I stayed at a hotel near Shinagawa in Tokyo and went to the Shinagawa Historical Museum yesterday morning (Sunday, Nov. 8). I did not know until after I got there that it was the site of the famous Omori Shell Mounds discovery site. It was a nice place with a pretty garden too.
I then headed to Asakusa Temple and Shrine. Out of the temples and shrines I have been to in Japan thus far, Asakusa was the most crowded one. It did not help that it was a Sunday and a special holiday for Japanese to bring their 3, 5, or 7 year olds to the shrine. I was not impressed with the temple or shrine at all, except for the following:
1. Chrysanthemum festival/contest winners and participants. They were fabulous.
2. Japanese money performing special jumping and walking obstacle courses.
3. Kids performing kabuki on stage.
Temples and shrines in Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Kamakura are just way better than this Asakusa place.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Shiawase
I met with Professor Rob Eskildsen at Obirin University on Wednesday- his work is outside my field and time period, but he was helpful. He also gave me copies of his articles.
Then yesterday, Thursday, I finally met with Professor Hong Yu-ru at Hitotsubashi University whose research is closest to mine (probably in the world), and she was super nice! She is still young, has published many articles and her newest book won some award in Japan- and she gave me a copy! The book costs 9700 yen plus tax (right now $1=90yen). She also gave me a copy of one of her articles, gave me coffee from Tully(? Tulley?) right when I walked in (she had bought two cups).
After the nearly two-hour talk about research and ourselves (our personal life also), she took me out to lunch! I was so happy to eat with her, and then she would not let me pay for my share. I had Japanese spaghetti for the first time, it was very Japanese because the sauce is this pickled plum vegetable with fatty pork slices. Can you imagine it? The corn soup was salty, but pretty good even though the corn have been crushed to bites. The dessert was really good, I am not sure what it is called. We also had coffee/tea. It was so great.
The story did not end here. We took train together until I transferred to a faster line to get to Shinjuku. We kept on looking at each other and waving to each other until my train moved away. I already like her very much because of her personality and work. Her hospitality really make me feel as if I was floating in the clouds, and as if I was dreaming. It was so unreal.
On the same night as when I had this wonderful experience (yesterday for me), I had another wonderful experience. I met up with Kyoko whom I knew from when I lived in International House at the University of Chicago. We met up in Ginza, walked around and then had sandwich for dinner. She totally spoiled me because she would only go where I want to go. Her words, `if you are happy then I am happy` really warmed up my heart. She has always been sweet, but her hospitality was superb.
There were two other great parts, it is her birthday today but I did not know, yet she gave me presents and treated me dinner! I was so embarrassed when she told me her birthday was today, after she had given me presents and bought me dinner. The presents included yummy Japanese corn stick cookie rolls and a really cute barbie doll dressed up in yukata/kimono (I cannot differentiate clearly) and geta (shoes). The barbie doll is so adorable!
These experiences, and the meeting-up with Colin at Shinjuku and he also treated me wonderful absolutely delicious dinner, all make me wonder if I deserve all these wonderful people`s kindness and love. Of course not to mention how the Japan Foundation Kansai Institute, the program I am in right now studying Japanese, has spoiled me in Japan. I am too lucky! I wonder if I deserve all of these...
I do wonder after all these wonderful things if bad things are going to happen next... There is Chinese proverb and Japanese also use it, that says good things do not necessary lead to good things in the future, and bad things do not necessary lead to bad things next.
Then yesterday, Thursday, I finally met with Professor Hong Yu-ru at Hitotsubashi University whose research is closest to mine (probably in the world), and she was super nice! She is still young, has published many articles and her newest book won some award in Japan- and she gave me a copy! The book costs 9700 yen plus tax (right now $1=90yen). She also gave me a copy of one of her articles, gave me coffee from Tully(? Tulley?) right when I walked in (she had bought two cups).
After the nearly two-hour talk about research and ourselves (our personal life also), she took me out to lunch! I was so happy to eat with her, and then she would not let me pay for my share. I had Japanese spaghetti for the first time, it was very Japanese because the sauce is this pickled plum vegetable with fatty pork slices. Can you imagine it? The corn soup was salty, but pretty good even though the corn have been crushed to bites. The dessert was really good, I am not sure what it is called. We also had coffee/tea. It was so great.
