Sakura

Wow!

It's been a veeery long time since my last blog entry. That time it was still cold and I was bitching about badly insulated Japanese houses. I guess I will have a 'part 2' on that one, once humidity is going to hit the country in summer and life under the air condition becomes a normality.

This time however, it's about one of the most pleasant seasons during spring or 'haru' (春) in Japan: The Cheery Blossom or Sakura (桜) season.

The country's parks and river banks are full with cheery trees - all artificially planted. Normally, no one really spends any time looking at them. They are just trees. However, in the early spring days blossom forecasts are becoming a fix part of the weather forecasts.

Special reports and even web cams are monitoring the development of the buds on a daily basis. Once the blossoms start to bloom, maps will inform about location and the speed of the spread across the country. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
On TV, special reports will show people taking pictures of the buds and later the blossoms at every possible stage. In other words: The Japanese are completely crazy about the cheery blossoms.

Then, when they bloom, people pilgrimage to the parks and river banks to have 'Hanamis' (花見) or cheery blossom parties/picnics.

They'll do so with their company team or class members, as well as with friends and family. For companies, usually a junior is send to a park to reserve a good space for the team to sit later and celebrate. The poor guy then usually has to sit there all day, playing with his mobile phone, listening to music or sleeping - in a suit! Should the weather be nice, it's a pleasure, but it can also be very boring, I guess. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxDuring
During the picnic, everyone will be sitting on blue plastic foil to eat and drink the things they brought from home or bought at the combinis....

No one knows why the colour of these foils are all blue, but I've hardly seen any other colour. These things are quite big and can be bought at the famous 100 Yen stores for 104 yen (incl. tax). bbbbbbbbbbb
Needless to say that everyone puts off their shoes - after all this is Japan - and while this is certainly advisable, since one is in a park, it can however be a little chilly sometimes, as usually the air is still fresh and generally temperatures are warm only during the day provided the sun shines. So better wear a jacket.

At the weekends or just at the high time of the Sakura, the parks can be quite busy....actually, no, they are PACKED with people. Absolutely amazing! One is therefore well advised to have some people get some space early in the day to make sure one has a spot at all - ideally under a tree of course..

Once the night falls people keep sitting around or start to move to other parts of the sometime big parks, like Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. In the big ones they might have DJs and other concerts. It's indeed a big happening. Later people would normally go to an 'after-party' somewhere around town with friends to end the day..

While having attended Hanamis before, this time was pretty 'intense'. I think i attended about six different ones.

The question is of course, why are people here so crazy about the blooming of a tree that would - just by they way - never bear any fruit. They are only there for this one thing - to be admired and enjoyed. But why?

It appears, that the Cheery Blossom is a kind of symbol for life/youth. As time passes quickly, one is reminded to cherish (cherrysh? ;-) the time one is given and enjoy the beautiful moments. Kind of a Japanese version of 'cease the day', I figure.

As the Cheery Blossom come back every year, they are also a symbol of hope, that in the new year or - more generally - in the future, there will be a beautiful time again... So let's hope for that!

(N)onsen(s)

It's cold, isn't it?

What does one do against it? Well, there are of course the various ecological (3 jumpers on top of each other and hand-knitted socks from your (Swedish??) grandma) and not so ecological (heating up to the max) options that we can apply at home.

In addition, there are places like the office (and endless fights with your colleagues or the 'facility manager' regarding "too warm" or "too cold") or the gym (skip the machines and go straight into the steam bath) or - for people in beautiful Switzerland - skiing on 3000m in bright sunshine (ok, it's cold there, but on a sunny day you won't freeze, unless your skiing sucks ;-).

Here in Japan, however, people contribute massively to global warming, as their houses are generally badly insulated and most houses have no central heating system. That's mostly because during 9 or 10 months out of 12 in a year (provided you don't live in Hokkaido - 北海土）it's actually not really cold. Quite the opposite, especially in summer.

Consequently, most houses are equipped with air condition systems that also can produce some warm air, or gas ovens. Alternatively, mobile electric heaters or carpets, as well as little gas stoves are popular.

