Around Forty (アラフォー)

アラフォー (Arafo) is a new Japanese word. It was familiarized last year and is a vogue-word. It is used for women who are around forty years old. I think that Japanese are concerned about actual age, especially for women age. For example, we often say that she looks very young or old as compared with her actual age. We regard being young as an advantage or privilege in our society.

However, アラフォー isn't negative word. Japanese women who is Arafo are very active in our society now. For example, a tennis player, Kimiko Date who is Arafo generation, came back as a pro tennis player now. She entered Australian open tournament this month. (She unfortunately lost.) Everyone was surprised at her comeback at first. However, she has won some tournaments in Japan and we praise for her powerful performance.

We tend to think that getting old is very negative thing. However, everyone gets old. Women should live actively anytime without being afraid of getting old. "アラフォー" is a word that encourages every women.

Che Guevara

I saw a topic about Che Guevara in a TV news program yesterday. A film, "The Argentine" that directed by Steven Soderbergh is released and "Guerrilla" will be released next week in Japan.
I think Japanese aren't almost interested in South America or history because South Africa is very far from Japan. I knew Cuban revolution or Fidel Castro. I can't remember that we learned about the other history at school. And I knew Che Guevara when I saw a film "Diarios de motocicleta" that I like.
I can often see his face on the T-shirt that young people wear as a fashion recently. Also some books for him were published now.

The program was reported that Che Guevara came to Japan in 1959 as Cuban mission. Almost Japanese didn't know who he was at that time. He went to Hiroshima though there was no plan to go there during his stay. He visited memorial park and museum. And he said in his interview "Why did Japanese people blame American government for release of atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki ?" After he went back to Cuba, he diffused the history in Hiroshima to Cuba. Cuban have learned it in primary education.
I knew the fact for the first time.

I don't think a revolution by weapon and violence is right. However, everyone might need a revolution in chaotic world situation and a hero like Che Guevara. At least we, Japanese need new leader now.

Ohzumo (Grand Sumo) Tornament

大相撲(Ohzumo) begun last week at Ryogoku in Tokyo. It is the first tournament this year now. Sumo is very popular sports in Japan and one of big topics during tournament. I like to see it. There are six tournaments within a year and one tournament is for 15 days. Sumo is on air every day.
There are two Yokozuna (grand champion), Asashoryu and Hakuho who are Mongolians. One of them, Asashoryu 朝青龍 has a lot of fans because he is a powerful sumo wrestler. He is probably most popular. However, he was sometimes criticized for his behavior as a grand champion.
He hasn't kept good condition. He defaulted some tournaments last year. His reputation before this tournament was terrible. It was said that he was not fine or he haven't practiced enough. Everyone said he might retire Sumo. There are 15 matches and if Yokozuna loose more 8 matches, he must retire Sumo. This is a rule.

But our prospect was wrong. He wins all matches until now. Every sumo fans watches his matches with enthusiasm every day. I like to watch his match on TV. If you stay during these tournaments in Japan, I'd like you to watch it once.

Nihon Sumo Kyokai Official Site

K-20 and ZEN (禅)

I have seen two Japanese films in this month. One is K-20 and another one is ZEN.

K-20 : This is a movies starring Takeshi Kaneshiro. The story is like Hollywood movie "Batman" or "Spider Man". Takeshi Kaneshiro is so cool. He is Japanese-Taiwanese actor. He appears recent Chinese movie "Red Cliff" that directed by John Woo.
The main character, "怪人二十面相 Kaijin Nijumenso " (The man with 20 faces) in the movie is one of character in the detective story series of Rampo Edogawa who is famous Japanese author. However, the story of this movie is independent of these novels.
The story was so-so, however, I was happy to see Takeshi Kaneshiro in big screen.

ZEN (禅): It was excellent Japanese movie. It is a story of 道元. I know his name because I just learned in Japanese history lessons. However, I have never learn doctrine of Zen at school.
I think almost Japanese won't be able to explain what is Zen. I could know about his life and how he familiarized his Zen to people through this movie. I was touched about his life and teachings. Each people is the universe and there is Buddha (Hotoke 仏) in our body. Though I have been interested in Zen and read books, I had more interests in Zen after watching it.
Kantaro Nakamura who performed main role is one of member of famous Kabuki family. His performance is excellent in this movie. And his father, Kanzaburo Nakura, is famous Kabuki actor. He has played traditional Kabuki in New York several times. And his younger brother, Shichinosuke Nakamura appeared in "Last Samurai" of Hollywood movie as a role of Meiji Emperor.

I'd like to mention his important phrase for this movie. It is expressed that it is necessary that we feel greatness of nature in each four seasons.

春は花　夏ほととぎす　秋は月　冬雪さえて　涼しかりけり

* Eihei-ji is his Zen temple in Fukui prefecture.

Kinako

I like sweets of western and Japanese style. Kinako is one of typical ingredients for Japanese sweets. I sometimes eat Kinako Mochi (Rice cake). I dust a grilled Mochi with Kinako that is mixed with sugar. The grilled Mochi should put in hot water before dusting to let it soft and smooth. It is very simple but so delicious for me.

Kinako is usually used Japanese cakes (Wagashi) and very healthy. I think Kinako belongs with Western cakes. I want to introduce another how to eat Kinako. It is Kinako hot milk. We add Kinako and honey to hot milk. It is a best Japanese taste hot drink for cold winter.

笑う門に福来る Fortune comes in by merry gate

We always hope that fortune comes to us. "福" means happiness or good luck in Japanese. We see this letter at new year in Japan.
Almost shops for dresses or accessories sell "Fukubukuro" at first day in new year. Fukubukuro (福袋) is big bag that some special goods of this shop are put in. It is very reasonable price and we can get more worthier goods than actual price. We can't know what goods are put in this bag. Opening the bag is very exciting time for us. If we like the contents, it is lucky. Everyone, especially women, like it. A lot of people go shopping and buy it.

I like this proverb, 笑う門に福来る. (Warau Kado ni Fukukitaru) When I laugh, I feel very happy. When I am happy, I feel everything is better. And smile makes us happy. Everyone who bought Fukubukuro smile and they seems happy.
I believe humor, laughing and smiling gives us "福".

A Happy New Year 謹賀新年

明けましておめでとうございます

It is fine and calm day. I ate traditional Japanese food, Osechi ryori

This is soy sauce based Zoni of my home. I love it.

Kamaboko and Datemaki

I went to shrine for Hatsumode. There were a lot of people at the shrine and prayed for our happy life in this year. I received new years postcards (Nengajo) from my friends. Reading these postcards is pleasure time for me.

I read sad world news today. It is disappointed that some people couldn't spend safely at this new year.

January 1 is a good day that we plan how we spend in this year. I will plan for my schedule of this year tonight.