The Divine Wind Vault

Japanese Christians and the religion of being Japanese: Article by Tom Aaron

2012-01-08T08:51:00.000-05:00

The religion of the Japanese

Once again, I found myself out drinking with Fred. We were in a cheap place, one of those places with the little red lanterns outside, which usually signified cheap food and drink, the drinks being of an alcoholic nature. We were peacefully solving the problems of the world, when a drunk homed in on us. We Westerners, living in rural Japan, were like magnets for drunks. Red in the face, four sheets to the wind, Jiro Hamasaki welcomed us like long lost brothers, Christian brothers, as he babbled in Japanese and English repeating the same basic points again and again: He was a Christian, he loved America, and he loved us. I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't religious and Fred didn't say anything. Not speaking to drunks was one of Fred's mantras.

We called for the check, beat a hasty retreat, and ducked into a coffee shop a few hundred meters away. We ordered beer, which was the only alcohol the coffee shop served and Fred began his theory on Japanese Christians. "A few of them were born into Christianity and grew up with it due to their Christian parents or other family members. I can understand that. What I can't understand is the others. So few Japanese become Christians, in spite of all the missionaries and the English conversation classes missionaries use to attract potential converts. So, why do these few become Christians?"

I knew this was a rhetorical question, but I thought I would try and get a word in anyway. I opened my mouth, but Fred continued, "I know that some of them do not fit in Japan. They are lonely, and they become Christians to become part of a community. What I can't understand is how they can turn their backs on what I think is the true religion of Japan- being Japanese.

I opened my mouth again, but the monologue continued, "Being Japanese is a religion in and of itself: Shinto for birth, Buddhism for death, Japanese holidays and festivals in between with some visits to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for weddings, memorial ceremonies for the deceased, and so on. Combine all that with a belief in Japanese culture, the secure knowledge that Japan is a unique country, and the even more secure knowledge that the Japanese are a unique people, you have the religion of the Japanese- being Japanese.

Once again, I tried to say something, but I should have known better. Fred changed tack in midstream, "Actually I take that back. Being Japanese is actually stronger in terms of faith than most of the Western religions. How else could we have beliefs such as Japanese snow being unique and not fit for Western skis, people from other countries being unable to speak Japanese, and Japan being the only country in the world with four seasons."

I finally managed to break in to Fred's monologue, "Japanese don't really believe that Japan is the only country with four seasons."

"They don't?" Fred shot back. Then why are they always saying that Japan has four seasons as if it something unique?"

I didn't have a good answer to that. Fred's statements may have gone a little bit overboard, but he did have the gist of the matter right. Being Japanese was almost like a religion due to the beliefs involved. Most Japanese put a lot more into being Japanese then many Americans who claimed to be religious put into their religion. Being Japanese may not be a religion like Fred claimed, but it definitely meant subscribing to a strict set of beliefs and rules.

Miki Imai's hit "Pride" performed by Japanese guitar virtuoso Tomoyasu Hotei

2011-12-10T18:12:00.000-05:00

The worst word in the Japanese vocabulary.

2011-11-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

In America, the "utility room" is the room where one will find the washer and dryer. There will usually be pipes and exhaust units coming and going from this room. My wife was busy doing laundry one day and found the following which I took a picture of. This word is the worst word in the Japanese vocabulary. So vulgar that Japanese Adult Videos will bleep out this word.

Knowing is half the battle. On another note, don't do like my dad and speak to Japanese people and refer to something by tapping your chin and saying, "chin-chin".

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Making the most of your overseas experience

2011-10-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

I can remember being offered the directorship position of the new language center that I currently lead. My boss told me that despite not having a wealth of experience in management, I got the job because my spouse who use to be an international student which is the bread and butter of the company’s revenue, my past which consisted of nine years in California (my boss was born and raised on the West Coast) and my overseas teaching experience in Japan.

Therefore, when I hear from lifer expatriates in Japan that “Living in Japan does not enhance your job prospects back at home.” I am proof that this couldn’t be further from the truth. I will say this; you had better have a plan, resources and the unwavering commitment to yourself to succeed when you are on the backside of your overseas experience because as Thomas Paine said, “These are the times that tries men’s souls.” Having made two intercontinental moves and lived and worked in three states in the time span of ten years, I unconsciously made my investment in education and experience while putting the possibility of a family on hold. My soul was tested and tried and I’m better for it.

With this being said, this is what deters many expatriates from checking out of their overseas experience even though the welcome mat is worn thin and the novelty of living in the gold fish bowl has lost its appeal. In a sense, their time in Japan for example made the expatriate a lesser person than who they really are due to overstaying in Japan. This is due to the fact that in Japan a foreigner does not fit into the basis of Japanese society which is the Senior person-Junior person relationship, can’t be held to the same standards in terms of short-term and long-term obligations for example. So, while in Japan, the expatriate is constantly given a pass. This coupled by the Japanese tendency to extend false praise to foreigners mainly out of politeness and as a means of being hospitable. Unknowing, the expatriate misinterprets this which is more or less having your tail kissed for just showing up.

These days, I often have international students who are fresh off the plane meaning they do not know the language or the culture which I live and work in. To add insult to injury, they have a small child in tote to care for. In many cases, they are doing themselves a disservice since it will take a tremendous effort to overcome the language and culture barrier while making the grade in school with the underlining value of advancing to the university. As the old saying goes, “A lack of planning on your part doesn’t constitute an emergency on my part.” This is why it is important to have your priorities in order while you are overseas. Caring for small children while on a student visa meaning that it is unlawful to work while a student in the US makes a challenging situation that much more difficult. Does the investment in education and language learning have the capacity of child care in a foreign land?

Furthermore, what drives a person away from their home country and then keeps them a bay for years and in some cases decades on end? For me, it was a chance to experience what I missed out on as a US service member who was too poor and overworked to take in the Japan experience properly. My first time to Japan gave me a taste and the desire to move forward with my undergraduate degree which allowed me to return with a sense of purpose. Those three years in Japan as a teacher are the most rewarding and fulfilling years to date. Had I not returned when I did, I probably would not consider that period in this way.

Life is more about choices you make and it is important to not let grass grow under your feet. I regret not focusing on my postgraduate degrees and qualification as a teacher in Japan. But, that’s not to say that I did not make the most of my time in Japan. In hindsight, I should have enrolled in an MBA program at Temple University’s Japan campus in the heart of Tokyo instead of my decision of language learning in a structured setting. This is because the MBA from an American school would have been a reference point that interviewers could have related to when I returned, not the fact that I knew enough Japanese to get around the greater Kanto region. If it weren’t a MBA, then a MATESOL degree if teaching back in the US for a K-12 or higher education provider was the plan. Maybe even interning at the nearby American embassy with the end result of getting an employment opportunity as a Foreign Service Officer.

In closing, if you fail to plan, plan on failing. I once met an English teacher in the US who taught in Japan. He had already the teaching credentials in place. With a Japanese wife in tote, he saved up his vacation and about two months before his contract was to expire, he returned home for a month and interviewed like crazy at area school districts and had an offer in hand when he returned to Japan to complete his contract. He did this without overstaying his stay, wearing out his welcome or hiding out on a US military housing complex in Yokohama.

If you are in Japan for the wrong reasons, make it your goal to avoid responsibility in Japan or your home country for that matter, and can only tell people of your business in Japan in a way that makes people blush, then you would be correct in saying, “Wherever you come from, most people in your home country will never understand what your life was like in Japan. They'll never be able to relate to your experience and most often will not count your time abroad as relevant experience at all.”

It is about choices and making the most of your overseas experience like more and more Americans are doing do to an US economy and currency that is pitiful.

You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them. You got to know when to walk away; you got to know when to run!