The story did not end here. We took train together until I transferred to a faster line to get to Shinjuku. We kept on looking at each other and waving to each other until my train moved away. I already like her very much because of her personality and work. Her hospitality really make me feel as if I was floating in the clouds, and as if I was dreaming. It was so unreal.
On the same night as when I had this wonderful experience (yesterday for me), I had another wonderful experience. I met up with Kyoko whom I knew from when I lived in International House at the University of Chicago. We met up in Ginza, walked around and then had sandwich for dinner. She totally spoiled me because she would only go where I want to go. Her words, `if you are happy then I am happy` really warmed up my heart. She has always been sweet, but her hospitality was superb.
There were two other great parts, it is her birthday today but I did not know, yet she gave me presents and treated me dinner! I was so embarrassed when she told me her birthday was today, after she had given me presents and bought me dinner. The presents included yummy Japanese corn stick cookie rolls and a really cute barbie doll dressed up in yukata/kimono (I cannot differentiate clearly) and geta (shoes). The barbie doll is so adorable!
These experiences, and the meeting-up with Colin at Shinjuku and he also treated me wonderful absolutely delicious dinner, all make me wonder if I deserve all these wonderful people`s kindness and love. Of course not to mention how the Japan Foundation Kansai Institute, the program I am in right now studying Japanese, has spoiled me in Japan. I am too lucky! I wonder if I deserve all of these...
I do wonder after all these wonderful things if bad things are going to happen next... There is Chinese proverb and Japanese also use it, that says good things do not necessary lead to good things in the future, and bad things do not necessary lead to bad things next.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Japanese school system
I visited a professor at Obirin University today. While hopping onto the bus, I realized that the school has kindergarten through university. I think it is fairly common in Japan to have the through-system. I think they tend to be private schools too.
I wonder why and how it works.
I wonder why and how it works.
School uniforms
Mariana from my program once said to me that `because the skirt is short, they must be high schoolers.` Ever since then, whenever I see students in uniforms, I try to figure out if they are junior high or high schoolers. I think the length of the skirt is fairely accurate. Junior high schoolers have skirts below their knees while high schoolers have skirts above their kness (some are really short, like mini-skirts).
For boys, junior high schoolers tend to have the all-buttoned-up one-piece top (dark blue or black) while high schoolers tend to have suit-like clothes with ties (girls would have bows instead, and skirts intead of pants).
Perhaps wearing uniforms, especially suit-sytle ones, is the training for future professional dress code. If they can get used to it at a young age, they would not mind wearing them for work.
For boys, junior high schoolers tend to have the all-buttoned-up one-piece top (dark blue or black) while high schoolers tend to have suit-like clothes with ties (girls would have bows instead, and skirts intead of pants).
Perhaps wearing uniforms, especially suit-sytle ones, is the training for future professional dress code. If they can get used to it at a young age, they would not mind wearing them for work.
Akihabara
I ended up spending 3.5 hours at Akihabara, in which I was lost for probably 30 minutes. Akihabara truly lives up to its reputation as the electronics town. The electronics stores are all over town. Besides electronics, many manga-anime-related stores also exist. To my surprise, I found myself sort of fitting into the place because I like anime (even though I am only following two at this point and have no plan to start to follow any new ones). I saw the coolest anime merchandize ever- the manga/anime Bleach`s character, Urahara`s hat! After I told Jason, he and I really wished I had bought it. Unless something brings me back there before I leave Tokyo this Sunday, I do not plan to spend train fares just to buy the hat.
Highlights:
* The town is mostly men in their teens and twenties, but also older than that. I have finally met otaku.
* You can build your own ideal female figurine by not only buying her clothes but her body parts also.
* You can put as many coins as many times as possible in at least hundreds of vending machines that sell anime-Tokyo related toys/keychains/cell phone straps.
* You can get many electronics for cheap here.
* A guy I do not know hugged me from behind (like a lover`s hug). Luckily I had my (big) backpack on and so I felt the least impact possible. He probably mistakened me for his girlfriend who was standing next to me.
* Anime-lovers must come to this place. You can find cool merchandize like I did (but did not buy).
*Second-hand electronics and toys are also for sale.
* After a while every electronics store looks the same... So were the anime stores...
