tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244394686560872632011-07-07T14:01:02.521-07:00This is a blog written by a Japanese girl about Japanese culture, life, tv, music, food, celebrity, news, trend, all about Japan.momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-52605135517841342222010-01-10T17:48:00.000-08:002010-01-10T17:51:23.411-08:002010-01-10T17:51:23.411-08:00

TV broadcasting has been "analog" so far in Japan.But July 24th 2011, it will be changed.All TV broadcasting will be "digital terrestrial", and current analog TV won't be available after that.So people will have to buy a new one for new broadcasting.Good points of digital terrestrial TV broadcasting is- high quality of picture- hight quality of sound- useful service for elderies and handicapped

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-24431518100041931022010-01-09T03:54:00.000-08:002010-01-09T04:03:15.620-08:002010-01-09T04:03:15.620-08:00

"The red and white singing contest" in 2009 got a special guest from UK.Her name is Susan Boyle.She suddenly became famous worldwide since she joined the popular audition TV program in UK.Her name often appears in news headlines here in Japan as well.She sang "I dreamed a dream" in "The red and white singing contest".Over 40% of Japanese citizens watch this program on New Year's Eve.Her beautiful

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-5282225325077412162010-01-07T03:04:00.000-08:002010-01-07T03:10:44.417-08:002010-01-07T03:10:44.417-08:00

Japanese people go to shrines to pray for the happiness of the new year on New Year's Day.This visit is called "Hatsumoude" or "Hatsumode".They throw coins into an offertory box.5(=pronounced as "go") yen coins has a meaning "good luck of meeting new people" since "goen" means "chance of meeting" in Japanese language.So people who are looking for partners usually throw 5 yen coins.There's a rope

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-91450316051806200222010-01-05T02:38:00.000-08:002010-01-05T02:42:47.255-08:002010-01-05T02:42:47.255-08:00

In ancient time, Miko was a virgin who served God.At that time various services were conducted to calm God.Miko was the one who conducted them.Miko's role was to be the body God descended to, and Miko spoke for the God.Nowadays Miko is a woman who works for a shrine.Miko sometimes dances at divine ceremonies.There also are many Miko girls who work temporarily at shrine as part-time job.They

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-60467753219383658272010-01-03T07:44:00.000-08:002010-01-03T08:55:57.165-08:002010-01-03T08:55:57.165-08:00

There is a young American guy who sensationally made a hit in enka world in Japan.His name is Jero(Jerome Charles White, Jr.).He's from Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh.His father is an African-American and his mother is half-American half-Japanese.His grandmother is a Japanese, and he's been familiar with enka since childhood.He tried to practice enka for his grandmother, then he gradually got absorbed

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-46196289912699804062010-01-01T21:05:00.001-08:002010-01-01T21:06:10.467-08:002010-01-01T21:06:10.467-08:00

We eat buckwheat noodles called "soba" in Japanese at midnight on New Year's Eve.This is called "Toshikoshi soba" which means "soba to welcome the new year".This special soba has some hidden meanings.1. live happily for long since soba is thin and long.2. throw all bad luck of the old year away since soba is easily snapped.3. live like soba since buckwheat stands up in the sun even after it's

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-21504110350531044482009-12-31T23:00:00.000-08:002009-12-31T23:09:43.739-08:002009-12-31T23:09:43.739-08:00

We watch "The red and white singing contest" on New Year's eve.It's the competition between teams of male and female singers, but on the other hand, there's an invisible costume competition between 2 singers.One is a female singer called "Sachiko Kobayashi".She's an enka singer.Her costume has been the special-feature of this TV program for many years.The other singer is called "Kenichi Mikawa".

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-71535543031020856362009-12-29T18:59:00.000-08:002009-12-29T19:13:09.081-08:002009-12-29T19:13:09.081-08:00

Japanese New Year's Day is just as same as Western's Christmas.Most people spend time together with their family on this day.On New Year's Day, we say "Congratulations!" to eath other.And we eat traditional food like Osechi, Mochi.Osechi is a special cuisine for New Year that consists of many kinds of ingredients.Each ingredient has its own meaning, for example Kazunoko means "having many kids".

