One of the reasons I returned to college was to learn about Japan in a way I can't learn about by asking questions. Some concepts of Japanese life are so intristic to the society even a person living in Japan their entire life can not explain it.
Today, I learned about a concept in Japan called the "Lifetime Employment System". Companies hire workers and even when job production and demand dips, they refuse to fire or lay off their workforce. Instead, the company struggles to find other means to raise money and lower costs.This is why Japan remains one of the countries with the lowest unemployment rate in the world. As part of being a "lifetime" worker, companies provided dutifully, almost paternally, for their employees. This includes transportation, health care and a suitable cost of living.
Why is this system bad? Well for one, failing companies struggle to make money while continuing to employ their most expensive asset, the worker. Second, it locks out new employees. If a company hasn't fired anyone in a long time, how can there be room for new talent? And of course the stagnation of talent leads to companies who do business one way for a long time, which is not a good thing when companies need to change and adapt to the times.
I dunno, I found it all interesting and thought my readers might too. Here, you can find an article about the Lifetime Employment System and it's drawbacks:
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sleep. Try it. It's good for you.
When I first got to Japan, I thought, "Wow, they sleep everywhere!" but the more I thought about it, the more I realize that us Americans don't sleep enough. Maybe it's because of our long history of industry and agriculture that Americans have come to equate sleeping during the daytime with laziness.
I guess let me start by explaining the Japanese day. They wake up early and take the train to work. Many people walk from my area to the nearest train station, which is about a 2 mile walk. Some even shuffle run the entire distance in their business clothes for an added work out. Then they get on the train and head to their destination. Many Japanese doze on the train. Then they arrive at work and have a normal day until lunch. Eating lunch lasts about 15 minutes for them. They typically do not eat in the office but eat in their car or at a restaurant. Then, they spend the rest of their lunch break fast asleep in their cars or even dozing in the booth at the restaurant. After waking up from the mid-afternoon nap, they head into work until it's time to take a train home and nap on the entire ride back.
To an American, that is a lot of sleeping. Let's think about this some.....reasons we sleep in our car in the United States:
It's strange because I'm not accustomed to seeing people sleep so soundly in public during the day. I always wonder if something is wrong with them, "Are they sick?" but then I remember they're just catching a little nap to make the afternoon at work more pleasant.
I guess let me start by explaining the Japanese day. They wake up early and take the train to work. Many people walk from my area to the nearest train station, which is about a 2 mile walk. Some even shuffle run the entire distance in their business clothes for an added work out. Then they get on the train and head to their destination. Many Japanese doze on the train. Then they arrive at work and have a normal day until lunch. Eating lunch lasts about 15 minutes for them. They typically do not eat in the office but eat in their car or at a restaurant. Then, they spend the rest of their lunch break fast asleep in their cars or even dozing in the booth at the restaurant. After waking up from the mid-afternoon nap, they head into work until it's time to take a train home and nap on the entire ride back.
To an American, that is a lot of sleeping. Let's think about this some.....reasons we sleep in our car in the United States:
- We're ill.
- We're too drunk to drive and will sleep it off until morning.
- We're homeless.
- Nobody's asleep, it is actually a dead body.
It's strange because I'm not accustomed to seeing people sleep so soundly in public during the day. I always wonder if something is wrong with them, "Are they sick?" but then I remember they're just catching a little nap to make the afternoon at work more pleasant.
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| Most Japanese cars come equipped with curtains at the back and side windows. These can be pulled shut for quick car naps. You often see cars pulled to the side of the road with the shades drawn, especially during lunchtime. |
My roller derby potraits!
I've very much enjoy being a part of the Yokosuka Sushi Rollers roller derby team. I love being competitve and doing something positive with my time in Japan. I'm not sure if I'll go back to the US and continue to skate, I'd like to, but in the US I will need to find a full-time job and I'm not sure where roller derby would fit into that schedule. I practice every day of the week except Friday, this includes most Saturdays and Sundays.
