Japanese doesn't follow English for my reputation.....
I'm always looking for hilarious stories for this blog. One day I remembered what happened to my brother when he was in the third grade.
On that day, he (I'll call him Bob in this post), I and other neighbor kids were playing dodgeball. We all lived in the company's apartment and these kids were mostly our dad subordinates' children. As the tallest, oldest and strongest boy physically and socially because of our dad's position in the company, Bob started to bully other kids for their mistakes, screaming and yelling at them until being grabbed by the neck and taken to home by our dad, who happened to come home earlier than usual.
Japanese Sweet for June - Minazuki to Ward Off Evil Spirits 夏越の祓い 水無月
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
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| Minazuki, June sweets in Japan |
The triangle stuff on the plate is Minazuki (水無月), Japanese sweets for June made of sweet rice cakes with sweet, semi-crushed red beans (tsubu an) on them. The three are different in taste. The white one is plain, the green one is matcha taste and the black one black sugar taste. Minazuki means June in the lunar calendar and late June to early August in the solar calendar and the Chinese characters of "水無月" means "a month (月) without (無) water (水)."
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| From left: black sugar, matcha and plain |
I bought them at Sentaro (仙太郎) in Ginza Mitsukoshi. It's 227 yen a piece. They aren't gorgeous, but taste good and made me smile with their sweet flavor and mochi texture.
仙太郎で水無月を買いました。外郎に粒あんが乘っているお菓子。夏の暑さをしのぐために氷を模したとされています。そのように見えるか？は疑問ですが、季節感を味わいたくて3種類（プレーン、抹茶、黒糖）とも買いました。それぞれ風味が違い、もちもちの食感がとってもおいしかったです。日本のお菓子ってほんと地味ですね（笑）。
My Exes - Victory Underwear Guy, Etc. 勝負パンツの男たち
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I started dating three men almost at the same time in my 30s.
The first guy taught physics at a university after obtaining a PhD and was going to the US for further study. I and he had gone to the same university, so the first date was at a coffee shop in the university.
He was bright and nice and, as you may imagine, talked almost only about space and elementary particles, which I didn't understand at all. He was aware of it and asked me to educate him about non-physics stuff, such as George Clooney, of whom he'd never heard.
The second guy is about six feet, very tall for a Japanese man. As he was working at a branch office in southern Japan of a big Japanese steel company, the first date was in Tokyo where I live, but after that, he called me every other night.
He was curious about everything, but in particular women and one day asked me about how women decide whether or not to wear "victory underwear (i.e., fancy or frilly underwear worn on a serious date)." I was so naive and younger that I couldn't say, "Are you nuts!?"
The third guy was a coworker of mine, referred to by another coworker. The first date was at a restaurant near the company with the matchmaking coworker.
The matchmaker broke the ice by saying, "Doesn't he resemble Richard Gere?" The third guy's father is American and mother Japanese. Before I opened my mouth, the Gere guy said, "Iie, boku wa sekando gia desu (Nope, I'm Second Gear)." He must have been possessed and kept telling dad jokes.
I'd dated more than dozen of men referred to by a matchmaking agency, my parents, friends, and coworkers and was tired. So, I decided to marry one of the three. Guess whom I chose?
The dad joke guy. I thought it more bearable to hear "Second Gere" telling crappy jokes than to teach someone about Hollywood gossip or how to treat women, but recently I've been regretting the decision...
30代の頃、3人の男性と同時にお付き合いを始めました。
1人目は素粒子の研究者。最初のデートからずっと宇宙と素粒子の話をしていました。ただ、それ以外については驚くほど無知。ジョージ・クルーニーを知らず、「世間の常識」を教えてほしいとお願いされました。
2人目は鉄鋼会社のサラリーマン。遠距離で、金曜の晩によく電話をくれました。女性に慣れていないようで、「勝負パンツって何」と聞かれました。今だったら「アホか」でしょうね。
3人目は同僚。別の同僚からの紹介で日米ハーフ。顔合わせで、紹介してくれた同僚が「リチャード・ギアに似てるでしょ」と切り出した途端に「いや、セカンド・ギアです」とドヤ顔し、それからずっとおやじギャグが続きました。
この3人を含め、エージェント、同僚、友人、親を介して30人ほどとお見合いデートしましたが、結局この3人の3番目と結婚しました。ハリウッドのゴシップや、勝負パンツについてレクチャーするより、セカンド・ギアの親父ギャグを我慢する方がましだと思ったんです。最近、後悔しています｡｡｡
He was curious about everything, but in particular women and one day asked me about how women decide whether or not to wear "victory underwear (i.e., fancy or frilly underwear worn on a serious date)." I was so naive and younger that I couldn't say, "Are you nuts!?"
