Hello, Is it Me You're Listening For?

I knew the double rainbow over Kitakami this morning was a good sign of things to come...or it at least put me in an optimistic and open state of mind for the day. But I never anticipated that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow would come in the shape of a Sony Walkman and mix tape of '80's singles.

At the break following lunch today, the わが中学校 fuku kocho approached me in the coffee nook and asked if I enjoy music.

"Of course," I said.

"In America, do you listen to much music radio?"

I told him I did and his eyes lit up. Apparently, while he was studying English in Duluth, MN in his youth, he listened to a lot of American radio to practice his English.To take his on the go studying on the go, he recorded his favorite shows onto tapes. He still listens to these old shows now...and today at my desk, he lent me one of his favorite shows. Etched in red pen on the label was a hodgepodge of classic and obscure '80's classics at one time played for mass Duluthians once upon a time in 1984. And here I was, in the middle of the day, listening to a handful of hits from my homeland. A few choice bits on this 102 FM KZ10 broadcast include:

Howard Jones: "New Song"
Michael Jackson:  "Thriller"
Lionel Ritchie:  "Hello"
Nena:  "99 Luftballons"
Phil Collins:  "Take a Look at Me Now"
Hall and Oates:  "Adult Education"
Cindi Lauper:  "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
Eurythmics: "Here Comes The Rain Again"
Rockwell:  "Somebody's Watching Me"
Kenny Loggins:  "Footloose"
Van Halen:  "Jump"

I found it a little endearing that he'd actually written "Rionel Litchie." But I didn't have the heart to tell him. These are the man's memories, we're talking about here. Who would have thought that two decades later, the foreign Japanese student singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" would later offer to share his favorite piece of American culture with the foreign American sitting in his teacher's room? It's just a "Back the the Future" mind effer for me.

And it got me wondering. Why doesn't foreign music catch on so fervently with Americans? Yeah, I know I know. You were just singing "Feliz Navidad" in the Food Lion today and your zumba group listens to Shakira's hits all the time. But how many Japanese pop artists can you name? What about French groups, for that matter? Any? Hipsters don't count...nobody's heard what they listen to. We get it.

American consumers capitalize on Japanese cars, gadgets and food, but artistic venues are pretty much disregarded. We sort of lump everything into what we remember from "Sailor Moon," "Dragon Ball" and "Pokemon:" the theme song was kick ass and all the characters had big eyes. That's about it. No further consideration given. But maybe some Japanese watch American TV and think, "Same story. Different channel." As for our current music, the Fuku told me that he thinks everything sounds the same, and I can't disagree with him. Hell, even in the '90's, we were losing our edge. Britney Spears? Jessica Simpson? N'Sync? Backstreet Boys? Same artists, different hair. (And I say that as a straight-faced, heart fluttering Backstreet fangirl)

And meanwhile, while Americans love karaoke night, who's singing the latest AKB48 or Exile hit?

Some younger Japanese may eat up American music...sometimes without much regard for taste (Justin Bieber is not an artist, but you can't seem to convince anyone under 16 of that, American or Japanese) but, everyone still loves the classics. My students now all know The Beatles and can sing a few of their earlier works. Avril Lavigne and ACDC are also popular still.

So this is my endorsement of Japanese music, directed at America. Put down your One Direction and Taylor Swift and check out some J-Pop. Broaden your horizons and bring something new and inspiring to karaoke night!

4 Words

American. Christmas. Power. Point.

My family is unwittingly making many many cameos in my powerpoint lessons. Cue the evil laughter!

Japan: One Bite at a Time

I'm short on time tonight, so this is another image-laden post, but it's on one of my favorite topics of all time...

FOOD!

Oh my god, I love food. I love cooking and experimenting and harnessing the challenge of cooking in my microscopic "kitchen." I've masterfully overcome this challenge by relying heavily on eating out and using the microwave. Once upon a time in America, I had the freedom to cook on my mother's full range stove and in the enormous oven. There were acres of counter space (in comparison to the index card size counter I have now) and cavernous cabinets for storing the myriad spices and dry ingredients.

But alas, Japan is seriously lacking in the now-popular ingredients flooding American shelves including quinoa, flax, Greek yogurt, coconut oil, stone-rolled oats, quality hard cheeses, real peanut butter or honey,...the list goes on and on. Some clever shopping can root out some similar products but oh, it's just not the same.

