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20 12 20 20 25 26 7

1January

2009 No. 267

450

ISSN 1348-7906

Holocaust Centerin Hiroshima Aims toPromote Peace

People inJapan

People inJapan

Izu Oshima Tokyo's Own Island Getaway
http://www.hiraganatimes.com/

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International Callsat Domestic Rates

Cross Culture Club

Call to 11 countries (USA, Canada, China, Singapore, England, France, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong Taiwan, Korea) at a local rate. You can call up to 5 hours per day,150 hours per month, (talking an average of 20 min/call, you can make 450 calls at no extra charge.) for a year Easy-to-use. By pre-registering numbers you can speed-dialdirectly from your phone. You won't need cards, codes etc. (up to 5 destination numbers can be registered by private users). You can call those countries with docomo, au,SoftBank, and WILLCOM phones without international roaming functions. Annual membership fee is no more than 500 JPY/month! You pay 6,000 JPY for a whole year.

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Members can also download Insight into Japan audio filesrecorded alternatively in English and Japanese,

to study with on your iPod (MP3) and mobile phones.Five files monthly and 60 files annually.

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Masterpieces of Zen Culture from Myoshinji will

be held to commemorate the 650th anniversary of

the death of the temples founder, Muso Daishi.

Myoshinji in Kyoto is the largest Zen temple in Japan, with its

grounds stretching to an area equivalent to eight times that of

Koshien baseball stadium. A total of approximately 170 pieces

including four national treasures and 40 important cultural assets,

such as screens, paintings, calligraphy, and crafts produced by

famous monks and lords with connections to Myoshinji Temple, will

be on display.

The exhibition will be held

from January 20 to March 1

at Tokyo National Museum

(Ueno, Tokyo).

Admission: adults 1,500 yen

on the door.

1

2

0 3

1

1,500

www.myoshinji2009.jp

Topics & Events

January Issue Contents 1

Topics & Events 3-5

Entertainment & Trends 6-7

Feature

8-11

Parody Talk 12-13

Business Spotlight 14-15

Hot Products 16

Insight into Japan

17-27

Close Up Japan, Cross-Cultural Barrier, Japan Watching, Japan in the

World, Japanese History Makers

Jobs in Japan for Non-Japanese

28-29

Visa Q&A Q&A 30

From the Editorial DeskBehind the Translation

31

Cover Story 33-36

Exploring Towns

37

Scenes of Japan Photo Gallery

38

People in Japan

39-41

Touching Japanese Life

42-43Masterpieces of Japanese Film & Animation

44-45

Write the present name, your name, address, sex, age, nationality and the article(s) you enjoyed in this issue and send by post-card or e-mail. Competition closes January 5. Winners will be selected by lottery and receive presents directly.

E

1

5

An Exhibition of the Cultural Assets of Zen Culture

650

8

4

40

170

An important culture asset: screens featuring a dragon and tiger.

Painted by KANO Sanraku between the Azuchi-momoyama andEdo periods (16th~17th century), owned by Myoshinji in Kyoto.

Exhibition period: January 20 ~ February 8.

16 17

1

2

0 2

8

Present for 5 couples (10 people)

5

10
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Topics & Events

1

2

09

W

inter

1

18

1

24

2 5

2

1

2

8

Y

ahoo J

APAN

The World Hobby Fair 09 Winter will be held from

January to February and will feature exhibitions of such

things as the latest game software, toys and character goods.

There will also be plenty of events held, including an auto-

graph signing by popular cartoonists, a stage show featuring

radio actors and actresses, a game, and quizzes. Held January

18 at Kyosera Dome Osaka in Osaka, January 24 and 25 at

Makuhari Messe in Tokyo, February 1 at Nagoya Dome in

Nagoya, and February 8 at Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome in

Fukuoka. Admission is free.

www.whobby.com/

The Largest Hobby Festival in Japan

J

APAN T

OU R

2009 G

lorious

R

eturn

23

2

11

1 5

S

4,500

4

28

The Japanese comedy duo Gamarjobat will soon begin

their Gamarjobat - Silent Comedy - JAPAN TOUR 2009

Glorious Return. The two have created a silent comedy

performance that combines various comedy styles, and have

had audiences in stitches in 23 countries without uttering a

word. Starting from February 11 to 15 at the Galaxy Theatre

(Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo). S seat: 4,500 yen. They will per-

form across Japan until April 28.

www.gamarjobat.com/

A Performance of Silent Comedy

Non-Japanese willreceive a 15% discount.When making areservation, pleasemention Hiragana Times.
http://www.whobby.com/http://www.gamarjobat.com/http://www.gamarjobat.com/http://www.whobby.com/

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WEB

No reservation or registration required.1,000

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to easily rememberkanji? The book will help you to easily

memorize various bushu, a fundamental part ofkanji used for

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4

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46,300

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570 yen. This is the average amount spent on lunch by male

salaried workers aged in their 20s to 50s who were surveyed

by GE Consumer Finance in April 2008. The amount has now

decreased for three consecutive years. The average spending

money for such men is 46,300 yen per month, and workers in

their 40s get the least as education expenses for their children

and housing loans cost them a substantial amount. Although a

business recovery has been expected, many companies seem

to have reduced winter bonus payouts.

570

570 yen Lunch Moneyfor Japanese Male Salaried Workers

Admission fee for Tokyo parties will be 00 yen for party coupon holders.

00

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Many Japanese probably have the following image

of Japanese in their 20s. They like fast-food and

Italian dishes, and prefer meat to fish. They are

interested in foreign cultures more than their own, and they

think that makes them look cool. They hope to meet a won-

derful partner, and when dating they do their best to dress up

and go to a fashionable restaurant.

20

However, recently Japanese in their 20s

are different. According to a lifestyle sur-

vey of young people by Nikkei MJ (NikkeiMarketing Journal) in 2008, people in their

20s prefer fish to meat. It is quite the oppo-

site to people in their 30s, who prefer meat

to fish.

20

MJ

2008

20

30

They have an interest in seasonal traditions and Japanese

culture. In fact, they are not so interested in traveling over-

seas, but are taking an increasing interest in such things as the

tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy and Japanese

painting, when compared with the trend of five years ago.

20

5

There are also notable changes in

their association with the opposite sex.

28.2% of unmarried people in their 20s

think it is a nuisance to socialize with

the opposite sex. Furthermore, some

have the view that they can more com-

fortably socialize with the same sex

(25.6%). Many even think it is a waste

to spend much money on getting on well

with the opposite sex (31%).

20

28.2

25.6

31

Japanese in Their 20s Prefer Simple,Japanese-style Life?

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On the contrary, they

place importance on

communication with

their friends. Many of

them make time to meet

friends and chat, andmany also use mobile

e-mail. There are many

people who send e-mail

more than 10 times a

day.

10

W h a t a b o u t t h e

clothes people in their 20s wear when dating? Women who

dont pay much attention to their clothing seem to be increas-

ing. Some people say they dont go out,

but rather stay at home for dates. Others

say they meet in casual clothes, not wear-

ing especially fashionable ones even on

special days.

20

We can see that people in their 20s have a simple life-style,

that they dont spend much time and money on socializing,

and that they also dont dress themselves up. There seems to

be a tendency for them not to show off, but to enjoy Japanese

traditions just like the middle aged and

elderly. Some point out that behind the

scene they are spending conservatively

due to pressing problems such as low

incomes, pension issues and anxietyfor the future.

20
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Sushi, perhaps the most well-known of Japanese cui-

sines, used to be considered a luxury food that was

served only on special occasions or when entertaining

guests. Some people still enjoy high-end sushi restaurants,

but such sushi bars often dont list prices, so customers dont

know how much they will have to pay until they go to the

cashier.