About a week ago, our team took a trip to the Tokyo Roller Dome, which is run by Hiroshi-san, one of the original roller games skaters. I don't know if anyone remembers, but back in the 70's roller games were played by men in padded suits wearing motorcycle helmets. Anyway, we were told to perform our typical roller derby skating routines, which to me don't seem cool at all. They seem functional, not pretty and basic. However, the Japanese people at the skating rink found our moves fantastic. We did a simple pace line,which is a line of derby girls about an arms length apart. We then weaved in and out of the line in turn. The Japanese people thought this was fantastic and sure enough begin to attempt to emulate us. I was amazed. My simple and functional skating techniques were actually cooler than I thought!
Today, our team ran a 5k. We have several girls on the team training to run a marathon. My goal was to run the entire 5k without walking. Since I left San Diego, I haven't been running at all. Despite a long break from running, I was able to run the entire 5k and recover quickly. Recovering quickly means that you caught your breath within minutes of stopping the run. Your recover time is a sign of your overall health and endurance capabilities. I guess derby has been helping me with more than I thought!
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| Here's a picture of my derby team before the run! |
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| And afterwards, when we saw a Power Ranger... |
Monday, January 23, 2012
It's not infallible....
One of my friends introduced me to a blog about a Black American living in Yokohama (which is actually, right up the way from Yokosuka!) This man has published a book called, "Hi, my name is Loco and I am a racist!" about his experiences in Japan.
When I speak of the good things of Japan (which I often do), I am in no way saying that Japan is so much better than the US and I have discovered some secret utopian society to which I think everyone should move. Far from it. While Japan is safer, politer and generally cleaner than the US, it does have it's problems. I've skimmed over them before in my blog, but perhaps I should delve into detail a bit so no one has the wrong idea that coming to Japan will be all peaches, daises and fighting robots.
Racism - Racism is alive and well in Japan. The Japanese don't have laws that say that everyone must be included, employed or served regardless of their race. I'm not talking Black vs White, although by reading the blog "Loco in Yokohama", one could argue that perhaps Blacks are more discriminated against, but there are restaurants, stores and even beaches that refuse to allow gaijin (foreigners) into their establishments. A foreigner is simply someone who doesn't look Japanese. Sure, you could have lived in Japan for 15 years and speak fluently, but you will still not be allowed at these establishments. In addition some shops may refuse to sell certain items to you because of the simple fact you are a foreigner.Let me stress that is is generally not like this, most people are friendly and welcoming, however, don't be alarmed when you come across the one place in one hundred that does discriminate. There's literally nothing you can do about it except walk away. Also, be prepared to see politically incorrect words and images. At the skating rink I went to in Tokyo, the R&B DJ mix was clearly labelled as, "Old Black People Mix."
Weight and Appearance - I've said it before, but I will re-stress. The topic of your physical appearance is not taboo in Japan. Most Japanese will not openly make a comment to you, but if you are shopping in a store and you are a large-sized person (or even slightly on the large-side), the store keepers may make comments like, "Nothing here will fit you!" or "Perhaps you need larger sizes!" Girls that are big and tall may possibly have it the worst because the Japanese want to take pictures with you and say things like, "You the biggest person I've ever seen! Godzilla!" The same thing goes for any facial features you may have that are different, freckles, blonder hair, blue eyes, large nose, etc.They may comment, stare or laugh. Again, there's not much you can do. Flying into a tirade about a cultural difference is like spitting into the wind. You can't change the mind of hundreds of years of thinking.
Drunks - If it's one thing the Japanese do very very well is drink. There are no public intoxication laws in Japan, so seeing drunk people on the street is a regular occurrence. I don't mean "fun drunk" I mean so drunk they have pee'd on themselves, spilled all their money out of their wallet and are stumbling along the sidewalk. That type of drunk. They're generally harmless, but may follow you or ask you questions. The trains stop running at midnight and start running again at five in the morning. Many of these drunks will make their way to the train station in the wee hours of the morning, sleep, wake up, get on a train, puke on the train, then go home.
