HT270

7/30/2019 HT270

1/48

21 3 20 20 25 27 0

4April

2009 No. 270

450

ISSN 1348-7906

A Passion for Traditional Transformation

People in Japan

People in Japan

Its not Onlythe Airport;Narita

is a Hot Place for Sightseeing

7/30/2019 HT270

2/48

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.

11

1

30

1

5

1

150

300

1

d

ocomo

a

uS

oftBankW

ILLCOM

1

500

6,000

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.

i

PodMP3

5

60

+

Only 500 yen a month

1

500

www.hiraganatimes.com

Japanese-English Audio File"Insight into Japan"

7/30/2019 HT270

3/48

The exh ib i t ion Dinosau rs o f

Gondwana is now being held until June

21 at the National Museum of Natureand Science (Ueno, Tokyo). About 80

items including dinosaur skeletons and

fossils from the Southern Hemisphere

are being exhibited. The highlight is the

skeletal preparations of a Mapusaurus,

which is being exhibited for the first

time in the world. Mapusaurus is one

of the biggest carnivorous dinosaurs

along with Tyrannosaurus. The discov-

ery of the bones of seven Mapusaurus

at one location has offered a strong clue

that may lead to the turning over of the

established theory that the giant carni-

vores lived solitary lives. In the muse-

um, the life of dinosaurs is introduced

with the use of new CG pictures.

6

21

80

7

CG

Topics & Events

April Issue Contents 4

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 Desk

31

People in Japan

33-35

Cover Story 36-39

Touching Japanese Life

40-41

Masterpieces of Japanese Film & Animation

42-43

Reiko s Recipes

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 April 5. Winners will be selected by lottery and receive presents directly.

E

4

5

1,500

dino2009.jp/

Present for 5 couples (10 people)

5

10

Dinosaurs of Gondwana

Mapusaurus image 2009

Mapusaurus roseae

Maxakalisaurus topai

7/30/2019 HT270

4/48

Topics & Events

29

51

144

2008

56

5,500

500

The Japan Educational Exchanges and Servicess Japanese

Language Proficiency Test is targeted for non-native Japanese

speakers. It is the most well-known Japanese language test in

the world and takes place in 29 prefectures in Japan and 51

countries. Approximately 560,000 people sat the tests in 2008.

After passing the test, an official certificate that can be sub-

mitted to schools or companies will be issued on request (fee

is required). Test fee: 5,500 yen. A test guide and an applica-

tion form pack is available for 500 yen at major bookstores in

Japan.

www.jees.or.jp

Japanese Language Profciency Test

C

AREER

F

ORUM 4

15

1100 1800

CAREER FORUM for Foreign Students will be held on

April 15 at Ikebukuro Sunshine City Cultural Hall (Toshima

Ward, Tokyo). Organized by DISCO Inc. This is a job finding

event for foreign students who are studying at universities in

Japan. There will be various activities including a seminar on

interview preparation and a consulting corner where you can

get answers to questions about visas and job hunting. Open

from 11am~6pm. Admission: free of charge.

job10.nikkei.co.jp/event/detail/1270

Job Finding Event

for Foreign Students

4/15

CAREER FORUM

38

2 D 1100-1800

60

5

60

2

Span sio n JapanTD C SMB C NTT

TEL03-5804-5538 [email protected]

200

1,000

3 JR

8

20

Career Forum

FindaTeacher.net SenseiSagasu.com

NeedStudentsNOW?

7,500

3,800

5OK! 20

Over 1,000 teachers introducedweekly Japan-wide!

Display your on-line record to

students in 15 minutes!Start getting students today!

100% Free!

7/30/2019 HT270

5/48

WEB

No reservation or registration required.1,000

Also held in Osaka. Check our website for details!

22nd Year!

8 700 if you arrive before 8 pm.

16

4

19

7

23

6,000

1

500

3,000

9,000

The 16th International Arts Festival in Kanagawa, Festival

for Tomorrow, will be held in Yokohama from April 19 until

July 23. There will be various performances, including the

opera White Nights that features the life of SUGIHARA

Chiune, who saved the lives of 6,000 Jews, and Cinderella,

a ballet performed by the Matsuyama Ballet Company.

The exhibition and performances will be held at Kanagawa

Kenmin Hall, Kanagawa Kenritsu Ongakudo and a hall in

Yokohama Red-brick Warehouse No. 1. Admission fee: 500

yen for the contemporary art Asaba Katsumi and 3,000 yen

~ 9,000 yen for other events.

www.kanagawa-arts.or.jp/16kiaf/

From the Contemporary Arts to Orchestra

48

1,890

Cherry blossom represents spring in Japan and in this sea-

son lots of Japanese go to view the pink petals. Although there

are many cherry blossom viewing spots all over Japan, those

in the once capital, Kyoto, are especially well-known. The

book Cherry Blossoms of Kyoto has now been published. It

contains beautiful pictures of 48 famous cherry blossom view-

ing spots in Kyoto, including Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and

Heian Jingu Shrine. The locations are classified by area and

also contains a bilingual (Japanese and English) map. Pictures

by MIZUN O Hid eh iko , MIZ UN O Ka yu and OG AWA

Yasutaka. Published by Kodansha International. 1,890 yen.

A Book Full ofBeautiful Cherry Blossom Pictures

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

00

Hiraga

naTim

es

Toky

oPa

rtyAdm

issionCo

upon

00yen

Opera White Nights

2009 Hidehiko Mizuno, Kayu Mizuno,and Yasutaka Ogawa. Published

by Kodansha International Ltd.

7/30/2019 HT270

6/48

Not your typical art class ... comes nowhere close

to describing what happens at Dr. Sketchys Anti-

Art School. Every month in Shibuya, Tokyo,

artists of all abilities and genres gather to celebrate creativ-

ity. Artists are invited to bring their own drawing supplies, or

buy simple things at the door, then the fun begins. Tokyo is

scoured to find sexy, interesting people who model for about

three hours. In between poses there are contests with cool

prizes, unique performances, drinks and all sorts of mischief.

3

Dr. Sketchys was founded

in New York City in 2005

by Molly CRABAPPLE.

The concept as an anti-art school stems from an

experience Molly had

early in her arts education.

For her it seemed that life

drawing class was the very

antithesis of creativity and

inspiration; a place wheresilent students sat in a silent

sterile room and drew a

bored, oft -uninteresting

model.

2005

In order to break that mold Molly courted the burlesque

community and asked some of the performers to be her muse.

Dr. Sketchys requires all its models to be vibrant, active,

colorful and above all very inspiring. They are not profes-

sional models but rather professional performers. Their lack of

experience as life-models yields some interesting results in the

poses they chose to sit or lie in.

Alluring Live Model Sketching

Dr. Sketchys

Model: Safi

Cherry Typhoon

All photos: Martine COTTON, text: Jason HANCOCK

7/30/2019 HT270

7/48

Now there are Dr. Sketchys class-

rooms in 50 cities and 4 continents

around the world. Dr. Sketchys Tokyo

is produced and managed by Lady

Elle and co-hosted by Tokyos own

professional burlesque dancer Cherry

Typhoon. Dr. Sketchys is unique because

it actively and consciously seeks to com-

bine the fine arts with the performing arts.

Artists draw performers and actors perform

on sets designed by artists, but rarely do these two elementscome together in concert in the way that Dr. Sketchys

allows.

4

50

It is exciting to prepare for

and then be drawn by the artists,

model Dirty Diana says. I am a

dancer, so I am used to moving for

the audience, but for this event I had to entertain by sitting

still. It was a challenge, but a lot of fun!

One anonymous artist says: The models put so much effort

into their presentation and it makes drawing them so fun,

because they are having fun.

