UmeChu

1. What is UmeChu?
There are a lot of great sites about living in Japan, but we thought that it would be helpful to fill in the gaps that we’ve found. Not to mention post silly things like bad street fashion. A lot of the best sites out there deal with Tokyo, but we want to make sure the Kansai area gets its due respect! Osaka Pride!

2. What about the name UmeChu?
Ume is Japanese for plum and plum blossom, which blooms a few weeks before the famous sakura. Chu is the sound you make in Japanese when you give someone a quick kiss. Usually you would hear umeshu, a plum based alcohol, but a kiss seems so much more ladylike. Really we just think it’s short, and fun to say.

Have you ever been out with your friends, trying to come up with a place to eat, until you just end up at McDonalds because at least it’s something familiar? It’s times like these when sometimes knowing a reliable chain restaurant is a good and handy thing.

Here’s one recommendation: Ninnikuya. There are Ninnikuya restaurants from Tokyo to Fukuoka, and pretty easily found since they are located in popular shopping districts. This restaurant’s specialty is ninniku, or garlic. There are various items on the menu such as steak, pasta, and chahan (Chinese fried rice.) Many of the menus also feature a vegetable section as well, so vegetarians more than likely would be able to find something to eat other than tempura. Another nice feature on the menu is Ninnikuya’s version of regional specialties. For example, in northern Kyushu you can sample tonkotsu ramen, or pork bone broth ramen; the only difference between Ninnikuya’s tonkotsu ramen and that of other local restaurants’ is the extra garlic. Check their Web Site, http://www.ninniku-ya.com/, for more details on location and menu items.

The prices at Ninnikuya are average, with no dish being over around 1,700 yen. In addition, there is a set menu for 1,500 yen that allows you to choose a main dish and a beverage, and you also receive a small garlic-shaped chocolate cake (it’s a bit dry.) The atmosphere is also nice, although if you’re not a fan of smoke it can be difficult to get a non-smoking table when it’s busy and the ventilation isn’t always the greatest. The décor seems to be a southwestern theme, with bright colors and cacti. Service is also usually very good.

So next time if you’re out and about looking for a good meal, try a Ninnikuya. But don’t eat alone – since the smell of garlic will haunt you throughout the rest of the day!

Spooks. Ghosts. Obake. Yurei. Call them what you will, it’s always been a natural instinct for many humans to be interested in the afterlife. So many of us wonder whether or not one can return to this world as a spirit. And this leads to the question, can we detect when an invisible someone is nearby?

Thanks to this latter interest, a cell phone strap purported to search for and locate ghosts was the item to have with Japanese bloggers earlier this year. Having a morbid obsession with ghosts and the supernatural myself, I had to investigate. It was difficult to locate at first, but thanks to a kind friend, I present to you the Baketan!

At first, I was unimpressed by its rather squid-ish shape, but I’ve since grown fond of it, as the size allows me to find my cell phone faster in a big bag. The Baketan comes in black, white, grey, pink, and light blue. Special editions come with the Baketan symbol, “Johnny.” (Johnny also comes with various expressions.) In August, the Baketan was available in the chain store Kiddyland, which has various locations throughout Osaka. There was also an imitation offered at Loft. Now that O-bon is long over and Halloween has passed by as well, it might be difficult to find one out and about in the stores. Apparently more are currently being made at the time of writing. You can find a link to the on-line company that is taking pre-orders at the official Baketan Web Site, http://baketan.jp/index.html . The next set of Baketan will be sold for 2,079 yen.

Now that the important promotional, where-you-can-buy-it mumbo jumbo is out of the way, allow me to discuss its functions. According to the Web Site, the Baketan searches for ghosts 24-7. If you get the feeling that just maybe there’s something else with you, simply press the small white button on the bottom to check for ghosts. The larger white circle will then blink various colors until finally pulsing consistently one color. If it’s green or blue, you’re fine; more than likely whatever is present is just a friendly spirit that may or may not have a favor to ask. If it’s purple or orange, be just a little wary. If it flashes red, you’re in trouble! You’d better hold the small button down to activate protection mode.

My apartment has, for the most part, been spook free. Except for when it randomly blinked red late one night – without me touching it. That same night, I had one of those nightmares where you wake up so frightened you can’t even move. The work of an evil spirit? Just the other night, it suddenly was winking blue at me, once again without my fingers being anywhere near it. The next day, my roommate confided in me that she had been semi-asleep when she heard a sighing noise. Then suddenly she was startled awake when a pile of her things fell off the table next to her bed. The work of a mischievous but harmless spirit?

Most other places I have checked come up as blue or green. Osaka-jo Park to my disappointment didn’t register any ghosts on my Baketan. Various stations along the Osaka Loop Line also made the Baketan display only green. It’s safe to assume all of these places are “safe.” A meeting room at one of my places of work produced orange consecutively for two weeks, and then green the week after that. I guess the spirit moved on and found a different place to occupy.

Perhaps one conclusion that can be made is that the Baketan doesn’t really work. Or maybe we’re more alone than some of us want to believe?