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

List of Hollywood Movies about the US Navy

2011-09-13T22:53:00.001-04:00

Since I usually associate the US Navy with Japan due to Japan being the home of my first ship, I've tallied a list of movies made in Hollywood about the US Navy:

1. A Few Good Men
2. An Officer and a Gentleman
3. Hunt For Red October
4. Top Gun
5. Flight of the Intruder
6. The Last Detail
7. U-571
8. Letters from Iwo Jima

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Implementing the Japanese philosophy into America’s passion

2011-09-04T15:29:00.000-04:00

Everyone knows of Toyota. If you are one of those satisfied owners, you are part of the reason that Toyota is giving the leading American automobile manufacturers a run for its money in our own backyard. Toyota is founded on the Japanese philosophy of “a change for the better”, (kaizen). This has been adopted in the West with the management style of Plan, Do, Check and Action.

Plan- what is wrong is identified and solutions for this problem are introduced. For example:
Problem- “Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) are not being used or going to classes when they are at their schools.”
Find out why they are not being used or going to class. Some of the reasons could be:

"Classes are not in session and teachers don’t take the time to make lesson plans with the ALT or flat out do not want to use them."

Solution/Suggestion- Send ALTs to schools when they are needed. Identify those Japanese teachers who do not make lesson plans that include the ALT or simply do not use them.

Do- Address the issue that schedules are needed for when classes are in session and Japanese teachers must use and make lesson plans that include the ALT. Enforce this for a month/term and have the ALT submit feedback in writing on his/her usage.

Check- Have revised schedules been received for when classes are in session? Are lesson plans including ALTs? Are Japanese teachers using ALTs? Once all of these can be answered “Yes”,

Action- Implement on a large scale. In this situation, this would be done on a yearly basis.

Now, how can all of this be implemented into football? Take the four steps and break it down by the four quarters that make up the game by using the component, “Finding full-time employment”.

Time period, 1st quarter- July 25th thru October 25th
Step 1- Plan
It is assumed that your resume is already written up, and has been distributed to the local and industry specific employment sources and posted on the internet. Just like the game is played, practice make perfect and the more you interview, the better you will get in finding full-time employment.

Time period, 2nd quarter- October 26th thru January 25th
Step 2- Do

It is assumed that you have already interviewed enough that you have already found a job. But, there is the issue of probation which is the courting period that you and the employer take the time to get to know each other better.

Time period, 3rd quarter- January 26th thru April 25th
Step 3- Check

While probation is still going on, look around and see how your peers are doing. Are they happy? Are they meeting their goals weather it is starting a family, advancing their education or buying a home? If not, find out why. Also, how long have they been in their position? If you stay in the same place too long, you are moving backwards. Also, how much money is left over when your next paycheck comes in? Are you able to do 401K or an IRA or some other savings plan? Are your personal goals being hindered because of your job (lack of money, time off or being around like-minded people)?

Time period, 4th quarter- April 26th thru July 25th
Step 4- Action

It is assumed that you passed probation and that your goals and objective are in progress and that you are not being hindered. If this is not the case, it is time to go back to the drawing board and return to step 1 and move forward from there.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Jizake- Japan's Regional Premium Sake

2011-09-04T15:27:00.000-04:00

An American Expat with First-hand Industrial Experience- Daniel J. Stone, founder of the Japanese-themed blog, The Divine Wind Vault, spent five years living and working in Japan coupled by working as a business developer for a Japanese food and beverage distributor in Los Angeles, California. To highlight his nationwide accounts, Daniel was the account manager for Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods Market and the United States Marine Corps Community Services. Through observing and embracing Japanese culture and cuisine, he educates industry buyers and customers on the subject.

He currently instructs English-language learners from all over the world at Clemson University and helps business professionals sell their self-serving message in the areas on English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Cross-Culture Communications (CCC). For a quote, contact Daniel at stoneone19@yahoo.com

Here's a snipet regarding Daniel's experience in Japanese food and beverage retail sales:

Sake, Japan's national alcoholic drink is a rice wine. The term, Jizake meaning regional sake is premium sake brewed by independent micro-breweries often located in the rural countryside of Japan. The best sakes come from Niigata and Nada/Fushimi (present day Kyoto). Niigata is the rice growing capital of Japan and has the largest numbers of seasoned Toji, aka sake brew-masters. The Kyoto area is synonymous with the US's Napa and Sonoma area and historically was the cultural center of fine Japanese cuisine.

Presently, there are about 2000 sake breweries in Japan. About a dozen of these breweries are large, commercial breweries and another dozen are medium size breweries. The remaining 1,700 are small scale breweries that produce sake in small batches. These small scale breweries ignore the advances of modern technology and create their signature brew by hand using traditional methods and skills gained through years of experience. At last count, there are over 50,000 brands of sake.

The ingredients used in making sake are rice, water and koji. The rice used in making sake is different than the rice served at a meal. This sake rice is used exclusively for brewing sake. The rice kernels are much larger than ordinary rice, has a softer texture and a central core that has a large concentration of starch. Semi-hard water is best in making sake. This type of water is abundant throughout Japan due to the several underground spring waters filled by the plentiful rain. The annual average rainfall in Japan is over 60 inches. Koji, a microbe, is crucial in breaking down starch molecules in sugars.

Sake is made by polishing the rice. The more that is polished away, the more pure the flavor becomes. This type of polishing rids amino acids, fats and proteins and gets the starch concentration core. After it is polished, the rice is washed gently in cold water. The rice must soak before the next step. After it is soaked, the rice is steamed. During this steaming process, the key ingredient of koji is produced. Then sake yeast and water is added to the steamed rice. The flavor of the sake depends of the yeast. This is usually kept secret by the sake brew-masters. Then the sake is mashed. This causes the starch to break down the sugars and convents the sugars into alcohol. Next the sake is filtered, then pasteurized, then stored, then bottled.

Traditionally, sake making season starts in the fall and goes throughout the winter. Presently, sake is made throughout the year and stored in climate controlled storage areas by the large, commercial breweries. In the spring, the sake that was made the previous fall is bottled and shipped. In ancient times, the sake brew-masters were rice farmers who kept busy in the winter down months by making sake.

The alcohol content of sake ranges from 14-17% which is a bit higher than wine. Sake has the highest alcohol content among all naturally brewed alcoholic beverages in the world. This is made possible by the following:

1. Sake yeast which resists the breakdown in higher alcohol levels than with wines,
2. The rice polishing which produces a highly pure starch, which later becomes sugar, then alcohol,
3. The fermentation process that is unique to making sake.
Sake is graded by its polishing rate off the original rice kernel. The rice polish ratio is an intricate art.

Grade Rice Polish Ratio Characteristics
1. Dai Ginjyo (Super Premium) 50%+ Pure and refined, clean fragrance
2. Ginjyo (Premium) 60% smooth, floral and/or floral aroma
3. Tokubetsu Junmai (Special naturally pure brew) 60% Varies
4. Junmai (Natural Pure Brew) 70% Pronounced character

The percentages indicate what the actual rice kernel was before and what the size of it is now. If it was polished down to 50% then the inner core is steamed which has the highest concentration of starch. The higher content of starch the more pure it is and this reduces the chance of hangovers. If you receive a hangover from drinking sake, it is because you consumed a type of sake that was not polished many times.

There are four basic flavors of sake. They are fragrant, light, rich and aged.

Fragrant- Abundant in floral fragrance, low in acid. Fruity, young and refreshing. Goes well with lightly seasoned foods such as fresh seafood, smoked salmon, steamed vegetables and tofu.
Light- clean aroma, moderate levels of acid, brisk flavor with a dry aftertaste. Goes well with fresh seafood, sushi, broiled fish, chicken, tempura, light pasta and sandwiches.
Rich- robust flavor. Goes well with rich and creamy dishes such as teriyaki seasoned foods, steaks and caviar.
Aged- Mellow aroma with a unique, spice-nutty taste that is similar to sherry. Goes well with BBQ, deep fried dishes, meat sauces and spicy dishes.