Each model is different, and

their presentations make theartist want to be more cre-

ative. So no drawings are ever

similar.

Because they are not an art school

they dont care if you picked up a pad

yesterday or 50 years ago. They simply

want you to join in. Come to drink or to

draw. Theyre happy to have you.

50

Held on the 4th Wednesday of every month at The Pink Cow in Shibuya

4

Dr. Sketchys Anti-Art School, Tokyo

drsketchytokyo.com/

Lady Elle

7/30/2019 HT270

8/48

J

apans population looks like it is about to go into freefall.

The countrys fertility rate defined as the average num-

ber of children born to a woman aged between 15 and 49

stood at an estimated 1.2 in 2008. That is substantially lessthan the 2.1 needed to sustain a population in a developed

country and a far cry from the 4.5 of 1947 that heralded the

start of Japans brief but spectacular baby boom.

2008

1.2

15

49

2.1

1947

4.5

If such a trend were to continue, Japans BusinessFederation (Keidanren), the nations largest business lobby,

has warned that over the next 50 years Japans total popu-

lation could shrink by 30 percent, falling from the current

128 million to roughly 90 million. Over the same period,

the working-age population will plummet by 46 percent to

approximately 46 million. That would leave just 1.3 workers

to support each senior citizen.

50

30

1

2

800

9

46

4

600

1.3

In its October 2008 paper, An Economy and Society That

Responds to the Challenges of a Declining Population, theKeidanren cautions that such a rapid drop-off would not only

slow the economic growth rate and make it difficult to sus-

tain government finances and the public pension scheme, but

would also create problems for maintaining a viable social

system. With the ratio of those aged 65 and over already at 22

percent, and the population continuing to age, the health care

and senior care industries will require a massive injection of

labor.

2008

10

65

22

A myriad of solutions to the labor shortage have at one time

or another been put forward; from former Health Minister

YANAGISAWA Hakuos suggestion that the country needed

its baby-making machines (women) to have more children

to discussions on making up the labor shortfall through auto-mation and expanded employment opportunities for women

and the elderly.

Is Immigration the Solution toJapans Ageing Society?

12 million people in 200 0 million people in 50 years 200

1

2

00

50

7/30/2019 HT270

9/48

None of these, however, has the potential to change the

Japanese landscape quite as much as the option of large-

scale immigration, which has been proposed by not only the

Keidanren, but also a group of politicians and the former head

of Tokyos Immigration Bureau.

In June 2008, 80 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) law-

makers, led by the former secretary-general of the LDP,

NA KA GAWA Hi de na o, subm itte d a doc um en t, titled

Japanese-Model Immigration Policy, to the then prime

minister, FUKUDA Yasuo. In it, they urged Japan to open its

doors as an international state to the world and shift toward

establishing an immigrant nation by accepting immigrants

and revitalizing Japan.

2008

6

80

Their plan recommends raising the percentage of immi-grants in Japan to about 10 percent of the population (10 mil-

lion) by 2050 and increasing the number of foreign students

from the present 130,000 to 1 million by 2025. The group is

also calling for the establishment of an immigration agency

within three years to unify the management of foreign-

resident affairs and wants the enactment of a law that would

specify the countrys basic immigration principles and policy.

2050

101

2025

13

100

3

Citizenship requirements, too, would be affected under the

plan, with a recommendation that permanent residents and any

foreign resident who has lived in the country for at least 10

years should be granted the right to Japanese citizenship.

10

For the author of the plan, SAKANAKA Hidenori, the

former chief of Tokyos Immigration Bureau and the cur-

rent head of the Japan Immigration Policy Institute, the pros

7/30/2019 HT270

10/4810

of mass immigration are simple: an influx of foreigners

would make up for the labor force shortfall and ensure Japan

remained a leading global economy and maintained its current

standard of living.

Similarly, the Keidanren has urged the government to

increase immigration to strengthen industries as far ranging

as construction, manufacturing, welfare, transport, fisheries

and agriculture. While the federation has long accepted the

need for highly skilled foreign workers in such fields as IT, it

is now urging the government to open up the economy to less-

skilled workers and create a social infrastructure to encourage

immigrants to commit to Japan for the long term.

IT

Is Japan Ready?

The most recent data from the Ministry of Justices

Immigration Bureau has the number of registered non-

Japanese residents at 2.2 million, a figure that represents 1.7

percent of the population and includes approximately 400,000

second- and third-generation Koreans who retain their Korean

nationality.

220

1.7

40

By comparison with other developed nations the ratio is

low, despite the past decade having seen the non-Japanese

population rise steadily from a figure of 1.5 million in 1998.

In stark contrast to this modest growth, the Nakagawa-

Sakanaka plan would require an influx in the region of

400,000 immigrants a year for the next half century. In short,

the current immigration trickle would need to become a flood.

1998

10

150

40

To make such an intake feasible, Sakanaka believes the

government would need to emphasize greater interaction

between Japanese and other nationalities and provide better

support for foreigners, guaranteeing them the same rights as

the native population. In addition, he says there should be

a focus on the smooth integration of newcomers into soci-

ety through employment assistance and language learning.

Sakanaka sees the proposed national immigration agency as

playing a crucial role here, overseeing immigration policy,

7/30/2019 HT270

11/4811

monitoring and preventing discrimi-

nation and promoting social integra-

tion.

The challenges before Sakanakas

proposal would be great, yet without a concerted plan Japan

has been successful in absorbing the relatively small numbers

of immigrants arriving on its shores to date. The problem,

according to Sakanaka, is that while the country has a history

of assimilating culture from abroad and an ingrained tendency

to accept different values and practices, those qualities will

not be enough without a well thought-out immigration policy.

The Situation for Foreign Workers Now

1997 1 998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2050

10,000,000

year

people

1,482,707

1,512,116

1,556,1131,686,444

1,778,462

1,851,758

1,915,030

1,973,747

2,011,555

2,084,919

2,152,973

Number of Foreign residents

17-2007 data by the ministry of Justice

17 2007

According to statistics for foreign employment compiled

by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of

foreign workers at the end of October 2008 was 486,398. By

nationality, the Chinese come first with 43 percent, followed

by Brazilians with 20.4 percent and Filipinos with 8.3 per-

cent. 34 percent of foreign laborers are dispatched or contract

workers.

2008

10

48

6,398

1

43

20.4

8.3

34

By industry, the manufacturing industry occupies 40 per-

cent, the clothing industry 20 percent and hotel & restaurant

industry 10 percent. By region, Tokyo Prefecture has the most

foreign workers with 118,488, followed by Aichi Prefecture,

home of Toyota Automobiles with 60,326. In third place isShizuoka Prefecture and fourth is Kanagawa Prefecture.

40

20

10

11

8,488

2

6

326

3

4

However, due to the global depression, the number of redun-

dancies is rapidly rising in the manufacturing industry. While

job offers are drastically decreasing, new job seekers at Hello

Work (national job agency) in the nine areas where the ratio of

foreign workers is high are rapidly increasing. In the period of

October December, 2008, the number was 5,330, which is

six times higher than the same period of the previous year.

2008

1012

5,530

7/30/2019 HT270

12/4812

CIA: Professor, whats the purpose of writing this book?

Prof.:According to a survey recently carried out by the

Asahi newspaper, 85% of people said that they feel theirkanji

proficiency is deteriorating. The main reason is that they

have fewer opportunities to write kanji due to the spread of

personal computers. Ironically, thanks to this, lots of people

have begun to use difficult kanji. In short, they are using kanji

which they hardly ever write with the help of the kanji con-

version system. The Japanese language should be changed to

catch up with globalization. Thats why I wrote it.

