1993 to 2011

18 years have passed by but being together with old friends gives you the same feelings, old and new, yet .... unforgettable.

Every second is precious .. Every smile is memorable ... Every words is meaningful

... Friends forever

What is your blood type?

How important it is to know blood type of the people you know? Despite of the many arguments that the question of blood type can cause stereotype if the person believes that there is a correlation between blood type and personality, many Japanese, perhaps due to living a society with less multicultural background, still consider blood type as a key factor to understand differences in behavior and social characteristics.

There was already research on blood type and personality correlation in Japan many decades ago, however at least in the past three to four years, blood type has again become a hit topic of conversation among friends, members of circle/group, family and this is most likely caused by a series of best seller books on blood type and personality. The success of this book was even discussed in our national TV channel, NHK in 2008.

Overseas, there no substantial findings that suggest blood type and personality are related. However, if you happen to be asked by a Japanese, what is your blood type, would you not care to how the person may perceive your personality based on your answer.

Now, take it easy and enjoy this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_941810K74s

Pitamin For Stress Relieve?

A very unique product that could help you relieve some stress? The little toy is made of soft silicon that contains water inside. You can throw it at walls or any other flat places and it will be squashed and out of shape for a few second then... return to its original shape.

These toys were originally targeted at working people who are stressed out at work (see photos: how the toys resemble an older person typically managerial looking). The products quickly became a hit and the target was widened to younger people. Amazingly cute products for only 420 Yen each!

My daughter begged for one and funny enough she chose a pink pig. No! don't tell me .... but yes, she told be very honestly: "Mommy, i get stressed out too you know, well sometimes... when you told me to do this extra homework while i'd rather play outside with my friends. That is why i get this pig.... hehehe (she smiled) since you were born in pig year... "

.... speechless mommy, rather shocked ....

What a good solution for stress, come to think of it.... if we know the cause, we can handle it better :)

Products are available online @Tokyu Hands Online Shop - but unfortunately only a Japanese site....

http://www.hands-net.jp/goods/16723-

PS. Product name spells "Pitamin"... supposedly works like a "Vitamin" ? maybe...

Hina Dolls

The same every year, from the third week of February, Japanese people here started to prepare decorations for HinaFestival at schools, children centers, public places such as shopping centers, and even at home. This year our celebration of Hina Festival began with my daughter debut as a model for two hours, dressing up in the old time kimono and acting as a girl living in the old days (Heian era, 794 to 1185) playing with traditional Hina dolls.

The event was held by the Kokusaibunka (International Culture) Technical College of Hair Design in collaboration with Takakura Association (a prominent Japanese kimono school). The purpose was to introduce the story of hina dolls, how the concept of playing dolls evolves, in the course of studying Japanese traditional attire at the Imperial Palace.

In the old times, here in Japan, when a woman carried a baby, she would leave the main house and move to her parents' home for delivery and raising the child until she/he turns two years old. During this period, other family members living in the house usually put a doll to substitute the child who was away since birth with the mother. This is the origin of hina doll. When the child turns two, she/he will return to the main house and play the the doll that resembles him/her.

In the traditional practice Hina dolls were more like barbie dolls, which children can play with and are dressed in various costumes according to the changing of season. However, nowadays, hina dolls have become more just a decoration that are put up for display only during the Hina festival. Hina dolls displayed nowadays are apparently dressed in kimonos of highest rank and are put up at higher location to signify their status of importance. Whereas, in the past hina dolls were dressed in kimono of lower rank, because the children, wearing a higher rank kimono than the dolls themselves, are supposed to play with these dolls.

Coming of Age Ceremony ("Seijin-shiki")

In Japan on the second monday of January, young people age 20 (or turning 20) celebrate the Coming of Age day. They usually held a party with friends or family, attend a ceremony held by the local government or some private organization, where the girls will be wearing a "furisode" and the boys wearing a "hakama". The ceremony is to celebrate and recognize them as "new adult", when they are legally allowed to vote, drink and marry without parental permission, but at the same time, are also subject to all laws and social responsibilities.

The custom has been carried on for hundreds of years. I wonder if to this day such ceremony has an impact on how young adults think and behave, perhaps to some. In recent years there have been incidents of poor behaviors of young adults after during or/and after the ceremony. Meanwhile older generation talk about how young people being so used to the comfort of living in current peace and stability, that some tend to lack maturity, discipline and independence.

In the evening, I watched a group of girls in "furisode" walking out from a game center, perhaps it was after they attended a ceremony or had their dinner party. I was almost lost in words when my daughter asked me, what are those girls doing in a game center wearing such a pretty kimono. Well, playing games is still better than getting drunk and becoming violent, i thought to myself. So, i said to my girl, "they are just having fun".

Sometimes, it is not the ceremony that matters, i guess, since it is more the "mindset" of each person, on how one defines an adult. Having said that, i need to remind myself if i am truly ready for my coming of age ceremony .... well, i never had one.