Misconceptions of Sake

A misconception is that all sake is sweet. Another is that sake should be served hot. The truth is that sake can have a fruity flavor by it dry, snappy character. Also, sake can be served hot and this is common in the winter or done to rejuvenate sake that has been opened and on the verge of going bad. Premium sake is best served cold at room temperature. The heating process would compromise the flavor.

Other misconceptions are that sake has a shelf life similar to wine. In general, an unopened bottle of sake is good up to 18 months when kept in a cool dark place. Once it is opened, it should be chilled and kept for a couple of weeks. This hold true for all sakes except a kind of sake called Ko Shu aged Sake. Also, regional sake is so expensive in the US due to transportation and import duty fees. Of course, these things are factored in to the price but the core of the price is the rice used in making the sake. Rice sake is grown in limited regions of Japan and is difficult to cultivate.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

International Education in the U.S.- Part 2

2011-09-04T15:22:00.002-04:00

As mentioned in part 1 on this topic, the one thing that is essential for an international educator is of course be familiar with internationalism but more importantly, to gain more education. Here's a list of master degree programs that are somewhat appropriate for this profession:

1- Master's in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration
2- Master's in Public Affairs
3- Master's in Education- Educational Leadership (may have a prerequisite of teacher certification)
4- Master of Arts, International Studies/Affairs/Relations

These are just a few.

It is recommended that a good stepping stone into this field is to explore positions in admissions, ESL and study abroad.

With the way the economy is nowadays, if you can afford it, a nearby university offering one of the above programs may be able to take someone interest as a graduate assistant. These are people who work on the campus, may be a teacher's assistant or lecturer and can attend classes over the course of 24 months then earn their masters.

Another way is online which allows someone to work full-time and take classes through the Internet. North Georgia College & State University offers a Master of Arts, International Studies course online and one International Student Advisor at a university in Georgia is taking this course and since he works for the state of Georgia, the course is free.

One other way of interest which provides job security which is a big plus nowadays is to look into becoming a public school teacher. The process is straightforward as BA holders have their transcripts evaluated by their state's department of education. Based on their emphasis in college, they will be eligible to start the process of teaching in their emphasis's equivalent in the public school system. A standardized test is required, background checks are conducted and employment can be gained by the start of the next school year if completed on time. Throughout the process, which lasts three years, training for the teaching is conducted, a mentor is provided and certification is granted at the end of this process. Along the way, a master's can be earned providing the level of ambition. All levels are satisfied as a living is earned, experience is gained, certification is granted and on top of all of this a master's leading to career in International Education is provided.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

International Education in the U.S.- Part 1

2011-09-04T15:21:00.002-04:00

International Education, the section of the education field that pertains to students has two general areas of emphasis. The best way to look at this is by comparing the field to a freight forwarding company that ships and receives products from all over the world. There is an export side (American students needing to go abroad to study) and an import side (non-U.S. students needing to come to the U.S. to study). On the export side of the field, this is known as Study Abroad Advising (SAA) . SAAs work with American students and create and facilitate programing required as part of their educational program outside of the U.S. The other side of this field is the import side is known as International Student Advising (ISA). ISAs work with students from outside the U.S. needing to study at an American university. These students require visa documentation and maintenance of this documentation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). ISAs also act as Primary Designated School Officials (P/DSO) and represent their institution to the Department of Homeland Security. Both ISAs and SAAs work with their students in advising of the various steps on their programs. There are other positions in International Education in the U.S. such as English as a Second Language Instructors (ESL) and support positions such as Student Admissions.

One of the key qualities of an international educator is familiarity with different cultures and customs since regardless of the import or export side of the field, this will be the nature of the environment. It is quite possible that an institution may have a student from Latin America and another from Germany. You can tell both students at the same time to fill out a form and return it by a certain day. The student from Latin America may not do as instructed so punctually whereas the student from Germany will want to know the exact time on that day.

While a master's degree in this field is preferred and will definitely open more doors, it is not required as a prerequisite for starting out in the field. Two years ago, I attended a returner's conference in Yokohama where a International Student Advisor from Temple University- Tokyo (an American institution in Japan) browbeat us attendees of his presentation that without a master's degree, it is impossible to enter into the field. This may hold true in Japan, but in the U.S. and likely other western countries, to ENTER into the field, a bachelor's degree is fine. Two things that I want to emphasize are 1) since the conference in Yokohama was for ESL Instructors RETURNING to their home countries outside Japan, shouldn't their have been someone from one of those home countries brought to the conference to provide current and realistic input instead of what this out-of-touch ISA provided? And 2) the title International Educator contains the word "Educate" therefore there is no need to enter into this field unless you are willing to obtain education beyond an undergraduate degree at a later point. So, it is understood that education beyond an undergrad degree is needed for long-term professional growth but not initially. As a business instructor from Europe at Temple University-Tokyo told me, "Often lots of expatriates in Japan are not really in the "real world". Maybe he should get with his colleague and set him straight.

There is a down side to the field as the pay starting out is between $30-40K. In my opinion, this is a down side since some prestigious universities such as Furman University that command a master's degree, experience overseas, fluency in a second language, but the salary offered doesn't compare. Another negative thing is while most international students who come to the U.S. to study are here for the right reasons, there are those who are not. These bad apples will do just enough to remain in status and will make every effort to manipulate the system and the people, mainly the ISA, just to get their way. Lastly, this field deals with the federal government, and if anyone has entered the U.S. through Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and any other major gateway, they have dealt with a horse's ass agent who stamped their passport incorrectly or was vague in their explanations. In addition, the initial process requires that an accepted student receive their I-20 form from the school. The student will then visit their nearest American embassy or consulate to pay the SEVIS fee and have there I-20 form processed. Their visa may or may not be approved creating more problems.

The upside is that when promoted to assistant director or director of an international center at a educational institution, (meaning experience in International Education has been gained plus a master's degree or degree in progress) the salary becomes between $50-60K. Also, the hidden perk of travel abroad being required for the job with the students for study abroad programs is good since likely this will be gratis.

With a tight economy and since not everyone lives near a large metropolitan area full of educational institutes in various areas (technical, state university, private university, etc.) at various levels (junior college, community college, 4-year university or graduate school) to attract international students, have no fear. If you don’t mind working for a small college in a small town, there is a better chance of getting hired since less people apply for such a unique field. One way to enter the field is to start as an admissions counselor. A good way to accelerate the process is to get involved with international educators at the state level. This is where the assistant and head directors of international centers meet and are the decision makers on job openings. One ISA who has the credentials of a bachelor's degree, fluency in a second language, a year working one year as a ESL instructor in Asia started out in admissions and rose to the position of ISA due to involvement at his state's association of international educators. There is an assistant director of an international student center at a major university located in a metropolitan area who just recently obtained her master's degree. This person had a wealth of experience as an ESL instructor and rose through the ranks as an ISA and SAA prior to getting promoted.

In closing, while the notion is that big cities are where the action is for international educators, bear in mind that Japanese parents, in general, have the idea that the big American cities are dangerous and would rather have their children study in a rural part of the U.S. I once traveled from Cairns, Queensland, Australia to Tokyo and sat next to a married Japanese couple old enough to be my parents. This was six months after 9/11 and the husband went on and on in broken English how dangerous the U.S. was. Lastly, with international students paying, in some cases, up to 10 times more than domestic students in terms of tuition, local economies throughout the U.S. greatly benefit from the presence of international students.

Stand by for part two which will discuss types of master's degrees and ways to obtain.