CIA

85

CIA: Well then, how do you think we should change it?

Prof.: The Japanese people are in a place where they can live

without learning English. Grammatically, the Japanese lan-

guage is completely different from other languages and Japan

by Hiragana Times CIA

Prime Minister ASOs frequent misread-

ing ofkanji at the Diet has made peoplelaugh, but it seems the Japaneses ability

to read and write kanji is deteriorating

recently. In the midst of this, the book

The Japanese Language in the Global

Age by YOKOGAKI Yuzo, a professor

of the Japanese language who advocates

the disuse ofkanji, will be published soon.

Hiragana Times CIA took the lead in inter-

viewing him.

Hiragana Times CIA

Kanjiwill Disappearfrom the Japanese Language

0120-981-862

TOLL FREE

e-mail: [email protected]://www.econovovejapan.com

7/30/2019 HT270

13/4813

has 120 million people. It wont be taken over by English

easily. However, since globalization is spreading today, the

importance of English as an international language is increas-

ing. Someday, as in Hong Kong where English became the

main language instead of Chinese, Japan wont be able to

avoid the influence of English. So, it is now that we should

change the way Japanese is written while maintaining the cul-ture of the Japanese language in order to be able to cope with

Englishs expansion.

CIA

1

2

CIA: Tell me more precisely what you mean.

Prof.: Instead of writing Japanese characters vertically, we

should write them horizontally to meet the international writ-

ing style standard. Then we should ban the use of the complex

system ofkanji and katakana, too. Writing everything in hira-

gana is desirable.

CIA

CIA: However, as Japanese includes plenty of homonyms and

also lots of foreign loan words, doesnt it make confusing to

write it only in hiragana?

Prof.: Therefore, we should use English words instead of

kanji and katakana. Take the following as an example: we

would write Camera dictionary

travel instead of writing

. You might feel uncom-

fortable in the beginning, but once you get used

to the method, it will be no problem at all. English

is simply used instead ofkanji. The system will be

developed further, so you wont have to know the

correct spelling. When entering in your

computer, it will be promptly converted to dic-

tionary. This system should lighten the burden of

Japanese language learners and furthermore, the

Japanese language can become an international language.

CIA

camera dictionary travel

dictionary

One Comment from CIA CIA

Dear foreign readers, this change will be good for you! Doyou think Hiragana Times should adopt this system? What?

You wont subscribe if we do so? I see you prefer to learn the

present Japanese language to a new system. Well then, prom-

ise you will learn kanji without any complaint.

Hiragana Times

?

?

CIACynically Insulting Agency

M

akiko

7/30/2019 HT270

14/48

When you think of executives learning how to

improve their business and communications skills,

chances are that images of PowerPoint presenta-

tions and uninspiring seminars come to mind; not tennis. It isthrough tennis, however, that Jean-Pierre FELIX is trying to

help business people in Tokyo get more out of themselves and

get better business results.

Jean-Pierre first came to Japan in 1997

as a tennis coach for a 5-star resort in

Chiba. After several more coaching jobs

in Japan he eventually moved in to execu-

tive recruitment in Tokyo, although he con-

tinued to coach on the side. Like many other

entrepreneurs, though, there came a point

where he grew tired of the corporate grind.

1997

14

GLOBA TENNiS

Tennis Weekends Target Business Skills

Jean-Pierre FELIX

GLOBA TENNiS

Non-Japanese willreceive a 15% discount.When making areservation, pleasemention Hiragana Times.

7/30/2019 HT270

15/4815

It was time to be on my own and be out of the rat race. I

wanted to be able to direct my own time and my own life. The

money you earn doing something you like is something that

is building your future in a positive way. Its spiritual money,

Jean-Pierre explains. As a result, Jean-Pierre launched

GLOBA TENNiS in April 2008.

2008

4

Along with Phillipe GRALL of executive coaching firmEquilibre KK, Jean-Pierre and GLOBA TENNiS have made

positive waves through Tokyos international business com-

munity with their two-day executive tennis retreats. The

weekend retreats, which are held not

far from Tokyo in scenic areas such as

Yamanashi or Karuizawa, give partici-

pants the opportunity to work up a sweat

on court and also work on their commu-

nication skills, stress management and

teamwork. Everything though, is cen-

tered on tennis.

For the first 30 min-

utes I want them to just

sweat and get tired. After

that I give them one or

two key points, as this is

when they are less judg-

mental and more open to coaching, Jean-Pierre says. While

Jean-Pierre keeps working on some of the groups tennisskills, Phillipe takes others off court for a series of activities

aimed at improving the mental side of their game and which

can also be applied to their working lives. The result, says

Jean-Pierre, is that the retreats are basically a combination of

a self-improvement and business seminar with a fun, physical

activity.

30

While the tennis retreats for executives have made GLOBA

TENNiS stand out, the company also offers purely recreation-

al retreats and tennis lessons in Tokyo for both adults and for

kids.

GLOBA TENNiS www.globa-tennis.com

7/30/2019 HT270

16/4816

Bone transmission is a technology that

can directly transmit sound vibrationsthrough bones and skin tissue. Vibraudio

sunglasses come equipped with a highly

efficient, yet small bone transmission speaker

and a Bluetooth function, which enables you to

talk on the phone with your hands free by connecting

it to a Bluetooth mobile phone. Furthermore, you can

hear other sounds around you as it doesnt cover your

ears like headphones.

V

ibraudio

Cell phones have a small hole on their side that many

Japanese hang straps through. This product is a strap made

from used kimono. It received the best award at the Most

enchanting Japanese souvenir contest 2009 hosted by the

Japan Tourism Agency. It was evaluated as the most suit-

able souvenir because it gives a feeling of Japanese culture

and also because the price is reasonable. In addition, it alsoreceived the gold award in the ecology field for its eco-

friendliness. As each one is made by hand, each is different

even when made from the same fabric orkimono.

2009

A Strap made from Kimono

Consecutive usage time: about five hours

5

Three colors: red, white, black 3

Price: 19,800 yen

19,800

Temco Japan Co., Ltd.

www.temco-j.co.jp/english/

Silk Strap remade from kimono, 525 yen

Available online or at the Chiba Trading Center located on the

fourth floor of terminal 1 and Chiba Boukyou located on the fourth

floor of terminal 2 at Narita International Airport.

525

4

Korabo Co., Ltd.

www.kimonokuma.jp/

Chat through Sunglasses

Hot Products

7/30/2019 HT270

17/4817

(1) The ASO cabinet has decided to give a 12,000-yen cash handout to each working-age citizen and 20,000 yen

to those aged under 18 years old and those over 65. (2) The handout will also go to most foreign residents, such

as foreign permanent residents, those on Japanese spouse and working visas, and even non-workers, includ-

ing foreign students and trainees. (3) The handout is applicable to foreign residents registered before February 1,

2009.

(1) . . . . . . . .

. . . .

. . . . . . (2) . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

(3)

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

Fixed Cash Handout Paid Also to Foreign Residents

Multi-level HiraganaText

No. 037

Study MoreYou canlearn thevocabularyand kanjiused in thisarticle athttp://smart.fm/landing/Hiragana

. Particles which are not translated into English are combined with the previous or following 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 conjunction is shown in Italic.

[Hiragana Times Method] Explanations

Examples

specialreadings areused for certaindays

/

/

(the) Aso cabinet (working-age) citizen each to (a) twelve thousand yen eighteen years old

under and sixty five [years old] (those) over those (aged) to andtwenty thousand yen [of]

cash handout to give has decided the handout foreign

permanent residents Japanese spouse and working visas

those on and even foreign students and trainees including

non-workers. such as most foreign residents also will go to

(the) handout two thousand nine [year] February first before

registered foreign residents to is applicable

1 2,000 18

65 2

2009 2 1

7/30/2019 HT270

18/4818

(4) The government says the cash handout will act as a living support to help people deal with the depression.

