Japanese culture

I'm learning to love Japanese culture.

Most recently the Hana-Yori-Dango tv series and it's two main actors, Matsumoto Jun and Oguri Shun.

And the Japanese comedian Hannya (はんにゃ). He does an act called "Zu-ku-dan Zun Bun Gun Game." I had no idea what this was, and one of my students tried to make me play it at tennis practice after school one day. I was incredibly confused, but also very entertained. Then I found this online and it became even more amusing. I hope you like it!

funny happenings

Once upon a time I got confused about which train ticket to use in order exit the station, and I had to ask the station attendant for help - only I couldn't speak Japanese. He turned out to be incredibly kind and handsome, and even though I couldn't explain myself or what I needed help with, his smile made me feel at ease. He couldn't explain what I needed to do in English, so he just smiled and let me go without paying. When I met my friends for coffee just outside the station, I told them about my wonderful encounter and joked about how this man should be my Japanese boyfriend. My friends and I let ourselves get slightly carried away, and the crazy ideas started flowing. Soon enough, I was being cheered on as I slipped a note with my email address under the glass at the ticket window of the train station like any 15 year old girl and her friends would do. That was three weeks ago.

That night, Prince Charming wrote me an email. We exchanged emails periodically, but nothing serious and no developments. He lives two hours away. I don't really remember what he looks like, and I probably couldn't pick him out in a crowd. I had no expectations for future developments, it was just a wonderful change of pace to have someone smile and comfort me despite my inability to speak the language of the country in which I live. Giving your email address to a stranger is completely UNjapanese and I can't imagine a Japanese person actually participating in such folly.

Today I received an email from Prince Charming saying that last night he met two of my friends at the train station and made a promise that he will see me again.

What?

My life is funny.

おもしろい、ね。

Some Japanese things I like.

Today I'd like to share somethings I currently enjoy about Japan.

First, hanami, parties under the cherry blossoms. It's really a magnificent experience.

Next, two Japanese dramas I have watched online with English subtitles: GTO and Gokusen. Both are about teachers who are fresh and naive in the teaching field but, because of this, are able to whole-heartedly trust and support their students, without the cynicism and pessimism that develop after years on the job.

Now I will openly admit that I fall for every gimmick the media has. I'm a sucker for it all. I'm Hollywood's prime target and, apparently, Tokyo's, too. Because I am aware of my weakness, I've pretty much ceased to watch TV... with the exception of these two dramas because somehow I have convinced myself I'm learning Japanese by watching them. That is my disclaimer. Please note that these shows are far-fetched and unrealistic. 

It doesn't stop them from giving me warm fuzzies at the end of each episode. :-)

Finally, from watching Gokusen, I fell in love with the character Sawada Shin. Yes, I realize he is a fictional J-Drama high school student character. Nonetheless, I like him. In real life his name is Matsumoto Jun, and he's three years older than me, so you don't need to worry about me robbing the cradle or anything. He is also in a J-Pop band called Arashi. After I watched all of the episodes of Gokusen season 1 and the special epilogue, I still wanted more of his precious little face, so I looked up Arashi. Here is one of their hit singles. It's charming and cheesy; delightfully tacky. It warms my heart, while simultaneously tickling my gag reflex and making me roll my eyes.

Please enjoy.

The flowers I saw before were plum blossoms. These are cherry blossoms.

 And I drank a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.