One comment you often hear from foreigners after living in Japan for a while, is that Japanese people like to compliment them on their chopstick skills.
'Wow, you can use chopsticks!'
'You use chopsticks very well!'
'O-hashi jouzu desu ne!'
Some of my friends who have lived in Japan longer than me are quite fed up with this by now. They say it always makes them want to say, 'wow, you can use a knife and fork, well done!'
Of course, the chopsticks compliment is just a friendly thing to say, and not meant in a patronising way. It's just that so many people react in exactly the same way. Do they think that foreigners can't use chopsticks? Or that using chopsticks is really difficult to master? Because you can say 'I've lived in Japan for four years', then five minutes later, people will still express surprise at your ability to use chopsticks. I tell you, I'd express much, much more surprise if someone had lived in Japan for four years without learning to use chopsticks.
In my case, I fumble even using a knife and fork. Though I eat with chopsticks almost every day, I rarely even receive this common compliment. When I do, I always feel rather proud, ha ha ha. The thing is, though, learning to use chopsticks is not very hard. Even for an uncoordinated person like me, it took me a couple of days to get functional, perhaps a few weeks to get good at picking up small or slippery things. Most of my Australian friends, who've never lived in Asia, can use chopsticks.
The thing that amuses me is when, I have been talking to people only in Japanese for some time, and *then* they see me use chopsticks and exclaim 'wow, you can eat with chopsticks!' As a hint, the former skill takes much more effort to develop than the latter!
Sunday 30 January 2011
Thursday 27 January 2011
Japanese Pet Peeve: Shopping
I should preface this by saying that I mostly dislike shopping in general, not only in Japan. I could make a 'pet peeve' list about shopping for any location. However, today I'll focus on shopping in big cities in Japan.
The crowds
Going to a popular shopping spot on a weekend is no joke. Most of them have absolutely ridiculous numbers of people. If you go anywhere near lunch time, people will be sitting outside restaurants, lining up waiting for a place. People will line up half an hour to buy a particularly popular brand of donut or cake.
Every shop you go into will become a labyrinth in which every potential exit is blocked by human bodies. In general, shops are not spacious even when empty of people, so there are an awful lot of logjams. Going in for a casual browse becomes very frustrating.
I've realised how lucky I was in Yokohama to have Mondays off.
The good
To be fair, there are also good points about shopping in Japan. Indeed, in most cases, I actually prefer shopping in Japan to shopping anywhere else.
Some products are cheaper than back home. In particular, books, shoes and alcohol. ^_^ There are more shopping venues to choose from, and sales assistants are usually pretty helpful. For me as a short, fairly small person, it's easier to find nice-fitting, reasonably-priced trousers and shoes.
When you walk around shopping areas, you can also find a lot of interesting things, like odd food, funny posters, or products you don't find back home. Today I saw a Japanese sword store, with swords selling for around $10,000 each. There are lots of cute gift stores, and food shopping is fun. 100 yen stores have a lot of good stuff with which you can equip your apartment.
The good shopping spots are in interesting hub areas, usually easy to access by train, so when you go shopping you feel like you're in the hum of Japanese life.
The crowds
Going to a popular shopping spot on a weekend is no joke. Most of them have absolutely ridiculous numbers of people. If you go anywhere near lunch time, people will be sitting outside restaurants, lining up waiting for a place. People will line up half an hour to buy a particularly popular brand of donut or cake.
Every shop you go into will become a labyrinth in which every potential exit is blocked by human bodies. In general, shops are not spacious even when empty of people, so there are an awful lot of logjams. Going in for a casual browse becomes very frustrating.
I've realised how lucky I was in Yokohama to have Mondays off.
Shouting
This is absolutely the worst thing. Unlike in most of Asia, Japanese shopkeepers don't badger you to buy things. However, they do a lot of general, random shouting.
'Welcome!'
'Please look around!'
'How about some takoyaki? It's delicious!'
'Come and see these great specials!'
Girls' clothes shops are the worst in this regard, because there is obviously some kind of shopkeeper training course that teaches girls how to adopt the loudest, most nasal voice possible. I can't convey how awful this is if you haven't heard it for yourself. If you're within 10m of one when she shouts 'irasshaimase!! douzo goran kudasai!', you'll get a fright. Sometimes these girls are so piercing I actually wince in pain; it's all I can do not to clap my hands over my ears.