(5) Because of that, it is not considered a tax reduction, but a cash handout that would also be applicable to low

income laborers on whom tax is not imposed and any non-Japanese who are not subject to tax. (6) Prime Minister

Aso stated that high income earners who receive the handout would be mean minded.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . (5) .

. . . . .

.. .. .. (6). . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

(7) The total amount of cash to be handed out is approximately 2 trillion yen. (8) The opposition parties criticize

the plan as being the same as buying off voters as the general election is approaching. (9) Soon after one minister

made a remark that high income earners should also spend the money to boost the economy, Mr. Aso changed

his opinion to the same effect.

(7) .. . .. . (8) ...

. . . . . . . .

. . . . (9) . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. .

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

/

/

to be handed out cash of (the) total amount approximately (is) two trillion yen (the) general election

is approaching as (the) opposition parties voters buying off

as being the same as criticize (the plan) Aso Mr. (the) economy to boost

high income earners also should spend (the money) that (a) remark (one) minister made

soon after his opinion to the same effect changed

(the) cash handout (the) depression deal with people to help

(a) living support will act as (the) government says because of that (a) tax reduction

it is not (considered)but (on whom) tax is not imposed low income laborers and tax (who are) not subject to

(any) non-Japanese to ~ also (that would) be applicable a cash handout [it became] Aso (the) prime minister

(the) handout (who) receive high income earners (would be) mean minded that stated

2

7/30/2019 HT270

19/4819

(10) When the plan is carried out, a standard family with two children will receive 64,000 yen. (11) However, over

70 % of citizens are against the plan, according to various media reports. (12) They say that the money should be

used for those laid off in this depression or for social security services.

(10) . . . . . . . .

. . . . ...(11) . . .

. . . . . . . .

(12) . . . . . . .

. . . .

(13) However, the cash handout is actually a tax refund. (14) So, most people will claim it. (15) In this regard, there

are some who strongly oppose payment to those non-Japanese who have not paid tax such as foreign students.

(13) . . . . . . . . (14)

. . ... .(15) . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . .

(16) Many experts say that such a small cash handout will not be enough to stimulate the economy.

(17)Nevertheless, the government has planned to pay through local government offices in spring.

(16) . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . (17) . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

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

/

/

/

/

many experts such (a) small cash handout (the) economy

to stimulate will not be enough that say nevertheless (the) government

spring in local government offices through pay has planned to

the plan is carried out when children two with (a) standard family

sixty four thousand yen will receive however various media reports

according to citizens of seventy percent over (the) plan are against

they (the) money this depression in laid off those or

social security services for should be used (for) that say

however the cash handout actually (a) tax refund is so

most people will claim (it) [that] [it seems] in this regard tax

(who) have not paid foreign students such as (those) non-Japanese to payment strongly

oppose there are some (who)

6 4

7

7/30/2019 HT270

20/4820

(1) Whenever I read a Japanese fashion magazine or catalog, at least half of the models are white. (2) Its great to see

a mixture of models in Japanese magazines, but why so few Japanese?(3)

Japanese models can be just as beautifulas any others! (4) Do the Japanese have some kind of inferiority complex?

(1) .. . . . .

. . . (2) . . . . .

. . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . .

(4) . . . . . . . .

Why do Japanese Magazines

Always use White Models?

Cross-C

ulturalBarrier

Multi-levelHiraganaText

Non-Japanese View . . . . .

Japanese View . . . .

(5) Japans Western obsession began when we started adopting advanced Western technology after the war. (6) Many

Japanese consider Western things fashionable. (7) They believe Western models, which for most Japanese means

white, can make things look more appealing than having an Asian model.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . .

. . (6) . . . . . .

. . (7) . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. .. ... . .

emphasizesthe subject

/

(a) Japanese fashion magazine or catalog (I) read whenever (the) models of at least

half white are Japanese magazines in (a) mixture (of) models

to see its great but why Japanese so few

[are there] ? Japanese models also any others (just) as beautiful as

can be Japanese some kind of inferiority complex do ~ have ?

non-Japanese view

Japanese view

(the) war after advanced Western technology (we) started adopting when Japans

Western obsession began Japanese many Western

things fashionable consider Western models most

Japanese (which) for white means [and] (an) Asian model

having than things more appealing can make look [that] (they) believe

7/30/2019 HT270

21/4821

(1) Many Japanese enterprises start their new fiscal year in April. (2) At this time, newly hired employees at firms

such as finance and insurance companies are kept busy making sales calls. (3) These new employees often visit

our office without an appointment.

(1) . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . .

. . . . (3) . .

.

(4) Their talk is faltering and is just as if they are reading from a sales manual. (5) In addition, we dont feel likethey have any real interest in doing business with our company. (6) However, they are amazingly eager to receive

business cards from the staff they meet.

(4) . . . . .

(5) . . . . .

. . . . . 6) .

. . . . . .

Annual Spring Eventfor New Employees

by Hiragana Times editor-in-chief

Multi-levelHiraganaText

~ intment isomitted

/

many Japanese enterprises April in (their) new fiscal year start

at this time finance and insurance (companies) such as firms at newly hired employees

sales calls making are kept busy these new employees (an) appointment without our

office often visit

their talk (explanation) is falteringand (is) just (a) sales manual from (they) are reading

as if ~ is in addition they our company with doing business in

any real interest have like (we) dont feel however amazingly

(they) met (the) staff from business cards to receive (they) are eager

4

7/30/2019 HT270

22/4822

(7) One time, I was asked by a staff member who had run out of business cards: Can I give them one of the

chief editors cards?(8)

As I wanted her to get back to work soon, I said: Yeah, okay and handed her one.(9)

When she returned to her desk, she said: He was very happy to receive the chief editors business card.

(7) . . . . . . .

. . (8) . . . .

. . . . (9) .

. . . . . . .

. .

(10) I made this story a topic of conversation over drinks with a friend of mine, who is a sales manager at a medi-

um-sized company. (11) He said: Business cards are a proof of their sales efforts. (12) High-ranked business cards

are more valued as proof they talked with a decision maker.

(10) . . . . .

. . . . . . (11) . .

. . . . . .

(12). . .. . .. . . . .

. . . . . .


/

/

casual ""

this story a medium-sized company at (a) sales manager (who) is

(a) friend (of mine) with over drinks (a) topic of conversation (I) made he [this way] said

business cards (their) sales efforts of (a) proof are

high-ranked [persons] business cards (a) decision maker with (they) talked

proof as more are valued

one time business cards of (who had) run out (a) staff (member) by (one of the) chief editors cards

give (them) can I ~ ? (I) was asked I soon her work to

to get back wanted as yeah okay I saidand handed (her one) she

(her) desk to returned when (the) chief editors business card to receive he very

happy was (she) said

7/30/2019 HT270

23/4823

(13) I said to him: I dont think they are very good at sales. (14) Then he explained: We know that. (15) In fact,

their sales activity is practice before they start targeting prospective clients. (16) Well, it seems our company is

used for training.

(13) . . . . . .

(14) . . . . .

(15) . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . (16) . .

. . .

(17) These days our staff who have heard the inside story from me tell the sales people that they are busy before

starting the conversation and give them their business card. (18) They leave the office happily soon after receiv-

ing a business card. (19) Thus, the hidden spring event is repeated every year.

(17) . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

.. . 18) .. . . .

...(19). . . . . ...