As windows generally haven't got double glassing and walls in many cases are almost paper thin (compared to good old German or Swiss massive house building traditions) people send their gas or electricity bills soaring and the 'green bill' off the cliff.

Side note: To save parts of the ailing Japanese economy (and the planet), the Diet should pass a bill forcing everyone to replace their windows with double glassing and properly insulate their houses/buildings. (I was always wondering why my main door is made of metal - naturally it would just pass all possible warmth in my place through to the outside).

In Germany for instance (where people are mad about being ecologically friendly), this has been started (and continues so) ages ago...

Well, but let's move away from this debate and consider a more pleasant option one can make use of in freezing Japan: The Onsen (温泉).

Now, unlike a Sento (銭湯), i.e. a regular public bath that conventionally heats up the water provided, an Onsen would have its water from a natural spring. That water is usually quite hot, as - you might remember - Japan is a volcanic island. Furthermore, the water would contain all kinds of things (like sulfur) you'd normally not consider for your regular water. ;-)

In the case of Onsens however, it's considered extremely healthy; and since these facilities have been around for a very long time and (near Nagano) even the local monkeys enjoy it, I'm sure it IS actually really good for your body (and your mind).

Luckily, I recently had the pleasure to visit one of those Onsens together with my fellow classmates and some of the teachers. Unlike the one I know from Kobe (where the Onsen is actually located in the middle of the city in an eight storey building), this Onsen is in the middle of the Japanese-mountain-country-side.

Fantastic!

One leaves the madness of a 30 million people metropolis and finds oneself in a 30 people staffed Onsen-Hotel to seek (and find!) tranquility, warmth and health...

The place I've been to is called Manza (万座) Onsen - a real pearl among the Japanese Onsens. The place has been run and developed over many decades and is managed by the very gentle Ono-san (大野さん) and his family.

Now, not only has this Onsen hot springs with different water specifics and temperatures. One can also enjoy these 24/7. - No joke. You wake up at 4am and can't fall asleep again? No problem. Just get up, go downstairs and sit in one of the wooden tubs/pools for as long as you want. If you haven't fallen asleep in the tub (and drowned) you'll certainly fall asleep after that treatment in no time.

They also provide wooden pools outside, i.e. open air. And let me assure you there are only a few things better than sitting in hot Onsen water at 2am in the morning, heaps of snow around you and millions of stars above you to glance at...

On the way back and forth you'd be wearing a Yukata (浴衣) like I and my friends did, sometimes casually stopping by the green tea dispenser.



But it doesn't stop there. The Onsen has also a mountain next to it, which is just waiting for skiers and snowboarders to make use of. In summer, this place must be a paradise for everyone who likes hiking.

We also visited Kusatsu (草津), a sometimes suspiciously German looking town in the middle of the mountains there. Main feature is a huge well area in the middle of town, where every minute 5,000 liters of 70°C water are gushed out, making it Japan's largest.

They also have a very beautiful shrine that is supposed to protect the travellers from and to the town and spa.

Well, what could possibly happen then? :-)


With this I let you go back to your (hopefully) warm places in this (hopefully not too) frosty winter...

Bonenkai - or how Japanese people forget the year

Well, needless to say that it's not the worst ideas of all to try to forget THIS year. At least with regards to some financial institutions (such as UBS - OMG!!) or, by now, the entire global economy.

In Japan, they also have good reasons to try to forget this year. Not so much with regards to banking. In fact, some Japanese banks were smart enough to stay out of the US house (of cards) market. Therefore, being rather cash rich when the market crumbled, they picked and chose the good (remaining) pieces of some banks for their own portfolios. Good move guys!

However, the overall economy here is also not doing so good by now. November saw the sharpest drop in the production of industrial goods since the 1950's and even the über-car-company Toyota had to come out with a serious blow on their profits (first one since...ever, I think).

Well, you see, there is much to forget about. Therefore, the Japanese invented Bonenkai (忘年会) - lit. 'forget the year gathering'.