Highlights:
* The town is mostly men in their teens and twenties, but also older than that. I have finally met otaku.
* You can build your own ideal female figurine by not only buying her clothes but her body parts also.
* You can put as many coins as many times as possible in at least hundreds of vending machines that sell anime-Tokyo related toys/keychains/cell phone straps.
* You can get many electronics for cheap here.
* A guy I do not know hugged me from behind (like a lover`s hug). Luckily I had my (big) backpack on and so I felt the least impact possible. He probably mistakened me for his girlfriend who was standing next to me.
* Anime-lovers must come to this place. You can find cool merchandize like I did (but did not buy).
*Second-hand electronics and toys are also for sale.
* After a while every electronics store looks the same... So were the anime stores...
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Shinjuku, Okubo, Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku
I was in Shinjuku for two hours with Colin on Thursday, Oct. 30. I then remember that it was the place I went to with Jason last year. The place I did not like because the big TV screen flashed at me right after we got off the train station last year. I am okay with it this time though.
Shinjuku has people from all age-groups and seems to have all types of shops everywhere. I was too tired to walk around though.
Okubo, where I stayed in the hotel, is a Korean area. It means you can eat Korean foods and buy Korean goods here. I only walked a bit near my hotel because I was too tired after doing research all day in Waseda University (6 hours the first day, then 10 hours the next day).
I wondered around in Shibuya for a bit, not knowing where I was going. This is supposed to be where young people hangout, and I guess it is true because I saw more young people than elsewhere. Shops also to be hip and expensive.
From Shibuya, I ended up in Meiji Shrine walkway, which have super-expensive shops! Armani, Gucci, etc.
I decided to walk to the Meiji Shrine, but stopped because my legs were too tired/hurt from the all-day walking. Instead, I end up in the Harajuku area, which has cheap shops. The stores also to be on the younger and hip side.
I saw the most foreigners in Tokyo compare to other parts of Japan. Yes, not even in Osaka or Kyoto are this many foreigners present.
Shinjuku has people from all age-groups and seems to have all types of shops everywhere. I was too tired to walk around though.
Okubo, where I stayed in the hotel, is a Korean area. It means you can eat Korean foods and buy Korean goods here. I only walked a bit near my hotel because I was too tired after doing research all day in Waseda University (6 hours the first day, then 10 hours the next day).
I wondered around in Shibuya for a bit, not knowing where I was going. This is supposed to be where young people hangout, and I guess it is true because I saw more young people than elsewhere. Shops also to be hip and expensive.
From Shibuya, I ended up in Meiji Shrine walkway, which have super-expensive shops! Armani, Gucci, etc.
I decided to walk to the Meiji Shrine, but stopped because my legs were too tired/hurt from the all-day walking. Instead, I end up in the Harajuku area, which has cheap shops. The stores also to be on the younger and hip side.
I saw the most foreigners in Tokyo compare to other parts of Japan. Yes, not even in Osaka or Kyoto are this many foreigners present.
Flea Market
I walked into the Yokohama Arena and found the flea market taking place today. I ended up spending a lot money, but only 300 yen on used stuff- one shirt, one scarf, and one umbrella.
I did not understand the event at first because merchants I encountered at first were all selling new stuff, and I did not realize I had bought second-hand shirt and scarf until much later when I began to see tons of places selling `100 yen-only` for shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, etc. This made me realize that Japanese are instead in a bad recession. But then I also remember reading the article in my Japanese textbook that says flea markets are getting more popular in Japan because Japanese are becoming more environmentally-conscious and they also like cheaper but good-quality goods.
Two complaints- the smell of second-hand goods was not that great and that most places have so much clothes piled on top of each other in big piles that it was difficult to select goods.
I did not understand the event at first because merchants I encountered at first were all selling new stuff, and I did not realize I had bought second-hand shirt and scarf until much later when I began to see tons of places selling `100 yen-only` for shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, etc. This made me realize that Japanese are instead in a bad recession. But then I also remember reading the article in my Japanese textbook that says flea markets are getting more popular in Japan because Japanese are becoming more environmentally-conscious and they also like cheaper but good-quality goods.
Two complaints- the smell of second-hand goods was not that great and that most places have so much clothes piled on top of each other in big piles that it was difficult to select goods.
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