As the ancient capital of Japan (710-784), there is an undeniable abundance of things to see and do in Nara. Fed the bowing deer? Found enlightenment through the pillar in the Daibutsu-den? Or just ready to get away from the hoards of teenagers on their school trip? If Japanese gardens are your thing or you’re just looking for some peace and quiet, why not give Isuien a look.

Once attached to Kofukuji’s branch temple Manishu-in, the garden came into private hands for the first time in the 1670’s. It was during this time that the front garden was modified and the house, Sanshu-tei, was built. Many years later, the back garden was completed in 1899. In 1975, the Japanese government designated Isuien an “official spot of scenic beauty that expressively represents the zenith of garden design and construction of the Meiji Period (1868-1912)”. It is considered a unique combination of two distinctly different “promenade” style gardens and one of a kind.

When you first enter the garden grounds, the Front Garden is laid out in front of you. Not terribly large, it still leaves a large impression. The walkway leads over the pond for a close of up water flowers, pond skimmers, and koi. Next you come to the Sanshu-tei house where you can take lunch or tea while enjoying the view. Continue around the edge of the pond, between the remaining buildings and you come to the back garden. The back garden is much larger than the front with a view of the mountains and even the roof of the famous Daibutsu-den. Though you can’t really tell from the ground, the central pond is laid out in the shape of the Chinese character for water. Stroll through the rest of the grounds and take in the blooming foliage.

Depending on how much of a shutterbug you are, it may not take you that long. So why not peek into the neighboring Neiraku museum. It’s included in your ticket price and offers an interesting collection of pottery, mostly from ancient China and Korea. Maybe not nearly as impressive as the gardens themselves, it is something to pass the time while you wait for your camera happy friends.

Different flowers bloom throughout the year so almost any time is a good time to go. The azaleas are beautiful and plentiful all the way from April to June. May will show you irises and lilies with the water lilies out by late May and lasting into June. Fall blooms including cosmos and higanbana add a splash of color to the shortening days. And don’t forget the famous Japanese maples will be brilliant by mid to late October.

To get to Isuien, follow the signs from Kintetsu Nara station towards Daibutsu-den. When you come to the pedestrian underpass, head toward the left following signs to Isuien. This will put you out on the correct side of the street. At the first traffic light, turn right and it’s directly in front of you as the street begins to curve to the left. As there are two gardens right next to each other, make sure to keep in mind that Isuien is the one on the left. Go back as far as you can on the gravel path and you’ll find the entrance across from the Neiraku museum. Entrance fees are 650 yen for adults, 400 yen for junior and high school students, and 250 yen for elementary students. Hours are 9:30 to 4:30, closed on Tuesdays. English pamphlets are available. See notices at the entrance for tea and lunch times and prices.

http://narashikanko.jp/english/kan_spot_data/e_si33.html
http://www.jgarden.org/gardens.asp?ID=10

I didn’t pick the name the BagLady for nothing. Aside from a huge coat rack of purses taking up a corner of my room I am a self-avowed consumer whore. Am I proud of this? Not really, but if I am going to wallow in consumerism the idea is to do it well! That’s where this column comes in. Every issue I’m going to give hints, tips, reccomendations and tutorials on shopping in Japan.

Enough blather, let’s jump right in with a few basic Japanese shopping tips.

1. Sales in Japan, in general, are a rare occurence. Be prepared to pay full price. However the first 2 days (up to a week) after New Years and in the summer (late July/early August) Japanese stores have their twice yearly huge sales. Expect great deals from 40% to 60% off on all merchandise.

2. The New Years sale also brings fukubukuro, aka lucky bags. These are cheap set price mystery bags of stock the store is trying to get rid of. True a lot of these are just full of junk, but even nicer quality clothing stores get into the fukubukuro act. From personal experience stationary stores always have enough decent stuff to make it worth the money. Make-up is a good deal if you aren’t picky on colors, and accessory stores are very hit and miss.

3. This kanji 割引 (わりびき）means coupon/discount. When you see a number like 2, 3, or 4 in front of it that doesn’t mean only 3% off, but 30%. That kanji also means reduction by 10ths.

4. When looking for cheap stuff on auction unlike the US where eBay rules, Yahoo! has the upper hand. Yahoo!Japan was the first to launch an auction site on a major scale with eBay following behind. This is the opposite of in the USA and the majority of listings will be found on Yahoo!

5. Almost anything you want, you can get in Japan. Okay so I haven’t seen those vibrator vending machines, but I’m sure they exist somewhere in the bowels of Tokyo. If you have a question that pertains to obtaining awesome objects just send it on in.

The time will come. You’ll get that e-mail from your best friend from college. “Hey, I finally saved up the money, I’ve got the tickets, and I’m coming!” Yes, it’s time to come up with a plan for your friend’s visit. While there are many different levels of this situation to be dealt with, let’s take one part of it: making a hotel reservation in Japan.