Food stores are also full of shouting, but are generally less nasal, featuring lots of men bellowing in the most gung-ho manner possible. In food halls, there can be quite a cacophony from competing stalls.
In pretty well every kind of store, the staff will say 'irasshaimase' (which basically means 'welcome' and doesn't require a response) when you walk past them. In some stores, where the staff are busy laying out stock or folding clothes, they will just shout 'irasshaimase' at random intervals, whether there is someone new nearby or not. When you leave, someone will usually say or shout 'arigatou gozaimashita!' (thank you!).
This in itself is fine, it just depends on the manner in which it is said; sometimes it's said in such an aggressive voice that it doesn't make me feel welcome at all!
The music
Another pet peeve is that some stores have their own jingle or advertising slogan, which will be repeated again and again over the speakers.
'Nanaco de kao kao seven seven! Seven Eleven, ii kibun!'
'One price shop! One price shop de gozaimasu!'
'Tako tako tako! Tako tako tako!'
This is just about bearable if you're in the shop for less than one minute. I don't know how the sales staff can work there without going stark, staring mad.
My current supermarket is quite bad. Most of the supermarket is blessed with a repetitive, perky jingle. Imagine the chorus of 'This is the Day that the Lord Has Made' played on the tin whistle, converted into midi format, and played on loop, all day every day. However, different parts of the supermarket have different annoying jingles. While waiting at the checkout you get to listen to the 'takoyaki odango' song, which I always leave the store singing. -_-
To be fair, there are also good points about shopping in Japan. Indeed, in most cases, I actually prefer shopping in Japan to shopping anywhere else.
Some products are cheaper than back home. In particular, books, shoes and alcohol. ^_^ There are more shopping venues to choose from, and sales assistants are usually pretty helpful. For me as a short, fairly small person, it's easier to find nice-fitting, reasonably-priced trousers and shoes.
When you walk around shopping areas, you can also find a lot of interesting things, like odd food, funny posters, or products you don't find back home. Today I saw a Japanese sword store, with swords selling for around $10,000 each. There are lots of cute gift stores, and food shopping is fun. 100 yen stores have a lot of good stuff with which you can equip your apartment.
The good shopping spots are in interesting hub areas, usually easy to access by train, so when you go shopping you feel like you're in the hum of Japanese life.
Monday 24 January 2011
Muji
It took me forever to remember the name of this store: 無印良品, or 'Mujirushi Ryouhin'. You can recognise the four kanji in crimson on a white background. It's a popular lifestyle store. Muji sells a variety of products such as clothes, food, decorations, furniture, and various household items.
I call it the Store of Beige, because when you go there, absolutely everything is in varying shades of brown, beige and grey. Have a look at their online store if you don't believe me. ^_^
Everything is quite mass-produced and basic and functional. It's like IKEA, only more beige. ^_^
I call it the Store of Beige, because when you go there, absolutely everything is in varying shades of brown, beige and grey. Have a look at their online store if you don't believe me. ^_^
Everything is quite mass-produced and basic and functional. It's like IKEA, only more beige. ^_^
Thursday 20 January 2011
Noises
This is something that must differ a lot by the luck of your personal experience, but in my own experience, Japan is quiet privately and noisy publicly.
I have lived in three different buildings in three different cities, and lived in apartment blocks with thin walls, surrounded by other tenants. I've always been astonished by how little noise I hear from anyone. Nobody plays loud music, or loud TV, nobody holds loud parties, nobody has fights. I think in 18 months of living in one building, the only time I ever heard my neighbours was when one of them had a cold and was coughing a bit.
With all these people living so close together, an equivalent situation in Australia is almost unthinkable.
Now, the lack of parties/loud conversations is probably related to the small size of the apartments; people don't tend to entertain in them very much. And I'm sure there are plenty of noisy or inconsiderate Japanese neighbours out there. But my impression is still that at home, my neighbours are quieter than Australians would be.
Outside of home, however, is another story. Loud, constant train announcements, frequently set at too high a volume. Muzak in public spaces. Stores with annoying jingles. Ads playing. People shouting out the day's specials. Garbage trucks trawling the neighbourhood playing their theme song. Constant, loud announcements over department store speakers. Politicians blasting announcements from megaphones on cars. Shopkeepers bellowing out 'irasshaimase!!' (welcome) as you walk past.
