One measure against having cold

What do you do when you have a cold? Some go to doctors or pharmacies for medicine. Others eat nutritious meal and take plenty of rest. Of course these are the main measures for a cold.

On the other hand, there are some folk remedies for it. In Japan it is said hot lemonade or hot kudzu drink with ginger is good. Tamagozake (Japanese sake mixed with egg and sugar) also works on adults. For sore throat, white radish drink will ease your pain. Here is a recipe for this drink.

1. Cube the white radish and put them into the jar or bottle.

2. Add some honey up to covering the radish.

3. Keep the container till you find supernatant liquid.

4. Drink the liquid as it is. Add hot water if desired.

What are folk remedies in your country?

Baseball! – Three Japanese samurai face in the World Series

The Major Leagues World Series has just begun today. It’s striking that three Japanese players play as an opponent for the first time in the Major League history – Kazuo Matsui of the Colorado Rockies vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima of the Boston Red Sox.

Kazuo and Daisuke used to play together in the Seibu Lions, one of the greatest team that had been the first division of the league for over 25 years, as star player. It’s immeasurable how much they contributed to Lions’ Pacific League victory in 2002.
Okajima used to play in the Nippon Ham Fighters, which won the championship last year. Although he was not a “star”, he gained a strong position as reliever.

Detracting from the baseball a bit, Kazuo really loves his daughter. He told on TV interview a few years ago that his daughter’s name was sewed on his glove instead of his wife’s. (God knows how much his wife got angry… ;p)

Daisuke is going to be a starter on 3rd game. How exciting to see a face-off between previous Lions players in such a big game!

Get Energy! – Eel Day

For preventing summer fatigue, people in Japan eat sustaining food like grilled meat or curry rice. Especially on Doyo-no Ushi no hi, the day of the Ox in midsummer, many Japanese eat eel. *The day of the Ox changes every year.

In the mid 18th, a poor eel restaurant owner asked the multi-talented doctor Gennai Hiraga how to increase the sales. Gennai gave the advice to put the posters saying “Today is the day of the Ox!” being inspired by the legend that people don’t suffer from summer fatigue when they eat food beginning from the letter “u” in Japanese on that day. (Eel is called unagi in Japanese.)

This eel restaurant got more sales after putting poster. This story is regarded as the one of the reason to eat eel meal on the day.

Eel is expensive, but it is good chance to enjoy traditional kabayaki (charcoal-grilled eel) on this “eel day”.

Summer Battle - The Upper House Election

The most exited topic in recent Japanese news is the election of the House of Councilors, taking place on July 29. Since the imperfect management of payment record into the pension system was brought to light, the national annuity is one of the main issues in this election and each candidate and party runs a zealous election campaign.

Public interest in the election is relatively high. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of early voting increased in 54% compare with that of the last election. On the other hand, some people, especially the youth, don’t seem to give their mind to it. Some don’t think the pension issue concerns their own future.

Unaffiliated people might decide the outcome of the election. The importance of each vote is universal.

Teru-teru Bozu – Angel of Sunshine

Imagine that you’ll go to beach tomorrow. Blue sky, sea breeze, and suntan… it makes you excited. However the weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow…

Don’t worry. Teru-teru bozu will make your wish. Japanese, especially children, make this sunshine angel. Here is the process:

1. Prepare white paper or cloths and a string. (Facial tissue will often be used.)
2. Crumple paper to make a ball.
3. Place this ball on the center of the other paper.










4. Tie the paper with a string as a ball is wrapped.










When the doll is ready, please put it on the tringle or the space under the eaves.












Meanwhile, people are worried about water shortage in this summer. How can you wish for rain? – Oh, it’s simple, just put the sunshine doll upside down! (It may sound stupid, but it’s true!)

Mashiko - Village of Pottery

Mashiko is located in Tochigi Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, and globally famous for its pottery art called Mashiko-yaki. Mashiko-yaki is simple and has warm touch, which attracts people all over the world. (I found some ceramic arts made by foreign ceramicists!) (Photo Right : Mashiko-yaki dolls for Hina-matsuri)

Many people visit this village during the big ceramic market which takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn. They can experience pottery making at some studios. It is fun and exciting to make your own and wait for finished art!

