I am currently in the air and will write something here later!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Christmas Cake
Ahhh Christmas cakes.
So tomorrow, it just so happens is my cakeday. That's right! So make sure you wish me a good one!
As it also happens, tomorrow is my cake day in more than one meaning. In Japan, Christmas cake has two meanings: one being that exactly what it says and what you might think it means, a cake, indigenous to Japan, that one eats on Christmas day, the other is in reference to a girl. A particular girl who just so happens to be 25. After that, she is said to have the Christmas cake effect.
Don't know what this means? This saying is in reference to the actual cake and how they are good up until Christmas day, the 25th. But after that no one really wants to eat it anymore. Or well they want to eat it less and less. The Christmas spirit is gone, the silly songs and the glad tidings, the presents and the mistletoe all start to get packed away. And Christmas cakes. What isn't eaten is thrown out and the cakes that went unpurchased will go on sale for cheaper and cheaper discounts.
This is also a euphemism for girls. In Japanese culture, they are used to getting married young and popping out babies early on. More or less soon after college. Why they go, do ask me, because soon after they just decide to be a housewife after they get married. Well, topics for another time.
Girls are said they are prettiest, or best by, the age of 25. The same day as Christmas. This is likely because there are no significant events with romantic allusions that land on the 26th, 27th, or 28th which lead to the endearing term of 'Christmas cakes'. So the saying goes that girls and cakes taste the most delicious (or are prettiest) by or before the age of 25 and after she becomes more and more desperate and the price of her goods begins to go on discount, just like the cakes. In progression, she is said to becomes less and less desirable by the year (or for the actual cakes, by the day). And so, she settles for whatever she can get as to a relationship, because the mentality is that she will be expiring soon(or at least her assets.
So for all those single women over the age of 25, I would say fear not. Because rotting fruit actually tastes the sweetest (it's true too!)...ok perhaps it is not the best to insinuate that you are rotting. You aren't. You are beautiful. I didn't mean it. Don't...don't cry...Cakes have preservatives. They don't rot...
Ah well. Tomorrow I start my days as a Christmas cake! Shall I be the best tasting one!
So tomorrow, it just so happens is my cakeday. That's right! So make sure you wish me a good one!
As it also happens, tomorrow is my cake day in more than one meaning. In Japan, Christmas cake has two meanings: one being that exactly what it says and what you might think it means, a cake, indigenous to Japan, that one eats on Christmas day, the other is in reference to a girl. A particular girl who just so happens to be 25. After that, she is said to have the Christmas cake effect.
Don't know what this means? This saying is in reference to the actual cake and how they are good up until Christmas day, the 25th. But after that no one really wants to eat it anymore. Or well they want to eat it less and less. The Christmas spirit is gone, the silly songs and the glad tidings, the presents and the mistletoe all start to get packed away. And Christmas cakes. What isn't eaten is thrown out and the cakes that went unpurchased will go on sale for cheaper and cheaper discounts.
This is also a euphemism for girls. In Japanese culture, they are used to getting married young and popping out babies early on. More or less soon after college. Why they go, do ask me, because soon after they just decide to be a housewife after they get married. Well, topics for another time.
Girls are said they are prettiest, or best by, the age of 25. The same day as Christmas. This is likely because there are no significant events with romantic allusions that land on the 26th, 27th, or 28th which lead to the endearing term of 'Christmas cakes'. So the saying goes that girls and cakes taste the most delicious (or are prettiest) by or before the age of 25 and after she becomes more and more desperate and the price of her goods begins to go on discount, just like the cakes. In progression, she is said to becomes less and less desirable by the year (or for the actual cakes, by the day). And so, she settles for whatever she can get as to a relationship, because the mentality is that she will be expiring soon(or at least her assets.
So for all those single women over the age of 25, I would say fear not. Because rotting fruit actually tastes the sweetest (it's true too!)...ok perhaps it is not the best to insinuate that you are rotting. You aren't. You are beautiful. I didn't mean it. Don't...don't cry...Cakes have preservatives. They don't rot...
Ah well. Tomorrow I start my days as a Christmas cake! Shall I be the best tasting one!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas in Japan
You know I think that it really is slowly and surely becoming a bigger and bigger deal in Japan. I feel like I am seeing more lights this year. And they sure as hell play all the Christmas songs, and there are even some in Japanese that they play. I am even pretty sure that some of my students get presents.
Funny story actually, I asked my students when they thought about when they thought about Christmas, and you know I got Santa, and presents and Christmas trees, but probably the fifth thing someone yelled out was KFC. I lost it. I laughed so hard. I told them that we didn't have KFC for Christmas, but maybe they did and that that was a tradition all of their own.
In addition to their own traditions. Strawberries are grow for exorbitant prices out of season just to make their little Christmas cakes. Like 700 yen for a basket. And yet people buy them. Gotta have them some of that Christmas cake. No Christmas is complete without it.