Public body functions - Don't ask me to explain it, but the Japanese are not nearly as bothered by bodily functions as us Americans. I saw a man encourage his grandson (I assume) to pee at a bus stop because he had to go to the bathroom. I've seen a person duck into the bushes of a busy sidewalk and take a number two. This person was very well dressed, so it wasn't like some homeless crazy person. I've seen people puke into their laptop bags on the train while the Japanese sitting around him barely blink an eye. Of course, as an American, this behavior startles me, sometimes even frightens me, but that's culture shock, I guess.
I could go on. I could talk about the girls who pester guys to buy a "massage" as they walk down the street (they're very aggressive), I could talk about the bars where men are expected to buy the girl employees drinks in exchange for lewd favors. I could talk about the perverts on the train who watch some really graphic pornography......the list just goes on...
To conclude, I'm not saying Japan is a bad place. As a whole, it is much safer than the US. There's really not a lot of randomized crime. When there is crime it is usually committed by someone the victim knows or a family member. It is unheard of for someone to walk into a mall and just start randomly open firing because they were fired from a job. On a whole, the people are much more pleasant here than in the US. They always say "hello" or "good morning" when they see me. Most enjoy talking to Americans and enjoy the exchange of ideas an culture. They are quiet and considerate, which is a far cry from us loud Americans. Most people (including the guy whose blog I previously mentioned) very much enjoy their stay in Japan.
You also can't really compare Japan to the US. It is like apples to oranges. The cultures are so drastically different you are often grasping at straws to try to find a way to fit your Japan experience into an American mind-frame. That really doesn't work. You need to first acquire a Japan mind-frame and then put your Japanese experiences into that and you'll see that things are simply different. Good and bad, they're just different.
When I speak of the good things of Japan (which I often do), I am in no way saying that Japan is so much better than the US and I have discovered some secret utopian society to which I think everyone should move. Far from it. While Japan is safer, politer and generally cleaner than the US, it does have it's problems. I've skimmed over them before in my blog, but perhaps I should delve into detail a bit so no one has the wrong idea that coming to Japan will be all peaches, daises and fighting robots.
Racism - Racism is alive and well in Japan. The Japanese don't have laws that say that everyone must be included, employed or served regardless of their race. I'm not talking Black vs White, although by reading the blog "Loco in Yokohama", one could argue that perhaps Blacks are more discriminated against, but there are restaurants, stores and even beaches that refuse to allow gaijin (foreigners) into their establishments. A foreigner is simply someone who doesn't look Japanese. Sure, you could have lived in Japan for 15 years and speak fluently, but you will still not be allowed at these establishments. In addition some shops may refuse to sell certain items to you because of the simple fact you are a foreigner.Let me stress that is is generally not like this, most people are friendly and welcoming, however, don't be alarmed when you come across the one place in one hundred that does discriminate. There's literally nothing you can do about it except walk away. Also, be prepared to see politically incorrect words and images. At the skating rink I went to in Tokyo, the R&B DJ mix was clearly labelled as, "Old Black People Mix."
Weight and Appearance - I've said it before, but I will re-stress. The topic of your physical appearance is not taboo in Japan. Most Japanese will not openly make a comment to you, but if you are shopping in a store and you are a large-sized person (or even slightly on the large-side), the store keepers may make comments like, "Nothing here will fit you!" or "Perhaps you need larger sizes!" Girls that are big and tall may possibly have it the worst because the Japanese want to take pictures with you and say things like, "You the biggest person I've ever seen! Godzilla!" The same thing goes for any facial features you may have that are different, freckles, blonder hair, blue eyes, large nose, etc.They may comment, stare or laugh. Again, there's not much you can do. Flying into a tirade about a cultural difference is like spitting into the wind. You can't change the mind of hundreds of years of thinking.
