Thoughts on Japan, Tour interesting Japanese Landmarks,
Selected Haiku, Original Haiku, And other special Interest topics. Discussion on Japanese Language. Japan Travel - Kansai, Osaka, Himeji, Kinosaki, Uji, Kobe, Kamigori, Kyoto。。。
So this is Nipponbashi. I always find it interesting that in some English translations of Japanese they make the N into an M. It's funny because there is no M phonetic in Japanese. Though I will admit that Nipponbashi is actually pronounced Nippombash. (without the i sound at the end too.)
I have to confess.... I went to Nipponbashi looking for Japanese Geeks... Otaku is the technical term. What I didn't realize was that the NipponbashiOtaku are 'Electric geeks' not the MangaOtaku of Tokyo. The difference being that Electric Geeks don't dress up in Costumes.
In America the closest thing we have to Otaku are Goth, Anarchists. The problem with that comparison is that in America the people who dress up in costumes have an ax to grind with society. In Japan they dress up as a hobby, or as a bit of fun, mimicking their favorite character. The obvious conclusion is that it's a way to shed the pressure of Japan's rigid societal demands and have a bit of fun. While its obvious.... I think it makes sense. Honestly I think its pretty cool how acceptable the behavior is.... I mean, why not have some fun.
This was the last full day of my last trip. I spent the day with about 10 close friends wandering the street in search of omiyage (souvenirs.) We had a great time dispite the rain and cool. Nipponbashi is full of camera stores, electric dictionary stores, computer stores, and a vast assortment of gadgetry. We made a quick pass and headed back to Umeda station.
Nipponbashi is a quick ride on the midosuji line of the subway from Umeda station. Though, when you get off the subway you may have to ask for directions to the actual section of the town that houses true Nippombash.
Enjoy.
All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.
Your comments are welcome, be polite: No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.
Ah, so today is Father's Day here in America. I made a Japanese breakfast of Miso fish, Miso soup, rice, and tsukemono (pickled cucumbers). It was delicious! Tonight I'm making homemade Ramen. For those of you who don't know... true ramen is out of this world good. For the recipe go to Cooking with Dog. No, not cooking with dog-meat... a dog is the host of the show!
This photo is taken from the highest story of Himeji Castle looking out towards Himeji Station. Below is Hon Maru, a small lawn below the main castle donjon. Alse, there is another view of Otemae street.
One of my Japanese friend's mother went to school at the foot of Himeji Castle. It literaly stands in the shadow of the Castle. I think I would have spent my days pretending to be a Samurai had I gone to school there.
Any comments? Any particular posts you would like to see more of? Soon I will post a list of helpful phrases for travelers.
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All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.
Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.
So it's time for another posting of Kansai-ben. I'm afraid this one will be a bit on the light side. My main contact for info on Kansai-ben has left the country. So these few notes are the best I can do at the moment. I also had a bit of help during my last trip that I greatly appreciate. Though they are sparse, these two pieces of Kansai-ben are pretty useful. Enjoy.
Of course with any accent the tone of the speech is pretty important. Japanese is lacking in tonal quality. Often times Japanese will have a difficult time understanding an English speaker's Japanese. This is because English speakers will add tonal inflection to their speech, making the words and sentences sound funny. Interestingly enough. Kansai-ben is easier for English speakers to pick up because it has some tonal inflection to it.
For instance.... Think of the way a 5 year old would say, "I don't wanna..." in protest. (A tonal quality I hear quite often these days......)
Overlay that same tone to the saying, "Hon-ma kai-na." (本間かいな). That makes a pretty good semblance of how one would say, "I don't believe it," in Kansai-ben. Honmakaina can often times be heard in combination to "Nande ya nen." (Get out of here!). The emphasis of nandeyanen is difficult for us Americans. We tend to emphasise YaNEN, instead of "nan-DE-yanen." This inflection is a bit foreign and I can't really think of an equivalent English sentence. These are my two favorite phrases! Honmakaina!!! Nandeyanen!!
So the final bit of Kansaiben that I have for you is how to say, "Isn't it X". X can be anything like, hot, cute, ugly, fast.... for example: たとえば。。。。 -Isn't she cute, "彼女はかわいちゃう。。。" -Kanojo (she) wakawai-chau.... kawai is cute... add chau and it becomes isn't she cute...
-Isn't she tall "彼女は高いちゃう -Konojo (she) watakai-chau.... takai is tall.... add chau and it becomes isn't she tall....
-Isn't this boring? "これはつまらないちゃう".... -Kore (this) watsumaranai-chau.... tsumaranai is boring.... add chau and it becomes isn't this boring... not implying that this post is boring..... is it?
The standard Japanese phrase replacement would be to use "jya-nai" instead of chau... I find using chau to be a bit easier.