So last Christmastime I went to both Osaka and Arashiyama for seeing the 'Christmas lights' they put up at this time of year. In Arashiyama, this counts as throwing up some green and blue accent lights accenting the bamboo forest, well it also has a few excessive flower arrangements as well. In Osaka it was that amazing light show and their Chirstmas wonderland which was a (kind of sad looking) Christmasy light display on that little island between the two rivers. Osaka also put on one of my Christmas favorites, German Christmastown. A really fantastic set up over at the Umeda Sky Building with mulled wine, a big jolly Santa and lots of imported German goodies: wood workings and carousels and clocks and Christmas ornaments, even the people, they shipped some people from Germany over just for this occasion.
This year I went to Kobe. I got to see the grand luminarie which is really in honor of the earthquake victims from a decades and change back. They put on this really grand illumination every year and it is free. The line is so long to see it, it goes on for kilometers and is heavily patrolled by police with metal blockades Pretty impressive in that alone. One you arrive to it, it is over actually pretty quickly or it would be if you and everyone else would quit taking pictures. This is no parade of lights you see, it is a much quicker event than that...though perhaps a little more grandiose. This event doesn't actually cost anything, but they would really like you to donate 100 yen. There are places set up all over to accept it. The 100 yen is to cover the cost of electricity for the event, or so it is said. Sadly they come up in the red every year. But Good Guy Kobe continuously puts it on year after year, because it just isn't Christmas in the Kansai area without these symbolic lights.
Another thing I got a chance to see this year was a luminary out in the mountains around Maibara Kyoto (so you have to have a car to get there). It primarily consists of a little stream and a bunch of trees decked out to each and every twig with some white and blue LED lights. There was also a waterfall that they illuminate and a castle like structure they build out of a bunch of blue LEDs. This one also costs money, but instead of a donation, they require you to pay 500 yen. And for what it is, and the fact that you have to drive out to it. That is pretty over priced, but romantic, so it happened anyways.
But by far the best Christmas adventure viewing you can see is free and it is at Kyoto station. They have a wonderful color changing Christmas tree set up on the upper levels of the outdoor terrace, above Cafe du Monde and Mister Doughnut. But it is not just that that is magical. Their enormous staircase, just in front of the tree. All of the stairs are decked out in LEDs and will put on a light display every so often. And apparently a fairly long one as I sat there for 10 minutes and it had yet to loop back around.
Funny story actually, I asked my students when they thought about when they thought about Christmas, and you know I got Santa, and presents and Christmas trees, but probably the fifth thing someone yelled out was KFC. I lost it. I laughed so hard. I told them that we didn't have KFC for Christmas, but maybe they did and that that was a tradition all of their own.
In addition to their own traditions. Strawberries are grow for exorbitant prices out of season just to make their little Christmas cakes. Like 700 yen for a basket. And yet people buy them. Gotta have them some of that Christmas cake. No Christmas is complete without it.
So last Christmastime I went to both Osaka and Arashiyama for seeing the 'Christmas lights' they put up at this time of year. In Arashiyama, this counts as throwing up some green and blue accent lights accenting the bamboo forest, well it also has a few excessive flower arrangements as well. In Osaka it was that amazing light show and their Chirstmas wonderland which was a (kind of sad looking) Christmasy light display on that little island between the two rivers. Osaka also put on one of my Christmas favorites, German Christmastown. A really fantastic set up over at the Umeda Sky Building with mulled wine, a big jolly Santa and lots of imported German goodies: wood workings and carousels and clocks and Christmas ornaments, even the people, they shipped some people from Germany over just for this occasion.
This year I went to Kobe. I got to see the grand luminarie which is really in honor of the earthquake victims from a decades and change back. They put on this really grand illumination every year and it is free. The line is so long to see it, it goes on for kilometers and is heavily patrolled by police with metal blockades Pretty impressive in that alone. One you arrive to it, it is over actually pretty quickly or it would be if you and everyone else would quit taking pictures. This is no parade of lights you see, it is a much quicker event than that...though perhaps a little more grandiose. This event doesn't actually cost anything, but they would really like you to donate 100 yen. There are places set up all over to accept it. The 100 yen is to cover the cost of electricity for the event, or so it is said. Sadly they come up in the red every year. But Good Guy Kobe continuously puts it on year after year, because it just isn't Christmas in the Kansai area without these symbolic lights.
Another thing I got a chance to see this year was a luminary out in the mountains around Maibara Kyoto (so you have to have a car to get there). It primarily consists of a little stream and a bunch of trees decked out to each and every twig with some white and blue LED lights. There was also a waterfall that they illuminate and a castle like structure they build out of a bunch of blue LEDs. This one also costs money, but instead of a donation, they require you to pay 500 yen. And for what it is, and the fact that you have to drive out to it. That is pretty over priced, but romantic, so it happened anyways.
But by far the best Christmas adventure viewing you can see is free and it is at Kyoto station. They have a wonderful color changing Christmas tree set up on the upper levels of the outdoor terrace, above Cafe du Monde and Mister Doughnut. But it is not just that that is magical. Their enormous staircase, just in front of the tree. All of the stairs are decked out in LEDs and will put on a light display every so often. And apparently a fairly long one as I sat there for 10 minutes and it had yet to loop back around.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Japan Fashion: Business
There are actually two styles when it comes to business which are primarily dictated by the changing of weather and seasons. In the summer and hotter months, there is a style that they have declared as 'cool biz' with a double entendre meaning both chic and cooler to wear in the warmer months. And then in the autumn, winter, and spring, there is normal business I suppose.