Drunks - If it's one thing the Japanese do very very well is drink. There are no public intoxication laws in Japan, so seeing drunk people on the street is a regular occurrence. I don't mean "fun drunk" I mean so drunk they have pee'd on themselves, spilled all their money out of their wallet and are stumbling along the sidewalk. That type of drunk. They're generally harmless, but may follow you or ask you questions. The trains stop running at midnight and start running again at five in the morning. Many of these drunks will make their way to the train station in the wee hours of the morning, sleep, wake up, get on a train, puke on the train, then go home.
Public body functions - Don't ask me to explain it, but the Japanese are not nearly as bothered by bodily functions as us Americans. I saw a man encourage his grandson (I assume) to pee at a bus stop because he had to go to the bathroom. I've seen a person duck into the bushes of a busy sidewalk and take a number two. This person was very well dressed, so it wasn't like some homeless crazy person. I've seen people puke into their laptop bags on the train while the Japanese sitting around him barely blink an eye. Of course, as an American, this behavior startles me, sometimes even frightens me, but that's culture shock, I guess.
I could go on. I could talk about the girls who pester guys to buy a "massage" as they walk down the street (they're very aggressive), I could talk about the bars where men are expected to buy the girl employees drinks in exchange for lewd favors. I could talk about the perverts on the train who watch some really graphic pornography......the list just goes on...
To conclude, I'm not saying Japan is a bad place. As a whole, it is much safer than the US. There's really not a lot of randomized crime. When there is crime it is usually committed by someone the victim knows or a family member. It is unheard of for someone to walk into a mall and just start randomly open firing because they were fired from a job. On a whole, the people are much more pleasant here than in the US. They always say "hello" or "good morning" when they see me. Most enjoy talking to Americans and enjoy the exchange of ideas an culture. They are quiet and considerate, which is a far cry from us loud Americans. Most people (including the guy whose blog I previously mentioned) very much enjoy their stay in Japan.
You also can't really compare Japan to the US. It is like apples to oranges. The cultures are so drastically different you are often grasping at straws to try to find a way to fit your Japan experience into an American mind-frame. That really doesn't work. You need to first acquire a Japan mind-frame and then put your Japanese experiences into that and you'll see that things are simply different. Good and bad, they're just different.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Ordering from Dominos!
There are plenty of places to order pizza from in Japan. One place close to my house is called Pizza-La, but unfortunately the Japanese medium pizza is the same size as an American small pizza and it costs about $36....so you can see why I've avoid ordering from there. Oh, and the ordering website is in Japanese.
Within the past few months, a Domino's Pizza opened outside the American base. The great thing about Domino's is that even in Japan, they know it is a brand familiar to Americans. However, Americans may find the only thing similar to the American Domino's is the name.
I'm definitely not the type of person who seeks out American restaurants to try in Japan. If I can have the food in the US, why do I want it in Japan? However, on this day one of our friends came to our house to watch football and offered to buy Domino's. Their website is in English (you can check it out here: http://www.dominos.jp/eng/). The menu was amazingly different than the US menu. There were a variety of desserts, side dishes and pizzas to choose from. They have healthy options like grilled chicken, corn soup and shrimp. Pizza toppings include mayonnaise, corn, potatoes and eggplant. They did have the familiar pizza toppings as well.
I had the order delivered to the house. In Japan, pizza delivery drivers ride around on mopeds with boxes built into the back to carry the pizza. The pizza guy elbowed his way inside my house (I'm not used to that, in the US, everything is done at the door) and laid out my order on the entryway counter. We even received a free glass cup for ordering. The glass cup is sponsored by the super-popular Japanese anime, One Piece.
Of course, the pizza was great (we just ordered the basic pepperoni and sausage), but it was expensive. We ended up paying nearly $45 for 2 large pizzas, two sodas and a large order of fries.
So there you have it, my first experience ordering pizza in Japan! :) Maybe next time I'll have a mayo and potato pizza!
Within the past few months, a Domino's Pizza opened outside the American base. The great thing about Domino's is that even in Japan, they know it is a brand familiar to Americans. However, Americans may find the only thing similar to the American Domino's is the name.
