2010年2月24日水曜日

22.22.22

We have Japanese era calendar.

For example, 2010 is also called Heisei 22.
My birth year, 1975 is also called Showa 50.
My grandmothre was born in Taisyo 11.
My grandfathre was born in Meiji 44.


When the Emperor dies and the new Emperor succeeeds to the throne,
the name of era is changed.


The day before yesterday was special.
It was the 22nd of February, Heisi 22.
22.22.22


Not a few people made lines to get some tickets printed 22.22.22.
Some people had been waiting even the time that clock showed 22:22 of 22/22/22.
Unfortunately, I totally had been forgetting about this special moment and
I was watching a DVD then.






















I remeber that I had been waiting 11:11 of 11/11/11.
I was in a train and tried to get a transit ticket printed the time and the date.
Then I got it !
I still have that ticked at my parents's house.


My friend in USA had her birthday on the 22nd of February and I told her that this year is very
special because of Japanese era calendar system.
She asked me a question.

"Is Heisei the Emperor's name?"

I said
"NO."

" What is the Emperor's name?"

It's a shame I didn't know the Emperor's name of my own country.
Then I serched to find that his name was Akihito.
The Imperial Family does not have a last name.

The era's name is selected by cabinet members and authorities on literature and history.
I remember the day when the new era's name was presented on TV.


Hei of Heisei is Hei of heiwa meaning peace.
Sei of Heisei is also read as naru meaning become.
Heisei is intended to mean "peace everywhere".


It's good to know.


I wonder how many babies were born on 22/22/22, and how many at 22:22.


We use this era year calendar system mainly, both officially and for everyday use.
It is an easier way for us to recognize years.
My son was born in Heisei 13 and he uses the word "Showa" to mean "old".
It sound interesting for me.

2010年2月19日金曜日

Valentines Day

The 14th of February is known as Valentines Day.
Lovers all over the world have special romantic time on this day.


In Japan, people send chocolate to someone they love.
I found the article about Valentines Day in Japan.
1936, Morozoff, very famous Japanese sweets store, introduced Valentines Day on their ad and in 1958 Mary Chocolate had campaign for Valentines Day and it spread


When I was small, every year I sent chocolate to my father.
He also got several boxes of chocolate from his colleages and brought them to home.
I was looking forward to having them.


When I was a school girl, I didn't have a boyfriend and I'de never experienced the
nervous feeling for Valentines Day.
Some of my friends sent chocolate to someone they cared about.
I watched them excited.


My husband doesn't eat chocolate a lot and only chocolate he love is ”Crunky”
of Lotte.
Every year I send some bars of this chocolate in stead of a box of chocolate
which is beautiflly wrapped and usually expensive, like 200 yen per one small piece.
He is pleased with that , I think.
I like it very much, too.






This year, I sent "Crunky" to my husband and boys, and also
I prepared chocolate fondue party for them.
I melt 4 bars of chocolate in a pan and dip various fruits and snacks and ate .
Strawberries, bananas, dried orange peel,
cookies, buscuits, cake, potato chips, rice crackers,
pop corns, sweet potatoes.
I also prepared special material for them.
Cheese, cherry tomatoes, sausages, cucumber and Kimuci.
We had a lot of fun having those strange food with chocolate.



I watched a news program about Valentines Day yesterday.
They said that recently less Japanese girls are ecxited about Valentines Day.
They enjoy exchanging chocolate with their friends and having a party,
and it is not the special day any more for them to confess their love to a boy.
Becauese they don't need to be given an opportunity for confession.
They can "make" an oppotunity by themselves whenever they fall in love.
I envy their courage!

2010年2月18日木曜日

The Olympic Games


The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games started.


Everyday, I see many programs about the Olymic Games on TV.


On the second day, a Japanese girl missed the medal in Ski Moguls.
She is very popular and she is on 6 TVcommercial programs.
Many Japanese were looking forward to watching her getting the medal.
I watched her skiing on TV at that time with my family.
Especially my husband was dissapointed.


Yesterday, although I wasn't interested in Speed Skating, two Japanese men got medals.
Silver and Blonds.


Last night, I was watching Figure Skating on TV.
I don't skate, and I can't, but I like watching Figure Skating.
Three Japanese men skated and they skated very very well.
I was fascinated in their skating.
One of the men is now the third.
The first one is Plushenko from Russia.
The second one is Lysacek from USA.
Their scores have only 0.6 points difference.
I hope Japanese will get the gold medal after the Free Style Final.
His name is Daisuke Takahashi.
He is really cool.



My kids are 8 years old and 4 years old.
Last Christmas, they got Nintendo Wii Disc named Mario & Sonic at the Vancouver Olympics.
They love it.
There are Speed skating, Figure skating, Halfpipe, Curling, Bobsleigh, Sky jumping, Snowboarding, Moguls, Ice Hokey, and so on.
So they are also very interested in Olympic Games and watch TV together.