Trend 2009: Japanese Young Men Drinking tap water!

With the bad economy, young men are starting to rediscover Japanese tap water.(From the news、Channel Asahi, Nov 27, 2009)  Japanese tap water are drinkable and it has been for a long time.  We have been  taking this for granted since Japanese are not used to ordering water in restaurants. Just because it's free everywhere in Japan and since the waiter/waitress brings a glass of water after greeting you with "Irashaimase" (いらっしゃいませ＝Welcome).

Japanese men in the offices are drinking tap water since it's free and tastes good.  Of course, they might use BWT which is a portable filter.

I have been told from my Indonesian friend that the concept of good water as in tasty water was not understandable.  He thought water tastes the same.  In reality, no water tastes differently depending on where and what is in the water.

So, in Japan, don't hesitate to drink your hotel water when in need...unless it is written not to.  Be ware... do not drink Onsen (hot spring) water!

Look what I have found.  Sweets displayed like an Osechi.　　￥6,000 yen at Brighton Hotel Urayasu.    Please click to read about Osechi.

Some of the things that reminds that the year is coming to and end in Japan...

Right after taking down Halloween decorations stores are ready to transform themselves to join the competition of Christmas in early November!  And Japanese are as almost rushed into the season of "Shiwasu"(師走), which means the month when the teachers are busy running around,  meaning December in an old Japanese term.

This time I am going to introduce some of the thing that reminds me that this year, 2009 is almost coming to an  end here in Japan too.

Nenngajou(new year greeting post card), Calenders, schedule books, cute things to keep you warm, white radish etc

Let me start off with the not so Japansese things...

Ladies... choose your pick.　Yes, gloves and cuddly pillows are not the most Japanese things but with the display you can see the taste of Japanese ladies.

Warm clothing, cute blankets, cuddly stuffed animals, pillows etc.

Calenders and calenders... This one is full of Japanese drawings.

Schedule books that comes in all kinds of designs.  With the top sellers you can see what design or motif Japanese women liked this year.  The trend like with fashion, changes very quickly in Japan.  And this also boosts up the economy since a lot of women like to be the same as other Japanese friends.  This starts from an very early age...being able to fit in with others.  Ex. Randoseru A backpack used in Japanese elementary schools that are NOT compulsory, but every student has them when they enter elementary school.  The prices range from 20,000 yen (around 200 US dollars) above.

Gerato/Ice cream flavor...

The famous Japanese flavor is  Matcha ( Green tea ),  It's all over the world but how about Houjicha flavor?

Wow, I wonder how many people order that flavor a day.

For your info, there are unique flavors like jasmine tea, afternoon tea with scone, hybiscus tea, Yuzu tea (Korean).

Houjicha flavor can be bought at http://www.follettigerutta.jp/

Blog

I found an interesting blog. The author is a Japanese woman who is in an international trading bussiness.
I've been reading her blog for few years.

In Japanese. 誰でもなれる国際人
http://www.tamagoya.ne.jp/mm/yoko2/b/
http://www.tamagoya.ne.jp/mm/yoko2/prf.htm

Yes, you can book your Osechi-ryori now!

I saw an ad in one of the Japanese restaurants that I go to with my family.  ￥24000 yen for Osechi-ryori.  Reservations for Osechi-ryori are already available. End of October, early November... and Japanese are thinking about new year dishes.  Japanese likes to be well prepared and likes to do it early.  I know as a fact I can't book airplane tickets for the main vacations(Golden week in May, summer vacation in August and Winter vacation in December) unless I book about 3 months before time.

Okay back on track...

Osechi-ryōri 御節料理 or お節料理: traditional Japanese New Year foods

If buying one, prices range from around US 100 dollors to maybe around 1000 dollors? Or even more. Absurd?  Yes, spending a fortune for a couple of meals which are eaten at home can  be absurd.  But here, it is nothing abnormal.

So why do we, Japanese buy or make Osechi-ryori?
Well, in the old days, since the market or stores closed and it was very difficult to get groceries, house wives made food for the family which can be eaten for couple of weeks which is cooking preserved food.  I can say preserved food for new years is a lot of wisdom passed from our ancestors.  Not only house wives don't have to go shopping for groceries but also don't have to cook for a couple of days.  As a daughter of a mom who cooks her own Osechi-ryori every year, frankly speaking, I sometimes get bored of the food after a couple days.  Sorry, Mom!  But then, my mom did pass on how to cook and the meaning of the dishes just by letting her girls help out in the kitchen and talking as she cooked.  

Nowadays, more and more stores are open all year round including New years(January the 1st through 3rd  in Japan).   So I see not everyone makes or buys Osechi these days. However, the tradition to eat Osechi is taught to the next generation.  Japanese take it seriously to pass on the tradition including all the seasonal events.  Since most of Japan has 4 seasons, appreciating/feeling the 4 seasons are important for the Japanese.  That can be done by celebrating or practicing all the events.  Meaning the kids are likely to eat Osechi to understand the tradition and culture and know the meaning of why we eat certain things at New Year.  (Please see below for the meanings of the dishes.)  This is difficult when living outside Japan.  My parents were aware about this when we lived in Los Angeles where the weather is good all year round and didn't have 4 seasons like Japan.

The things inside the Osechi each has a meaning.  These are some of them which I quote from Wikipedia.   

Osechi are easily recognizable by their special boxes called jūbako, which resemble bentō boxes. Like bentō boxes, jūbako are often kept stacked before and after use.