I'll keep my ears to ground as far as more Kansai-ben goes and keep you posted! -For an example of bad tonal use listen to the song "domoarigato mister roboto.." -For an example of good tonal use listen to how Uma Thurman says, "aRIgatou" when saying thank you to Sonny Chiba in 'Kill Bill'. (She is ordering Sushi from the sword maker.)
-Oh, I may have a chance to put out some Hokkaido-ben here in the near future... I'll keep you posted... though my heart will always be in Kansai!
-This photo is taken just inside the terminal at Kansai Airport.
All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.
Your comments are welcome, be polite: No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.
This post will have a slightly different flavor to it. This is my favorite location at Himeji Castle. The official name of the location is 'Sack Turret'. Sack Turret provides defenders with a commanding view of approaching soldiers. One can see the gun /bow ports in the wall to the left. This location holds a good defensive location for the occupants. Ｓｅｅ ａ ｆｕｌｌ ｐｈｏｔｏ ｔｏｕｒ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｌｏｃａｔｉｏｎ ａｔ ｔｈｉｓ ｌｉｎｋ．
The location has a second and more foreboding name. Harakiri Maru (place). It is easy to walk past as you tour through the castle. There is a small walkway down beneath a wall, then it opens up in to this section. On the right is a small stage where a dishonored (or honored depending on the circumstances) Samurai would kneel in seiza and receive his sentence. Above the small stage is a smaller ledge where the judge would sit and prescribe the sentence... Seppuku.
Seppuku has followed several different forms throughout Japanese History. Generally speaking the doomed Samurai would be wearing a ceremonial white Kimono, and have his Wakｉzashi available for use. Opening his Kimono and bearing his chest he would wrap the Wakazashi in special paper and drive it into his stomach. Then cutting left to right in an upward motion would make the first cut. A second cut right to left may also be made.
Depending on the honor being afforded to you, one might have a second who will behead you once you have committed to the act. Movies often depict the second slicing the head straight off toppling it to the ground. However, in reality, the Second would be specially trained to keep the head attached so it would not so crudely roll about. This was especially important and the honor of the Second depended on the accuracy of the cut. The condemned would kneel on the arms of the Kimono so as not to fall backward after the cut. The head and sword would then be washed at the well (now covered by a grate) before being presented before the lord. Your Second may follow you depending on the crime. For more on Seppuku read Lowry's Autumn Lighting for a detailed description.
One may also be afforded the opportunity to compose a 'death poem' before the act. During the Kamakura period 1185-1392 Japan's rule shifted from nobility to the warrior class. This change brought a change in the way death was perceived as well as an upsurge in ritualized warrior methods, -Read 'Japanese Death Poems' for more information. Seppuku finds its roots not only in Zen, but with a great influence of Confucionism (The utmost loyalty to one's superiors.) During the Edo period,1600-1867, Seppuku entered its most refined of stages.(1)
One interesting thing to note is that the first recorded mention of seppuku in Japanese literature was by a woman. c. 713
The goddess Awami who pursues her lover... when she does not find him..."Takes a dagger, pierces her stomach, and falls into the marsh."(1)
The story is an explanation of how Harasaki (Marsh of the split stomach, near Kobe) gets its name....
Leaving a death poem evolved through the Japanese adaptation of Chinese, Zen, Confusion, and Daoist philosophy. Apparently it was a Buddhist custom to copy Buddhist teachings at the time of death. This practice combined with Japanese influence over time morphed into the writing of poems at the time of one's death. 'Japanese Death Poems' chronicles this adaptation, and has a great collection of these poems, including many famous poets and monk's poems.
A few Poems of note; Ｐｌｅａｓｅ ｆｏｒｇｉｖｅ ｔｈｅ ｏｍｍｉｓｓｉｏｎ ｏｆ ｍｙ ｏｗｎ ｄｅａｔｈ ｐｏｅｍ．．．． Ｉ ｈａｖｅ ｙｅｔ ｔｏ ｃｏｎｃｅｉｖｅ ｉｔ．．．．．．．．．
Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro, a Tanka death poem of the 7th century. Not knowing かも山 That my body lies いわねしまける upon Mount Kamo's Rocks われをかも My love しらにといもが awaits me 待ちつつあるらむ
Ouchi Yoshitaka (1507-51) a Samurai general's poem before Seppuku. Both the victor 打つ人も and the vanquished are うたるる人も but drops of dew, もろともに but bolts of lightning- にょろやくにょでん thus should we view the world. おお さにぜかん
Matsuo Basho (1694) Who died of illness on a journey. On a journey, ill: たびにやんで my dream goes wandering 夢はかれのを over the withered fields かけめぐる
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