The image ofsushi as a luxury food has been rewritten by

kaitenszushi (revolving sushi bars). Kaitenzushi was created

with the hope of providing good sushi at a reasonable price,

and 2008 marked 50 years since the first such bar opened in

Japan. Today, revolving sushi bars offer one of the most rea-

sonably priced meals out in restaurants in Japan.

2008

50

Kaitenzushi Attracts CustomersWith Many Different Services

NUMAZU-kou

www.numazukou.com/
http://www.numazukou.com/http://www.numazukou.com/

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In the 1940s, the late SHIRAISHI Yoshiaki turned the idea

ofsushi as a luxury on its head when he began selling four

pieces ofsushi for just 20 yen with the aim of making sushi

accessible to more people. His low-cost concept soon proved

popular, but he didnt have enough staff to keep up with

demand and so had to rethink how he ran the business.

1940

4

20

It was the conveyor belts at a brewery that gave a hint at how

to solve the problem. Shiraishi thought that if he placed sushi

on a revolving conveyor belt and kept sending out food con-

stantly, more customers would be able to eat sushi. Ten years

after his initial idea, he developed a revolving conveyor sys-

tem. It led to the opening of MAWARU-GENROKUZUSI 1.

10

1

Shiraishis innovative revolving sushi bar attracted a great

deal of attention. When the economy entered the bubble era,

the preference for high-end sushi returned for a while, but

with strong popularity among families and young customers,

kaitenzsuhi has continued to boom. For over 50 years kaiten-

zushi has beem continuously innovating and evolving.

50

Although cheap and fast was the original standard for

revolving sushi bars, there are now revolving sushi bars that

serve high-quality fish that is similar to the high-endsushi res-

taurants in Ginza, Tokyo.

Pintokona in Roppongi Hills (Minato Ward, Tokyo) has a

chic and fashionable atmosphere with interior decoration that

uses kabuki pictures as its motifs, making customers feel like

they are in an upscale sushi restaurant. The restaurants man-

ager, TAKANO Kenichi says, Non-Japanese make up 40%

of all the customers. Many of our customers are foreign tour-

ists introduced to us from hotels nearby or are employees of

foreign owned companies in Roppongi Hills. Unique sushi atPintokona includes Japanese roasted beefsushi, Foie gras

sushi, and Octopus in carpaccio stylesushi.

MAWARU-GENROKUZUSI

www.mawaru-genrokuzusi.co.jp/ MAWARU-GENROKUZUSI 1

1

SHIRAISHI Yoshiaki
http://www.mawaru-genrokuzusi.co.jp/http://www.mawaru-genrokuzusi.co.jp/

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Kaitenzushi Genkainada holds a tuna disassembling per-

formance once a month, where the president of Genkainada

buys and then disassembles 20 kilograms of tuna in front

of the customers. Sushi chefs make sushi with the tuna on

the spot and the customers start bidding for it in an auction.

Sometimes bidding continues even once the price of one dish

has gone over 1,000 yen for some parts of tuna.

20

There are revolving sushi bars that compete by offering

large-size sushi toppings. At Kaisen Misaki-ko, lengthy

sushi is the big appeal. The salmon and tuna is around 10

cm in length and its tails go off the plate, while the whole sea

eelsushi stretches to about 20 cm. In addition to the size, it is

fresh and the bar is filled with customers.

10cm

1

20cm

NUMAZU-kou is a

revolving sushi bar, but

also runs a catering ser-

vice for individuals and

companies. NUMAZU-

k o u b u y s f r e s h f i s h

directly from port markets, and that makes it possible to serve

high-qualitysushi at a reasonable price.

Big kaitenzushi chains are developing large-scale bars com-

plete with parking lots in suburban areas, using automation to

cut costs. In these huge restaurants there are numerous revolv-

ing lanes that can serve many customers. In the kitchens,

robots whose skill is almost comparable to real sushi chefs

Pintokona www.nagatanien.co.jp/food-service/restaurant/010/index.html

Kaisen Misaki-ko

www.kyotaru.co.jp/kaitenzushi/kaitenzushi.html
http://www.nagatanien.co.jp/food-service/restaurant/010/index.htmlhttp://www.kyotaru.co.jp/kaitenzushi/kaitenzushi.htmlhttp://www.kyotaru.co.jp/kaitenzushi/kaitenzushi.htmlhttp://www.kyotaru.co.jp/kaitenzushi/kaitenzushi.htmlhttp://www.nagatanien.co.jp/food-service/restaurant/010/index.html

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shape sushi rice. Most of the employees in these places are

temporary workers.

Agari (green tea) and gari (pickled ginger

slices) are placed on each table and customers

can have as much of them as they want. Each

table is also equipped with touch screen pan-

els through which you can order any food and

drink on the menu, and get your bill, by just

tapping the display.

Revolving sushi bars are getting creative in an effort to

attract more customers. Most bars serve dessert, side dishes

and drinks in addition tosushi. Some bars provide revolving

sushi fortune telling on their websites, Internet discount cou-

pons, the ability to make reservations through mobile phones,

and give gifts to children.

If you have not tried a revolvingsushi

bar yet , why not go and try one? You

may be surprised by its better-than-

expected quality and the extensive array

of items on the menu.

Kaitenzushi Genkainada

Photos below: Pintokona

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CIA: Why did he fall from grace?

Prof.: Times are changing slowly but steadily, just as human

beings get old. Although you can hardly see changes from

yesterday to today, you will see a big change obviously in a

decade. A successful man is apt to think his success will con-tinue forever. Not only him, but also many successful men

including Horiemon of Live Door, who was once praised as

an IT icon, and NAKAUCHI Isao, founder of the supermarket

empire, Daiei, have walked the same path.

CIA

10

IT

CIA: What should they have done to avoid this kind of mis-

fortune?

Prof.: They achieved a great success, but they were lacking

in modesty. Fortunately, Japan has plenty of literature that can

teach us to overcome ones own conceitedness. The oldest one

is Tales of Heike from the 13th century. The Taira clan was

so prosperous that they were saying unless you belong to the

Taira clan, you are not a human being, but they collapsed in

30 years. The story of their tragedy was passed down from

generation to generation by word of mouth. The tale begins

by Hiragana Times CIA

Music Producer KOMURO Tetsuya was arrested in

November 2008 for attempting a 500-million-yen

fraud. He swept over the Japanese music scene in the

90s and it is said his annual income was 2 billion yen.

Many Japanese were shocked by the news. Hiragana

Times CIA interviewed Dr. HITOTOKI Noboru, an

authority on human studies who is researching the

glory and failure of life.

5

2008

11

9 0

20

Hiragana Times CIA

Common Habits ofSuccessful People in Downfall

0120-981-862

TOLL FREE

e-mail: [email protected]://www.econovovejapan.com
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with The sound of the Gion Shoja bells echoes the imper-

manence of all things ------- the proud do not endure, they are

like a dream on a spring night ------- In short, it says arrogant

people are destined to fall.

CIA

13

30

CIA: What else is there?

Prof.: The Ten Foot Square Hut (Hojoki) by KAMONO

Choumei. Ceaselessly the river flows, and yet the water is

never the same. It hints that life is ever changing and not

the same as it is used to be. The great haiku poet, MATSUO

Basho wrote a poem at the ruins of a battleground. Summer

grass, all that remains of, warriors dream. He described the

vanity of ambitious dreams. They should have learned a les-

son from these.

CIA

CIA: Well then, do you believe that those who dominate the

world are foolish?

Prof.: It is true that they become conceited enough to believe

that their success was made by themselves alone. Such glory

is just like a leaf floating on a river. No one can tell how long

it will keep floating. From a religious point of view, God tem-

porarily gave glory to them.