I'm definitely not the type of person who seeks out American restaurants to try in Japan. If I can have the food in the US, why do I want it in Japan? However, on this day one of our friends came to our house to watch football and offered to buy Domino's. Their website is in English (you can check it out here: http://www.dominos.jp/eng/). The menu was amazingly different than the US menu. There were a variety of desserts, side dishes and pizzas to choose from. They have healthy options like grilled chicken, corn soup and shrimp. Pizza toppings include mayonnaise, corn, potatoes and eggplant. They did have the familiar pizza toppings as well.
I had the order delivered to the house. In Japan, pizza delivery drivers ride around on mopeds with boxes built into the back to carry the pizza. The pizza guy elbowed his way inside my house (I'm not used to that, in the US, everything is done at the door) and laid out my order on the entryway counter. We even received a free glass cup for ordering. The glass cup is sponsored by the super-popular Japanese anime, One Piece.
Of course, the pizza was great (we just ordered the basic pepperoni and sausage), but it was expensive. We ended up paying nearly $45 for 2 large pizzas, two sodas and a large order of fries.
So there you have it, my first experience ordering pizza in Japan! :) Maybe next time I'll have a mayo and potato pizza!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The difference between the US and Japan
The above picture is a bus stop I saw while I was driving. You'll notice someone took the time to place two little stools next to the stop. The stools are not chained down, dirty, broken, vandalized and yet they still remain there. I dare you to put two stools next to a bus stop in the US and see if they're still there in pristine condition in two weeks.
Japan is unusal like that. No one really messes with things that don't belong to them. There's not a lot of randomized anger incorrectly directed. For example, people leave their flowerpots out next to busy streets and no one messes with their flowers, picks them or kicks the pot over. When I was living on base in Washington state, I planted flowers in my own front yard only to have someone pick them. All of them. I've even had doormats stolen. Additionally, everyone can tell a story of someone who had their Christmas yard decorations stolen.
Japan is a very safe place and I really enjoy that fact.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
It's about to get BUSY!
I thought having a regular full-time job was the epitome of a busy life. However, since I haven't been working a normal job for months now, I've found so much to fill up my time.
Saturday through Thursday of every week, I go to skate practice for about three hours a day. It's certainly not required that I go to so many practices, but when I compare it to what else I have to do, which is sit around in my pajamas watching Netflix, I don't mind attending so many practices. At least I'm getting good.
Tuesday, my school starts. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll go to skate practices in the morning, come home and eat lunch and then go to class at night. This will only last for a few weeks, but it's going to be a time crunch.
I'm still doing pet sitting and have a host of repeat clients who keep me very busy. This weekend, I picked up a dog, dropped off a dog and two dogs came over for some day sitting. I'm booked through the second week of February.
Somewhere in all that, I find time to keep the house clean, make a quilt, make dog toys and do the grocery shopping. Whew. If I don't post as much in the next few weeks it's because school will be demanding most of my time. If I don't get A's, I could lose my scholarship. Wish me luck!
Saturday through Thursday of every week, I go to skate practice for about three hours a day. It's certainly not required that I go to so many practices, but when I compare it to what else I have to do, which is sit around in my pajamas watching Netflix, I don't mind attending so many practices. At least I'm getting good.
Tuesday, my school starts. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll go to skate practices in the morning, come home and eat lunch and then go to class at night. This will only last for a few weeks, but it's going to be a time crunch.
I'm still doing pet sitting and have a host of repeat clients who keep me very busy. This weekend, I picked up a dog, dropped off a dog and two dogs came over for some day sitting. I'm booked through the second week of February.
Somewhere in all that, I find time to keep the house clean, make a quilt, make dog toys and do the grocery shopping. Whew. If I don't post as much in the next few weeks it's because school will be demanding most of my time. If I don't get A's, I could lose my scholarship. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
You're doing it wrong...
This post is for all the military families that will be in Japan in the future. No matter how you enjoy Japan there are hundreds of Americans living around you who will declare that you're doing the wrong thing...