For more about coming of age day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seijin_shiki

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1462gA11ns

Setting New Goals For 2010

After enjoying a long holiday with family, we are now close to going back to regular routines. It is easier for adult to switch their pattern from holiday to work, however for kids it is less easier. Especially now, we are at the beginning of a new decade, a new year, it is only fair for us to start looking at new goals for ourselves and our children. Have you set your goals/objectives for the coming year?

I just read an article about a SMART way to set our goals (based on one of an English coaching theory), whereby your goals/objectives need to be: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-phased. Most of you probably have heard or been aware of how to set goals effectively. These are not new theory, but it is a good reminder, especially when we set goals for others (say, for our kids) to follow.

Specific objectives with clear description of what to do. Measurable objectives showing how well, how much more, in calculation of time/number of times, not just in imaginary words. Achievable objectives with "possible" but challenging items. Impossible or difficult to reach goals can create stress for ourselves and others. For a more realistic goals, we need to specify process and differentiate "dream" from "reality". Time phased means breaking down the goals into certain period, month, quarterly, yearly depending on the circumstances.

With these, i hope to set my new goals in 2010 in a SMART way and get ready for challenges in the new decade :)

Photos (left) - shimekazari, a traditional Japanese new year decoration for doors/entrance (ref. copied from Sanchoku Web), a symbol of purity to begin a new year and an expression of gratitude to God for the coming year

Photos (right) - kadomatsu, a traditional Japanese new year decoration for big buildings, hotels and other large property (ref. copied from Rakuten), a symbol of longevity, prosperity and steadfastness and a welcome gesture to God of harvest. Pine and bamboo are used to express these meanings.

Shichi Go San Festival

Source: An English Introduction To Japan and Its People, published by ALC --> a very good book for those interested in Japan and Japanese culture

"Shichi (7) Go (5) San (3) literally means seven five three. When children read these ages, they are taken by parents or grandparents to a Shinto shrine in the neighborhood on November 15th to celebrate their growth." In our case, to avoid crowd in the shrine during those period, we chose to celebrate it earlier, November 1st, yes ... today!

"Originally, this was a custom done by many families of warriors and aristocrats but since the Edo period ordinary families started practicing it as well. Girls who have reached the ages of three and seven and boys who are three and five are dressed in traditional kimonos; long-sleeved (called furisode) for girls and haori and hakama with a model sword for boys."

The Bigger The Merrier

Apparently, it is not only the Americans and Europeans farmers who likes to compete on producing the largest pumpkin. In Toyama Prefecture, farmers conducts annual competition for pumpkin growers and this year, on its 23rd festival Hase-san succeeded to harvest 530.9 kilograms of pumpkin.

Official site:

http://island.geocities.jp/shoudoshima_star_world/index001.html

How Big Is Your Rice Bowl

This may become a culture shock for you who arrives in Japan for the first time. Say, you are at your friend's home, being invited to a homely prepared meal and you notice that there are rice bowls and cups of various sizes .... can you guess what that means?

In a traditional Japanese family, the size of rice bowl implies status or level of respect in the family, therefore a husband usually has the biggest size of rice bowl while the children have the smallest, and usually the elder gets a bigger one than the younger... and so on.

I bet this sort of culture can last only in a country like Japan... where people preserve culture and one of its culture is that "status or level of respect is considered important" even in a family and that one way to portray such a respect is through delicate items such as "rice bowl"... also "sake cup" and "tea cup" too!

(oops.... i better get a new set of bowls and cups ... to blend in more with the culture i live with :)

Yukata In Summer

Japanese summer calls for activities with a cooling effect, such as:

1. spending time in the water, such as public pool, resort pool, beach and river

2. visiting summer festivals, where you can eat "kaki-gori" (or in Bahasa, es serut / in English, shaved ice) with colorful sauce of strawberry, green tea, blueberry and "lamune"　(lemon soda), or a watermelon festival, where you get to break a watermelon with your eyes covered up.

3. taking a stroll in the park, hiking in the mountainside

Unlike in the old days when kimono was a daily wear for Japanese, nowadays the only time you can see many children and adults wearing kimono is during summer. Summer kimono is called yukata, which is worn only during July and August. Yukata has also become a popular souvenier for foreigners to bring home, because they are sold in various size, colorful and attractive, easy to wear and reasonable. (The price varied from 980 Yen to 20,000 Yen).

I used to wonder why the Japanese like to wear yukata in summer, considering the heat. However, I learnt that by wearing yukata you can take the heat off summer. Most Yukata is made of 100% cotton, that absorbs our sweat and it is designed in such a way that allows ventilation around the arms. Its long sleeves actually protects us from getting sunburn. Here is one of Japanese traditional customs that still lasts to these days . . . amazing!