CIA

CIA: Well, do you mean a conceited man should fall from

power one day?

Prof.: Financial institutions in the U.S. have fallen down with

the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. So have the big three

automobile manufacturers. On the other hand, the first black

president was elected in the U.S., where racial discrimination

was practiced as a matter of course just half a century ago. No

one can stop the flow of time.

CIA

A Comment from CIA CIA

Dear poor people, you dont have to think you are unhappy. A

moody god may make you rich someday. However, after thatthe time will surely come for you to fall, and you would be

sure to remember how happy you were when you had nothing

to lose.

CIACynically Insulting Agency

J

ames
http://www.shibuya-hanko.com/index-e.htm

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In Tokyos Roppongi there is a cafe called M Caf de

Chaya Ark Hills Annex (run by CHAYA Macrobiotics

Co.,Ltd.) that is always packed with young women dur-

ing lunch time. Celebrities sometimes drop in or they receive

lunch orders for film crews on location. This is a cafe where

people can enjoy macrobiotics in an international atmosphere.

TV

Macrobiotics is a way of eating that originated

in Japan and places importance on balance using

unpolished rice or cereals as the staple food and side

dishes consisting of vegetables, beans and seaweeds.

CHAYA Macrobiotics

provides main ly the

above and dishes that

do not include meat,eggs, dairy products,

r e f ined suga r and

chemical seasoning. Recently mac-

robiotics has become more popular

among the Japanese as celebrities

and Hollywood stars in the U.S.

have taken to it.

CHAYA Macrobiotics Co., Ltd.

(President, MINOGUCHI Kazumi) was

established in 2004. They own six cafes

and restaurants in Tokyo and Kanagawa prefec-tures. Although people may have an image that

a healthy meal is rather simple and that taste is

14

President

MINOGUCHI Kazumi


Health Conscious Foodin an International Atmosphere

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of secondary importance, Chayas dishes have built a reputa-

tion for good presentation and taste. Some customers say they

are astonished to know after finishing eating the lasagne that

no meat is used in it. Minoguchi

says that the customers compli-

ments encourage the staff.

2004

6

Minoguchi has an allergenic constitution and

used to suffer from asthmatic bronchitis. He

longed for a place where he could go with his

family and friends. One day he had an opportu-

nity to see Mr. TSUNODA Shoemon, the owner

of Hikage-Chaya, a restaurant that has been

running for more than 300 years in Japan. After buying a part

of Tsunodas stock, he began this business.

300

These days, people use lots of chemical seasonings

in their dishes. Minoguchi is convinced that restau-

rants where they use natural ingredients will become

popular. At present, Chayas profit is increasing satis

factorily, but they are suffering from the recent rise

in the prices of grain and seasonings. We wanted to

ask the contracted farmers to reduce their prices, but

seeing them working so hard for us, we couldnt ask

them, Minoguchi explains.

We think it is our mission to create a

surrounding in which people can easily

enjoy macrobiotics. We also want them to

come to us and feel like they are visiting

their friends, says Minoguchi.


www.mcafe-dc.com
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In 2008, Japanese astronauts DOI Takao and

HOSHIDE Akihiko traveled into space. As a result, more

people are now taking an interest in space food. Thirteen

kinds of space food are available at the National Museum

of Emerging Science and Innovation (Koto Ward, Tokyo).

Among them, the most popular space food is curry, fol-

lowed by takoyaki, daigakuimo, pudding and ice-cream,

while the chocolate cake is gaining popularity amongsenior high school students. The food can be kept for

emergencies, since it can be preserved longer than boil-in-

the-bag food and you can eat it without cooking.

2008

13

The language study site iKnow! has attracted more than 350 thousand users

in less one year. In September 2008 they launched content for learning the

Japanese language using English. It was created in cooperation with research-

ers in brain science and cognitive psychology and enables users to repeatedly

practice vocabulary and kanji. A characteristic of the site is that it creates

study plans suitable for each user. The site also provides quizzes and keeps

track of your past results and study time.

i

Know!

3 5

2008

9

From the January issue of Hiragana Times you can study a part of our

Insight into Japan texts through iKnow! It is recommendable for anyone

who wants to study kanji and is free of charge. You can access it via the fol-

lowing URL: www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiragana

2008

Insight into Japan

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What would you do if you had a phone call like this from the police? / Your husband was involved in a traf-

fic accident in city X. // The driver of the other car injured his hand and at the moment the police are investi-

gating the case. /// Your husband is being temporarily detained by the police. //// If you cannot reach a settle-

ment with the victim before the investigation finishes, the police will have to lodge a criminal complaint against

your husband.

.

. .

/

. . . . . . . . // . .

. . . . . . .

. . . . /// ... . ...

. . //// . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

This is one of the so-called Bank Transfer Scams widespread in Japan. / The policeman is, of course, an

imposter. // After that, a fake lawyer comes to the phone and plays a complicated game. /// By making peoplepanic, the criminals lead them to transfer money promptly to the criminals bank account.

. . . . . . . .

. /.. . //. . . . . .

. . . . . ./// . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Never Ending BankTransfer Scams

Multi-level HiraganaText

No. 034

politeexpression

Study MoreYou canlearn thevocaburalyand kanjiused in thisarticle atwww.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiragana

if the police from you like this (a) phone call had what would you do? your

husband X city in (a) traffic accident in was involved the other

car of (the) driver (his) hand injuredand at the moment the police

are investigating the case (your) husband the police by temporarily

is being detained (the) investigation finishes before (the) victim with

(a) settlement if you cannot reach the police (your) husband (a) criminal complaint against

will have to lodge

this Japan in widespread (the) so-called Bank Transfer Scams of

one is (the) policeman of course (an) imposter is after that (a) fake lawyer (the) phone

to comesand (a) complicated game plays people panic by making

(the) criminals money promptly their bank account to lead (them) to transfer
http://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiraganahttp://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiraganahttp://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiraganahttp://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiragana

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Besides traffic accidents, they use many different tricks such as your son embezzled company money

or your husband molested a woman on the train. / Recently, a new trick that tries to take advantage of the

depression has appeared. // The criminals disguise themselves as bank workers and contact companies saying

they can loan money without collateral. They then steal the deposit.

. . . . .. .. . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

./ .. . . . . . . .

// . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

In the case of family involved frauds, 80% of victims are over 60 years old and 70% are women. / The crimi-

nals targets are mainly those elderly that stay at home. // The number of victims was approximately 1,800 and

the average amount per fraud 1.4 million yen in 2007.

. . . . .

. . . . / . . . .

. . . . // . . . .

. . . . . . .

. .

counter used

for abstractmatters andcases.

A trial audio file of this section is available at www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/magazine/about/about-E.html

family involved frauds in the case of victims of eighty percent sixty years old

are overand seventy percent women are (the) criminals targets

mainly home at (that) stay (those) elderly are (the) number (of) victims two thousand seven [the year of]

in approximately one thousand eight hundred [cases] (and) fraud per (the) average amount [of fraud]

one point four million yen was

traffic accidents besides your son company money embezzled

(or) your husband molested a woman (on the train) such as they many different tricks

use recently (the) depression of (that tries) to take advantage (a) new trick has appeared

(the) criminals bank workers as disguise (themselves)and companies collateral without

(they can) loan money saying contact then (the) deposit (they) steal

8 60

7

2007

1,800

140

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19/4819

The total amount of fraud from January to August 2008 was 24 billion yen, an increase of 1.4 times from the

previous year. / The Tokyo Metropolitan Police are making efforts to stop the crimes by deploying policemen

to ATM booths and setting up a bank transfer scam hotline. // However, it is estimated the total amount of the

defrauded money will be the highest ever in 2008.