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  Daidai (橙), Japanese bitter orange. Daidai means "from generation to generation" when written in different kanji as 代々. Like kazunoko below, it symbolizes a wish for children in the New Year.
  

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  Datemaki (伊達巻 or 伊達巻き), sweet rolled omelette mixed with fish paste or mashed shrimp. They symbolize a wish for many auspicious days. On auspicious days (晴れの日, hare-no-hi), Japanese people traditionally wore fine clothing as a part of enjoying themselves. One of the meanings associated with the second kanji includes "fashionability," derived from the illustrious dress of the samurai from Date Han.
  

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  Kamaboko (蒲鉾), broiled fish paste. Traditionally, slices of red and white kamaboko are alternated in rows or arranged in a pattern. The color and shape are reminiscent of the rising sun, and have a celebratory, festive meaning.
  

• Kazunoko (数の子), herring roe. Kazu means "number" and ko means "child". It symbolizes a wish to be gifted with numerous children in the New Year.
  

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  Konbu (昆布), a kind of seaweed. It is associated with the word yorokobu, meaning "joy"
  

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  Kuro-mame (黒豆), black soybeans. Mame also means "health," symbolizing a wish for health in the New Year.
  

• Tai (鯛), red sea-bream. Tai is associated with the Japanese word medetai, symbolizing an auspicious event
  

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  Tazukuri (田作り), dried sardines cooked in soy sauce. The literal meaning of the kanji in tazukuri is "rice paddy maker", as the fish were used historically to fertilize rice fields. The symbolism is of an abundant harvest.
  

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  Zōni (雑煮), a soup of mochi rice cakes in clear broth (in eastern Japan) or miso broth (in western Japan).
  

  
  

 Okay, with my one year old girl walking about, I am not going to make all of this.  I'll need to choose ... don't  you agree?  Or gambachau　 頑張っちゃう  ?

Bandaid that can help you heal! 

Okay, I admit that kids can be fast at acquiring information that can be useful for themselves. 

Alia has noticed a bandaid on her friends cut.  A band aid that heals cuts.  


She explained me with her eyes shining what this band aid does. The pad in the band aid covers the cut and absorbs the fluid that comes out and puffs up(will be white which indicates that it is working) where the cut is then avoids the cut to be dry which enables the new skin to be revitalized more quickly and smoothly. Alia saw the price at the drug store and said "You're not going to buy me this are you, mom?" Around 9 US dollors for ten band aids. She promised not to touch her cut that has been annoying her for a month and brought back this 'advanced' band aid home.(Even the doctor who saw it said the best medicine was to leave it alone!) .


Have you used this before?　　How was it?

There were 2 companies which made these kind of band aids at my local drug store. The picture is one of them.

Monozukuri culture

I had an opportunity to join the workshop on skills evaluation Method Japan FY2009 as an Indonesian/Japanese interpreter.

The workshop was held for participants from 9 countries in Asia to learn about the system and the skill certification test in Japan.


The impression from this 10 day workshop was that Japanese culture has a solid base which is making things,  in Japanese 'Monozukuri'.


 Origami is an great example. Origami is already taught at a very early age.


Another is paper craft.  I have been always satisfied at the 'Furoku' 付録 of monthly magazines for elementary kids.  'Furoku' indicates the thing that is attached to the product as a small gift to attract customers and increase sales. This 'Furoku' culture is another thing I would love to introduce, but for now, getting back on track about 'monozukuri'.  The 'Furoku' attached to the magazines that my parents used to buy had a lot of paper craft. Not the cheap kind of thin paper that is going to be too weak after completing but the paper chosen for it's purpose and actual use, for example making a game with hard paper and rubber bands.  This kind of 'Furoku', is so typical in Japan. Something that consumes time and effort to make something='Monozukuri'.  My parents used to subscribe these montly magazines from Japan when we were living in LA, California.  I now buy these magazines for my kids.  Does anyone know if any other countries have this kind of quality 'Furoku' for kids?  I would definitely want to take a look if there is any. Email me at qurniati@yahoo.co.jp


In public museums, I see a lot of craft classes. Of course, I saw  many craft classes in the US too. In Japan, compared to the US,  details and precision are already required in early stages(younger ages). However, approval or praise is greater/easily given in the US which encourages children/people and of course, puts smiles on their faces!


Standard/criteria in Japan
One of the method that is used to assess the product that has been made by the participants of the certification practical test is the deduction method. Deduction method is simply deducting points from the total point. 0 points deducted means there are no faults or defects at all, and 0 is normal.  Human beings aren't perfect and that is normal but this method defines normal as perfect. This is because when an manufacturing company produces products, it can only sell perfect products that does not have any defects at all. Thus 0 deduction is normal for evaluating practical tests/certification tests in Japan.


'Monozukuri' culture has been developed by the finite resources or if I may say, lack of natural resources in Japan. We have been pushed to think hard to add value to anything we import.  Then sell it at a higher price to survive using the profit that is gained. 'Souikufuu' 創意工夫, this is another word I would like to introduce.  It means to exert one's originality and ingenuity.  This four chinese character word has been on my vocabulary since I was in elementary school.  This concept is not only applied in making things such as craft but also in our conduct/action.  'Souikufu' so we can use our time efficiently or optimize our effort is also important.    

Budaya Monozukuri "ものづくり"

Setelah saya ikut workshop sistem ujian sertifikasi skill Jepang '09, sebagai penterjemah, saya merasa Monozukuri: pembuatan barang/benda adalah dasar  budaya Jepang...