I remember going to a tropical beach in Okinawa, and a ski slope in Niigata, and even these natural places had speakers playing bland pop music interspersed with occasional announcements!
I think Japanese people must have a higher tolerance for noise than I do, because I find that even a simple trip to the supermarket can really jangle my nerves. I suppose if you hear it from a young age, you get used to it.
I plan to do a 'pet peeve' post about shopping, so I'll save more of my griping for then. ^_^
I have lived in three different buildings in three different cities, and lived in apartment blocks with thin walls, surrounded by other tenants. I've always been astonished by how little noise I hear from anyone. Nobody plays loud music, or loud TV, nobody holds loud parties, nobody has fights. I think in 18 months of living in one building, the only time I ever heard my neighbours was when one of them had a cold and was coughing a bit.
With all these people living so close together, an equivalent situation in Australia is almost unthinkable.
Now, the lack of parties/loud conversations is probably related to the small size of the apartments; people don't tend to entertain in them very much. And I'm sure there are plenty of noisy or inconsiderate Japanese neighbours out there. But my impression is still that at home, my neighbours are quieter than Australians would be.
Outside of home, however, is another story. Loud, constant train announcements, frequently set at too high a volume. Muzak in public spaces. Stores with annoying jingles. Ads playing. People shouting out the day's specials. Garbage trucks trawling the neighbourhood playing their theme song. Constant, loud announcements over department store speakers. Politicians blasting announcements from megaphones on cars. Shopkeepers bellowing out 'irasshaimase!!' (welcome) as you walk past.
I remember going to a tropical beach in Okinawa, and a ski slope in Niigata, and even these natural places had speakers playing bland pop music interspersed with occasional announcements!
I think Japanese people must have a higher tolerance for noise than I do, because I find that even a simple trip to the supermarket can really jangle my nerves. I suppose if you hear it from a young age, you get used to it.
I plan to do a 'pet peeve' post about shopping, so I'll save more of my griping for then. ^_^
Sunday 16 January 2011
Random Pictures (3)
I don't know just what is happening in this picture. But that elevator is clearly taking malicious pleasure in that property damage.
His perhaps slightly less well-known residence.
Anybody want a bucket-sized parfait?
With, like, an entire pudding, brownie, fruit salad and three scoops of icecream on top?
You know, just to tide you over until you get home or something?
Friday 14 January 2011
Japanese English
Anyone who has taught English in Japan will soon become familiar with the idea of 'Japanese English'. Japanese has many, many 'loan words' from English and some from other European languages.
In some cases, though the word has been rendered in the Japanese syllabary, the resemblance to its original is obvious, and it's possible to quickly recognise the meaning. Examples include 'ke-ki' (cake), 'ko-hi' (coffee), 'ba-ga-' (burger) and 'sarada' (salad).
In other cases, the loan word has taken on a form or use that makes it unintelligible, unnatural, or incorrect, to English ears.
Some examples I often hear:
'wear' instead of 'clothes'. 'I bought some new wear'.
'chou cream' (sounds like 'shoe cream'), instead of 'cream puff'.
'soft cream' instead of 'soft serve' (icecream).
'range' instead of 'stove'. In Japanese, 'stove' is a heater or fireplace. In Japanese, 'denshi range' means 'microwave' ('denshi' means 'electronic').
'high tension', which I think means 'excited'.
'one piece' instead of 'tunic top' or 'dress' (in English we don't really have a good equivalent word for a long top, so kudos to the Japanese for creating one)
'challenge' as a verb, as in - 'I will challenge this test'
'present' as a verb instead of 'give a present', as in - 'He presents me this cake'
noun + 'up' used as a verb, meaning 'improve my ___' eg, 'I want to level up' or 'I want to career up'.
'room' instead of 'apartment' (as in 'I cleaned my room', meaning 'I cleaned my apartment')
'mansion' instead of 'apartment'... an amusing change, an apartment is called a mansion in Japanese
'sand' instead of 'sandwich'. Japanese often shorten words, so it's not that unusual, but it sounds funny to me to eat a 'cookie sand'.