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . /

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . ..

// . . . . . . . . .

Advice on avoiding this kind of fraud is often reported by the media. / However, when people are placed in

such a situation, many of them are apt to remit the money just like they were in a hypnotic state. // It is also

said there are some Japanese traits that make the Japanese prone to such frauds; /// they have a habit of saving

money and a traditional belief that a scandal involving family members brings humiliation to the whole family

and should therefore be concealed.

. . . .

. . / . . . .

. . .. ...

// . ... .

/// . . . . . . . . .

. . . . .

just like

. Suffixes which are not translated into English are combined with the previous word and shown in Italic.

When it is easier to combine two words together to learn them, is placed between the two words.

(the) desk Words in parentheses are not translated into Japanese.[in fact] Words in square brackets are not translated into English.

go When English translation is different to the Japanese, the original Japanese is placed in < > after the English.

and When a sentence is continuing in Japanese, the word is shown in Italic.

[Hiragana Times Method] Explanations

www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/magazine/about/about-J.html

Examples

this kind of fraud avoiding on advice the media by often

is reported. however such (a) situation (people) are placed in when many of them

just (a) hypnotic state in (they) were like (the) money are apt to remit

such frauds to (that ) make (the Japanese) prone Japanese traits there are (some) also it is said

[that] saving money (they have a) habit (of) and family members involving (a) scandal family (the) whole

to (brings) humiliation and therefore should be concealed that (a) traditional belief [is]

two thousand eight [in the year of] January from August to (the) total amount of fraud

twenty four billion yen was [and] (the) previous year from one point four times of (an) increase

the Tokyo Metropolitan Police ATM (booths) to policemen by deploying and

(a) bank transfer scam hotline setting up [such as] (the) crimes to stop are making efforts

however two thousand eight [the year of] in (the) defrauded money of (the) total amount the highest ever

will be it is estimated

2008 1 8

240 1.4

A T M

2008

7/30/2019 HT 267

20/4820

I was in the park with my son and Japanese wife last week when several middle-aged Japanese women start-

ing pointing at my son and saying things like haafu wa kawaii ne! / One of them even started taking photos! //

Firstly, my son isnt a zoo exhibit! Secondly, what did they mean by haafu? Only half Japanese?

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . /

. . . . . // . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . . .

Is My Son Half or Double?

Cross-C

ulturalBarrier

Multi-levelHiraganaText

Non-Japanese View . . . . .

Japanese View . . . . .

In fact, most Japanese have a very positive attitude towards haafu nowadays. / One American woman I

know complains when people call her son a haafu, but she calls her son a double! // Does that mean she

thinks her child is twice as valuable as mine because he is multi-cultural?

. . . . . . . . .

. . . / . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . // .. .. ..

. . . . . . . .

"half" arecute.

Study MoreYou canlearn thevocaburalyand kanjiused in thisarticle atwww.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiragana

last week I (my) son and Japanese wife with (the) park in was

when several middle-aged Japanese women (my) son

(starting) pointing at and haafu wa kawaii ne things like said them of

one photos even started taking firstly (my) son

(a) zoo exhibit isnt secondly haafu by what

did (they) mean ? half only Japanese [does this mean] ?

non-Japanese view

Japanese view

in fact nowadays haafu towards most Japanese

(a very) positive attitude have I know (one) American woman

her son (a) haafu (people) call when complains but she

(her) son (a) double calls she (her) child (he is) multi-cultural

because my son is twice as valuable as thinks does that mean ?
http://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiraganahttp://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiraganahttp://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiraganahttp://www.iknow.co.jp/landing/Hiragana

7/30/2019 HT 267

21/4821

In Japan you will see a special corner for pocketbooks in bookstores and stationery shops from November

to January. / Many different pocketbooks are displayed in such corners. // I heard that Western countries dont

have this practice.

. . . . . .

. . . . /

. . . . . // . .

. . .

I have a mobile phone that comes with a pocketbook function, but it is inconvenient for me to take notes withit. / So I bought a B5-sized pocketbook last year. // It contains enough space for daily memos and also can be

used as a short diary.

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . / . . .

. . . . . // . .

. . . . . .

Unexpected Way of Using a Pocketbook

by Hiragana Times editor-in-chief

Multi-levelHiraganaText

don't have

Japan in November from January to bookstores and stationery shops in

pocketbooks for (a) special corner you will see such corners in

many different pocketbooks are displayed Western countries

this practice dont have that I heard

I (a) pocketbook function (that) comes with (a) mobile phone have but

with it to take notes it is inconvenient (for me) so last year B5- sized

[new] pocketbook a (I) bought daily memos for

enough space it contains and (a) short diary as also can be used

B 5

11

7/30/2019 HT 267

22/4822

At first I wrote daily business memos, but before long I found I was writing almost the same thing every day.

/ Gradually I became reluctant to keep using the pocketbook. // At that time, the book Look, Im Not Fat Any

Longer became a best seller.

. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . / . .

. . . . . //

. . . . . . .

This is the true story of a man who was successful in losing 50 kg in a year. / His method of dieting was

simple. // He wrote down what he ate every day so he could reconsider his eating habits. /// Then, I made up my

mind to keep a record of my daily meals in the pocketbook, as I have a high cholesterol level.

. . . . . . .

. / . . . . // . .

. . . . . . .

. /// . . . .

. . . . .

Lit: "foreverfat don'tthink"

forever

fat

don't think

[word usedfor emphasis]


this (a) year in fifty kilograms losing in (who) was successful (a) man of

(the) true story is his method of dieting simple was his

eating habits so ( he )could reconsider he what (he) ate every day

wrote down then I (have a) high cholesterol (level) as (the) pocketbook in

(my) daily meals of to keep a record (I) made up my mind

at first daily business memos (I) wrote but before long

every day almost (the) same thing I was writing [that] I found gradually

(the) pocketbook to keep using (I) became reluctant. at that time

Look, Im Not Fat Any Longer (the) book (a) best seller became

50

7/30/2019 HT 267

23/4823

I basically have breakfast and dinner at home, but eat out at lunch. / After keeping a record, I found out that

I go to five restaurants in turn for lunch from Monday to Friday. // Furthermore, the meals taken at home are

mainly based around a variety of fish and vegetables.

. . . . . . . .

. . . / . . . .

. . . . . .

// . . . . . .

. . .

Since my daily meals are almost the same, I gradually became lazy and began to write notes for a few days

at a time. / But I found it hard to remember what I had eaten a few days before. // Then, my wife said, I heard

remembering things is good for keeping ones brain active. /// A few months later I found myself being trained

by my wife to take memos in the pocketbook to remember what I ate.

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . /

. . . . . . . .

// . . . . . . . .

. . /// . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

counter usedfor buildings


I basically breakfast and dinner home at have but

lunch at eat out keeping a record after Monday from Friday

to lunch for in turn five restaurants to (I) go that

(I) found out furthermore home at (the) meals (taken) mainly a variety of fish

and vegetables are based (around)

my daily meals are almost the same since gradually

(I) became lazy and for a few days at a time write notes began to but

a few days before what (I) had eaten to remember hard (I) found (it)

then (my) wife remembering (things) keeping ones brain active for is good

(I) heard said a few months later I found myself what I ate

to remember (the) pocketbook in to take memos being trained by my wife

5

2 3

7/30/2019 HT 267

24/4824

Japan is often described as a small island country. / Japans land

mass is approximately 380 thousand square kilometers, placing the

country 61st in the world in terms of size. // Even so, she is larger than

Germany, Italy and Britain. /// Yet, Japans exclusive economic zone is

approximately 12 times larger than her land mass, and combining the

two Japan is the 9th largest country in the world.