/

I they sales (are very) good (at) [that] (I) dont think said (to him)

then he [this way] explained that we know

in fact their sales activity prospective clients targeting

[sales] (they) start before practice is well our company

[their] training for is used it seems

me from the inside story (who have) heard (our) staff these days

(the) sales people (the) conversation starting before (they) are busy that telland

(their) business card give (them) (a) business card receiving soon after they happily (the) office

leave thus (the) hidden spring event every year is repeated

7/30/2019 HT270

24/4824

(1) According to a survey of diplomatic experts in nine countries, 65.5% said China would be the strongest coun-

try with territory in Asia-Pacific in a decade, followed by the US with 31.3%. (2) And 59% of the experts said

China would also be the most important foreign country for their own country. (3) Only Japan selected the US

instead of China as the most important foreign country.

(1) . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. . . . (2).

... .. .. ..

. . (3) . . .

. . .

(4) Japan was ranked in third place, but the figures were in single digits for both questions. (5) China also topped

the rankings with 38% as the country which most threatens peace and stability. (6) This was followed by North

Korea with 21.6%.

(4) . . . . . . . .

. . (5) . . . . . . . . .

. . . . (6)

. . . . .

JapanintheWorld

This survey was carried out in the autumn of 2008 by CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) in the US,the Asahi Shimbun and other organizations as part of studies to define the future makeup of Asia.

2008

Note


In a Decade Which CountryWill Be the Most Important?

10?

59.0

38.0 36.1

4.81.5 0

China US North KoreaJapan

12.9

21.6

59.0

38.0 36.1

4.81.5 0


12.9

21.6

59.0

38.0 36.1

4.81.5 0


12.9

21.6

59.0

38.0 36.1

4.81.5 0

China

Most important country

Most threatening country

US North KoreaJapan

12.9

21.6

Study MoreYou canlearn thevocabularyand kanjiused in thisarticle athttp://smart.fm/landing/Hiragana

/

/

The countries surveyed were those in the Asia-Pacific region; Japan, US, China, Korea, Australia, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

nine countries in diplomatic experts of [carried out] (a) survey

according to China (a) decade in Asia-Pacific with territory in

[national power] the strongest country would be [that] sixty five point five percent

said followed by the US with thirty one point three percent [and] fifty nine

percent of (the) experts China (their) own country for the most important

foreign country would (also) be [that] said Japan only the most important

(foreign) country as China instead of the US selected

Japan both questions for [either] third place was ranked (in) but (the) figures

were in single digits China peace and stability most threatens

(the) country (which) as also thirty eight percent with topped (the) rankings (this was) followed by

North Korea with twenty one point six percent

9

10

65.5 %

31.3 59

%

3

38 % 1

21.6 %

7/30/2019 HT270

25/4825

(1) SHIBUSAWA Eiichi was an entrepreneur who became known as the father of the modern Japanese econo-

my. (2) He advocated economic activities based on morality, saying: Business should not be something where

an individual alone can be a billionaire and the majority becomes poor. (3) He actually promoted business that

would benefit the people.

(1) . . . . . . .

. . (2) . . . . . . . .

. .. . .. .

. . . . (3) . . . . . .

. . . .

Entrepreneur who Soughtto Match Moralsand Economy

SHIBUSAWA Eiichi


1840 1931

/

/

Shibusawa Eiichi (the) modern Japanese economy of (the) father as (who became) known

(was an) entrepreneur an individual alone (a) billionaire can beand the majority poor

becomes something (where) business should not be saying morality based on economic

activities (he) advocated [and] actually (the) people (that would) benefit

business (he) promoted

7/30/2019 HT270

26/4826

(4) Eiichi was born in Musashi no Kuni (present-day Saitama Prefecture) to a wealthy farmer at the end of the

Edo era. (5) After growing up, he helped the family business and also began to associate with government offi-

cials. (6) However, he was discriminated against by them as he was from a farming family. (7) Gradually, he

began to resent people like them who looked down on others.

(4) . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . (5) . .

. . . . . (6) .

. . . . . . (7) . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

(8) After the Meiji Restoration, Eiichi was persuaded to enter the Ministry of Finance by OOKUMA Shigenobu,

who later became the prime minister. (9) He resigned after several years, despite some success. (10) At the time,

one of his friends advised him: It is a pity that a capable man with a bright future would resign. (11) You may

quit in order to make more money, but you will be used like a servant by government officials for the rest of

your life.

(8) . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . (9) ....

. . . (10) . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. (11) . . .

. . .

(12) Eiichi was concerned that everyone with talent would want to work in the government, if the system of

bureaucrats being thought too highly of remained unchanged. (13) He had a strong desire to enter a private com-

pany himself and help workers to improve their standing in society. (14) In 1873, he established Japans first

bank and was involved in setting up 500 companies including Tokyo Gas and the Imperial Hotel.

(12) . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .(13)


idiom (it literallymeans "used byjaw")

/

///

//

/

contemptyousword for famer

Eiichi bureaucrats being thought too highly of (the) system (of) if ~ remained unchanged

talent with everyone (the) government [office] in would (want to) work that was concerned [therefore]

the Meiji Restoration after Eiichi later (the) Prime Minister (who) became Ookuma Shigenobu

by the Ministry of Finance to enter was persuaded [there] some success

dispite several years after (he) resigned at the time one of his friends him

advised future (a) bright with (a) capable man (would) resign

that it is (a) pity money make (more) in order to quit (you) may but

(for the) rest of (your) life government officials by be used like a servant (you) will

Eiichi (the) Edo era of (the) end at Musashi no Kuni present day

Saitama Prefecture in (a) wealthy farmer to was born growing up after

(the) family business (he) helpedand government officials with to associate also began however (a) farming family

(he) was from as them by (he) was discriminated (against) he gradually

others on (who) looked down like them people to resent began

7/30/2019 HT270

27/4827

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

. (14) . . . . . . .

. . . .

. .

(15) Eiichi is often compared with IWASAKI Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate who lived inthe same times. (16) It is said that Yataro had the management philosophy that profit should be the presidents and

the responsibility of loss should also be taken by the president, and he increased his own personal assets. (17) On

the other hand, Eiichi had the belief that company property belongs to all concerned.

(15) . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . (16) . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

. . . . (17) . . . . .

. . . . . .

.

(18) Eiichi, who experienced discrimination based on his class, preferred management that benefited more people

and left few personal assets. (19) He spent most of his money on social work such as education, culture, welfare

and healthcare.

(18) . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

(19) . . . . . .

. ...


counter usedfor companies

for emphasis

//

/

(his) class based on discrimination (who) experienced Eiichi more

people (that) benefited management preferred and personal assets left few

(his) money of most education culture welfare (and) health care such as social

work on (he) spent

Eiichi (the) same times in (who) lived the Mitsubishi conglomerate of (the) founder

Iwasaki Yataro with often is compared Yataro profit (should be the) presidents

and loss of (the) responsibility also (the) president should be taken (by) that (the) management philosophy

hadand (his own) personal assets (he) increased that it is said on the other hand Eiiichi company

property [company] concerned all [people] belongs to that (the) belief

had

society in their standing to improve himself

(a) private company to enterand workers help (a) strong desire

(he) had eighteen seventy three [year] in Japans first bank

(he) established and Tokyo Gas and the Imperial Hotel including five hundred companies

setting up [and management] in was involved

1873

500

7/30/2019 HT270

28/4828

Finding Work

If you think you have the skills to make a career out of

entertaining ladies, then hosting could be the job for you!

However, you are unlikely to find hosting work by simply

walking in to your local branch of Hello Work or by scanning

the classified ads. Generally, jobs are found through introduc-

tions or when host clubs scout for talent. One host we spoke tosaid he was introduced to his club by a friend in the industry.