The third guy was a coworker of mine, referred to by another coworker. The first date was at a restaurant near the company with the matchmaking coworker.
The matchmaker broke the ice by saying, "Doesn't he resemble Richard Gere?" The third guy's father is American and mother Japanese. Before I opened my mouth, the Gere guy said, "Iie, boku wa sekando gia desu (Nope, I'm Second Gear)." He must have been possessed and kept telling dad jokes.
I'd dated more than dozen of men referred to by a matchmaking agency, my parents, friends, and coworkers and was tired. So, I decided to marry one of the three. Guess whom I chose?
The dad joke guy. I thought it more bearable to hear "Second Gere" telling crappy jokes than to teach someone about Hollywood gossip or how to treat women, but recently I've been regretting the decision...
30代の頃、3人の男性と同時にお付き合いを始めました。
1人目は素粒子の研究者。最初のデートからずっと宇宙と素粒子の話をしていました。ただ、それ以外については驚くほど無知。ジョージ・クルーニーを知らず、「世間の常識」を教えてほしいとお願いされました。
2人目は鉄鋼会社のサラリーマン。遠距離で、金曜の晩によく電話をくれました。女性に慣れていないようで、「勝負パンツって何」と聞かれました。今だったら「アホか」でしょうね。
3人目は同僚。別の同僚からの紹介で日米ハーフ。顔合わせで、紹介してくれた同僚が「リチャード・ギアに似てるでしょ」と切り出した途端に「いや、セカンド・ギアです」とドヤ顔し、それからずっとおやじギャグが続きました。
この3人を含め、エージェント、同僚、友人、親を介して30人ほどとお見合いデートしましたが、結局この3人の3番目と結婚しました。ハリウッドのゴシップや、勝負パンツについてレクチャーするより、セカンド・ギアの親父ギャグを我慢する方がましだと思ったんです。最近、後悔しています｡｡｡
"Who's Frank?" and "A Man in Locker Room" フランクって誰よ！
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
He was a genius! He gave me at least three types of solutions when I asked him how to solve a mathematical problem. He had lived for several years in New York before coming back to Japan and entering the high school to which I went, so had no problems with English, either.
One day, during an English class, being asked what the phrase "to be frank with you" means while asleep as always, he said in Japanese, "フランクと一緒にいると (i.e., to be with Frank)."
Everyone laughed at it. I don't know if it's hilarious in English, but it is in Japanese. This story has never failed to make me smile in reminiscence.
If you couldn't laugh, here's a really hilarious one!: Man Answering His Phone In The Gym Locker Room Leaves Eavesdroppers Stunned With One Sentence
通っていた高校にNY帰国子女の男の子がいました。数学も天才で、私が質問するといつも3通りの回答方法を教えてくれました。
英語の授業中、いつものように寝ている最中、突然「はい、次、○○！『To be frank with you』の意味！」と当てられた彼の答えが「フランクと一緒にいると」でした。
思い出すたびに笑ってしまう懐かしい話です。（正解はもちろん「正直に言うと、実は」です（笑）。）
He was a genius! He gave me at least three types of solutions when I asked him how to solve a mathematical problem. He had lived for several years in New York before coming back to Japan and entering the high school to which I went, so had no problems with English, either.
One day, during an English class, being asked what the phrase "to be frank with you" means while asleep as always, he said in Japanese, "フランクと一緒にいると (i.e., to be with Frank)."
Everyone laughed at it. I don't know if it's hilarious in English, but it is in Japanese. This story has never failed to make me smile in reminiscence.
If you couldn't laugh, here's a really hilarious one!: Man Answering His Phone In The Gym Locker Room Leaves Eavesdroppers Stunned With One Sentence
通っていた高校にNY帰国子女の男の子がいました。数学も天才で、私が質問するといつも3通りの回答方法を教えてくれました。
英語の授業中、いつものように寝ている最中、突然「はい、次、○○！『To be frank with you』の意味！」と当てられた彼の答えが「フランクと一緒にいると」でした。
思い出すたびに笑ってしまう懐かしい話です。（正解はもちろん「正直に言うと、実は」です（笑）。）
これで笑えなかった方は、「ジョーク：ジムのロッカールームで電話に出た男性」をどうぞ。原文はこちらです。
Sweets of Oldest Japanese Confectionery Manufacturer Shiose Sohonke 塩瀬総本家6月の生菓子
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
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| Shiose Sohonke's wagashi for June Top from left, White peach, Dianthus, Hydrangea; Bottom from left, Clear water flowing and Young sweetfish |
KyotoｰStyle Communication - Make Haste Slowly 京都式コミュニケーション
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Do you know that Kyoto people's communication is uniquely euphemistic? For example, if you visit their house and some time later are told, "How about another cup of green tea?," it's time for you to leave. They're not asking you if you want a cup of tea, but insinuating that you've stayed too long so that they have to serve another cup of tea. It's a famous description of Kyotoites characteristics and I don't know if it's true (a Kyoto friend of mine says it's a lie!). But it may be true that Kyotoites are indirect and I'd been critical of such their indirectness until recently when a comment, "If you want to die, die alone," triggered a dispute in Japan.