. . . . . . / .. ..

. . . .

. . . //

. . /// . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . .

An exclusive economic zone is the sea area 200 nautical miles from the shore including territorial waters (12

nautical miles), where a country can preferentially preserve and develop marine, mineral and gas fields. / Based

on the exclusive economic zone alone, Japan is the 6th biggest country in the world. // Is Japan a small country?

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

. . . / . . . . . .

. . . . . // . . .

JapanintheWorld

Exclusive economic zone + land mass ranking: 1. Russia 2. U.S.A. 3. Australia 4. Canada 5. Brazil 6. France 7. China 8. India 9. Japan

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

8. 9.

Note


Japan is a HiddenResource Power

East China Sea

Sea of Japan

Pacific Ocean

Exclusive economic zone

Territorial waters

one nautical

mile is

Japan (a) small island country as often is described Japans land mass

approximately three hundred and eighty thousand square kilometers is [and] size in terms of the world in

sixty first placing (the country) even so Germany Italy (and) Britain

(she is) larger than yet (Japans) exclusive economic zone [land mass] (her) land mass

approximately twelve times larger than isand the two combining Japan the world in

the ninth largest country is

(an) exclusive economic zone territorial waters [ (the) shore from] twelve nautical miles

including (the) shore from two hundred nautical miles the sea area is (where) (a) country marine

[resource] mineral [resource] and gas fields [such as] preserve and develop

preferentially can (the) exclusive economic zone alone based on Japan

the world in the sixth biggest country is Japan (a) small country

is ?

38

61

12

12

200

7/30/2019 HT 267

25/4825

SAWADA Miki was born as a grandchild of IWASAKI Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu con-

glomerate. / She was raised comfortably from her childhood and married a diplomat at the age of 22. // Then

she travelled to the U.S., Britain and other countries with her husband, living the elegant life of upper class

society. /// Several years after returning to Japan, the pacific war started and Japan was defeated.

. . . . . . . . . .

. / . . . . . . .

. . . . . . // . .

. . . . . .

. . . . /// . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

Well-bred Lady who

Overcame Prejudice andRaised 2,000 Orphans

SAWADA Miki


1901 1980

2,000

Sawada Miki the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu conglomerate of (the) founder Iwasaki Yataro of

(a) grandchild as was born (her) childhood from comfortably was raisedand

twenty two (the) age (of) at (a) diplomat (she) married then (her) husband with

the U.S. Britain (and) other countries to (she) travelled upper class society of

(the) elegant life living Japan to returning after several years

the pacific war started and Japan was defeated

22

7/30/2019 HT 267

26/4826

Miki lost one of her sons in the war. / In the devastated land, Miki wanted to do something to help society. //

One day when she was on a train, a package wrapped in a furoshiki dropped from the shelf onto her lap. /// She

opened it, and discovered a dead baby with black skin.

. . . . . . . / . . .

. . . .. . . . . // .

. . . . . . . . . . .

. /// . . . .

. . . . .

In Japan at that time, many American soldiers were stationed and many children were born. / Some born to

prostitutes or as the result of rape were thrown into the streets or became orphans. // Miki was greatly shocked

by the dead baby that fell onto her lap. /// However, she took it as a message from God and she decided to dedi-

cate herself to saving orphans.

. . . . . . . .

. . / . . . . .

. . . . // . .

. . . . . . . . . . . ///

. . . . . . .

. . . . . .

Soon she started to build an orphanage, but the MItsubishi Zaibatsu was dissolved by GHQ (General Head

Quarters) and the assets of her family were scarce. / Miki negotiated hard with the GHQ to buy back the proper-

ty in Oiso (Kanagawa) that the Iwasaki family once had as a villa. // She was finally able to purchase the prop-

erty after selling personal belongings, raising donations and borrowing money. /// In 1948, she built Elizabeth

Sanders Home.

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . / . .

. . . . . . . . .


wrappingcloth

used whenmore thantwo actionstake place

soon to build (an) orphanage (she) started but the MItsubishi zaibatsu G H Q

by was dissolvedand her family of (the) assets were scarce Miki

(the) GHQ with (that the) Iwasaki family (a) villa as had Oiso

at that time Japan in many American soldiers were stationedand many

children were born prostitutes or rape as the result of born to some

(the) streets into were thrown or orphans became Miki (the) shelf from (her) lap

onto (that) fell (the) dead baby by greatly was shocked

however she it God from a message as tookand orphans

saving to to dedicate herself (she) decided

Miki (the) war in (her) sons of one [person] lost the devastated land

in Miki something society to help wanted to do one day

(a) train (she) was on when (the) shelf from a package wrapped in a furoshiki her lap onto

dropped she it opened and black skin with

(a) dead baby discovered

G H Q

G H Q

7/30/2019 HT 267

27/4827

. .. .. ... . ....

// . . . . . . .

. . . /// . .

. . . . ..

However, children born from different races were called mix blood and greatly discriminated against at

that time. / Conversations about Miki were often malicious, with people saying such things as it is merely her

hobby and she is raising the children of prostitutes. // To help orphans, Miki even built a school in the com-

pound and promoted adoption arrangements in foreign countries where the children would face less discrimina-

tion. /// She raised over 2,000 orphans with great love.

. . . . . .

. . . . . / . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . // . . .

.. . . . .

. . . . . . . . . /// . .

. . . . . . . . . .

Reviewing her own life, Miki said, I found happiness that cannot be bought by money. /Making other peo-

ple happy has greatly contributed to my happiness.

. . . .. . . .

. . . .../ . .

. . . .

Elizabeth Sanders Home was named after a British woman who was the first donator.

Note


Miki (her) own life reviewing [this way] said I money by

(that) cannot be bought happiness found (other) people happy making

my happiness has (greatly) contributed to

however races different [parents] from born children at that time

mix blood were calledand greatly discriminated (against) Miki about conversations

merely [well-bred lady] (her) hobby (it) is and prostitutes of (the) children (she) is raising

with (people) saying such things as malicious were often orphans to help

Miki (the) compound in (a) school even built and (the) children

(where) would face less discrimination foreign countries in adoption arrangements promoted she

great love with two thousand over orphans raised

Kanagawa in (the) property to buy back hard negotiated

personal belongings selling donations raising and borrowing money after finally

(the) property to purchase (she) was able [and] she

nineteen forty-eight [year] in Elizabeth Sanders Home built

2,000

1948

7/30/2019 HT 267

28/4828

Finding work

Established writers often have people coming to them with

work, but even they spend a lot of time contacting editors and

trying to sell them ideas. To get published, you will need to do

the same.

One full-time writer, who works for several outlets in Japan

and overseas, has some advice on getting an editor to buy an

idea: You need to send editors well-thought out pitches for

articles that specify how you will approach the story, what

section of the magazine it would be suitable for, what length

and so on. If a magazine usually has 600-word stories, for

example, dont send an idea for a 1,500-word piece, he says.

600

1,500

Key skills

Besides the obvious ability to write accurately and coher-

ently, you will need to be thick-skinned to deal with rejection

and the criticism and editing suggestions you are likely to getfrom editors. You will also need to be consistent and reliable,

so editors will feel safe giving you work and know you wont

let them down. If you want to make a career out of writing,

you will need to learn how to market yourself and be very

proactive in going after work.

The pay

Covering Japan for overseas media offers pay that greatly

exceeds that on offer in Japan, which is why most full-time

freelancers predominantly work for overseas or international

Freelance writer
http://www.sakura-house.com/

7/30/2019 HT 267

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clients, where they can earn in the region of US$0.50 to $2

per word for their work. Outlets in Japan typically pay much

less, with some offering as little as 10,000 yen for 1,000

words plus pictures, or even trying to get writers to work for

nothing. There is absolutely no valid reason to work without

compensation. In Japan an average per word rate for English-

language writing would be around just 20 yen to 30 yen.