Luckily, there are a variety of websites available to English speakers seeking hotels. A great place to start is http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/. What makes this site useful is that it gives you information in English, and often you can go directly to the hotel’s site and make a reservation yourself. This is a good thing because it eliminates having to pay Rakuten or another reservation site a small fee for being the middleman. More hotels are getting savvy, and over half of them will have an English site where you can make a reservation in English. For hotels without English options, or for those braver, or with Japanese ability, you can usually find the hotel’s Japanese site, and still make an on-line reservation. Occasionally the Japanese site will even quote lower room rates. Here’s a break-down of what an on-line reservation form might look like in Japanese.

Some places won’t have a website where you can conveniently click some buttons, type in some info, click another button, and that’s that. That means, “Ack, I have to make a reservation on the phone!” But it can be done, don’t worry!

Click here for a sample telephone hotel reservation conversation in Japanese.
(link will open in a new window)

Before you get nervous over that long dialogue, or make accusations of incorrect Japanese grammar, remember there are other words you or the hotel clerk can use. This is just a basic outline of how a reservation works. However, it seems like 9 times out of 10, whoever answers the phone will simply switch you over to an English-speaking employee. Now you can look forward to that e-mail from an old friend or family member. Ganbatte!

Click the above images for translation

Sweetie pie. Honey bunches. Pumpkin. The English language has a plethora of endearments we use for our loved ones. To show affection, we can simply choose from the large arsenal available, or be creative and make our own. The Japanese language, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have any such specific words. Instead, it has suffixes you add onto people’s names; and even then, these suffixes don’t have quite the same connotation.
To a new student of Japanese, or to an anime fan, the first and most obvious suffix to pick up is name-chan (ie Sarah-chan.) This -chan is often used with children、either male or female, and sometimes when kids are speaking in the third person about themselves. Adults, on occasion, also address each other as -chan depending on their relationship. Often in situations where the two people have known each other since childhood, -chan is used. Young women may call their close girlfriends -chan. There are also cases where it is used because of a difference in age. In such situations, the older person addresses the younger person as -chan.Another common suffix similar to -chan is -kun. For the most part, however, -kun is used only for boys. When it comes to deciding whether to use -kun or -chan when addressing a boy, it appears that most Japanese people pick whichever suffix sounds cuter or is easier to say with the name. For example, Japanese often say “Taka-chan” instead of “Taka-kun” because the first rolls off the tongue better.

The usage rules of -kun for adults seems to be similar to that of -chan. The only difference is that it isn’t used for females. That said there is one exception, however, and that’s in a company or office setting. Sometimes, in larger companies, younger women are addressed by male superiors with the suffix -kun. Other than this fairly rare instance, -kun is mainly for men.

Even though these endearments exist for both males and females, couples don’t often use them with each other. After questioning several different Japanese people, both male and female, it appears that a boyfriend won’t usually call his girlfriend “Hana-chan”, and she in turn more than likely won’t say “Taro-kun”. These endearments seem to have an overall childish or childlike connotation; in other words, the person using Kim-chan definitely sees her as being younger and maybe not as a possible love interest. That said, the Japanese added that it can depend on the couple. There are some cases where the two do use -chan and/or -kun – every couple is different. But the general consensus is that more often than not, boyfriends and girlfriends and husbands and wives for the most part don’t use these appellations with each other.

To make a long story short, the most common terms, or rather suffixes, of endearment used in the Japanese language are commonly used for children or very close friends – but not for lovers. Just remember that next time you want to be cute and address that nice Japanese guy you’re interested in as “Ichiro-kun”!

Price: 735yen
Where to buy: Circle K in the make-up aisle

I don’t know about you, but I am a complete klutz. Putting pointy black sticks near my eye has always been an iffy situation at best. That’s one of the reasons I love this felt-tip pen eyeliner. It has a soft brush like edge that makes even very thin line application a breeze. The downside to this convience store bagain is that the eyeliner will wipe off very easily even after it dries. If you can keep from rubbing your eyes though it’s an awesome goof-proof black liner. My current pen has lasted for 6 months, but at less than $7 US it’s easy to replace.

Price: ~ 398-598yen
Where to buy: Supermarkets, Convience store, drug store

One thing many foreigners realize when they arrive to live in Japan is that the Japanese don’t seem to do heavy-duty deodorant the way we do. Instead, grocery stores and such will stock light, spray-on deodorants. I’ve discovered that while this doesn’t take the place of my reliable Degree Powder Fresh, these spray-on products are good for a little pick-me up when you’re feeling sweaty and oh-so-not-attractive. The product I use is called Ban. There are a variety of scents, like Baby Powder, Soap, Fairy Floral, so you have plenty to choose from. I like to use mine after I’ve been exercising but don’t have time to shower. My one word of advice is not to spray it directly onto your clothes, though, because it can leave a small stain. Ban can be found at a variety of places, including grocery stores and drugstores like Moriyama. At the time of writing, Ban was on sale at my local supermarket for 399 yen, and the regular price is probably not much more than that. So if you’re looking for Fabreeze for you body, I recommend Ban.