Here, one has to congratulate the Japanese for their honest and straight forward branding skills. While we in the west disguise this as 'Holiday dinner' (formerly known as 'Christmas Dinner' before we in Europe also became overly PC), the Japanese just call it what it is (and what it is for!). ölasdjflöksadjflksajdföljsadölfkjjsaöldkfjlöaksdjflöksadfölkjjsadlfkjsalökdfjsöalkdfjlöaskjfölsakj
As such, it is indeed nothing more than: A group of people (friends, colleagues, club members etc) gathering at an Izakaya (居酒屋) in order to eat (a little) and drink (a lot).

In between some presents/prices/awards are handed out to members of the group for their great achievements, for staying in the office until forever or for their political importance. Whatever the reason, everyone receiving something has to deliver a little speech, containing words of appreciation and gratitude.

Finally, the gathering is closed by one member delivering a sing-sang-speech, asking everyone to join him by clapping one's hands (just once!), to end the party.

After all that, people leave the Izakaya to split into two groups: One consisting of people who go home and the other of people who go on (until the early morning, or until they drop ;-). ölskdflöasdjkaölksdfasdjflasdöflalösdkasldjkfölasjkdfölajksdöflasödlfö
This year, I had the pleasure (for the second time) to attend the Bonenkai of the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Osaka - in Osaka. They kindly invited me again, as I attended some event about two years ago there (and probably because I currently live in Tokyo and not half-way around the planet).

So, off I went, hopping onto the super-fast Shinkasen (新幹線) down to Kansai (関西). I'm picked up by my good friend Akiwa-san, who runs two companies in the area. Together, we head for the Izakaya.

The whole group is big enough to occupy three table sections in the Izakaya, so about 20-25 people. I also see my good friend Vanessa again, who I hadn't seen in over a year. She's Swedish and working for asics in Kobe in their international marketing department (i.e. her Japanese is light years ahead of mine ;-).

While eating (sashimi, fried chicken, cesar salad) and drinking beer like water (not that it would taste like it - we are not in the US after all ;-)) there is a lot of "how are you doing, what are you doing now business wise, how's the family" talk.

Later the mentioned presents are handed out. A bottle of Sochu (焼酎) with a special label is given out and along come the speeches.

I get a bottle, too, even though I hadn't done anything apart from attending the event two years ago and last year, but hey, I'm not going to say 'no' to a nice bottle of Shochu. My speech (in - broken - Japanese) is greeted with applause - probably because they were happy that it didn't take very long.

And with this I want to wish you all a happy new year 2009 (we are just a few hours away from it here in Japan).

Try to forget (about your portfolios) and do enjoy the new year as much as you can!

Cheers, Kampai, Prost, Salute, Santé!
Oliver

Nuts - Part 2

Some people are allergic to nuts.

I can imagine that it must drive one nu...err...be a real pain to double check every time one is about to sink one's teeth into a meal, just to be sure that the stuff doesn't contain nuts of any sort or physical condition.

Well, luckily I'm not allergic. Actually, quite the contrary: I'm addicted!

At least I can't think of any other word when it comes to my level of consumption of a product that I have discovered in this country some years ago:

They call it 'Almond' (what a innocent name for such a powerful drug!).

Even with the best intentions, I wouldn't be in the position to tell how many boxes of this stuff I have absorbed in the past years.

I assume it's the (evil) combination of dark chocolate and almond nuts that makes it irresistible - especially when it has been cooled down nicely in the fridge before consumption. ölskjedlöaskjdlfjkasdöljkfaösldkjaslkjdflsakjdölakjsdfölkjasöldfjkalsd
Now, I don't eat a box a day...however, also not just one or two pieces ;-)

So, should you ever visit a 'conbini' (see earlier postings on this blog) in Japan: Just close your eyes and walk on when passing the 'sweets' section...

(Honestly, they should make this stuff illegal!)

Merry X'MOS!

It's Christmas time!

I probably don't have to tell you that Christian traditions don't really play any major role in the daily life of most Japanese people.

