Japanese Children's Book

I found a lovely children's book and I want to recommend it to all the Japanese who are going to abroad.

"Sushi's World Travel" if I would translate the title into English name.


My kids love this book. The little one especially likes this and he used to ask me to read again and again and again.


Sushis in a sushi bar, they get outside and travel into a town, overseas and into a space.


What I like the most is Sushis, which are typical of Japanese food, go, meet and enjoy the world and they are always proud of being Japanese.


I want my children go to foreign countries in the future. Then, I want them to have enough knowledge and experience as the Japanese. I want them to introduce Japan as a lovely country with beautiful nature, culture to be learned, industry with high technology and nice people.


When I read this book at my son's class, the children were engrossed in this book. I found their eyes sparkling as if they were travelling with Sushis.




The story starts like this,


One day Sushis in a sushi bar says altogether.

"We got bored on a belt conveyor.

We will be sick on this crazy rounding belt."

Tuna, Squid, Shrimp, Octopus, Sea urchin, Salmon roe、　　　

　　 Conger, Flatfish and Cucumber Sushi.

"I should sometimes go straight away.

Now let's go on a journey."
















I

Flower Arrangement

Many Japanese women learn Kado, the traditional art of flower arrangement, to acquire culture. In fact, my mother, my sister, my mother-in-law and some of my friends learn Kado. When I was young, I was not very interested in Kado and, to be honest, I am not good at flower arranging. I had sometimes wonderd how nice if I can decorate my house with flowers beautifully.


A friend of mine found a flower arrngement class and the other day I have just joined that class. A women teacher was from the Sagami school.


First she taught us how to set flowers in a vase roughlly and asked us to start arranging by ourselves. I couldn't even start. I had no idea how to put one single flower. I felt sad how poor my creativity was. Every time I tried to set a flower, I asked her how and where.


First you put one or some flwowers along a diagonal line, which is called Tai. Then you put some flowers or leaves around that Tai, which is called Tome. One flower arrangement is supposed to consist with Tai and Tome. It is also important to keep the half part of the vase vacant.


It took about one hour to finish my work. Look at the picture!
Now I know how to arrange less flowers.
Of course I know Kado is much more profound.
Anyway, it was good to try Kado.
I may buy several flowers in a supermarket and decorate my house with them.



My husband was pleased to see my flower arrangement work.
He said, " I had thought you lived a live too simply, you know, without flowers or dresses or jewelry thing. I'm happy that you are interested in Kado."