Key Skills

Endurance is essential. Many hosts report being available

for work seven days a week and rarely taking time off. You

will also have to be able to deal with heavy drinking and a fre-

quent lack of sleep. Being non-Japanese wont be a disadvan-

tage as long as you can speak Japanese fluently; hosts, after

all, have to be smooth talkers. Although Japanese hosts arent

the most handsome men around, they do have standards. If

you are fat, balding or especially ugly, you wont stand a

chance.

7

The Pay

Good hosts make a fortune. We interviewed one who

said he makes between four to eight million yen per month.

Typically, hosts and their helpers can expect to take about

40 percent of the money that their customers spend inside

the clubs, which can add up to a lot in places where a bottle

of champagne costs hundreds of thousands of yen. On top

of that, hosts often receive expensive gifts from well-heeled

regular customers.

Host

7/30/2019 HT270

29/4829

400

800

40

Tips from an Ex-host

1. The more you can drink, the more the client will spend.

Learn how to vomit to make space for more or practice tip-

ping your drinks away when your customer isnt looking.

2. Hosting is a lucrative, but short-term profession. Work hard

for a few years and save your money and you will be ableto live comfortably for the rest of your life.

3. Learn how to act. Rather like being an eikaiwa teacher, you

need to pretend to be interested in everything your customer

says. If you can make them think you really love them that

would be even better.

Japan Online School Corporation - Since 2004TEL: 0467-58-8710 MAIL: [email protected]

You will find the reason whyso many people from more than 25

countries choose J-OS.

7/30/2019 HT270

30/4830

I couldnt find a job while studying in Japan. Therefore,

at present I am looking for a job while on a temporary visi-

tor visa. I might have a job offer from a company, but they

say they wont be able to hire me until around next January.

Do you think it would it be possible for me to be hired? What

kind of visa would I need?

It is possible for you to be hired. However, due

to the date the job would start, you need to apply

for a change of visa to designated activities dur-

ing the waiting period, after receiving a job offer.

The necessary documents for the change of visa are as fol-

lows: (1) a document that certifies the student can meet their

expenses while staying in Japan. (2) documents necessary

for applying for the change of visa in order to work for the

company. (3) a document that shows you have been offered

employment. (4) a written oath from the company regarding

report responsibilities. (5) documents that confirm the content

of the training received before employment (if applicable).

1

ACCESS: very near Musashikosugi

Station, 15 minutes from Shibuya

on the Toyoko Line express.

Immigration Lawyer

Overseas Law Firm Training in the U.K. and Germany for two years

Office: 3-15-14-302 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

2

3-15-14-302

TEL: 03-3985-4661 FAX: 03-3985-4662

E-mail: [email protected]

Regarding a Job Offerfor a Foreign StudentAfter Graduation

KUROKAWA Koji

1

2

3

4

5

When nearing the time for you to begin work, please apply

for a change of visa from designated activities to work-ing visa. Furthermore, while waiting you can also work as

a part timer without attaining a designated activities visa,

as long as you can obtain permission to engage in an activity

other than that permitted by the status of residence currently

granted.

Please feel free to contact us.

Visa ProceduresWorking visa / Family visa / Temporary visaPermanent residency / Naturalization

Business ConsultingEstablishing a Company / Licenses

Free Consultation

Contingency Fee SystemGood Office Location

Yebisu Garden Place Tower5 minutes walk from Ebisu station

EBISU VISASUPPORT CENTER

- Immigraon Lawyer -

Service

Benefits of Using our Services

TOKYO03-5789-5360OSAKA 06-6266-1353

www.shigyo.co.jp/visa/

7/30/2019 HT270

31/4831

You can order by

TEL: 03-3341-8989 FAX: 03-3341-8987 [email protected] www.hiraganatimes.com

Postage included

SAL (Surface Air Lifted) SAL

Payment Method

1) Credit Card Visa, MasterCard, American Express,

JCB or Diners Club.

2) Cash on delivery (Only in Japan. Please pay when you receive the first

delivery)

21

2 2020 25 269

3March

2009No. 269450

ISSN1348-7906

ArtProjecttoSupportNewOrleans

JapaneseOverseas

JapaneseOverseas

NikkoWorldHeritageSiteJustTwoHoursbyTrainfromTokyo2

MichaelWhite,CourtesyTakashiHorisaki

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIRAGANA TIMES

We often receive comments and sugges-

tions from readers, but unfortunately we are

unable to respond to them all. However, we

appreciate your feedback and try to reflect it

in the magazine. This time we enlarged dif-

ficult kanji in the Insight into Japan section

and placed them in the right-hand margin. Additionally, we

have replaced the pause mark / with numbers.

I

nsight i

nto J

apan

/

We have also renewed our Website. The new layout has

more emphasis on our Japanese learning and Japan intro-

duction contents and a digital book section is newly includ-

ed. The other new contents are under construction.

Hiragana Times

The graph in the March feature (page 10) lacked an

explanation. The graph shows the reasons for suicides and

includes up to three reasons per person.

3

10



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

English-Japanese Bilingual

Digital Book Series Now on Sale!

This is a compilation of Insight into Japan sto-

ries. While you are listening to the audio, you can

read the text and turn the pages just like a print mag-

azine. You can also download and print the texts.

In addition, you can download the audio to mobile

devices such as an iPod.

I

nsight i

nto J

apan

i

Pod

One volume contains 9 to 18 stories and costs 900

yen to 1,800 yen.

9

18

900

1,800

Japanese Perspectives

Hints for learning Japanese

Tips for Living in Japan

Close Up Japan14

Japanese History Makers

14

Japan Watching12

Japanese Practices

Working in Japan

Cross-Cultural Barrier

For details


7/30/2019 HT270

32/4832

EN FLAT TOKYO03-3288-2355 [email protected] www.mmtl.jpNo key money, guarantor, agent fee required.

Utility expenses included in most rooms.

Fully furnished and internet access.

Yotsuya (easy access to Shinjuku and Tokyo.

Waseda House (near Waseda university and Shinjuku )

Waseda Residence (near Mejiro sta. high grade apt.)

Yoga apartment (11min from Shibuya to yoga sta.)

We are an apartment and guesthouse agency,

providing accommodation the center of Tokyo since 2003.

Apartment: 115,000month

Guesthouse:59,000month

Search for a room inTokyo by area. Roominformation and photosare also displayed.

7/30/2019 HT270

33/48

7/30/2019 HT270

34/48

The aunt didnt speak any English at all, and provided yetanother challenge for the young teacher. She was so nice. I

was enthralled by the foreign-ness of someone from a differ-

ent country. Since I had never been abroad, they invited me to

visit Japan, says Fountaine.

The trip would change his life. One of the people he met onthat first trip was a principal of a local high school. Seeing the

need for a native speaker in his English classes, and the enthu-

siasm Fountaine had for Japan and the culture, the principal

invited him to teach at his school. It

seemed like a fun adventure, and I like

new challenges.

In addition to teaching at the high school, Fountaine also

began teaching private students. His students were everyone

from businessmen to housewives to artists. In one of my

classes, there were two students in particular that were unique.

One was a wig maker and make-up artist, and the other a

kimono dresser, he says. Both were considered masters of

their respected arts, and both used traditional Japanese meth-

ods. He didnt know that these two would have such a dra-

matic impact on his life.

A few months after being in Japan, Fountaine was invited to

a Halloween party. While talking to one of the guests he had a

surprising experience. He said dont you recognize me? Itsme!! Tadahiro!! I couldnt believe my eyes!! The transforma-

tion of the wig-maker in his wig with white maiko make-

up was unbelievable! I told him that he had to do that to me,

says Fountaine. The students were thrilled

at the challenge.