The comment is about the suspect of a stabbing rampage. A man in his 50s, who is said to have been a hikikomori or recluse (i.e., unemployed and withdrawing from society for a long time), killed himself after stabbing two to death and injuring many others. His action is inexcusable, but I found this "die alone" remark unnecessarily direct and harsh and that it may cause unexpected negative effects.
The commenter may have been satisfied with directing his anger toward the incident at anyone on the Internet and forgotten making such a comment. But would he have done the same thing if he had known that a few days later, a father would kill his hikikomori son to prevent him from committing a similar crime?
分断化の時代、直截かつ率直なコミュニケーションは必須。でもだからこそ、この京都式（？）の「急がば回れ」コミュニケーションが案外、国際摩擦、地域摩擦、ご近所摩擦を解決するカギになるのではないでしょうか。
Do you know that Kyoto people's communication is uniquely euphemistic? For example, if you visit their house and some time later are told, "How about another cup of green tea?," it's time for you to leave. They're not asking you if you want a cup of tea, but insinuating that you've stayed too long so that they have to serve another cup of tea. It's a famous description of Kyotoites characteristics and I don't know if it's true (a Kyoto friend of mine says it's a lie!). But it may be true that Kyotoites are indirect and I'd been critical of such their indirectness until recently when a comment, "If you want to die, die alone," triggered a dispute in Japan.
The comment is about the suspect of a stabbing rampage. A man in his 50s, who is said to have been a hikikomori or recluse (i.e., unemployed and withdrawing from society for a long time), killed himself after stabbing two to death and injuring many others. His action is inexcusable, but I found this "die alone" remark unnecessarily direct and harsh and that it may cause unexpected negative effects.
The commenter may have been satisfied with directing his anger toward the incident at anyone on the Internet and forgotten making such a comment. But would he have done the same thing if he had known that a few days later, a father would kill his hikikomori son to prevent him from committing a similar crime?
In increasingly diverse communities, simple and direct communication is essential, but at the same time or because of that, thinking about the implications of what you say before saying it is more important than ever. And that's why, Kyoto, which has been accepting strangers from not only other prefectures in Japan, but also abroad, has had to invent and develop such a unique way of communication that makes a point indirectly to avoid unnecessarily offending others. As the saying "Make haste slowly" goes, this Kyoto style of communication may not be as inefficient as it seems.
Kyotoites say, "How about another cup of tea?," instead of "Leave" to overstaying guests and "Your kids are active," instead of "Have their mouths shut!" to parents of noisy children. What kind of message can and should we give to someone who's been withdrawing from society and having problems with family or neighbors? Honestly I don't know, but before saying something for the sake of reducing your own anger or frustration, just taking time to put yourself in the shoes of those who may hear your message to make your point effectively and without spreading hatred, could be a key to not only better communication, but also reducing loneliness and isolation and ultimately terror in this increasingly divisive world.
川崎登戸殺傷事件の「死にたいなら一人で死ね」発言が問題になりました。言った人の気持ちは分かりますが（賛成はしませんが）、私なら思っても言いません。「思う」ことと「言う」ことは別。「言う」という行為には相手がいることを忘れてはいけません。自分の言ったことが何を引き起こしうるか、それに責任を持てるか、ということを大人は考えなければならないと思います。練馬の息子殺害事件も「一人で死ね」発言がきっかけになってないとは言い切れないのではないでしょうか。
法律で禁止されていること（脅迫とかヘイトスピーチとか）以外、言って「悪い」ことってないです。「言論の自由」ですから。そこは簡単です。でも大切なのは「合法か、違法か」だけではないと思います。「社会をよくするか、住みやすくするか」、そして「自分の言葉」に責任を持てるか、という視点もとても重要だと思います。
京都人の性質を示す有名なエピソードに（真偽はさておき）、帰ってほしい客に「ぶぶづけどうどすか」というのがあります。騒がしい子供の親にも「うるさい」ではなく、「お宅のお子さん元気どすな」と言うそうです。これって「一人で死ね」発言の対極ではないでしょうか。「寛容なる攻撃」とでもいうのでしょうか。よそものを受け入れざるを得なかった京都ならではの、この曖昧な言い方は、相手を徹底的に痛めつけるのを避けるだけではなく、最終的には自分を守ることにもつながるのかもしれません。