'goods' as an all-purpose word for products or merchandise, like 'I bought some Disney goods'
'hamburg' to mean 'hamburger patty'. In Japan, hamburger patties are often served as meat dishes in their own right, rather than in a hamburger bun.
'pierce' instead of 'earring'.
'claim' instead of 'complain' or 'complaint'.
'hormone' (actually horumon), which really means offal or entrails.
In some cases, though the word has been rendered in the Japanese syllabary, the resemblance to its original is obvious, and it's possible to quickly recognise the meaning. Examples include 'ke-ki' (cake), 'ko-hi' (coffee), 'ba-ga-' (burger) and 'sarada' (salad).
In other cases, the loan word has taken on a form or use that makes it unintelligible, unnatural, or incorrect, to English ears.
Some examples I often hear:
'wear' instead of 'clothes'. 'I bought some new wear'.
'chou cream' (sounds like 'shoe cream'), instead of 'cream puff'.
'soft cream' instead of 'soft serve' (icecream).
'range' instead of 'stove'. In Japanese, 'stove' is a heater or fireplace. In Japanese, 'denshi range' means 'microwave' ('denshi' means 'electronic').
'high tension', which I think means 'excited'.
'one piece' instead of 'tunic top' or 'dress' (in English we don't really have a good equivalent word for a long top, so kudos to the Japanese for creating one)
'challenge' as a verb, as in - 'I will challenge this test'
'present' as a verb instead of 'give a present', as in - 'He presents me this cake'
noun + 'up' used as a verb, meaning 'improve my ___' eg, 'I want to level up' or 'I want to career up'.
'room' instead of 'apartment' (as in 'I cleaned my room', meaning 'I cleaned my apartment')
'mansion' instead of 'apartment'... an amusing change, an apartment is called a mansion in Japanese
'sand' instead of 'sandwich'. Japanese often shorten words, so it's not that unusual, but it sounds funny to me to eat a 'cookie sand'.
'goods' as an all-purpose word for products or merchandise, like 'I bought some Disney goods'
'hamburg' to mean 'hamburger patty'. In Japan, hamburger patties are often served as meat dishes in their own right, rather than in a hamburger bun.
'pierce' instead of 'earring'.
'claim' instead of 'complain' or 'complaint'.
'hormone' (actually horumon), which really means offal or entrails.
Monday 10 January 2011
Wigs
Another post about accessories. ^_^ I had vaguely noticed that some accessory shops sold a variety of wigs, most of them with varying shades of brown or black hair. I was curious about the market for these, so I asked my students.
One girl thought they were for junior high school students. She said that the students probably had to have normal black hair for school, but some might have brown, dyed hair. In that case, they could wear the wigs to school and escape censure. (Obviously my student did not express this in these words. ^^;)
Another thought they would be useful for job hunting. Again, job hunting requires a fairly strict adherence to a certain look - in which dyed hair has no part - so students could wear a black wig to hide their dyed hair while going job hunting.
I'm sure some of the wigs I've seen in shops haven't been black though.
One girl thought they were for junior high school students. She said that the students probably had to have normal black hair for school, but some might have brown, dyed hair. In that case, they could wear the wigs to school and escape censure. (Obviously my student did not express this in these words. ^^;)
Another thought they would be useful for job hunting. Again, job hunting requires a fairly strict adherence to a certain look - in which dyed hair has no part - so students could wear a black wig to hide their dyed hair while going job hunting.
I'm sure some of the wigs I've seen in shops haven't been black though.
Friday 7 January 2011
Tails
Recently I have been seeing, in shops and on people, fur tail accessories. They have probably been around for ages and I've just never noticed. What they are is, well, thick, soft tails. I've seen them for 5000 yen (about $60) per tail. Often made of real fur, for example fox fur, they are clipped to your bag, or possibly your waist.
Why not just go the whole hog and tie it to your backside? It might have a kind of 'sexy cosplay' effect, especially combined with the popular fur-topped boots.
I'm thinking of getting two and seeing if they will help me to fly.
Thursday 6 January 2011
Job hunting
As I've mentioned, I currently work at a university. Some of my female third-year students are in the process of 'job hunting'. This seems like a full-time job in itself. The following information is what my students told me, so bear in mind it may not be true for all universities.
