Chika

大谷 翔平 – Shōhei Ohtani

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Shōhei Ohtani is a professional Japanese baseball player who plays as both pitcher and outfielder.  On 12/8/17 (12/9/17 in Japan) it was announced that he had agreed to play for the LA Angels.  Ohtani is not only a two-way player but also the fastest pitcher in Japanese baseball history with pitches clocked at 165km/hr (102.5mph).

An old Japanese proverb says “he who runs after two hares will catch neither”.  Many people who used to criticize a pitcher for trying to be a two-way player changed their minds after they saw Ohtani in action.  When the U.S. major league teams were trying to get him sign, his concern wasn’t money.  He wanted a team that would allow him to continue to be a two-way player.  So why not?  Ohtani says “as long as I am happy, right?”

Ema Workshop 12/29/17

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Let’s create a Japanese wishing plate (Ema) together!  You can write in English or Japanese.  I will help.  We are asking minimum of $5 donation per plate.  

歌舞伎 – Kabuki

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Kabuki is a traditional Japanese style of drama that is still very popular today, not only among Japanese people but also with tourists from other countries.  In Kabuki, all the roles–even female ones–are played by men.  In the Middle Ages women also played in Kabuki, but that raised some problems.  So it was decided to stick to male actors only, and this became one of Kabuki’s distinguishing features.

Kabuki is shown at the Kabuki Theater (Kabuki-za) in Ginza, Tokyo and other places.  Many Kabuki theaters are designated as important cultural properties of Japan and they look like traditional Japanese style buildings that are no longer common today.  Normally Kabuki performances are offered in two programs; daytime and nighttime.  Usually two or three stories will be included in each program, and daytime stories and nighttime stories are different from each other.

酉の市 – Tori no Ichi 2017

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The “tori” or rooster is one of the 12 signs of the oriental zodiac.  Each November you can purchase a special rake at fairs (called 酉の市 or “Tori no Ichi”) that are held at several shrines in Japan.  People believe that these special rakes gather luck for business.  The rakes vary in size from just a few-inches to 10-feet long.  People say that if you want to expand your business, you should buy a bigger rake every year.

SCETA Learn Japan

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Facebook reminded me that I had a Yōkai event on 11/11/16 and I remember that I was very grateful for all your support.  But this year is even better.  I am traveling to Japan to assist family of Miss U.S. International.  When I come back I will be working for The Source Chef Fujino 10-year anniversary celebration on 11/29/17  https://dayinjapan.eventbrite.com and then presenting two panels at Anime USA on 12/9/17 https://animeusa.org  Thank you very much for your support!!!

Miss International Beauty Pageant

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Miss US International 2017 is Shanel James from Maryland.  She is going to Japan for the Miss International Beauty Pageant.  I have been teaching her Japanese language & culture to get her ready.  I will travel to Japan with her family as a guide and companion.

Do you want me to assist your trip to Japan as well?  Yes, I love to!  Please contact me!

SCETA Japan Center

4500 Lehigh Rd, College Park, MD 20740

202-656-6085

mail@LearnJapan.co

Miss U.S. International

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Miss U.S. International 2017 is Shanel James from Maryland.  She is going to Japan for the Miss International Beauty Pageant.  I have taught her Japanese etiquette, culture and language.  She learns everything very quickly.  She is extremely beautiful, smart and sweet.  She is ready for Japan and the pageant.  Ganbatte, Shanel san!!!

妖怪 – Yōkai

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In Japanese folklore Yōkai are supernatural beings of many kinds including monsters, spirits, ghosts, and demons.  Some of them are friendly and some of them are not.  Yōkai tales have been told in Japan for at least the last 1,200 years and are still told today, and yōkai of all kinds have been pictured in ukiyo-e, scroll paintings, manga, anime, etc.  One of the oldest pictures of yōkai is the demon depicted on the national treasure from the 7th century Buddhist Tamamushi Shrine.

Bonin Flying Fox

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The Bonin flying fox (オガサワラオオコウモリ) is endemic to Japan and has been found in a few islands of Ogasawara (known as the Bonin Islands in English).  The Bonin flying fox is called Ogasawara Ookōmori in Japanese.  Oo means “big” and kōmori means a “bat.”  Needless to say, an ookōmori is bigger than a regular kōmori (its body is about 9 inches long), but also ookōmori eat fruits whereas kōmori normally eat small insects.  Also the ookōmori’s eyes are fully functional unlike those of an ordinary kōmori.  Therefore, an ookōmori is normally diurnal where a kōmori is normally nocturnal.  Strangely, some Bonin flying foxes are diurnal and others are nocturnal depending on the island where they live.  Since 1969 Bonin flying foxes have been designated as natural treasures of Japan.