0.50

2

1,000

1

1

20

30

Five top tips from an editor

1. If you have to choose between a simple word or phrase or a

complicated one, opt for the simple one.

2. Edit your own work thoroughly before you submit it.

3. Learn to adapt your writing to match different types of

articles and publications.

4. Even if you are writing as a hobby, strive to be professional.

5. Learn how to write good pitches.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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I am a Japanese national who has studied overseas. At pres-

ent I am teaching English to children and student numbers

are increasing. I now intend to expand my business and run

an English language school and want to quickly hire foreign

staff, including an American I met while studying overseas.

I am now an individual entrepreneur. Is it possible for me to

bring an American from overseas to work as an English teach-

er in my present situation?

The American you want to invite will be

able to obtain the visa status of Specialist in

Humanities/International Services. In this case

the law requires that a public or private organiza-

tion in Japan should make a contract with the for-

eign employee to be engaged in this kind of business.

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I Want to Hirea Foreigner for myPrivate Business

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Also, although you seem to be in a hurry, please be aware

that it will take you some time to prepare to apply for your

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Furthermore, if you want to hire foreign staff quickly, it is

better to hire a foreigner who has already obtained a visa sta-tus that places no limitations on work activities. In this case

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIRAGANA TIMES

We have changed the layout of the

magazine a little this issue. The number

of Insight into Japan pages has been

increased and the format changed in

order that intermediate and advanced

students can learn more easily. Your feed-

back is appreciated.

From this month, we will begin three new col-

umns: Japan in the World, Jobs in Japan for Non-

Japanese and Touching Japanese Life. We hope you

will enjoy them.

3

Oshima in the cover story was once like Hawaii for

the Japanese, many people were dreaming of visiting

the island, and many popular songs about falling in

love with island girls were created.

In Parody Talk, we look at music producer

KOMURO Tetsuya. After he was indicted, his CDs

were withdrawn from the shops and could not even be

used in many karaoke boxes.

CD

From the Editorial Desk

From the Editorial Desk

Editorial Note

The unauthorized reproduction, photocopying or copying of articles or photographs appearing in this magazine is strictly prohibited.Please keep in mind that articles printed in Hiragana Times may be published without notice in PDF Version,on the Hiragana Times website, in other media related to Hiragana Times and possibly by third party media approved by Hiragana Times. PDF Web Hiragana Times Hiragana Times

Publisher & Editor: HASEGAWA Katsuyuki Assistant Editors: Rob GOSS, SHIBASAKI Akemi Illustrations: YOSHIDA Shinko DTP: NAKADA Natsuko

New word for Half?

Children born to parents from different cultures or races

are generally called half in Japanese, and foreign par-

ents are often unhappy with this. Multi-cultural children

were once called konketsu (mix), but it sounded dis-criminatory to some, and the term half is used at pres-

ent instead, which for the Japanese does not have a bad

meaning. Putting aside the term itself, many Japanese feel

rather envious of such children because they are multicul-

tural,.

Hiragana Times once used NJ (non-Japanese) instead

of the word gaijin, as many non-Japanese readers feel

the latter is a discriminatory term, but the new term has

not spread widely. Whether you feel it is discriminatory

or not may depend on your experiences of discrimination,

rather than the actual the term itself. Translators need to be

careful with terms like this, as they are often responsible

for creating words that will become common language.

n

on-J

apanese

NJ

Behind

the Translation

(K.H.)
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Usually, when people think of Tokyo, they imagine an

overcrowded metropolis. Some, at least city-dwellers,

dont necessarily consider it an ideal vacation spot. In

fact,Tokyo Prefecture is home to a chain of 11 major islands,the Izu Island group and the Ogasawara group, stretching to

the south as far as 1,033 kilometers away. Oshima, the larg-

est and closest to Tokyo, sports its own active volcano, Mt.

Mihara, adding a dramatic facet to Tokyo Prefectures already

impressive resum.

11

1,033km

Mt. Mihara, also

nicknamed Gojinka

(god of eruption), last

had a major eruptiono n N o v e m b e r 1 5 ,

1986, when it spewed

lava into the air and in

red-hot rivers flowing

down from its rim. All

the 10,000 inhabitants

escaped the island that

day and had to live in

shelters for a month.

1986

11

15

At 758 meters, Mt. Mihara is an easy stroll from the trail

entrance to the top and features a large, distinct crater that

one can hike around in about one hour. At the rim, is a smallobservation building and Mihara Shrine, which astonishingly

survived the 86 blast undamaged.

Izu Oshima:Tokyo's Own Island Getaway

Mt. Mihara

Haneda

Atami

Takeshiba

Shimoda

Niijima

Toshima

Shikinejima

Kouzushima

Oshima

Izu Island

Yokohama

Chofu

Miyakejima

Mikurajima

Hachijojima

Aogashima

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758

1

1986

Behind the mountain is the

Urasabaku wasteland, a

large, striking swath of black

sand and rocks, remnants of the

magma churned up from the earth.

The area has an otherworldly beauty

to it, quite a contrast to the rest of the island.

The region is easy to walk but can only be

reached by four-wheel drive vehicle or a

longer walk from the road.

Oshimas softer side and other claim to fame is its abun-

dance of Camellia trees. Their blooming season lasts from

January to March, which although possibly a chilly time to

visit, coincides with the clearest weather of the year, provid-

ing excellent views of Mt. Mihara, the surrounding nature,

and Mt. Fuji in the distance.

1

3

O s h i m a b o a s t s

upwards of 450 types

of Camellia tree, which

typically exhibit red orwhite flowers. While

they can be found all

over the island, prob-

ably the best place to

see the trees in bloom

is Oshima Park. At

the Camellia Museum

there, you can get information on the different practical uses

of the oil extracted from the Camellia seed. At the same loca-

tion, during blooming season, is the Camellia Festival, from

the end of January to the end of March.

450

1

3

Oshima has its fair share of museums to visit too. The Izu-

Oshima Museum of Volcanoes is easily the biggest and most

elaborate museum on the island. Inside are numerous, well-

designed exhibits, not only explaining Mihara, but volcanoes

from around the world, with scores of pictures, video and rock

samples. English descriptions accompany most of the dis-

plays.

The Izu Oshima Museum of Volcanoes

Oshima Park

Urasabaku, wasteland

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If something more active

is desired, physical activities

like scuba diving or cycling

can be done, but for a moretraditional Japanese experi-

ence, the Furusato Taikenkan

allows visitors to learn to play Japans taiko drums. Its a lot

of fun and not too difficult, given the fairly easy routine they

teach. The whole session costs 1,050 yen, or 2,100 yen to

keep the bachi (drum sticks), a more unique souvenir com-

pared to the typical keychain or local cookies.

1 1,050

2,100

With an active volcano in the middle of

the island, it should be of no surprise that Oshima has its

fair share ofonsen (hot springs). The outdoor ones usually

face Mt. Mihara or the sea. Next to Motomachi Hama no Yu

(Seaside Hot Spring) is a curious sight. A large, stone bust ofGodzilla (Gojira in Japanese), Japans internationally famous

monster, sits in the middle of a small park with a sign query-

ing, Why is Godzilla here? Do you Know? The sign goes

on to explain that Toho Studios chose Oshimas volcano as

the site of Godzillas final imprisonment in their 1984 film,

simply titled Gojira.The sign finally warns not to wake themonster from its sleep.

?