Today's picture is of me with a group of 9th graders back in 2004 at Sachinami Junior High in Kawaguchi City, Saitama. Kawaguchi is due north of Tokyo and borders on Tokyo's northern ward, Kita-ku.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

My Travels in Pictures- Hawaii's O'ahu, 2009: Places to visit

2011-09-04T15:11:00.000-04:00

Waikiki Beach

Rainbow in Honolulu

Diamond Head

Polynesian Culture Center

Hanauma Natural Preservation Park

Rainbow at Ala Moana Beach, looking towards Eiwa Beach

Hawaiian-born, Chad "Akebono" Rowan's statue, Waimānalo, HI

Kaneohe Bay

Ala Moana Beach, looking towards Diamond Head

Shopping at Hard Rock Cafe, Honolulu

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Hawaii 2009- Video Clips

2011-09-04T15:10:00.000-04:00

Hanauma Bay, Hawaii- August 2009

Waimānalo, Hawaii- August 2009

Kaiten Sushi Bar, Kuru Kuru Sushi, Aiea, Hawaii- August 2009

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

My Travels in Pictures- Hawaii's O'ahu, 2009: Places to eat

2011-09-04T15:08:00.000-04:00

Places to eat on Hawaii's O'ahu Island:

Zippy's, a chain store with affordable cuisine featuring main dishes craved for by the locals with sides of white rice and macaroni salad.

Zippy's featured dish, garlic miso chicken with white rice and macaroni salad.

Zippy's chili and white rice with fried chicken. Hawaiian's like their chicken sweet.

Rainbow Drive-in, located not too far from Diamond Head has a excellent breakfast plate.

Rainbow Drive-in's Scrambled eggs over white rice with slices of grilled Portuguese sausage.
Rainbow Drive-in's breakfast place same as above with soy sauce and sugar based barbecue beef.

A tall glass of pale ale made by Big Wave at The Colony located in the Waikiki Hyatt Regency.

Yellowtail nigiri sushi at The Colony.

If you are going to eat at a steakhouse, there is only one way to eat. A fillet minion with a loaded baked potato.

A breakfast item of smoked salmon slices over tomato slices with a toasted bagel on the bottom.
Various Hawaiian, Mainland US and Japanese dishes at the Polynesian Culture Center.

Restaurant Suntory, in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Mall in Honolulu. Suntory is known as a beverage giant in Japan. Years ago, they were in the fine dining teppan yaki business.

Suntory beer, a rare find outside Japan.

White fish sashimi with a garden salad and dipping sauces to be used for the cooked items to follow.

Surf n' Turf consisting of shrimp, lobster, beef and vegetables. Beef was a hybrid of American black angus and Japanese wagyu, known as washugyu.

Miso soup, fried rice and Japanese pickles.

Kozo sushi in Kaneohe Bay. This chain can be found in California under the name, Sushi Boy.

Smoked salmon nigiri sushi.

Combination nigiri sushi (L to R) tamago, octopus, shrimp, squid and tuna.

Kuru Kuru Sushi in Aiea/Pearl City. This place features kaiten style service where the sushi dishes are prepared in the back of the restaurant and brought to the waiting customers via a conveyor.

Salmon nigiri sushi with hot tea with the conveyor in the background at Kuru Kuru Sushi.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

List of Hollywood movies about Japan

2011-07-30T11:36:00.006-04:00

1. Gung Ho starring Michael Keaton
2. Mr. Baseball starring Tom Selleck and Ken Takakura
3. Rising Sun starring Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes
4. Karate Kid parts I and II staring Ralph Machio and Pat Morita
5. Black Rain starring Michael Douglas and Ken Takakura
6. The Yakuza starring Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura
7. The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe
8. Rhapsody in August starring Richard Gere

Do you know of any movies about Japan that were produced in Hollywood? If so, please let me know!

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Way of the Warrior

2011-05-31T04:32:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, we drove to Detroit to pick up my mother-in-law who made her intercontinental trip from Japan to the US. The following day, we drove to Windsor, Ontario where my mother-in-law visited her third country in as many days. While in Michigan and Ontario my wife was telling her mom that I am not big on chit chat and may come across as being rude since I have no time for socializing with strangers. But at the same time, dedicate 100% of my attention to family and love ones as I did this weekend. My mother-in-law said I had the Spirit of the warrior, Bushido.