川崎登戸殺傷事件の「死にたいなら一人で死ね」発言が問題になりました。言った人の気持ちは分かりますが（賛成はしませんが）、私なら思っても言いません。「思う」ことと「言う」ことは別。「言う」という行為には相手がいることを忘れてはいけません。自分の言ったことが何を引き起こしうるか、それに責任を持てるか、ということを大人は考えなければならないと思います。練馬の息子殺害事件も「一人で死ね」発言がきっかけになってないとは言い切れないのではないでしょうか。
法律で禁止されていること（脅迫とかヘイトスピーチとか）以外、言って「悪い」ことってないです。「言論の自由」ですから。そこは簡単です。でも大切なのは「合法か、違法か」だけではないと思います。「社会をよくするか、住みやすくするか」、そして「自分の言葉」に責任を持てるか、という視点もとても重要だと思います。
京都人の性質を示す有名なエピソードに（真偽はさておき）、帰ってほしい客に「ぶぶづけどうどすか」というのがあります。騒がしい子供の親にも「うるさい」ではなく、「お宅のお子さん元気どすな」と言うそうです。これって「一人で死ね」発言の対極ではないでしょうか。「寛容なる攻撃」とでもいうのでしょうか。よそものを受け入れざるを得なかった京都ならではの、この曖昧な言い方は、相手を徹底的に痛めつけるのを避けるだけではなく、最終的には自分を守ることにもつながるのかもしれません。
分断化の時代、直截かつ率直なコミュニケーションは必須。でもだからこそ、この京都式（？）の「急がば回れ」コミュニケーションが案外、国際摩擦、地域摩擦、ご近所摩擦を解決するカギになるのではないでしょうか。
Japanese Sweet Only From May 30 to June 1 - "Koi," Seasonal Change of Clothing 虎屋の「更衣」
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are Japanese sweets named Koi (更衣) sold only from May 30 to June 1 by Toraya, one of the oldest Japanese confectionery manufacturers founded more than 500 years ago. It's based in Kyoto, though many Tokyoites believe that it's their local store.
I wanted to try this wagashi sweet because of its seasonality. The name, Koi, means a seasonal change of clothing (which is sometimes called koromo gae, too). In Japan, most schools change their uniforms from winter to summer ones on June 1 and vice versa on October 1. Households transition their wardrobe also at these times. And that's why this sweet is sold only for the three-day period. As its description in the lower photo says, wasanbon sugar on the surface represents ro, i.e., silk gauze, which is often used for summer kimono. I hope you can see this sheer ro coolness in the upper photo (or this photo).
Koi is made from pliable sugar-made ame candy, rice powder and wasanbon sugar. So, you can easily imagine how it tastes. I liked its natural sweetness.
As the sale period of Koi is over this year, if you want to try this, you have to wait until next year and should place an order beforehand. It's 519 yen a piece (as of 2019), a bit fancy. But by seeing and tasting this traditional wagashi sweet, you can experience Japan's value, the idea of enjoying the change of season.
虎屋で「更衣」という和菓子を買いました。衣替えという意味らしく、5月30日から6月1日までの3日間のみの発売とのこと。予約注文をしました。
海外のこってりスイーツに慣れていると少し物足りないかもしれませんが、季節の和菓子を食べる意義は味だけではなく、季節感。表面の和三盆糖が確かに絽のように透けていて、とてもきれいでした！
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| Koi - covered with asanbon sugar |
These are Japanese sweets named Koi (更衣) sold only from May 30 to June 1 by Toraya, one of the oldest Japanese confectionery manufacturers founded more than 500 years ago. It's based in Kyoto, though many Tokyoites believe that it's their local store.
I wanted to try this wagashi sweet because of its seasonality. The name, Koi, means a seasonal change of clothing (which is sometimes called koromo gae, too). In Japan, most schools change their uniforms from winter to summer ones on June 1 and vice versa on October 1. Households transition their wardrobe also at these times. And that's why this sweet is sold only for the three-day period. As its description in the lower photo says, wasanbon sugar on the surface represents ro, i.e., silk gauze, which is often used for summer kimono. I hope you can see this sheer ro coolness in the upper photo (or this photo).
Koi is made from pliable sugar-made ame candy, rice powder and wasanbon sugar. So, you can easily imagine how it tastes. I liked its natural sweetness.
As the sale period of Koi is over this year, if you want to try this, you have to wait until next year and should place an order beforehand. It's 519 yen a piece (as of 2019), a bit fancy. But by seeing and tasting this traditional wagashi sweet, you can experience Japan's value, the idea of enjoying the change of season.
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| Description |
海外のこってりスイーツに慣れていると少し物足りないかもしれませんが、季節の和菓子を食べる意義は味だけではなく、季節感。表面の和三盆糖が確かに絽のように透けていて、とてもきれいでした！
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