Things I've actually heard said to people:
Here's the thing -- enjoy Japan however you feel most comfortable. Listen to other people for advice on where to go and what to do, but don't let anyone force you outside of your comfort zone. The first few months are extremely stressful and once you make it over that hump, you'll be more inclined to be more adventurous.
Everyone around you is going to have opinions for you on how you should be enjoying your time in Japan. Listen to them, but take everything with a grain of salt. Also, as you can see above, be prepared to hear a lot of statements that contradict one another. Do what is right for you.
Things I've actually heard said to people:
- You go off base too much.
- You go off base too little.
- Shop out in town more.
- Shop out in town less.
- Live offbase for a better experience.
- Live onbase for convenience.
- Don't take the kids there.
- The kids will love it there!
- Take the train.
- Don't take the train.
Here's the thing -- enjoy Japan however you feel most comfortable. Listen to other people for advice on where to go and what to do, but don't let anyone force you outside of your comfort zone. The first few months are extremely stressful and once you make it over that hump, you'll be more inclined to be more adventurous.
Everyone around you is going to have opinions for you on how you should be enjoying your time in Japan. Listen to them, but take everything with a grain of salt. Also, as you can see above, be prepared to hear a lot of statements that contradict one another. Do what is right for you.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Fuku-bukuro
The Japanese New Year is still continuing. The New Year's celebration lasts about a week and consists basically of visiting family and eating.
It seems I learn about all the cool stuff AFTER it happens (like the door decorations). Today I learned about the Fuku-bukuro or lucky bag. Retailers all over Japan create grab bags of their retail items (presumably to get rid of old stock and make room for the new merchandise) and you pay a certain amount of money and get to pick a bag. Almost all retailers participate in this.Usually the bags can only be found the first few days of the New Year.
One of my friends reported she paid 40,000 yen at the Apple store for a lucky bag. This is close to $500USD. Her grab bag included an iPad, a MacBook Air, Apple headphones, an Apple t-shirt and an assortment of software.
WHAT?! That is so cool. Apparently the small accessory stores also have some pretty great grab bags for 1,000 yen or about $15USD.
To do next year....
It seems I learn about all the cool stuff AFTER it happens (like the door decorations). Today I learned about the Fuku-bukuro or lucky bag. Retailers all over Japan create grab bags of their retail items (presumably to get rid of old stock and make room for the new merchandise) and you pay a certain amount of money and get to pick a bag. Almost all retailers participate in this.Usually the bags can only be found the first few days of the New Year.
One of my friends reported she paid 40,000 yen at the Apple store for a lucky bag. This is close to $500USD. Her grab bag included an iPad, a MacBook Air, Apple headphones, an Apple t-shirt and an assortment of software.
WHAT?! That is so cool. Apparently the small accessory stores also have some pretty great grab bags for 1,000 yen or about $15USD.
To do next year....
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Polar Bear Plunge!
Polar Bear Clubs are made up of people who jump into the water during the coldest months of winter, typically Jan. 1st. Where I grew up (Huntsville, Alabama) has a very active Polar Bear Club that jumps in the freezing North Alabama waters every January 1st. As a child, I remember seeing their billboard advertisements and wishing I could do a polar bear jump. I love cold water and I think a jump would be refreshing. Unfortunately, I was never near a "Polar Bear Club" until I moved to Yokosuka.
Once I knew Yokosuka had a Polar Bear Club, I knew I had to make the jump into the marina on Yokosuka Naval Base. I was the third person to sign up for the challenge. Eventually a few of my derby sisters agreed to make the jump with me. New Year's day greeted us with 45 degrees and sunshine. As we headed out to the pier, we kept psyching ourselves up with talk of how cold the water was going to be and how cold we were going to become.
We decided to all hold hands and scream, "One, two, three, SUSHI ROLLERS!" the "sushi rollers" being said as we jumped into the water. Yes, the water was cold, but it was so refreshing. Somehow, I jumped nearest the exit stairs, but I am a slow swimmer so my derby friends were clawing their way past me in an attempt to get out of the water as fast as possible.