Please read the following that was written and researched nearly five years ago.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006
"Way of the Warrior,": INTRODUCTION
Bushido, literally translated "Way of the Warrior," developed in Japan between the Heian and Tokugawa Ages (9th-12th century). It was a code and way of life for Samurai, a class of warriors similar to the medieval knights of Europe. It was influenced by Zen and Confucianism, two different schools of thought of those periods. Bushido is not unlike the chivalry and codes of the European knights. "It puts emphasis on loyalty, self sacrifice, justice, sense of shame, refined manners, purity, modesty, frugality, martial spirit, honor and affection" (Nippon Steel Human Resources Development Co., Ltd. 329).
ORIGINS AND INFLUENCES
Bushido comes out of Buddhism, Zen, Confucianism, and Shintoism. The combination of these schools of thought and religions has formed the code of warrior values known as Bushido.
From Buddhism, Bushido gets its relationship to danger and death. The samurai do not fear death because they believe as Buddhism teaches, after death one will be reincarnated and may live another life here on earth. The samurai are warriors from the time they become samurai until their death; they have no fear of danger. Through Zen, a school of Buddhism one can reach the ultimate "Absolute." Zen meditation teaches one to focus and reach a level of thought words cannot describe. Zen teaches one to "know thyself" and do not to limit yourself. Samurai used this as a tool to drive out fear, unsteadiness and ultimately mistakes. These things could get him killed.
Shintoism, another Japanese doctrine, gives Bushido its loyalty and patriotism. Shintoism includes ancestor-worship which makes the Imperial family the fountain-head of the whole nation. It awards the emperor a god-like reverence. He is the embodiment of Heaven on earth. With such loyalty, the samurai pledge themselves to the emperor and their daimyo or feudal landlords, higher ranking samurai. Shintoism also provides the backbone for patriotism to their country, Japan. They believe the land is not merely there for their needs, "it is the sacred abode to the gods, the spirits of their forefathers . . ." (Nitobe, 14). The land is cared for, protected and nurtured through an intense patriotism.
Confucianism gives Bushido its beliefs in relationships with the human world, their environment and family. Confucianism's stress on the five moral relations between master and servant, father and son, husband and wife, older and younger brother, and friend and friend, are what the samurai follow. However, the samurai disagreed strongly with many of the writings of Confucius. They believed that man should not sit and read books all day, nor shall he write poems all day, for an intellectual specialist was considered to be a machine. Instead, Bushido believes man and the universe were made to be alike in both the spirit and ethics.
Along with these virtues, Bushido also holds justice, benevolence, love, sincerity, honesty, and self-control in utmost respect. Justice is one of the main factors in the code of the samurai. Crooked ways and unjust actions are thought to be lowly and inhumane. Love and benevolence were supreme virtues and princely acts. Samurai followed a specific etiquette in every day life as well as in war. Sincerity and honesty were as valued as their lives. Bushi no ichi-gon, or "the word of a samurai," transcends a pact of complete faithfulness and trust. With such pacts there was no need for a written pledge; it was thought beneath one's dignity. The samurai also needed self-control and stoicism to be fully honored. He showed no sign of pain or joy. He endured all within--no groans, no crying. He held a calmness of behavior and composure of the mind neither of which should be bothered by passion of any kind. He was a true and complete warrior.
These factors which make up Bushido were few and simple. Though simple, Bushido created a way of life that was to nourish a nation through its most troubling times, through civil wars, despair and uncertainty. "The wholesome unsophisticated nature of our warrior ancestors derived ample food for their spirit from a sheaf of commonplace and fragmentary teachings, gleaned as it were on the highways and byways of ancient thought, and, stimulated by the demands of the age formed from these gleanings a new and unique way of life" (Nitobe, 20).
BUSHIDO AFTER THE SAMURAI
After the time of the samurai, Japan went through many changes. However, Bushido values could still be seen. During W.W.II, Japanese suicide pilots, known as kamikaze, looked to the samurai and Bushido for their inspiration. The word kamikaze means "divine winds." During the 11th century when the Mongols were trying to invade Japan a series of storms stopped their invasion. These were thought to be divine winds which were sent by the gods to save Japan. The Japanese again believed that these pilots were sent to save Japan. Kamikaze pilots had no fear of death. Their loyalty to their country made them willing to die.
After W.W.II, the Japanese army was disbanded. A new type of warrior evolved: those who wanted modernization and industrialization. Huge companies called zaibatsu
Bushido values can still be seen today in Japan. The Japanese have the utmost respect and loyalty to their country, and they would not do anything to bring shame upon their family.
Today the two most popular religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism. Both were great influences on Bushido. Zen Buddhism which was also an origin of Bushido, is a doctrine followed by many today.
THE SAMURAI AND THEIR USE OF BUSHIDO
In Japan the warrior class was known as samurai, also called bushi (hence bushido). They formed a class in and of themselves during the 9th and 12th centuries. They emerged from the provinces of Japan to become the ruling class until their decline and later total abolition in 1876 during the Meiji Era.
The samurai were fighting men, skilled in the martial arts. Samurai had extensive skills in the use of the bow and arrow and the sword. They could just as likely have killed you with their bare hands. Samurai were also great horsemen.
These warriors were men who lived by Bushido; it was their way of life. The samurai's loyalty to the emperor and his overlord, or daimyo, was unsurpassed. They were trustworthy and honest. They lived frugal lives with no interest in riches and material things, but rather they were interested in honor and pride. They were men of true valor. Samurai had no fear of death. They would enter any battle no matter the odds. To die in battle would only bring honor to one's family and one's lord.
Samurai usually would rather fight alone, one on one. In battle a samurai would call out his family name, rank and accomplishments. Then he would seek out an opponent with similar rank and do battle. When the samurai has killed his opponent he severs his head. After battle he takes the heads of his enemies back to show proof of his victory. Heads of generals and those of high ranks were transported back to the capital and displayed for the officials and others. The only way out for a defeated samurai was death or ritual suicide: seppuku. Seppuku--or disembowelment or hara-kiri (belly slicing)--is when a samurai stabs a knife into his abdomen and literally disembowels himself by cutting out his guts. After the samurai disembowels himself another samurai, usually a kinsman or friend, slices his head off. This form of suicide was "performed under various circumstances: to avoid capture in battle, which the samurai did not believe to be dishonorable and degrading, but generally bad policy; to atone for a misdeed or unworthy act; and perhaps most interestingly, to admonish one's lord" (Varley, 32). A samurai would rather kill himself than bring shame and disgrace to his family name and his lord. This was considered an act of true honor.
The samurai became the ruling class during the 1400s and the 1500s. In the 1600s there was a time of unification; warring in Japan had ceased. Then toward the end of the Tokugawa Era (the late 1700s), Japan began to move towards a more modernized and Western way of life. There was no need for fighting men, for warriors, for samurai. The samurai and their way of life was officially abolished in the early 1870s, but it was not forgotten.
WHAT IS BUSHIDO?
This term refers to the moral code principals that developed among the samurai (military) class of Japan, on a basis of national tradition influenced by Zen and Confucianism. The first use of the term apparently occurred during the civil war period of the 16th century; its precise content varied historically as samurai standards evolved. Its one unchanging ideal was martial spirit, including athletic and military skills as well as fearless facing of the enemy in battle. Frugal living, kindness and honesty were also highly regarded. Like Confucianism, Bushido required filial piety; but, originating in the feudal system, it also held that supreme honour was to serve one's lord unto death. If these obligations conflicted, the samurai was bound by loyalty to his lord despite the suffering he might cause to his parents.
The final rationalization of Bushido thought occurred during the Tokugawa period (17th century ff.), when Yamaga Soko (1622-85) equated the samurai with the Confucian "superior man" and taught that his essential function was to exemplify virtue to the lower classes. Without disregarding the basic Confucian virtue, benevolence, Soko emphasized the second virtue, righteousness, which he interpreted as "obligation" or "duty". This strict code of honour, affecting matters of life and death, demanded conscious choice and so fostered individual initiative while yet reasserting the obligations of loyalty and filial piety. Obedience to authority was stressed, but duty came first even if it entailed violation of statue law. In such an instance, the true samurai would prove his sincerity and expiate his crime against the government by subsequently taking his own life.
By mid-19th century, Bushido standards had become the general ideal, and the legal abolition of the samurai class in 1871 made Bushido even more the property of the entire nation. In the public educational system, with the emperor replacing the feudal lord as the object of loyalty and sacrifice, Bushido became the foundation of ethical training. As such, it contributed both to the rise of Japanese nationalism and to the strengthening of wartime civilian morale up to 1945.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Japan Relief Fundraiser in Central Ohio

2011-04-20T19:38:00.000-04:00

Dear Great Lakes JETAA Members,

Please join us on Friday, April 22nd for a Japan Relief Fundraiser benefiting the JETAA USA Relief Fund at Mac's Cafe in Columbus' Short North area to help those in Japan struck by tragedy lately when their towns were ravaged by the triple threat of a massive earthquake, tsunami and a series of nuclear power plant disasters. Great Lakes JETAA Columbus will be hosting a a fundraiser/happy hour event at Mac's, which is in the Short North: 693 N High St; Columbus, OH 43215. Half-off of drink specials/appetizers until 8pm, but please feel free to come at anytime. There will be a $10 donation at the entrance. Oringially this event was supposed to be held at Level Dining Lounge, but they had to cancel at the last minute. We wanted to wait to contact you until we had a concrete confirmation of a new location.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

My beloved Japan: Kawaisou

2011-04-16T04:21:00.001-04:00

In the weeks that have followed what the U.S. Geological Survey said was a magnitude 8.9, the biggest earthquake to hit Japan since officials began keeping records in the late 1800s, and one of the biggest ever recorded in the world, I've been on the other side of the world in my native homeland busy accomplish goals and chasing my dreams. Being forever connected with Japan by marriage, my past experiences with the US military and international education and by my love of the Japanese culture and it's people, I am quite disappointed in myself for not taking a more active role locally to help raise money for the Japanese people in their time of need.

One common thought that has crossed my mind since the big earthquake was the Japanese word, Kawaisou. This word means poor, pitiful, sad, sorrowful, miserable. I first learned this word from my mother-in-law. She was talking to my wife back in 1999 and feeling sorry for me since at that time was a complete novice when it came to the Japanese language and customs. I got turned around at the Shinjuku train station and didn't have a cell phone and some how got back to her home about three hours after dinner. Of course, everyone was worried about me.

With this being said, I will help by using this tragedy as a teachable moment and highlight the silver lining. That is, not once has there been a report regarding looting which is a testiment to the Japanese people and its culture. Furthermore, there has been strong support domestically and internationally as well as preserverence from the Japanese people once the dust settled and smoke cleared.
"Why don't Japanese loot? Because it's not in their culture. How is that culture defined? An absence of looting."

First, in the days and weeks that followed, Japanese people formed lines outside supermarkets. Supermarkets would close in the early hours of the afternoon due to running out of stock then reopen the next morning with a line of people patiently waiting. Unlike those undisciplined thieves in post-Katrina New Orleans and post-earthquake Haiti, the Japanese will still wait in line for groceries. It is important to understand that the Japanese culture values the group over the individual.

A better explanation to why the Japanese don't loot may be structural factors such as a robust system of laws that reinforce honesty, a strong police presence, and, ironically, active crime organizations. More on the yakuza's roll in the reason why Japanese don't loot.