Now, there ARE a few Christians in this country - and some of them are even Japanese. In fact, in some regions, like Nagasaki (長崎) there are 'traditionally' quite a lot, as the Portuguese hit the place around AD 1542 already. However, unlike in South Korea, the 'aggressive' missionary activities of - mostly - US American Christians seem to have relatively little effect on the population's warshipping...errr...sorry ;-) worshiping habits.

Instead, the season is a high time for the consumption of (glittery) goods - no one really needs - and the massive use of the word 'kawai' (可愛い), which usually is translated with "cute; adorable; charming; lovely; pretty". Especially, every time the (female) Japanese consumer comes across something that has been decorated in a fanciful way.

The installation of so called 'Illuminations' also attracts visitors, lovers and families around the country and one has to say that some of them are done with quite some effort.

Other than that, many Japanese have 'a date' on Christmas to celebrate this moment in the year. To do so, some of them book a room in a so called 'Love Hotel' (I'll come back to that topic later) and enjoy themselves and the, sometimes very interesting, interiors.

Unfortunately, I will probably miss out on this special part of Japanese modern culture for a few years to come, since my parents in Germany will continue to demand me to be at their place in Germany for Christmas (but then there are other occasions, which make the use of such a facility interesting... ;-)

By the way, the 'family heavy' equivalent of Christmas in Japan is generally New Years eve and day, which is - unlike in many other parts of Asia - also celebrated on the 31st Dec/1stJan.
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Like in many other countries of the western hemisphere, Christmas related things are hijacked by most businesses here.

Next to all the department stores punishing their customers with all kinds of different versions of 'jingle bells' or 'silent night', food related businesses exploit the occasion as well - especially if their own name relates to it - even though sometimes only in the slightest of ways.
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One example is the famous MOS Burger chain (which, unlike other well-known chains, has actually REALLY good burgers).

However, being caught up in the battle for consumer attention like everyone else, it might come as no surprise that they greet their customers with a slogan that goes 'Merry X'MOS' (I assume that's how 'Merry Christmas' sounds when you say it with your mouth full with burger and fries - or fried chicken pieces, as promoted in the advert above).

On this note: Whether you are serious about Christmas or just enjoy the colourful decos - I wish you all a nice time and hope this planet becomes a little bit more peaceful in the coming years!

Nuts - Part I

Does the world drive you nuts sometimes?

Really?

Well, in that case I can recommend a speciality from Japan:

'Nuts of World' - one of the best know antidotes now on sale!
















....needless to say that it's a 'special select'

Enjoy!

99円

Oh, look these things all cost the same..!

"Well, they ARE all the same" you might argue, but what about these...






Well, these are clearly different products, so why do THEY also all cost the same...??







Ah, here lies the answer: We are in a 99 Yen shop.

These nice little places can be found in pretty much every neighbourhood, and they all have one feature in common: Everything costs 99 Yen (plus tax, which builds up to 104 Yen aölskdjflaskjdflaskjdföalsdfölasin totalin total - but never mind that).
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Yeah, even the POSH 'evian' water, which they import half around the planet from France only costs 99 Yen here!!







Hm, really everything..? Then why lable goods at all? After all, these labels cost money, too... Could this be a nice McKinsey cost saving measure for these shops? Must be worth at least a trillion Yen over the period of the next whatever years, no?

Ah, no. Unfortunately, labels are still required for the case that something costs actually LESS than 99 Yen:





These ramen (chinese style noodles) for instant... err... instance cost actually less than 99 Yen.
öalksjdjlsakjdflkjsaöldfjkasldkjfslakjdffölsakjdfölkjasdölöaksdjflakjsd
...But then, what is this????? Something costs MORE then 99 Yen in a 99 Yen shop?? What, where, how, why????





Ah, 'exotic food' - i.e. cheese, some German stuff, too. No wonder it's selling at a super high price...

...But honestly, the rest, say 99%, really costs 99Yen. Come to think of it...I forgot to count how many different products they have....maybe 99...?