Japan, in its own defense, offers a wide variety of new and interesting ingredients that I wouldn't otherwise get to use in America. Nori (dried seaweed for wrapping, cutting, and garnishing), taro root, lotus roots, all kinds of noodles from soba to some sort of clear, slimy noodle popular in nabe because it boils well without getting mushy...

Eat me, Seymour!

It doesn't get any fresher!

Over the winter holiday, I'll be cruising some local stores and shamelessly photographing some more of the wondrous oddities because  honestly, I don't know what half of it is or how to describe some of the stranger items.

Anyone up for some deadly blowfish?

Want breakfast? That's cute. Have some chicken.

But for now, here's a small glimpse at what I've put in my body over the past few months.

Perverts.

Izakaya: where weird shit happens

First, 居酒屋 (izakaya). Izakaya's only comparison in America would be your neighborhood dive or bar. You go for the familiar faces, the drinks and the little snacks.  Izakaya seldom offer full meals, so you get little tidbits from grilled meat or veggies to noodles or grilled onigiri!

One of the best izakaya I've been to has a little woman running the place. She sits down with her customers, knows everyone by name and has a smile as big as Mt. Fuji. She has a garden where she grows a lot of the fresh ingredients for her snacks. By far, her best snack is her gyuutan...grilled cow tongue! Salty, tender and delicious! 

 And oh my lord, the beer!

すし (sushi). Who doesn't like sushi, or even sashimi? Weirdos and people who are not to be trusted, that's who. Quality product is good tasting and good for you: low calorie and full of tasty vitamins and minerals, come on, what's not to love???

豚カツ (tonkatsu).  Okay, simply put, it's fried meat. More elaborately put, it's deliciously seasoned, tender cuts of meat (usually pork), battered, dipped in flaky, crunchy panko breadcrumbs and then fried in a wok big enough for bathing. You can get your veggies and rice too, but who cares...TONKATSU!

どんぶり (donburi). Rice in a bowl with meat on top. Lots of variety, by my favorite is with beef and onions.

Okay, let's break it down. Udon is thick, white wheat noodle soup. Soba is brown usually and made of buckwheat. Ramen goes by "curly noodle soup..." oh, what...am I the only one who called it that as a kid? Like ramen and soba, it comes in a variety of types and styles, hot and cold, with meat or not...soba is healthy for you too, so bonus!

焼肉 (yakiniku). Literally translated to "grilled meat." Also called Japanese BBQ, it's very popular in Japan because at most restaurants, it's a DIY deal. You order your set and cozy up to the stove or grill embedded in the table while the kitchen gets your order together. When it all comes out, you use long metal tongs to lay out your veggies and meats and watch the live coals grill your dinner in front of you! You can do this with okonomiyaki (Japanese style "omelet"). Order your ingredients, receive a bowl of goodies with an egg in it and then you scramble everything with spatulas. Top it with rich brown sauces, octopus flakes, onion or that most popular of Japanese ingredients...mayonnaise!

Sweets and snacks. Oh Japan loves their sweets. Ice cream, soft cream, cake, たいやき (fish shaped, sweet bean paste filled pastries) and the most majestic sundaes you've ever laid eyes on! 

International deliciousness: chestnut creme brulee!

All kinds of snacks are available too...and in some of the weirdest flavors. Ever had octopus jerky? How about little fish mixed with almond slivers? Next time you find it, munch on octopus crackers. How tasty!

Onsen are great for quality foodstuffs, too. Most onsen offer some sort of cafe or restaurant for patrons who are only there for a few hours as well as for the overnight guests. They usually taste extravagant and add to your luxurious and tranquil feelings post-soak...but typically, they're pretty affordable!

べんと (bento). The Japanese style lunch box, it's so much more than a paper sack with a baloney sandwich and a Capri Sun. Parents labor over their children's bento, including favored treats and even going so far as to cut nori, sausages and carrots into pretty shapes or anime characters! No joke, bento is an art form! Look up bento art and blow your mind...then look at your PB&J and shed a little tear of envy.

DIY. Yes, on the rare occasion that I do actually produce something of my own, this is often the end result.

mmmm! Curry rice!