The third-year students (in a four-year degree), have fewer classes because of the time demands created by their job hunting. Basically, job hunting involves attending constant 'job explanations' by different companies, and also various job expos and job fairs. Many students have travelled the country to attend particular 'explanations', some going as far as Fukuoka, and many to Osaka or Tokyo.
All this requires a lot of filling out forms, getting pictures taken, and even getting a video of yourself presenting yourself. One student said she has applied for about 40 different companies this year.
It's not quite like 'okay, I studied economics, so I will apply for this bank and this financial planning institution, because they are looking for people with my particular knowledge set'. It seems like any student can apply for these companies, because the job is not necessarily a specialised role for a particular major, just a 'company employee'. In general, some universities' students might get a slightly higher consideration than others, based on the prestige of the university.
Because the economic situation is still not good, competition for people entering the job market is strong, and it's difficult to get just what you want.
Job hunters also have to attend practice interviews and 'group discussion' sessions, where they practise answering the kind of questions interviewers ask, especially those designed to test creative thinking, problem solving, and your general composure under pressure.
Even for these practice interviews, students must wear suits. The uniform of the job hunter is a suit - invariably, a black suit, with white shirt - and conventional, black hair (no colour). My job-hunting students appear in suits more days than not; it's astonishing how many 'job hunting'-related duties they have to fulfill.
It all looks rather stressful and when I see a hallway full of nervously waiting, black-suited students, I always feel glad that my early job-hunting days are behind me.
The third-year students (in a four-year degree), have fewer classes because of the time demands created by their job hunting. Basically, job hunting involves attending constant 'job explanations' by different companies, and also various job expos and job fairs. Many students have travelled the country to attend particular 'explanations', some going as far as Fukuoka, and many to Osaka or Tokyo.
All this requires a lot of filling out forms, getting pictures taken, and even getting a video of yourself presenting yourself. One student said she has applied for about 40 different companies this year.
It's not quite like 'okay, I studied economics, so I will apply for this bank and this financial planning institution, because they are looking for people with my particular knowledge set'. It seems like any student can apply for these companies, because the job is not necessarily a specialised role for a particular major, just a 'company employee'. In general, some universities' students might get a slightly higher consideration than others, based on the prestige of the university.
Because the economic situation is still not good, competition for people entering the job market is strong, and it's difficult to get just what you want.
Job hunters also have to attend practice interviews and 'group discussion' sessions, where they practise answering the kind of questions interviewers ask, especially those designed to test creative thinking, problem solving, and your general composure under pressure.
Even for these practice interviews, students must wear suits. The uniform of the job hunter is a suit - invariably, a black suit, with white shirt - and conventional, black hair (no colour). My job-hunting students appear in suits more days than not; it's astonishing how many 'job hunting'-related duties they have to fulfill.
It all looks rather stressful and when I see a hallway full of nervously waiting, black-suited students, I always feel glad that my early job-hunting days are behind me.
Monday 3 January 2011
Zannen sale
This is a little out of date now, but I just remembered. This year, Nagoya's baseball team, the Chunichi Dragons, won the Central League. (At this point, Dragons merchandise abounded, and the theme song was played not a little.) They then played the Lotte Marines in the Japan Series, and lost.
The part that I enjoyed: stores in Nagoya, en masse, held a 'zannen sale' to commemorate the LOSS of their city's team!
'Zannen' is a Japanese word, generally meaning 'too bad', or 'that's a shame'. According to Denshi Jisho, it also means 'bad luck, regret'. I love that they hold a 'regret sale'. Apparently it's a routine thing. I think this should catch on all over the world.
My friend tells me that the stores were bound to hold a sale, win or lose; if the Dragons had won, the 'omedetou sale' (congratulations sale) would have been more extravagant, with better specials.
The part that I enjoyed: stores in Nagoya, en masse, held a 'zannen sale' to commemorate the LOSS of their city's team!
'Zannen' is a Japanese word, generally meaning 'too bad', or 'that's a shame'. According to Denshi Jisho, it also means 'bad luck, regret'. I love that they hold a 'regret sale'. Apparently it's a routine thing. I think this should catch on all over the world.
My friend tells me that the stores were bound to hold a sale, win or lose; if the Dragons had won, the 'omedetou sale' (congratulations sale) would have been more extravagant, with better specials.
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