1984

English on Oshima is hit or miss, although there is a con-

certed effort underway to make

Oshima more English-friendly

for foreign visitors. At the port

of Motomachi, for example, a

well-marked map of the island

greets guests as they walk out of

the port building. Also nearby is

a small travel information center

Taiko experience at Furusato Taikenkan

Motomachi Hama no Yu

Godzilla

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with limited literature in English. Throughout the island, street

and path signs and point-of-interest markers usually display

English as well, convenient

when driving or cycling.

However, museum informa-tion has a spottier record,

some offering only Japanese.

As far as transportation goes, buses run around

the island and to many of the main spots. Rental

car is always the most convenient way to go, and

theres relatively little traffic, making it fairly easy

driving. Taxis can be found at the ports and can

be called upon later if needed. Bicycle and motor

scooter rentals are also available. The former is

not ideal for the interiors steep, windy roads, but is great for a

relaxing ride by the shore.

Access to Oshima is a little pricey, but there are a

few options. Jet foil from Takeshiba Port (Minato Ward,

Tokyo) is a practical compromise of price and speed and

can get you to the island in about 1 hour and 45 min-

utes for roughly 16,500 yen (round trip). Airplane, from

Haneda Airport, can reach Oshima in a quick 35 minutes,

if you dont mind shelling out 15,000 yen each way. A day

trip is possible, but no matter how longyou choose to stay or what method you

choose to get there, Tokyos big island

is definitely worthy of some explora-

tion.

1

45

16,500

15,000

35

Text: Jeremy DROUIN

Official site of Oshima Town, Tokyo

www.town.oshima.tokyo.jp/

Tsubaki Garden and Squirrel Village

Palais La mer (Shell Museum)
http://www.town.oshima.tokyo.jp/http://www.town.oshima.tokyo.jp/

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Ashort drive south of Motomachi, on the western coast

of Izu Oshima, leads to a curious building that is

home to the islands only shochu distillery, Taniguchi

Shuzo. Here, they make shochu (a popular Japanese alcohol)

from barley and sweet potato. This particular brand is called

Gojinka, also the nickname of Oshimas volcano, Mt.Mihara.

Established in 1946, three generations of the Taniguchi

family have made the beverage locally, currently producing

12 types ofshochu. TANIGUCHI Eikyu, the current owner,

makes the local spirits by himself, for the most part, so unfor-tunately there isnt a tour of any kind of the facility, as he

prefers to concentrate his efforts on production. But a trip to

Gojinkas distillery is worth it alone just to see its fascinating

home, called Tsubaki-Jo (Camellia Castle).

1946

12

The grass roof is topped with a small Camellia tree. Inside

is a cozy room with a shelf displaying the various types of

Exploring Towns

Taniguchi Distillery

www.gojinka.co.jp/

Oshimas Camellia Castle

shochu they make, and a

reception area where Mr.

Taniguchi and Taniguchis wife Kaori (whos English is good)greets guests, provides samples to taste, and answers ques-

tions about the local drink. And of course, should you want to

purchase a bottle, that can be done too, including their limited

edition shochu which can only be bought there.

37
http://www.gojinka.co.jp/http://www.gojinka.co.jp/

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Scenes of JapanPhoto Gallery

Scenes of JapanPhoto Gallery

Some of the 500 Buddhist statues at Kitain (temple) in Kawagoe City, Saitama

Prefecture. Photographer: Hanbee.

A girl standing to attention. Photographer: OJ Kuma

OJ

Good-luck Daruma. Haijima Daishi in Akishima City, Tokyo Photographer: Hanbee.

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39/4839

Holocaust is originally a Greek word that means

to burn up everything, but it has come to mean

the genocide committed by the Nazis (in power,

1933~1945). A diary written by one of the victims, Anne

FRANK, became a global best seller and was also made into

a movie. About one million people visit Anne Frank House in

Amsterdam, Holland annually.

1933 1945

100

There are about 350 Holocaust

museums in the world and among

them the United States Holocaust

Memor ia l Museum and Yad

Vashem in Israel are famous. But

did you know Japan has this kind

of facility, too? The Holocaust

Educa t ion Cen te r (D i rec to r General, OTSUKA Makoto) in

Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture

was built in 1995 and houses items

related to the Holocaust that have been

donated from around the world.

350

1995

Mr. Otsuka has been going to church since he was a child. As

his pastors way of living made a deep impression on him, he

too became a pastor. A turning point in his life came when he

visited Netanya in Israel in 1971 as a member of a chorus group.

An old man came to speak to him in English when he was about

to take lunch with other group members in a restaurant.

1971

You are Japanese, arent you?

Would you please sing a Japanese

song? After Mr. Otsuka and his

group finished singing, the gentle-

man thanked them for it and began

to talk. You probably know the

diary which my daughter wrote,

dont you? Im the father of Anne

Frank. After this opportunity, a dia-log between Mr. Otsuka and Mr. Frank

began.

Peace will be born from mutual understanding. Please be a

person who can do something to create peace in the world, do

not only sympathize with the tragic death of Anne and othervictims. Mr. Otsuka was moved by what Mr. Frank said and

went to Israel to study Hebrew. He visited the concentration

Holocaust Education Center, Japan

Director General, OTSUKA Makoto

People in Japan

People in Japan

Holocaust Center

in Hiroshima Aims to Promote Peace

Director GeneralOTSUKA Makoto

Mr. Otto FRANK

7/30/2019 HT 267

40/48

camps in Europe, because he wanted to know more about the

Jews and the Holocaust.

Six million Jews are said to

have lost their lives because

of the Holocaust. Mr. Otsuka

was shocked to know that

among them were 1.5 millionchildren. Since he wanted to

show exhibits to Japanese

children, he made up his mind

to build a memorial center in

Japan. Otsuka wrote letters

explaining he had little money

for his project but plenty of

passion and sent them to lots

of people involved in the Holocaust and various facilities.

600

150

After a while , packages

came to him from all over the

world; an inmates uniform, a

box containing ashes, and so

on. Someone handed him a

passport that was a memento

of their family, and one painter offeredpictures he had painted of the camp, saying

you may take any pictures you like. Mr.

Frank donated pictures of his family and

some of the everyday items they had used.

To make the exhibits accessible to every-

one, Otsuka put English and furigana above

every kanji character used in the explana-

tions.

40

Peo le in a an

Peo le in a an

Uniform actually worn by inmates

Page 40

RIght: Yellow Star: a discriminatory mark the Jews were forced to wear.

Jew in German is written on it.

Left: Tableware used in the concentration camp

Page 41

Childs shoe, 15cm in size: Childs shoe left in front of a gas chamber in

Majdanek concentration camp.

P40

P41

15cm

Permanent exhibition

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A new building was opened in 2007. The room in which

Anne hid in and her diary were reproduced there. These are

the only approved reproductions outside of Europe. After the

death of Mr. Frank, one of his typewriters was given to the

center and is now exhibited, too. Approximately 12,000 visi-

tors have come to the center in the year since the new building

was opened, twice the numbers prior to the renewal.

2007

1

2

All sorts of people, from kindergar-

ten pupil to adults, visit the Holocaust

Education Center. This is a facility where not only will you

learn the truth about the Holocaust, but you will also think

about what you yourself can do to make peace for the world,Otsuka says.

Besides Japanese, lots of different people including

Americans, South-Africans and Europeans visit the center.

Otsuka says many foreign visitors have said they were moved

by the center. The more visitor numbers increase, the more dif-

ficult it is to guide them with the present staff only. They arenow recruiting volunteers and giving them a training course.

I never heard Mr. Frank say anything hateful. I have been

continuously questioning in my heart why the Holocaust

occurred. Students from over 700 schools have visited the

Holocaust Education Center. I

hope all the children in Japan

will visit it, and also wish that

this center will be a place from

which they are sending peace

to the world, Otsuka says.

