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Broadcasting to an audience of three (and a goldfish)...
Comment, ramblings and musings... life through the eyes of a Japanologist...
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Saturday, March 16, 2002 |
 Today was pleasant, very reminiscent of an English summer day (yes, I do remember them!).
There was a summery haze over the mountains and the bay, and in fact, there was an early summer heat to accompany this. I set out to walk to the supermarket in mid-afternoon, and there was no need for a coat. Indeed, the balmy breeze blowing in from the bay was very welcome.
In fact, the summery haze was caused by a phenomenon called kosa, which is written with the kanji for 'yellow' and 'sand'. This is when dust blows in from the continent; today was the first time this has happened in Hiroshima this spring, according to the news.
In any case, I hope the weather holds until tomorrow. A leisurely spring Sunday would be very pleasant.
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Still on the subject of television, why would anyone advertise a car with the slogan, 'I am a father'?
Or for that matter, who would come up with 'DNA map' as a brand name for tyres? Unfathomable!
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Absolutely the last post about salad bars (at least, about those in the basements of department stores), but apparently one of the leading companies in the field (yes, there is a field!) has a detailed manual detailed how each vegetable should be cut, even down to how much should be trimmed off the end of a vegetable. For example, spring onions should have 2mm trimmed off their ends, then should be cut into 5cm bits! And the really scary part is that they actually used rules to check this!
I never realised that the whole world of salad-making could be so fascinating!
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They're now examining- in excruciating detail- a machine that scrapes and slices carrots automatically!
I suppose I should turn off, or over, but the whole documentary is strangely compelling. Worryingly compelling...
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Why am I watching a documentary on salad bars in the basements of department stores? (Apart from the fact that I have no life, that is...)
And, perhaps more to the point, who would make such a documentary? After all, we're not talking about any old salad bars here- this is a whole programme specifically about salad bars in the basements of department stores. Talk about focussed!
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Of course, though, it's not just clothes. There's complete nonsense masquerading as English everywhere you look.
For example, checking in my fridge, the first thing I found was a packet of Men's Pocky (biscuit sticks covered in dark chocolate). Actually, the blurb on the packet explains it far more eloquently:
Crispy pretzel dipped in dark chocolate for the intelligent connoisseur who enjoys the finer points in life.
What more is there to say? Actually, though, this English is quite good- and quite normal!
Anyway, more 'English' as and when I spot it... In the meantime, though, Engrish.com is an amusing site.
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The first in what will no doubt become a long running series:
"T-shirt English"
Japanese 'fashion' is characterised by the use of English (and occasionally French) as an integral part of the design. Which wouldn't be a problem, apart from the fact that the English is... well, let's just say it isn't English.
So, without further ado, exhibit 1:
Hi, I'm STRiPE, and I'M your friend to the END. Hidey-HO, ha-ha-ha!
The less said about this, the better, I think. I'll just say that I especially like the imaginative use of CAPiTALS...
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Went to Kure last night to meet two friends from my time at Hiroshima University. Caught the last ferry back to Etajima, and then the bus back to Washibe. Despite it being only 11 o'clock on a Friday night, the centre of Etajima was just like a ghost town. Friday nights used to be far more lively than this- I wonder what's changed?
Mind you, judging by the number of people from the Naval Base going across to Kure on the 5.50 ferry, I suppose it's not all that surprising that there was nobody about in Etajima. The ferry across to the mainland was the busiest I've ever seen it. Friday nights are always busier than normal, but even given this fact, yesterday was especially busy. In fact, some people even had to stand outside; it's a good job that the weather was fine!
Actually, yesterday was one of those evenings when everyone says, "If only it was like this all year round...". Unfortunately, though, this season is all too short; in less than a month, it'll start getting a little too warm for comfort. Best to enjoy these 'perfect' days while we can...
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© Copyright 2003 Nathan Duckworth.
Updated: 8/1/03; 7:44:06 pm.
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