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-3952809741950534072009-12-25T03:47:00.001-08:002009-12-25T03:49:52.699-08:002009-12-25T03:49:52.699-08:00

Each PC maker released small sized & cheap laptop PC one after another since its pioneer "Eee PC" made a mega hit in PC market.Eee PC is produced by ASUS which is a Taiwanese company.It was an unprecedented product which made a big topic in the market.The size is very small(7 inch - 9 inch) and its cheap price gave a shock over the market.(about \50000 = $500)Because of the price, the performance

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-73386656658019617162009-12-16T01:20:00.000-08:002009-12-25T03:52:05.665-08:002009-12-25T03:52:05.665-08:00

A website called "bijin tokei + binan tokei" (http://www.bijint.com/) is making a big topic.The translation is:bijin => beautiful ladybinan => beautiful guytokei => clockIn this site good-looking ladies and guys tell you what time it is now.They hold boards on which current time is written by hand-writing.It's updated every minute automatically.That means 1440 pictures are shown in a day.Every

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-80059617596550794252009-12-12T05:34:00.000-08:002009-12-25T03:51:43.537-08:002009-12-25T03:51:43.537-08:00

In Germany Japanese tourists who have to pay the penalty for free ride of train are increasing.That's because of the difference of ticket system of train.In Japan, we have to put a ticket into the automated ticket gate to reach the platform.But in Germany you can go to the platform without a ticket.Beside there is no sign saying "you have to put a ticket into the machine to have date and time on

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-57001187792627197312009-12-09T01:06:00.001-08:002009-12-25T03:51:27.213-08:002009-12-25T03:51:27.213-08:00

Starbucks Cofee Japan announced that they gives a discount of 50 yen(about 50 US cents) to anyone who brings his/her own cup to drink coffee with.We can also buy cups in Starbucks.This is for saving of natural resoures.This kind of movement called "ecology" is spreading over Japan.At supermarkets many people bring their own bags and use them instead of using plastic bags given by supermarkets.At

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-73189644423162664492009-12-05T19:43:00.000-08:002009-12-25T03:51:13.085-08:002009-12-25T03:51:13.085-08:00

Love Plus is a game of Nintendo DS released in September 2009.It's a romance simulation game in which you can enjoy relationship with virtual girls.For only 2 months it made a mega hit, 150000 are sold.This game is so well-made that guys tend to be stuck in the virtual world.You can go out on a date with a girl, walk hand in hand, even kiss her!A news that a Japanese guy got married with a

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-68746760285312917552009-11-28T02:55:00.001-08:002009-12-25T03:50:59.316-08:002009-12-25T03:50:59.316-08:00

Each TV station launches new drama series every 3 months.They compete for "good rating".So they try to make various kinds of dramas casting popular celebrities to get attention of audience.However it seems a bit hard these days to make a mega-hit since the audience are tired of stereotypical stories.This winter, one drama is making a record of high rating.Its title is "JIN".It's originally from a

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-90219508954924588032009-11-17T05:00:00.001-08:002009-12-25T03:50:41.552-08:002009-12-25T03:50:41.552-08:00

It's the pecial TV program on New Year's Eve.Red means women, and white means men.So this contest is female singers VS male singers.They sing the hit songs in the year.The program starts at around 7 pm and ends at midnight.At the ending of the program, the winner(red or white) is chosen by the votes from judges in front of the stage and audience.The judges are celebrities from many fields like

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-78685131700429978562009-10-03T05:59:00.000-07:002009-12-28T19:41:30.264-08:002009-12-28T19:41:30.264-08:00

"Winter Sonata" is something ladies, especially middle-aged ladies, used to be crazy about before.It's a TV drama series that was on NHK channel before.In Japanese it's translated as "Fuyuno Sonata".As I already wrote, Japanese people like to abbreviate words, especially name of popular thing or person.So "Winter Sonata" is usually called "Fuyu Sona".This drama has made 2 Korean names quite

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-46976628772921433332009-10-03T05:56:00.001-07:002009-10-03T06:34:49.163-07:002009-10-03T06:34:49.163-07:00

