe your hands clean. But it is also common practice to wash your hands in a bathroom before you eat. (Yeah this should be basic practice around the world just some places will often fall short and in Japan this is very regularly, if not almost always done).
#15
Toothpicks. Use them. Japanese are very fond of them. Especially if you are male. It is most polite to cover your mouth when using them.
#16
Miso soup. Eat the contents out with your chopsticks and take the bowl to your mouth and drink the broth out as if the bowl were a cup.
DRINK ETIQUETTE
#17
When serving drinks, it is polite to fill everyone else glasses before your own. Additionally it is also polite (especially if you are youngest or want to make a good impression to pay attention to the others drink levels and to refill them if they need it).
#18
When drinking alcohol and someone wants to serve you a drink, you have to down you current glass (rather quickly) in order to graciously accept their offer. It is rude to reject their offer. If you do not drink, ask them to serve you a glass of something else. In Korea we would pour each other sprite in lieu of soju.
And lastly, when you have finished your meal, you state "Gochisousama deshita!"(ごちそうさまでした), which means 'Thank you for the meal'
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Girls and Dolls
Sister to the amazing musical number of Guys and Dolls, Girls and Dolls has a more simple title in Japanese: Hinamatsuri.
The third of march has two meanings for most Japanese people: Girls' Day and Doll Festival.
Both of these celebrations are held simultaneously.
Dolls are thought to be a sort of container for bad spirits. And as such would be collected on this day and sent down the river into the sea in a ceremony called 'doll floating', or hina-nagashi. This tradition comes from the creation of straw hina dolls upon which Japanese people would transfer their illness, bad luck, or curses and would send down a river out to sea. Essentially sending all their troubles away. As the onset of spring and a season for new beginnings, it has developed into customary practice partaken by many. This custom may seem a little reminiscent of a few Vondun rituals no? Actually there is a separate custom entirely where if one wishes ill-will upon an individual, the creation of a hina doll bearing the name of the individual is undergone and then nailed to a tree.
On the other hand, these same hina dolls are often presented to young girls and used as ornamentation during this festival. It is a way of bringing good luck and future happiness to their daughters. Highly decorative and fashioned in a traditional ancient style of clothing, these dolls typically extremely expensive and are often passed down from generation to generation. These dolls will often set a buyer back one million or more yen; therefore it is not uncommon to only purchase the emperor and empress to start the collection and slowly, with one doll a year, expand the collection until completion. The emperor and empress tend to be the most expensive of the set donning the most elaborate dress made of the finest materials.
A full set of these dolls would consist of at least 15 dolls arranged on a 5 or 7 tiered (remember, lucky numners), red-carpeted platform which is usually placed in the best room of the house when they are on display. Interestingly the placement of the dolls differs slightly from the Kansai to Kanto regions ( as many things tend to), however the tiered arrangement is still that same.
Little miniatures singing the Hina Matsuri song at the Shimogamo Shrine:
The Hina Matsuri River float of ohime and odairi sama at the Shimogamo Shrine:
The third of march has two meanings for most Japanese people: Girls' Day and Doll Festival.
Both of these celebrations are held simultaneously.
On the other hand, these same hina dolls are often presented to young girls and used as ornamentation during this festival. It is a way of bringing good luck and future happiness to their daughters. Highly decorative and fashioned in a traditional ancient style of clothing, these dolls typically extremely expensive and are often passed down from generation to generation. These dolls will often set a buyer back one million or more yen; therefore it is not uncommon to only purchase the emperor and empress to start the collection and slowly, with one doll a year, expand the collection until completion. The emperor and empress tend to be the most expensive of the set donning the most elaborate dress made of the finest materials.
A full set of these dolls would consist of at least 15 dolls arranged on a 5 or 7 tiered (remember, lucky numners), red-carpeted platform which is usually placed in the best room of the house when they are on display. Interestingly the placement of the dolls differs slightly from the Kansai to Kanto regions ( as many things tend to), however the tiered arrangement is still that same.
- Top tier: Emperor and Empress Odairi-sama and Ohime-sama respectively ((御内裏様, 御雛様)
- Second tier: 3 court ladies, san-nin kanjo (三人官女)
- Third Tier: 5 musicians, gonin bayashi (五人囃子)
- Fourth Tier: 2 ministers: Minister of the Right, udaijin (右大臣) and Minister of the Left, sadaijin (左大臣)
- Fifth Tier: 3 servants
- Sixth and Seventh Tiers: miniature furnishings
In addition to the ornamentation, young girls will often throw a type of tea party, inviting people over and presenting the dolls, and of course themselves with sweets and tea and other assortments.
It is a cute superstition, and a good way to make your offspring clean up, that if the dolls are not put away quickly after Hinamatsuri, then she is not to be wed for a long time.
Traditional meals on this day would often include shirosake (a sweet white sake), as well as hina-arare ( a type of popped rice snack that is often offered to the dolls), konpeitou ( a sweet snack), hishi-mochi ( pink, white, and green mochi which is also a frequent offering to the dolls), chirashi-sushi ( a type ofsushi), and perhaps most importantly, a clam soup called, hamaguri ushio-jiru. Clams are really important on this day and are given to girls, as clams symbolize chastity. The coloring of the mochi, where quite common, also has its own meanings: pink for the peach flowers ( which are not yet in bloom), white for the snow, and green for new growth.
Here is a really well done video showing some of he customs mentioned here as well as the traditional song that is sung on this day.
Here is a really well done video showing some of he customs mentioned here as well as the traditional song that is sung on this day.
Little miniatures singing the Hina Matsuri song at the Shimogamo Shrine:
The Hina Matsuri River float of ohime and odairi sama at the Shimogamo Shrine:
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