34

Peo le in a an

Peo le in a an

7/30/2019 HT270

35/48

By learning about the ways the wigs were made and the

make-up applied, Fountaine felt like his eyes were being

opened to Japan and the Japanese people. I began to develop

a deep respect for the arts of my students, and the culture and

customs of Japan, smiles Fountaine.

A year later, it was time for Fountaines debut.

At a Halloween party, he appeared wearing a

hand-sewn wig, white make-up like a maiko, and

a kimono . I felt like I

was actually wearing the

Japanese culture, he said.

However this was only

the beginning of what was

to come.

I started getting asked to appear at restaurant openings,

boutique events, parades, and even in movies! It was fun to

be kind of a celebrity. Once, Fountaine remembers being

dressed up and at an event, and while talking to a friend wastold: I thought Donald (Fountaine) would be here .... He

was thrilled to respond: Its me!!

He began studying tea ceremony, shamisen , koto, and

dance. Most people dont realize how much goes into what

actors like me do. While the time on stage is just minutes,

the practice time alone is a lot. Not to mention being in hair

and make-up for hours before

each performance, and the time

it takes to actually put on thekimono.

Fountaine, who also works as a college director, still

feels like he has a long way to go. The more I study,

the more I realize how much I dont know, he laughs. In the

future, he would like to obtain certification and continue his

studies. I would like to perform more he says, Not only

because it is so gratifying, but because of the exposure I can

give to the art.

35

Text: Jason HANCOCK

With Tadahiro

7/30/2019 HT270

36/48

When you think of Narita in Chiba Prefecture, the

first thing that comes to most peoples minds is

Narita International Airport. But as well as being

home to the airport, Narita is becoming a hot sightseeing spot

for foreign tourists. Approximately 13 million tourists visited

Narita in 2007; many of them foreign tourists staying at hotels

around the airport who stop by just before leaving Japan.

2007

1,300

Shinshoji Temple in Naritasan near JR Narita Station is

the areas main attraction and can be reached by Retro bus

from the airport. The temple enshrines Cetaka (a Buddha), and

almost 3 million people visit Shinshoji in the first three days

of the new year. It boasts the highest number of visitors for

the occasion nationwide as a temple.

JR

3

300

In the grounds

of the temple are

the beautifully

sculptured Edo-

per iod Three-

storied Pagoda,

Shakado Hall ,

a n d N i o m o n

Gate (all nation-

a l l y c e r t i f i e dimportant cultural properties). Behind the Great Main Hall

there is also Naritasan park where cherry blossom trees bloom

in spring. The Great Pagoda of Peace and Shotokutaishido

Hall cannot be missed there either.

The approach to Shinshoji begins in front of JR Narita

Station and stretches all the way to the temples main gate.

All sorts of shops line the way, includingsoba shops, souvenir

shops, Japanese sweets shops, kimono shops, bars and sake

shops, to name but a few. Stopping at some of them as you

Its not Only the Airport; Naritais a Hot Place for Sightseeing

36

Tokyo

Narita

Omotesando (main street)

Naritasan Shinshoji

JR Narita Station-5

Tourist Information Office

Tourist Information Center

Police Box

Police Box

Keisei Narita Station

Omotesando St.

Naritasan Shinshoji

JR Narita Station-5

Tourist Information Office

Tourist Information Center

Police Box

Police Box

Keisei Narita Station

Omotesando St.

7/30/2019 HT270

37/48

gently stroll toward the main gate will get you there in 20 to

30 minutes.

J R

2030

As you walk along the street, you will see a ramen shop

called Ramen Bayashi, which ispopular with foreign tourists. It is

easy to spot since there is a sign

that says Noodle Shop. It has an

English menu and its hot and spicy

Shisen-men comes with lots

of vegetables. Other items on the

menu includegyoza and fried rice.

N

oodle S

hop

For those of you who love sake, how about

Takizawa Honten? The brewery has 130 years of

history. As newsake is made from November and

goes on sale in the middle of December, you can

visit and see the brewing process from then until

the end of February.

130

11

12

2

A 20-minute bus ride from Narita Station is a museum

called Boso-no-Mura, located in a quiet suburb of Chiba

where you can experience Chibas tra-

ditional lifestyles and skills. You

can also see a reproduction of

farmers houses, watch village

kabuki performances, try on

Japanese armor and make

soba noodles or crafts as well.

20

Besides this, you can

enjoy making amber

beads, create draw on

paper- mache, create

patterned paper can-

dles, and learn ukiyoe

printing with the help

of instructors. In its

vast grounds, there is a

tea house and benches

scattered here and there,

where you could enjoy

a relaxing hot cup of green tea and Japanese sweets.

37

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

www.naritasan.or.jp

Narita Tourist Information

www.nrtk.jp/lang/en/

Ramen Bayashi

Takizawa Honten

7/30/2019 HT270

38/4838

A 15-minute bus ride from Sakura Station, two stops towardTokyo from JR Narita, is the National Museum of Japanese

History. At the museum, you can learn how Japan and its peo-

ple were shaped. It plays a critical role in historical, archaeo-

logical and ethnological research and as an educational and

training institution for everyone from children to university

students and researchers.

JR

2

15

The museum has five exhibition

halls with themes that include prehistoric and early Paleolithic

Japan, great aristocratic culture and the everyday lives of the

military families of Heian, the Kamakura period, the lives and

culture of people in the Edo period, farmers lives, how met-ropolitan cities were created, the civilization of the country in

the late 19th century, and the modern era of industrialization

and pioneering.

19

Another museum, 15 minutes by bus from Narita

Terminal 2, is the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences.You can learn about Japanese aeronautical history, see

how big airplane engines work, experience flight views

with the pilot training simulator and hear the different

sounds of aircrafts.

2

15

Boso-no-Mura

www.chiba-muse.or.jp/MURA/

Up: making patterned paper candlesBelow: trying on Japanese armor

7/30/2019 HT270

39/4839

Access from Tokyo

1) From Tokyo Station to Narita Station by JR Sobu Line

rapid train bound for Narita Airport: approximately 75 min-utes. 60 minutes by Narita Express.

2) From Ueno Station to Narita Station by JR Joban/Narita

Line rapid train bound for Narita via Abiko: approximately 80

minutes.

3) From Keisei Ueno Station to Keisei Narita Station by

Keisei Line limited express. Approximately 60 ~ 85 minutes.

1

J R

75

60

2

J R

80

3

60

8 5

Access from

Narita Airport

Nar ita City

R o u n d B u s

(Retro Bus)

departs from

Narita Airport

T e r m i n a l

1 a n d

Termina l 2at 90 minutes intervals. It takes about 40 minutes to Shinshoji

Temple and JR Narita station. One day pass 500 yen.

1

2

90

JR

40

500

National Museum of Japanese History

www.rekihaku.ac.jp

Museum of Aeronautical Sciences

www.aeromuseum.or.jp/

The Magnificent Drum Festival will be

held on April 11 and 12 in Narita City, Chiba

Prefecture. The festival will feature Japanese

drumming and other traditional music and

dance performed by 60 teams mainly from

Kanto. The event will begin with Sengan

Hana Daiko played by more than 600 drum-

mers, and each year more than 2,000 visitors

come to see Naritasan Thousand Year Night

Dance Stage held in Shinshoji Temple with

bonfires blazing around the background. The

Omotesando Drum Parade will also be an

unmissable highlight.

11

12

60

600

2,000

Narita Drum Festival

nrtm.jp/whats_new.pdf

7/30/2019 HT270

40/4840

Cosplay (costume play) events are held somewhere in

Japan every week. Many people from overseas want

to participate, but many of them dont know

how to. Chouko, a regular attendee of the big events like

Cosplay Summit, helps such people through a commu-

nity site and SNS.