We ended up making the jump twice and earning our double D's for double dip. On a "scroll" we got to sign before jumping into the water, we placed two large D's by our names. It was a wonderful way to bring in the New Year. Enjoy the pictures!
Once I knew Yokosuka had a Polar Bear Club, I knew I had to make the jump into the marina on Yokosuka Naval Base. I was the third person to sign up for the challenge. Eventually a few of my derby sisters agreed to make the jump with me. New Year's day greeted us with 45 degrees and sunshine. As we headed out to the pier, we kept psyching ourselves up with talk of how cold the water was going to be and how cold we were going to become.
We decided to all hold hands and scream, "One, two, three, SUSHI ROLLERS!" the "sushi rollers" being said as we jumped into the water. Yes, the water was cold, but it was so refreshing. Somehow, I jumped nearest the exit stairs, but I am a slow swimmer so my derby friends were clawing their way past me in an attempt to get out of the water as fast as possible.
We ended up making the jump twice and earning our double D's for double dip. On a "scroll" we got to sign before jumping into the water, we placed two large D's by our names. It was a wonderful way to bring in the New Year. Enjoy the pictures!
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| Can you spot me? |
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| SUSHI ROLLERS! |
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| My pictures are a bit out of sequence, but this was prior to the first jump. |
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| Second jump! |
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| After everything was done. Brrrr. |
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| Launching off the pier on the first jump. |
Happy New Year!
It is kind of strange celebrating New Year's Eve 16 hours ahead of my American friends. As I was waking up on January 2nd, my Facebook feed was covered in comments of people screaming: HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's very strange. Almost like celebrating the holiday twice.
In Japan, Christmas is kind of vague. They celebrate it, but not like we do in the US. The trash the next day was not overflowing with wrapping paper and boxes. On Christmas Day, people still went about their business. The large mall was open, school kids dressed in their uniforms hurried off to their classes, and it went by like any normal day.
New Years was a different story. Everything in Japan came to a screeching halt. Stores were closed and no one hurried to school. On New Year's Eve, people crowded into temples and shrines to get their New Year's blessings. The shrines ring their bells 108 times on the New Year to signify the 108 sins of Buddhism from which one should refrain. Some believe by hearing the bells, it absolves you of the sins of the previous year. Unfortunately, after the ringing of the bells everyone heads out to get drunk.
New Year's day also has special decorations called kadomatsu, which come in various forms (wreaths, arrangements, twigs) and are hung on or near a doorway for good fortune in the New Year. They sell kadmatsu on base, but I didn't know what it was, so I didn't buy any. Now that I know, I'll have to pick one up next year.
For more information on Japanese New Year, you can read it here.
Happy new Year everyone! I hope 2012 is amazing!
In Japan, Christmas is kind of vague. They celebrate it, but not like we do in the US. The trash the next day was not overflowing with wrapping paper and boxes. On Christmas Day, people still went about their business. The large mall was open, school kids dressed in their uniforms hurried off to their classes, and it went by like any normal day.
New Years was a different story. Everything in Japan came to a screeching halt. Stores were closed and no one hurried to school. On New Year's Eve, people crowded into temples and shrines to get their New Year's blessings. The shrines ring their bells 108 times on the New Year to signify the 108 sins of Buddhism from which one should refrain. Some believe by hearing the bells, it absolves you of the sins of the previous year. Unfortunately, after the ringing of the bells everyone heads out to get drunk.
New Year's day also has special decorations called kadomatsu, which come in various forms (wreaths, arrangements, twigs) and are hung on or near a doorway for good fortune in the New Year. They sell kadmatsu on base, but I didn't know what it was, so I didn't buy any. Now that I know, I'll have to pick one up next year.
For more information on Japanese New Year, you can read it here.
Happy new Year everyone! I hope 2012 is amazing!
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