Rick Cogley: Japan-o-grams

Lucky Grab Bags - Fukubukuro

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 07:36:19 GMT

The spoils of Good Luck Bags - Fukubukuro. We went to Uni (a local department store) to buy Fukubukuro, and got some good "hits" this time. You buy the bag but cannot see inside it - however you know basically what you are getting, say "girl's clothing size 7" for example. Sometimes you get stuff you don't want, but this year we were lucky; it was mostly needed.

Kylie and Julie got new "Jerseys" - gym outfits - and some back-to-school goods.

First Shrine Visit

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 06:35:37 GMT

First Shrine Visit - Hatsumoude

We did our "hatsumoude" first shrine visit today, at the usual place - Gorei Jinja in Gumisawa, Totsuka. Here's the entrance, but the fire is BEHIND the lady, not ON the lady -

Here's the bottom of the stairs, to the main worship area. You pass through this big "O" in a figure-eight pattern, for good luck and to cure your ills.

Here's a look at the area where you pray, with festive decorations -

And, after you pull your "takekuji" lot, and get your fortune, you make a wish and tie the paper onto this apparatus -

Now we can have a prosperous new year!! (I hope.)

Japanese New Year Door Decoration

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 02:35:44 GMT

Japan New Year Good Luck Decoration

This year, Kylie made the "shimekazari" decoration for our door. Good luck!

Crab Kani?

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 02:30:47 GMT

Japan New Year Crab!

Akiko having some delicious New Years Crab, part of our "osechi" feast.

Happy New Year 2003

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 01:47:14 GMT

Happy New Year 2003!
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Read a new article about Japanese New Years Culture.

More Japan fish-named Anime

Mon, 16 Dec 2002 07:20:18 GMT

Wonderful stuff - this new anime cited on Boing Boing Blog is one which I have never seen in Japan. The food-referencing names that they mention reminded me of another show:

"The Sushi Seals" is an adult-oriented Japanimation TV show structured around a bunch of characters with raw-fish cuisine names. The episode descriptions sound so not-funny, they're kinda funny. "Ikura" means "salmon eggs," btw.

There's a wholesome show that's been running every Sunday evening for, oh, 60 years or something in Japan, called "Sazae san", that talks about the adventures of a family with fish names. Big sis is "Sazae" (turbo), then there's "Ikura" (salmon roe) and other intriguing names. Maybe it's a trend, or somethin'.

The Japan Page has a review, and here's a pic of her.

Picture of Unagi

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 14:53:41 GMT

Unagi! Here's a good picture from a Japanese website. By the way, see my story on "Pronouncing Japanese". It's oo-nah-gy (gy as in muggy.)

Eel!!!

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 14:47:31 GMT

Ah, eel! I had eel this evening for dinner and it was GOOD. Eel, beer, more eel, beer.