NHK means "Nihon Housou Kyoku".Nihon means "Japan", Housou Kyoku means "TV station".It's the only TV station controlled by the government.NHK channel doesn't have any commercials.Popular foreign dramas like "ER" "The X-File" "Ally McBeal" "Friends"...were broadcasted on NHK channels.NHK also offers many language lesson programs.The picture is the character of NHK called "Do-mo kun". Amazon.com

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-28053775647427209182009-09-29T02:43:00.000-07:002009-09-29T02:54:15.606-07:002009-09-29T02:54:15.606-07:00

Japanese people, especially young people tend to abbreviate words.They abbreviate anything if possible.Let me give examples...America jin(=American) => AmejinKimura Takuya(=name of a pop star) => KimutakuPower Point => PowapoAround thirty(=30 years old) => Arasaa(* In Japanese language, thirty is pronounced as saaty)Netscape Navigation => Neske

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-59029279843838312332009-09-26T22:19:00.001-07:002009-12-31T23:16:20.717-08:002009-12-31T23:16:20.717-08:00

Jidaigeki is a drama(often on TV) of the old times.Actors and actresses dress up in Japanese traditional costumes called "Kimono" when they act in Jidaigeki.Their way of talking is also from the old times in the drama.What's inevitable in Jidaigeki is a sword fight.In Jidaigeki, innocent people are often killed in the first half of the story, and the villain is killed by the hero in the last

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-30874954545577146662009-09-26T22:17:00.004-07:002009-11-20T08:43:11.161-08:002009-11-20T08:43:11.161-08:00

Konkatsu is mixed words of "Kekkon" and "Katsudo".Kekkon means "marriage", and Katsudo means "hunting".We often use "Shukatsu" that means "job hunting", but this "Konkatsu" word appeared recently and it's getting popular and often heard on TV, in manazines and news.There are many Konkatsu parties all over Japan, and ladies and gentlemen who hope to get married join those parties.They are

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-51616358213095406132009-09-26T22:17:00.003-07:002009-12-30T03:27:25.268-08:002009-12-30T03:27:25.268-08:00

Hikaru Utada is so called "a genius" composer & singer who launched her 1st song at age of 15 and succeeded.Her 1st album "First Love" were sold the most than ever and the record hasn't been broken yet.Her albums are all "million saller".She was born in New York, USA and now she's living in Japan.Her parents are Japanese and her mother used to be a famous singer as well.More about Hikaru

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-80260075044997833442009-09-26T22:17:00.001-07:002009-12-30T03:37:17.666-08:002009-12-30T03:37:17.666-08:00

Takuya Kimura has kept being placed 1st in "guy girls want to sleep with" ranking for years.He is a member of a pop group called "SMAP".SMAP is one of the most popular group in Japanese showbiz world.Especially the popularity of Takuya Kimura is a building towering above its neighbors.He is a singer as a member of SAMP, and he's also an actor in TV dramas and movies.Want to learn Japanese?

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-84480500960235980362009-09-25T05:19:00.000-07:002009-12-31T23:20:33.376-08:002009-12-31T23:20:33.376-08:00

Enka is Japanese particular genre of music.Enka singers sing Enka in a particular way with a warble.They also often wear Japanese traditional clothes called "Kimono" when they sing on a stage.The lyrics of Enka are most of the time about "tragic love".It often means extramarital affairs.Lyrics are often written from a view of woman, mentioning her grudge, regret and lingering affection.Espcially

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-42563991731717127342009-09-24T06:54:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:05:13.020-07:002009-09-26T02:05:13.020-07:00

On TV we often see beautiful ladies who used to be guys these days.For example, Ai Haruna(Right) and Ayana Tsubaki(Left) are popular TV icons.They both suffered from gender identity disorder and took sex reassignment surgery.Now they're performing on TV as ladies like actress and fashion model.If they don't say anything, we must take them for real ladies.

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224439468656087263.post-91603492150758366032009-09-22T04:34:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:05:47.430-07:002009-09-26T02:05:47.430-07:00

Right after a topic about Gundam, I'll introduce a new addiction for guys.It's a game of Nintendo DS newly on sale in September called "Love Plus".This game enables date simulation with virtual girls on the screen.According to the adds of game players on the bulletin board and blogs, they say "I kissed the screen" "I can't switch it off anymore"...Some buy 10 boxes of this game at a time, some go

momohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471167770706332930noreply@blogger.com0