Cool biz is Japan's idea of wearing attire better fitting for the warmer weather. It primarily consists of white button down short-sleeved business shirts. Ties and blazers are no longer required and thus you will not see them anywhere near as much. Of course you still have to wear black slacks or dress pants. Shorts just don't seem to look professional in any setting. Business women typically will always look a little dressier than this, sporting blouses, skirts or pants, and vests if they are true business women. I also think their blouses and scarves or ascots tend to be a bit more colorful in this season. And yes, some do wear little ascots (most likely for business purposes) very much like airline hostesses.
Normal business wear is almost always black or navy, though perhaps if you are a women, you might have a bit more color choice with grey, charcoal, England sky, and lead colors. Though if you are a man and can find those colors I suppose you can wear them too. As with the cool biz season, women seem to be slightly, and only slightly, a bit more colorful when it comes to normal business season. As I said, they never really range much from the dull traditional business suit colors, but you do see a bit more of a variety. In the winter, blazers are a must have for almost all business professionals and will normally be accompanied by a little pin in the upper left lapel signifying exactly which company you work for. Ties or bow ties are also a necessity if you are to be taken seriously, though bow ties are sincerely out of fashion here and are more difficult to find. You will see more people wearing bow ties at weddings and such. If you and looking for one, you will find it slightly more difficult to acquire, with a much more diminished selection to neck tie comparison. Otherwise in normal business fashion, long sleeved button downs are back in fashion with those same slacks you have been wearing year round. But as far as neckties go, it really seems like any will do. I have this one guy in my office who wears the strangest tie; it looks like an extremely tight worked knit with this reddish-orange thread and a few other colors splashed on it, and then where it normally would come to a point, it tassels. Yeah I know what you are thinking...wtf kind of tie is that. One person even said pics or it didn't happen. well I am working on it is all I can say to that.
Also as a pro-tip for business fashion, most people, especially working people, will have a extremely nice suit. I mean not just you normal suit. One day I was told that it was graduation ceremony and to dress up. So I sport a blazer and some matching pants and a nice blouse. Yeah, they meant really dress up. One guys suit looked like a vintage mobsters pin stripe, complete with pocket-chief. Another guy had black velvet accents on his suit. A man! The women all wore pearls. It was a most bizarre scene. But be warned if you are ever asked to dress up, might want to break out the nicer of your two suits and shine up those shoes, and for ladies to put on a bit of perfume and some fashionable accessories.
Cool biz is Japan's idea of wearing attire better fitting for the warmer weather. It primarily consists of white button down short-sleeved business shirts. Ties and blazers are no longer required and thus you will not see them anywhere near as much. Of course you still have to wear black slacks or dress pants. Shorts just don't seem to look professional in any setting. Business women typically will always look a little dressier than this, sporting blouses, skirts or pants, and vests if they are true business women. I also think their blouses and scarves or ascots tend to be a bit more colorful in this season. And yes, some do wear little ascots (most likely for business purposes) very much like airline hostesses.Normal business wear is almost always black or navy, though perhaps if you are a women, you might have a bit more color choice with grey, charcoal, England sky, and lead colors. Though if you are a man and can find those colors I suppose you can wear them too. As with the cool biz season, women seem to be slightly, and only slightly, a bit more colorful when it comes to normal business season. As I said, they never really range much from the dull traditional business suit colors, but you do see a bit more of a variety. In the winter, blazers are a must have for almost all business professionals and will normally be accompanied by a little pin in the upper left lapel signifying exactly which company you work for. Ties or bow ties are also a necessity if you are to be taken seriously, though bow ties are sincerely out of fashion here and are more difficult to find. You will see more people wearing bow ties at weddings and such. If you and looking for one, you will find it slightly more difficult to acquire, with a much more diminished selection to neck tie comparison. Otherwise in normal business fashion, long sleeved button downs are back in fashion with those same slacks you have been wearing year round. But as far as neckties go, it really seems like any will do. I have this one guy in my office who wears the strangest tie; it looks like an extremely tight worked knit with this reddish-orange thread and a few other colors splashed on it, and then where it normally would come to a point, it tassels. Yeah I know what you are thinking...wtf kind of tie is that. One person even said pics or it didn't happen. well I am working on it is all I can say to that.
Also as a pro-tip for business fashion, most people, especially working people, will have a extremely nice suit. I mean not just you normal suit. One day I was told that it was graduation ceremony and to dress up. So I sport a blazer and some matching pants and a nice blouse. Yeah, they meant really dress up. One guys suit looked like a vintage mobsters pin stripe, complete with pocket-chief. Another guy had black velvet accents on his suit. A man! The women all wore pearls. It was a most bizarre scene. But be warned if you are ever asked to dress up, might want to break out the nicer of your two suits and shine up those shoes, and for ladies to put on a bit of perfume and some fashionable accessories.
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