700

41

Holocaust Education Center

www.urban.ne.jp/home/hecjpn/

Garden of Anne s Rose and her statue

A reproduction of Annes room
http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/hecjpn/http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/hecjpn/

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Ink painting is a painting style that expresses various sub-

jects, such as flowers, trees, vegetables, fruits and ani-

mals, using contrasting shades of black ink. Sometimes

words reflecting the season are written beside the image. The

style is originated from Chinese landscape (scenic) painting

that portrays grand mountains, rivers and bamboo bush. While

traditional ink painting uses only black ink, modern ink paint-

ing also incorporates color.

Although ink painting used to

be considered a higher art form

that could only be achieved by

skilled professionals, it recentlyhas gained popularity because of

its simplicity: only requiring black

ink, color paints and a brush. There are many courses avail-

able for learning ink painting and many people who learn ink

painting learn calligraphy as well. Nowadays, ink painting isattracting many non-Japanese.

Yuliya HORA, Belarussian, says,

Its a lot of fun and relieves stress.

One lesson a week is not enough for

me. I want to do it everyday. Id liketo live in Japan for a very long time

and thats why I started learning cal-



Why not Try Ink Painting!

Apple tree

Violet

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ligraphy to have a better understanding of the Japanese mind.

Yuliyas favorite kanji is ki (spirit) since it looks cute.

Noriyasu VONTIN from Germany is another keen student.

As I concentrate on the strokes of a kanji, my mind gets

tired. But writing a difficult kanji is such a challenge,

I feel at ease when I complete one, he says enthusi-

astically.

YABUTA Syuse tsu i s

N o r i y a s u a n d Yu l i y a s

instructor. She teaches ink

painting and cal ligraphy in

English at a Japanese lan-

guage school and at her home

in Tokyo. She says: Watch

and learn is the key in ink

painting and call igraphy. I

want the students to watch

how my brush works and

smell the black ink, touch the

Japanese paper and feel them to enhance their sensations. In

her lesson she tries to teach the origin of some kanji and inter-

esting stories related to them.

Ink painting and calligraphy ismental training. But it also gives relax-

ing effects and eases the mind. Yabuta

says: I think writing difficult kanji

diligently is a part of the Japanese

spirit. I want foreign students to feel

and understand the Japanese sense of harmony through

ink painting and calligraphy even if it was taken as pictorial

expression in the beginning.

How can you start learning ink

painting? If you search Ink paint-

ing on the Internet, you will find

lessons for ink painting and callig-

raphy. Even if there are no instruc-

tors to teach you, you can just take

a brush dipped in black ink in your

hand and drop it on paper. It will stimulate your imagination

and take you to an unexpected world.

I

nk p

ainting

YABUTA Syusetsu also sells her work

URLsyusetsuarts.blogspot.com/syusetsusui.seesaa.net/

YABUTA Syusetsu

Yuliya HORA and Noriyasu VONTIN

Creating a piece at home

Violin

The Year of Monkey in 2004 2004

Syusetsu Yabuta
http://syusetsuarts.blogspot.com/http://syusetsuarts.blogspot.com/http://syusetsusui.seesaa.net/http://syusetsusui.seesaa.net/http://syusetsuarts.blogspot.com/

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In Japan there used to be a movie series that would always

be on in cinemas during the New Years and summerbon

holidays. That series was Otokowa Tsuraiyo (English

title: Tora-san Series) starring ATSUMI Kiyoshi as the mov-

ies hero, KURUMA Torajiro, affectionately known as Tora-

san. The series started in 1969 and contains 48 films in all.

Forty-six of them were directed by YAMADA Yoji. Over 80

million people have seen the series in cinemas.

1969

4 8

46

8,000

Tora-san is a humorous, fast-talking street peddler who sells

goods at open markets all over Japan. He was brought up in

Shibamata (Katsushika Ward) in the old downtown of Tokyo.

As he leaves home whenever he feels like traveling, he is also

called Futen no Tora (futen means someone who lives out-

side of society, wandering from place to place with no fixed

job). Although his parents have already passed away, he some-

times comes back to the dumpling shop in Shibamata that is

run by his uncle and aunt. His half-sister, Sakura (played by

BAISHOU Chieko), who always looks out for her brother,

also works in the shop.

The series has a common pattern. As Tora-san is a single

man, he is free to go anywhere in Japan, and the movies often

visit sightseeing spots. Furthermore, in each film a beautiful

actress appears as a love interest. Tora-san falls in love withthe lady, but in the end he always has a broken heart.

Like James BOND in the 007 series, many heroes are hand-

some, smart, strong, and very popular with women. However,

Tora-san Series (directed by YAMADA Yoji)

The Worlds Longest-running MoviesSeries Featuring an Unlikely Hero

www.hiraganatimes.com/

English and Japanese are recorded in alternative order sentence

by sentence. You will be albe to understand them without a textbook.

Texts are recorded a little slower but still close to normal speaing

speed, so they will be ideal for leaning Japanese and/or English.

You will be ablet to directly listen to recordings on your PC, or

downloard them on your iPod and other mobile devices.

iPod

Audio version is sold with annual magazine subscriptions. See page 31.

7/30/2019 HT 267

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T o r a - s a n i s

u n e d u c a t e d ,

simple and naive

with the fairer

sex, and Atsumi

has a square face

with small eyes.

Frankly speak-

ing he is not a

good-looking man at all. Why are the

Japanese fond of these movies starring

such a leading actor?

007

Director KUROSAWA Akiras work earned a great reputa-

tion around the world, but Tora-san is thought to be a series

only the Japanese can understand. However, it has actually

attracted audience overseas. Behind the popularity in Japan

some say that the Japanese are longing for the humanity that

they lost in exchange for material happiness obtained from the

post-war economic growth. In fact, the characters in the movie

are sarcastic, but good-natured and warmhearted. Although the

movies are essentially comedy, they often make audiences cry.

Usually actors and actresses are judged by their perfor-

mances playing many different roles. However, Atsumi played

the role of Tora-san in 48 films over 26 years. He made the

Guinness Book of Records as the longest movie series star-

ring the same actor. Atsumi Kiyoshi is Kuruma Torajiro for

the Japanese. He was awarded the National Honory Awardin 1996. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first

movie, DVDs of the entire series with English subtitles are

now on sale.

26

48

1996

40

DVD

1 HD

DVD 3,990

BOX

DVD

157,500

DVD jacket of the first movie, Tora-san. Our Lovable Tramp. 91 minutes.

DVD 91

Complete DVD set

Insight into Japan Audio Series Now on Sale!

Insight into Japan section pages published between April 2005 and

September 2007 are now packaged in a new audio version series (5

titles). Each title contains 3 parts and each part contains 6 articles

and costs 630 yen.

Hiragana Times 2005

4

2007

9

5

3 1 6

630

Audio version titles

Japanese Perspectives

Close up Japan

Tips for Living in Japan

Japanese History Makers

Tips for Learning Japanese

For details or to order

www.febe.jp/hiraganatimes/
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e-gaikokujin.com has assisted a growing number of lead-

ing Japanese companies, and research monitors have been

involved in everything from in-house testing of websites and

mobile Internet platforms, to crash testing laptop computers.

All work is paid. Register now! There are NO sign-up fees

and registration takes only a few minutes.

4,000

20

100

Paid Research

www.e-gaikokujin.com
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11365243,900346,800OK ! !

11365243,900346,800OK ! !

HiraganaTimes

90

Hiragana Times

126,9601142,56015,6002253,9203380,880

86

1-18 TVB4FTel. 03-3341-8989 Fax. [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

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