Next, "Operation Tomodachi" is a United States Armed Forces assistance operation to support Japan in disaster relief following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.  As the US threatens to temporarily close its own government due to a lack of funds, tough decisions must be made by the US government regarding being First World countries such as Japan's primary military support and the associated costs that come with having a forward deployed military on the other side of the world. As of 29 March 2011, the operation, including relief supplies provided to victims of the disaster, was expected to cost a total of $80 million.

In the days that follow the Earthquake and Tsunami, there are signs of hope in the affected area of Tohoku. One bit of good news is that the construction of regular relocation facilities has begun and 30,000 houses will be completed in two months. There are also plans to build 2,800 more. Furthermore, other prefectures such as Tokyo, Saitama and Hyogo have announced that they will take in refugees from the area. For example, Hyogo Prefecture is willing to take in 10,000 people and so is Osaka. As Hyogo( its capital is Kobe) was hit by the Great Earthquake in 1995 and received a lot of support from other prefectures then, it is very keen to help the people in Tohoku.

In closing, these days, American Rock legend, Jon Bon Jovi asks, "What do you got (if you ain't got love?)"

Japan, never give up hope. Many people around the world love your culture and people and will do what we can to be there for you in your time of need.
DJS
Dublin, Ohio, USA
April 16th, 2011

Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Remembering Sendai- November 2006

2011-03-12T07:37:00.002-05:00

One day in November 2006, my in-laws and I traveled to Sendai. Now, as this region suffers from the largest earthquake in modern Japanese history, tsunamis, and aftershocks, I remember my time in this place.

Monday, November 06, 2006

This past weekend, we did a day trip to Sendai and before I forget the things that I learned from this trip, here goes:

1- Why they eat Cow tongue and cow's tail?

After WWII, the Tohoku region was the last region to be rebuilt from the war-torn bombings that Japan received and for whatever reason, was a low priority. Of course, Nagasaki and Hiroshima were tops on the list, as for Tokyo and other cities that took on all of the bombing.

With MacArthur at the helm, and Roosevelt`s "Ronins" by his side, Japan made the transition from a defeated, war-torn nation, to the economic power that it is today. But back in those early days, the poor people of Tohoku had to survive on anything that they could get their hands on. As the occupants of Japan were not keen on eating cow tongue and the cow`s tail, this is what the local people survived on.

Aside from the unusual parts of the cow that are popular in Sendai, Kamaboko is also popular there. I remember back in my Navy days, returning to the base in Yokosuka after a long night of singing and dancing up in Roppongi. I would have the munchies and outside of the main gate was a 7-eleven "konbeni". So, I would stop by and grab a few sticks of kamaboko and scarf it down as I made the mile trek back to my ship. The sight of me walking down the road all hung over and eating a stick of kamaboko with backpack full of empty bottles of cheap wine bought the previous evening must be amusing.

Another interesting dish eaten in Sendai was whale.

2- Tohoku-ben

Tohoku-ben is the regional dialect spoken amongst the locals of this region. Japanese is difficult enough not to throw in the regional dialects. Anyway, the shortest conversation in Japan is when a mother in Sendai tells her child to eat something. It goes like this:

Mother- Ke.

Child- Ku.

In Tokyo, it would go like this:

Mother- Tabenasai.

Child- Hai, tabete imasu.

English:

Mother- Eat (command form)

Child- Yes, I'm eating.

3- One interesting thing about this day trip was where we ate lunch. Around lunch time, we toured the local fish market. Every Japanese town near the sea has one, and for some reason, foreigners love going there. Tsukiji`s fish market in Tokyo is always swarming with foreigners the times that I`ve been there. Anyway, in Sendai, we bought some of the local seafood and ate it with the rice and miso soup that was provided by the staff. We ate a few feet from a shop owners refridgerated display. Customers would walk by and see a group of people eating some of the local goods. Not a bad way to get people to buy your stuff!

Coca-Cola Chicken Wings Recipe / 可乐鸡翅 Cooking Chinese Food

2011-03-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

A unique recipe presented to me from one of my students:

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10

The American Heartland and Tokyo just got a little closer

2011-02-11T04:43:00.000-05:00

On Delta Airlines, fly from Detroit to Tokyo-Haneda (service begins February 19, 2011)

Click here for more details and specials for traveling to Japan.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-11

Golden Week 2007

2011-01-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

This past week started with a Japanese Holiday known as “Showa Day”. “Showa” is the name of the era of when the Emperor was in power from 1925-1988. This era marked the rise and fall of the Japanese Empire and their Imperialization movement when the Emperor of Japan signed surrender papers onboard the American battleship, Missouri in the Tokyo Bay in 1945. Coincidently, this era also marked the swell and burst of the Japanese economy after World War II. After recovering as a defeated war-torn nation that was crippled due to being in isolation for nearly 250 years prior to the 20th century, Japan was recognized at a economic power at the end of this era. April 29th was the Emperor’s Birthday and when he passed away in 1988, Emperor’s Day was recognized on December 23rd (the current Emperor’s birthday). By the way, the current era in Japan is known as "Heisei" and is currently in its 19th year.

While on the issue of Japanese eras, people in Japan give their birth years by the year of the era. For example, if you were born on January 4th, 1983, you would fill out a form in Japan by writing "01/04/S58" (Showa's 58th year). I didn't know what the "S" was for and made the mistake of thinking that this person who was in their early 20's was born in 1958. Damn, Asian people sure do look young!

Anyway, after paying my respects to the former Emperor by watching a bit of the war movie, Tora, Tora, Tora!, I returned to one of my assigned schools for the first time in seven months. This school may be the smallest school in the city only gets a native English teacher to assist in their English education a total of seven weeks over the course of the 41-week Japanese school year. Since the school is small with a total of six classes for the entire school (two classes per grade), there is only one Japanese Teacher of English. This person keeps busy outside of giving lessons with homeroom duties as well as club activities. I’m sure that this teacher could use the services that I offer more than seven weeks a year and more frequent that what the current schedule is offering.

I really like this school since it is so small. I can get the know the students and make a connection with them despite the time away from the school. Furthermore, the school is a five minute walk from where I reside which allows me to take my time on getting to work. Bringing a lunch isn't that big of deal and during lunch, I can come back home and drop something off and check the mail and use a toilet without having to squat over a hole. The main reason that I like the school is the teacher that I help is very good and utilizes me very well. She was discussing one of the readings to the 2nd year students and she was explaining in Japanese how the main characters had a home and a job. Therefore, they weren’t NEETs. The term NEETs is used for those in Japan that are not employed, educated or in training. When she was giving the explanation on this, I inadvertently gave a chuckle out loud which had the students chuckling as well.

So, by Wednesday of this week I was done with work and considering how Monday was a holiday, I sat down and pondered if the public education system is really doing as is should be doing for those students enrolled in their schools. I can remember people telling me to watch out for the public school teachers in Japan since they where known to buck the system by making a big stink over the singing of the Japanese national anthem. The words of the anthem put the emperor up on a pedestal as if he were god. Considering how Mr. Showa was parading around Allied-occupied Japan with American General Macarthur, many of the people did look at the Emperor as if it were the second coming. Of course, nowadays, the Emperor and family are nothing more than a figurehead that is found in places like the UK. I bet everyone is breathing easy now that the younger brother of the Emperial family had a little boy last Fall allowing a male to take the thrown in the generations to come.

Yesterday, May 3rd was Memorial Day and today is Green Day. In honor of this day, I am listening to Green Day’s Nimrod song. From the view that is before me at this moment on the 7th floor of the Tokyo’s Yotsuya Library in Central Tokyo, in a panoramic view, I can see the automobile maker, Suzuki sign, followed by Japanese mansion buildings that look so close together that you could reach out your window and shake hands with someone in the next building. My view continues with skyscrapers and construction cranes and numerous other buildings dotting the horizon before me. Directly in front of the metropolis view is a forest of greenery due to the nearby Shinjuku Park. Just opposite of the Suzuki sign on my panoramic view is the NTT cellular building that reminds me of the Empire State Building.