SNS

As event staff are usu-

ally stationed at many places

to help visitors, participants

do not need to worry. If you

want to go to a comic mar-

ket, each events website willhave information in several

languages, says Chouko. I

am hoping to participate in a cosplay event overseas, so I can

often be provided with their information by my acquaintances.

It is give and take.

Two or three years ago Western cosplayers used

to place importance on the first impression their cos-

tumes would make while those from Asian countries

focused on costume details. However, it is said that

the Western cosplayers are now also interested in

details. Chouko says: I sometime receive requeststo send cosplay magazines published only in Japan.

Probably because they contain the methods to make

gadgetry and the costume patterns.

Chouko (seated left)



Helping Cosplay Around the World

Kuratsu (far right)

7/30/2019 HT270

41/4841

2 3

XU Xian, who l ives in

Japan, runs cosplay site JCC

in Japanese and Chinese. The

site introduces events in Japan

and Japanese cosplayers,and furthermore is a source

of Chinese information for

people in Japan. Visitors are

pleased because they can see the atmosphere of

the events in Japan where cosplay was born, says

Xu.

JCC

In Japan people enjoy cosplaying individually,

while they enjoy it as a group in China. Since

they often perform on stage, they share the roles

according to the story. Xu is involved in introduc-

ing Japanese cosplayers who want to participate individually

in events in China and she writes articles for a cosplay maga-

zine in China.

Kuratsu assists when TV companies in Hong Kongrequire foreign cosplayers. She will contact cosplay-

ers living overseas and introduce those who are

interested to TV companies. Most of them become a

Japanese comic character. Although cosplay was con-

sidered to be a weird hobby, some of the companies

now use cosplay in order to draw their customers

attention.

TV

TV

It was once looked upon as

something for kids, however, you

can recently see it even in game-

shows, commercials, movies and

dramas, says cosplayer PARK

Hee Yeon in Korea. Now you

will be able to see that cosplay

is accepted by most people.

Furthermore, cosplayers are

exchanging information across

borders and supporting one

another.

CM

www.jcc-cos.com/

Cosplay Community Site Cure C

ure en.curecos.com/

Performance by Japanese and Chinese

XU Xian

Kuratsu (right) and her friend, YOU

Y

OU

PARK Hee Yeon

JCC s first event JCC

7/30/2019 HT270

42/4842

Zatoichi is a samurai action movie with KITANO

Takeshi both directing and playing the main character,

Ichi. The movie is highly reputed thanks to Kitanos

unique direction that includes the use of rhythmical music

in some scenes. Ichi appears to be just a blind masseur who

travels the country, but he is also a master of swordplay and

stands against villains with his secret sword hidden in his

cane.

The movie starts with Ichi coming into an inn town, where

the Ginzo yakuza family rules with a rich merchant. In the

town, a masterless samurai called HATTORI who wants to be

a bodyguard for the yakuza family appears. In another scene,

beautiful travelinggeisha sisters kill a man in a rest house. The

story unfolds with these three parties shown in the beginning.

Hattori later meets Ichi at a bar and discovers Ichi is not

merely a masseur, and Ichi finds him to be a killer. After a

while Ichi encounters the sisters on a night when he wins

money at a gambling house. He is told that the sisters par-ents were killed by a gang when they were children and they

became traveling geisha to find the gang and get revenge. The

man who the sisters killed at the rest house was one of them.

ZATOICHI

Directed by KITANO Takeshi

Blind Robin HoodConfronts Villains

www.hiraganatimes.com/

English and Japanese are recorded alternately sentence

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

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

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

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

downloard them to your iPod and other mobile devices.

iPod

Audio version is sold with an annual magazine subscription. See page 31.

7/30/2019 HT270

43/4843

The Ginzo family beats their rivals and expands

their domain. One day when the sisters find out that the

Ginzo family is their enemy, they approach the family

and get a chance to entertain them as geisha. But their

background is disclosed and they are in imminent dan-ger. At that moment, Ichi appears and kills most of the

gang. At last Ichi confronts Hattori. The fight ends in a

moment. Ichis skill prevails.

From the beginning, the gangs real boss does not

appear on the screen. The audience only hears his

voice. Ichi finally uncovers who he is and the boss

identity is unexpected. Before killing the man Ichi

opens his eyes wide. It leaves the audience wondering

whether Ichi can actually see or not. In the final scene,

farmers of the village do a tap dance. It is a unique

moment in cinema.

Produced in 2003. Zatoichi received the best director award

at the 60th Venice Film Festival. Kitano Takeshi also received

the Venice Gold Lion award for HANA-BI in 1997.

Internationally he is known as a film director, but in Japan he

is more famous as the comedian Beat Takeshi.

2003

60

1997

H

ANA-B

I

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

31 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/

DVD jacket. 116 minutes. On sale in Japan. 3,990 yen

DVD116

3,990

7/30/2019 HT270

44/4844

Sim

ple

,Fun,a

ndDelicious!

Reikos Recipes

Sim

ple

,Fun,a

ndDelicious!

One chicken thigh

1/2 onion

2 eggs

150cc water

1 tsp powdered stock (or 3~5g of dried bonito

shavings)

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sweet cooking sake(mirin)

1 tsp sake

2 bowls of freshly-cooked rice

(If available, you could also add: 1 tsp noodle sauce,

chopped dried sea weed, mitsuba and pickled ginger)

This dish has become an important part of Japanese rice-bowl cuisine. It

takes its name because it uses both chicken and egg. Special pans designed for

rice-bowl cooking are available, but you can use a small pot or frying pan if

you dont have one.

Ingredients [Serves 2]

2

1

1/2

2

150 cc

1

3 5g

1

1

1

1

2

1

Oyako-don

Besides onion, you may add

bamboo, kamabokoand mush-

rooms.

For best results, don t stir in

the pot after pouring eggs.

7/30/2019 HT270

45/4845

1. Sli ce th e on ion 3 mm

thick and cut the chicken

into bite-size pieces.

2. Pour water into the smallpot and heat it. Then add

the stock or dried bonito

shavings.

3. Add the onion and chicken

and simmer for 3 minutes.

4. Also add sugar, soy sauce,

sweet cooking sake, sake

and noodle sauce and sim-

mer for 3 minutes.

5. Pou r the beat en eg gsinto 4. Cover the pot and

remove from the heat,

leave it for 2 minutes until

the egg becomes soft-

boiled.

6. Place 5 on the hot rice and

scatter over chopped sea

weed, mitsuba and pickled

ginger to taste.

AKIYAMA Reiko

Reiko is a cooking teacher from Tokyo.

Director of Party-Winds. Ltd.

She hosts parties centered on interesting

food, with simple lessons for the guests.

1.

3

2.

3.

3

4.

3

5.

2

6.

5

To Prepare

If you would like to attend a party or take lessons

E-mail: [email protected]

Hir@gana Times Friends

Hir@gana TimesFriends


7/30/2019 HT270

46/48

e-gaikokujin.com has assisted a growing number of lead-

ing Japanese companies, and our research monitors have been

involved in everything from the 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

7/30/2019 HT270

47/48

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]

7/30/2019 HT270

48/48

Hir@ganaTim

es270

213

20

1

20

270

()162-00651-18TVB4F

5253

Publisher&Editor:KatsuyukiHasegawa

PublishingCompany:YACPlanningInc.TVBAkebonobashiBldg.

4F,1-18,Sumiyoshi-cho,Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo162-0065

TEL:(03)3341-8989FAX:(03)3341-8987E-mail:info@hiraga

natimes.comURL:http://hiraganatimes.com

Documents

HT270