However I really recommend you to go there in weekdays and stay at a small hotel or B & B. It's so calm and that you will find time goes slow. Each accommodation has its own uniqueness; e.g. the B&B where I stayed has a cafe and Mashiko pottery gallery. Sink or doorknob are made of Mashiko-yaki. In addition, Mashiko enjoys beautiful nature. You will enjoy greenery in the daytime and star shining clearly in the calm night. (Photo Left: Mashiko pottery sink)

Mashiko will make you renew your heart. Hope you appreciate every moment in Mashiko.

How to get there

From Narita Airport: (About 3hours total) Take Keisei Line to Keisei-Ueno station, then change to JR line from Ueno station to Utsunomiya station by Tohoku Bullet Train. From Utsunomiya station, Tohya bus takes you to Mashiko Village. (Bus leaves every hour from platform 14.)

From Nikko city: (About 1hour and 40 mins. total) Take JR Nikko Line to Utsunomiya station, then take Tohya bus to Mashiko area.

St. Valentine's Day - The "Bitter and Sweet" Day

St. Valentine's Day in Japan seems to be different from that in other countries.
One of big differences is that only women give some gifts to men. It might be because woman used to feel too embarrassed to tell a guy her feeling. St. Valentine's Day is a good chance to express how much she loves him.

It is customary for women to give chocolates to men. Many department stores or sweets shops sell many kinds of chocolates with special decoration. Some say that Valentine chocolate is just a business purpose for confectioneries, but Japanese enjoy purchasing this special sweets.

You might be surprised to hear that Japanese give chocolates not only their boyfriend or husband, but also friends, bosses, superiors in their companies! We call this chocolate in Japanese, "giri choco". It literally means "obligation chocolates". Some working women give chocolates to exacting and unfashionable bosses.

However, they don't waste the sweets; Valentine chocolate leads them good communication. They can express their thanks for bosses. Bosses feel happy about it. Giving chocolates on February 14th is one of typical Japanese gift-giving customs.

By the way, many boys are very interested in how many chocolates they can receive from girls.
Don't cry for bitter result; only one sweet chocolate saves your heart!

Good Bye, Bad Luck!

When you go to shrines or temples in Japan, especially in new year season, you'll find a notice about "The unlucky age of the year". It is called "yakudoshi" in Japanese. It is said that the unlucky age is 33 for woman and 42 for man. (This age differs from from each temple.) Many Japanese in yakudoshi have special service to drive evil spirit away.



To have this service, fill in the form at the reception first. Then go to the special room for prayer to have the service. During the service, monks light a holy fire with chanting the sutra. You may be requested to chant sutra with your palms together, or to bow to the statue of Buddha. After the service, a wooden or paper talisman is provided to you. (Light photo : a paper talisman.)



Don't worry even if you miss the chance of new year service. It is said that the bad luck will be driven away if you go to a temple to expel evil spirits by setsubun day. Hope all of you have a happy year!

New Year Porridge

It is common worldwide to celebrate new year. In Japan, we enjoy eating special meals for new year and drinking sake during new year holiday. Some have parties with their families and friends. Others go out and have nice dishes which we don't eat in our daily life.

Imagine how your stomach would be if you eat too much... It must be crying when you appreciate many ricecakes or much alcohol. So it is customary for Japanese to eat porridge on January 7th.

We call this porridge "nanakusa-gayu", which literally means "porridge with seven kinds of herbs". The seven herbs are, cicely, shepherd's purse, gogyo, chickweed, henbit, suzuna, and radish. This porridge is good for digestion, and it is believed that this protects people from illness though the year. It is very hard to pick all kinds of herbs in these days, but the Japanese can buy the pack of herbs at the supermarket.

Nanakusa-gayu is good for health, but don't eat too much!!