Tomorrow is the official end of this year’s Golden Week known as Children’s Day. There will be goldfish like banners and kites out tomorrow to mark this day.

Video was taken on one of our weekly trips to my mother-in-law's place in the Yotsuya district of Tokyo. Marusho is a top quality grocery store and has a decent selection of western food products.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10

Yotsuya Revisited

2011-01-23T11:22:00.001-05:00

Written in 2007:
Hello everyone and sorry about the delay. The way that this blog works is that I will do something and then write about it then find some pictures and then post it on my blogspot. Now, my blogging host offers how to add web links to your blog entry so I plan on doing that for as many entries as I can while I have the time.

Anyway, I've been doing alot of interesting things the past two weeks (March 19th to April 6th). The day after tomorrow is the beginning of my last term as a JET teacher in Japan. The term will end on July 20th and my wife and I plan on making our way back to the US to settle down and start the next chapter of our lives shortly thereafter.

On March 19th, I met with my wife near her office in Tokyo for lunch. We dined at a Middle Eastern restaurant known as "Pita" managed by one person who acts as a cashier, cook, waiter and busboy. With Japan as expensive as it is, that is about the only way to go to keep afloat. The food was excellent and the big portions were appreciated. Afterwards, I did some reading and research at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan near the famous Yurakucho Station in the Ginza district of Tokyo. As long as I didn't make any trouble I could sit there and read the wealth of English publications that otherwise is for members only. After reading my fill, I returned back to Saitama to get ready for my main school's "Enkai" (dinner party/banquet). Prior to all of this I was telling my mother and she commented, "I like banquets since the food is usually good and it's a free meal!" I corrected her on the "Free" part of that since if you go, you usually pay it isn't anything to sneeze at. On this night's event, I ended up paying 7000 yen to dine and drink at a Italian restaurant and then spent another 1500 yen at the "Ni Ji Kai" (literally means the second time or second party) which would have been more but the quote from the first setting was a bit less that what we paid. From my experiences that usually is the case and the ni ji kai is often already paid for. So, if I don't go to these events, it is because I can't justify paying that kind of money or know that the following day is a day that I need to be fully alert not hungover ("Futsukayoi"- literally meaning the second day still drunk). I try to go at least once even if it is against my will since in most cases I am the lonely representative of foreigners, native English teachers, etc. and hope that my presence after I am gone is still felt by those I encounter in a postive and meaningful way. The banquets are alot of fun and interesting since I'm the only American and have a crowd of people who have been interesting in me for a long time but due to the office culture at school and just being plain busy, my colleagues have yet to get to know me. It helps if a team teaching person (Japanese Teacher of English) is nearby to keep me away from my electronic dictionary so that I can communicate better.)

From March 28-30, I was a volunteer teacher for a local high school that is a current participant in the new "Super English" program. To learn more about this program, please google the phrase. Anyway, this school has two teachers such as myself that are permananately assigned to the school and work with about six JTEs and basically team teach together the 1st year students (16-year-olds and the equivalant to 10th graders in the US). On this trip, we traveled from Urawa to Fukushima's British Hills resort. Fukushima is part of Japan's northern region, Tohoku (the most northern part of Japan's main island, Honshu). I went to this region for the first time in November 2006 when we traveled to Sendai (search this blog to read about it).

Upon my return to Saitama, my wife and I spent time with my father-in-law and his family on a day trip to Hakone of Kanagawa-ken. We rented a car and drove from central Tokyo (my father-in-law has an apartment there). Hakone is best visited by traveling by the famous "Romance Car" from Shinjuku Station on the Odakyu Line. The way provided us a chance to experience Tokyo's traffic (not so bad since it was on a weekend) but we also got to see Fujiya Hotel which was the place that John Lennon and other distiguished people stayed at while traveling in Japan. I have been told that it is the first western-hotel in Japan. For lunch we had soba (buckwheat noodles) and tempura (deep-fried seafood and vegetables) which are famous in this area. My wife and I noticed that famous tourist places in Japan over do it with soba and tempura restaurants since these Japanese dishes are friendly with pure gaijins such as my parents and the like. We had an interesting experience at a Japanese restuarant with my family back in 2005 at Kamakura.

After lunch we rode the ferry across the lake and then drove up to a viewing area for Mt. Fuji. After driving up to the place, we had to settle for the black eggs since it was too cloudy to see Mt. Fuji.

In general, Hakone is famous for Kamaboko (fish cakes packed like a hotdog is packed back home), kuro tamago (black boiled eggs that get their color due to being boiled in geysers in the ground), onsens (hot springs that the Japanese use for bathing) the Romance train line, Lake Ashinoko and viewing Mt. Fuji from Owakudani (the place that serves the black boiled eggs).

April 2nd was our 2-year wedding anniversary and we celebrated by having lunch near her office. Since it was a work day, that was all we could do.

Other than going to the Saitama Modern Arts museum near Kita Urawa Station, having dinner with my wife and friends near Ueno Station. One very nice thing was having dinner with my teacher friend and her family. Afterwards we had a Ni Ji Kai of our own by singing Kareoke. I still need to get better at singing some Japanese songs.

Today's picture was taken on March 31st at Tokyo's Yotsuya Station in Central Tokyo. Please note the cherry blossom's in full bloom.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10

Back from Japan

2011-01-22T20:13:00.002-05:00

Back from Japan

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10

Transferring at the Atlanta Airport- Eat Mor Chikin

2011-01-15T04:18:00.006-05:00

If you are a Delta frequent flyer or have to tend to any business in the southeast US, I'm sure that you have spent some time at the Atlanta Airport. Having grown up in the South, Atlanta was a home away from home and my visits there were my opportunities to see the world. At any rate, when transferring at the Atlanta Airport, head over to Concourse A and enjoy a Chick-fil-A fried chicken sandwich, fried potato wedges and a tall "Co Cola" or sweet tea. Please note that Chick-fil-A is directly across from gate A-8, not in the main food court of Concourse A and trust me, this is a good thing. Trying to enjoy a meal where 100 people are trying to sit in a 50-person dining area and looking at dirty tables go unattended while airport workers are too busy in idle chatter is wrong after coming off a 12-hour flight or a 12-minute walk from the parking lot for that matter.

When transferring in Atlanta to a final destination in the US, it is important to remember the silly policy about liquids on the plane. Where is the consistency when it is OK to bring a styrofoam cup of sweet tea from Chick-fil-A on board the plane but a jar of sake and a can of beer bought prior to getting on the plane in Narita gets confiscated? Also, this was the first time they did the controversial scans as this wasn't experienced in Columbus.

This bottled vitamin drink slipped through the cracks at the hands of the hard working Atlanta Airport workers.

Delta has a daily non-stop flight from Atlanta to Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Travel time from Atlanta is approximately 14 hours while much shorter from Narita at close to 12 hours. Delta has recently added service from Detroit to Tokyo's Haneda International Airport. This is Japan's first international airport and located in the Tokyo Bay across from Chiba-ken on one side and Kanagawa-ken's Kawasaki City on the other side of the bay. Flying into Haneda would cut an hour of travel time since Narita is so far away from Central Tokyo.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10

Layover in Narita

2011-01-01T15:56:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked for advice on how to get the most out of Japan if only there for a day while commuting to a different place in Asia. Keep in mind that Narita Airport is in the middle of the sticks. If time permits and you know enough Japanese, take a limited express (not the Skyliner) Keisei Line. It will cost 1000 yen and will take 1.5-2 hours to Nippori Station of Kita Ward Tokyo. The Skyliner or even the NEX is three times the cost of the Keisei Line and only 30-45 minutes faster. To map out your commute, please visit this site here.