Thanks to Harue, who gave me popcorn she grew!

Tomato preserves!

Holy Woolen Underwear, Batman!

Get out of here, winter! Nobody wants you!

I'm still studying Japanese every day, and I'm to the point where I can read katakana well, hiragana with ease (as long as I have access to a Japanese-English dictionary) and a few kanji. Practicing speaking is another matter, though. I think it's a confidence thing: I'm confident that I can communicate basic needs, but the difficult part of any language is the sharing of ideas, opinions and experiences. That's what's killing me.

On Friday, I went to Nitori to pick up a winter blanket, but the size and color I wanted wasn't in the store. I stopped a clerk and asked if he had the one I wanted in the back. He checked and returned...but without the blanket. From what I understood, if I came back the next day, there would be one. I went back, but there was no blanket on the shelves. So my nerves took over and self-consciousness crept up my spine: did I really misunderstand that badly? What was the deal? I couldn't think of how to ask for more help because I didn't know how to explain the situation.

English: Yeah, I was here yesterday and I was pretty sure the clerk told me there'd be more blankets on the shelves today. Do you think there's been a mistake?

Japanese: .....??????

That sort of anxiety just shuts my brain down. But one of the greatest things about any small talk in any language is a common interest for everyone: the weather.

If you have the capacity to look outside, make a broad gesture and perform a few charades, you're communicating and maybe the other person will offer a few token phrases to help you out. Hey, start small, right?

One of my favorite things to talk about with Japanese teachers who don't know much English is the weather. I know a few phrases and enjoy having a normal human conversation with them.

Recently, the weather took a rather freaky turn.

On Monday afternoon, it began to snow lightly, but nothing was sticking to the ground, so I didn't think anything of it. The next day, my car was covered in snow and I was scraping ice of the windshield! Once I got to the school, the F.K. asked me how the drive was. I told him it was slippery, but I was ok. Apparently, he'd fish-tailed through a few intersections!

Confidence slightly boosted.

He asked me what my technique was and I told him simply: "Turtle technique. I drive like a turtle." You see, in his wife's new car, the GPS navigation system doesn't have an animated car to track your progress, but a little green turtle. He laughed.

Looking out the window, I realized I had a great conversation starter for the day and I abused the hell out of it! Teachers and students, in English and Japanese, I talked up the weather like a new diet pill!

"Look at the trees! Today is very cold, isn't it! Do you like snow? Are you very cold? Snow is great!"

With the English teachers, I spoke a little more English and came to the conclusion that this is really abnormal weather for this time of year. In Maryland, it's unusual to see legitimate snow accumulation until the new year, so I was freaking out (in their eyes). They seemed stunned that it usually snows so late in Maryland, but they were also a little perturbed that there was white stuff on their cars that day. But we all agreed it's been an unusually cold year, so the recent weather wasn't a complete surprise...just an anomaly.











However, they're plenty prepared. Every home goods and hardware store is stocked to the ceiling with kotatsu (low tables with electric heaters under the top), kerosene heaters, down blankets, nabe stoves and pots, gloves, hats, coats...I feel like everyone around me is going on a Shackleton-inspired tour in a couple weeks!

And yes, believe it or not, I still don't have any gear for snowboarding! My wonderful friend, Harue, is going to try and help me out. And every second hand shop in the prefecture is full of boarding and skiing material. I just have to apply my prudent little penny pinching skills and fast!

In the meantime, schools are going well. The poor kids are freezing their little polyester butts off, but the stoves are moving back into the classrooms like little pot-bellied students, stewing away in the back of the class. And to keep my free time occupied, I'm still running and meeting friends for the occasional onsen or bar rendezvous. And to top it off, I'm undertaking a new project. Always on the hunt for ways to personalize my little apartment, I stumbled across this:

http://imperfectlyimaginable.blogspot.jp/2013/08/diy-paper-mache-deer-head-for-around-20.html

Inspiration switch officially on! This week I'm starting my deer head. I hope to have it done by the end of the month! I've been itching to do something artistic for a long time and this is the telescoping back scratcher I've been jonesing for! Wish me luck!

 Also, this past weekend was the celebration of Shichi-Go-San, where children aged seven, five and three are blessed at local shrines. Cute, huh?