If you don't have time to go into Tokyo from Narita there is a good sushi place in Narita City. I've never been but a well respected American who has lived in Japan for about 15 years recommends going to Edokko sushi. This guy claims that it is the very best sushi in Japan . Go there in the evenings. It is near the airport in Narita City. Take the train to Narita Station and ask any taxi driver where is. Just say, "Edokko Sushi doko desu ka?" (it's a three-minute walk from the station).

Click for more info about Narita!

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10

What Motivated the Kamikazes?

2011-01-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

By G. Miki Hayden
Naval History Volume 19, Number 2, April 2005

I'm sorting through old e-mails and came across the following which I hope you find interesting:

The Japanese were not about to let the Allies get closer to their shores than Okinawa. Their resistance strategy included using kamikaze pilots destined to die for Japan. And their motivations were not really so far from those of U.S. troops.

In May 1945, as the Germans formally surrendered to the Allies in Europe and Americans were celebrating wildly in the streets at home, one of the largest battles of the entire war was in full, bloody swing. On Okinawa, about halfway between Iwo Jima and Tokyo and held by the Japanese since the 1870s, a 1,300-ship combined British-American invasion force had landed 60,000 men on L-Day (Love Day), 1 April 1945. Instead of invading Japan proper, expected as the next logical move after taking Iwo as a forward air base, the decision was to subdue Okinawa. The Japanese were adroit strategists and perhaps had learned something from the intensive Allied shelling at Normandy. This stand in the Ryukyu Islands was Japan's most essential defensive action of the war—an attempt to keep the Allied fighters away from the homeland. As on Iwo, few rounds were fired by the defenders, and those were from a distance. The Marines who landed on the coast felt both as if they had outlived their life expectancies by far and that they were arriving on a territory so starkly alien it might as well be the surface of the moon.

The invasion of Okinawa under the command of Army Lieutenant General Simon Buckner was to be the final amphibious operation of the war and the one resulting in the greatest number of casualties. As many as 3,000 lives were lost in a single day during the 82-day conflict, and when the battle was over, 49,000 Americans had been wounded or killed, a minimum of 100,000 Japanese fighters were dead, uncounted numbers were wounded, and many were roasted alive by flamethrowers and forgotten in the caves up in the hills.

The last-hope stratagem that had been initiated by Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi on Iwo was duplicated here by General Mitsuru Ushijima. Elaborate positions had been dug out in the cliffs and an unusually large defending force awaited the invaders. But that was not the only trump card the Japanese were holding as the Westerners approached so threateningly close their home islands. Suicide pilots—kamikazes—had been used before by the Japanese imperial forces, but never in such great numbers, and never flying their missions directly from Japan. Hundreds of loyal young imperial flyers lost their lives in missions that brought down 26 Allied ships off Okinawa, with 160 damaged. The kamikaze dive-bombers were not enough to deflate the 1,300-ship armada, but their harrying of the seaside flotilla was a significant psychological and tactical accomplishment. The hundreds of Japanese pilots who surrendered their lives to sink the invaders confounded the Western sailors and soldiers, altered their concept of what to expect from air attacks, and made a material impact that impeded the Allied advance.

For years after World War II, surviving American military who served in the Pacific and later observers repeatedly have expressed astonishment at the concept of the kamikaze bombers, considering it an extreme anomaly of human behavior. They never pause to compare such heroic behavior with that of the young Marines and soldiers who waded ashore. We Americans feel our hearts beat a little bit faster when we think of the indomitable fighting force landing on Okinawa in the final phase of the Pacific engagement. For some reason, we cannot equate this in any form with the sacrifice the volunteer Japanese pilots made to destroy their opponents. It seems a gulf too great for us to leap.

Yet the lips of the old Japanese kamikaze tremble as he recounts waiting to be ordered on the attack—and as he pictures his war-year comrades flying off to their deaths. This same feeling is displayed by Marine and Army U.S. war vets who tell their tales of this conflict and relive their emotions. In other words, there is little difference in what the warriors of each side underwent. There are only differences in our perceptions. Children growing up in the United States were taught to accept the subtle and explicit truism that the Asian peoples held life cheaply—not only the lives of others, but also those of their own. This was an odd idea, fed perhaps by the extreme measures of honor and devotion displayed by the kamikaze pilots. Yet although behaviors differ within cultures, basic human emotions remain very much the same, no matter the group.

Iwo Jima was the first Allied stop on territory held by Japan prior to the war. Although it was not one of the main groups of Japanese islands, Iwo, annexed by Japan in 1887, was only 660 miles from the Nipponese homeland. Okinawa, a prewar military training ground, was one stride closer. Once U.S. forces controlled the bases there, Japan—defended by farmers armed with pitchforks (with which authorities drilled them) or not—was doomed. Almost from the minute Allied forces jumped onto the beaches at Okinawa, they were able to secure the two vital air bases and staging areas that commanded the island. The whole of the game was almost won, the Western commanders imagined. But this was a battle in which gains were later to be measured in yards, and territory won was rarely held.

The moral position of the Japanese fighting men was the same as that of every U.S. serviceman who stepped onto shore. Each was dedicated without reservation to his country's welfare and stated position in the context of the war. At the same time, each feared for his life and desired to be spared. No doubt there were some among the Japanese who clung to belief in the glory of an afterlife in the Pure Land. But most of such thoughts, any clever physician of the soul would recognize, were on the surface of the personality, overlaying the primal desire of the living organism to survive. No one came to that fight entirely ready and willing to die for his beloved country—neither American nor Japanese.

Yet Japanese soldiers would strap dynamite to their bodies to destroy a bridge built overnight by Marine engineers, killing themselves in the process of delaying intruders. Behind the acts of uniformed men of both nations were social pressure, fear of shame, the concept of an afterworld, the teachings of their fathers and schools, a desire to protect mothers, wives, and children, and an absolute determination not to let down their comrades-in-arms.

As bad as things were thus far in the conflict, soon conditions on the island grew far worse. The rains blew in from the direction of the East China Sea and turned the real estate the soldiers battled over into an unstable quagmire dotted with the mutilated dying and neatly stacked cords of the already dead. The Japanese fired all manner of artillery, mortars, and machine guns from positions on somewhat higher ground—the hills the Americans called Sugar Loaf, Half Moon, and Horseshoe and from Shuri Castle. Here, underground, veterans of Manchuria and Japanese Marines rested in the dank and dark of extensive man-made tunnels. They stank of their own perspiration and worse, breathed the foulness of air shared by thousands, and contemplated their deaths. The thoughts that flitted through their minds were the same as those occurring to our Marines—visions of wives and home, parents and children—none of whom tens of thousands of these young men would ever see again.

Across from Sugar Loaf, U.S. troops squatted wetly in the muddy trenches, half-crazed by the death and destruction they already had encountered during this campaign. And they were tired—dreadfully, unbelievably exhausted—so pushed to the edge they could not bring themselves to eat.

The Japanese plan for defeating the Allies was mad, born of a resolution never to surrender and a powerful denial in the face of their true position. By signing up 4,000 kamikaze recruits, they planned to sink the ships that were the lifeline of the U.S. warriors, then surround and kill them to the last man. Yet there were too many variables in the equation and, in the end, despite the strength of the Japanese fortifications and their courageous spirit, turning the tide was impossible. Including some 77,000 civilians, about 207,000 men and women lost their lives on Okinawa during a battle that raged for nearly three months.

Today, both Iwo Jima and Okinawa again are part of Japan. As Americans visit the memorial to the sinking of the Arizona (BB-39) at Pearl Harbor, so do Japanese visit the sites on Okinawa to honor their war dead.

Ms. Hayden is the author Pacific Empire (Bedford, Indiana: JoNa Books, 1998), nine intertwined short mystery/crime stories in which the Japanese do not lose World War II.

The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10