Generally, Japanese use same language, even there’re some differences such as word. But Japanese in south like Okinawa understand the language used by Japanese in north like in Hokkaido.
But according to place where the language developing make some differences. Not only word, but also dialect.
These are some of the differences of Tokyo dialect and Osaka dialect.
Ramen (ラーメン)is Japanese noodle came from China. Ramen is the Japanese pronunciation of the 拉麺 (la mian). They also called this chuka soba (中華そば,) or shina soba (支那そば) in Meiji period. It is served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (チャーシュー,), dried seaweed (海苔, nori), kamaboko, green onions and even corn.
Ramen – first – served for Tokugawa Mitsukuni (shogun), made by a Kong Hu Cu scientist. Ramen started to ate by citizens in Meiji period because ramen already served in restaurants in Kobe and Yokohama. In Taisho period, noodle sellers also sell their ramen. By the early Showa period, ramen had become a popular dish.
Ramen have consists of :
1.Noodle made by Chinese immigrant. They mixed noodle with bean sprouts, they also made tanmen (ramen without toppings), and mi ala kanton.
2.noodle sellers with handcart and used a type of a musical horn also called charamela. Some if them also use wagon. They walk around to sell their noodle.
Every city usually have their own characters of ramen. They promote the unique of their ramen. Sapporo is famous for its ramen. Domestic tourists come to Hokkaido to eat Sapporo ramen, which is ideal for Hokkaido’s harsh and snowy winters. The characteristic of Sapporo ramen is in the toppings, such as sweet corn, butter, bean sprouts, garlic, and sometime local seafood like squid, crab, etc.
Ramen is high carbohydrate and low vitamins and minerals. Ramen soup is high sodium, beside the noodles has very little degree of sodium.
Because ramen is very popular, there are Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum which is a unique ramen collections museum. The museum presents the history of ramen in Japan, instant ramen, various noodles, soups, toppings, etc in all Japan.
Onigiri (御握り), or omusubi (御結び) or rice ball, usually have triangular shape and often wrapped in nori (seaweed).
In Murasaki Shikibu Nikki (Murasaki Shikibu’s Diary). She wrote about people who eating rice balls called tojiki and consumed as lunch in picnic time. Other writings said that many samurai sotred rice balls in wrapped bamboo as meal during war. In 1987, found carbonate rice from Yayoi period. In IshikawaPrefecture and found human-finger-pressed in that rice. Not only in Ishikawa, this also found in KanagawaPrefecture.
Onigiri filled with umeboshi, katsuoboshi, salted salmon, etc. But nowadays, onigiri filled with various fillings and flavors, such as meat, tsukudani, nozawana, miso as seasoning).
To make onigiri, better provide Japonica rice, that is when cooked, it will be sticky, and easier to formed into onigiri. Before making onigiri, first, wash your hands to make rice not sticky in your hands. Spread salt in your hand and formed the rice into onigiri. Make a hole in the center, filled with fillings you want, and close the hole with rice.
This onigiri can eat directly after made, but for variation, there is baked onigiri, which is the onigiri smeared with miso or salty soya.
In Japan, onigiri is a simple lunch for picnic. Rice in bento often onigiri-formed. Even nowadays onigiri also served in stores, but it also can be made in home.
This third generation of prius launched in Japan to make innovation as hybrid car. Toyota Motor Corp. said that they already produce 180.000 units of newest Prius .
Toyota New Prius become the most popular during May 2009, pass over hybrid car Honda Insight, which’s became the most popular car in Japan during April 2009.
According to newest test drive JCo8 from MLIT, new prius has fuel efficiency 32.6 km/liter abd CO2 emission 71 g/km. This means New Prius passed Japan’s national standard 2015.
Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon non methane emission decrease until reach 75%, under 2005 standard, according to MLIT system which is the most tight standard in Japan in vehicle’s emission gas.
Because of the result of the test, New Prius can get lower tax in hybrid car (friendly to environment)
Washi or Wagami (和紙) is a Japan paper. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner. Washi was developed from the traditional Chinese paper-making process.
Washi is made using fibers, almost any grass or tree can be material to made washi. Gampi, mitsumata, and paper mulberry are three popular sources.
Ganpishi (雁皮紙) - In ancient times, it was called Hishi (斐紙). Ganpishi has a smooth, shiny surface and is used for books and crafts.
Kozogami (楮紙) - Kozogami is made from paper mulberry and it is the most widely made type of washi. It has a toughness closer to cloth than to ordinary paper and does not weaken significantly when treated to be water-resistant.
Mitsumatagami (三椏紙) - Mitsumatagami or mitsumata shrub (Edgeworthia papyrifera) has an ivory-colored, fine surface and is used for shodo as well as printing. It was used to print paper money in Meiji period.
Washi also can be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat.
Washi is generally tougher than ordinary paper and used in many traditional arts such as origami (fold paper art), shodo (Japanese calligraphy), and ukiyo-e (a genre of woodblock prints).
Washi was also used to make various everyday stuffs like clothes house goods, and toys as vestments and ritual objects for Shinto priests and statues of Buddha. It was also used to make wreathsthat were as medals for winners in the 1998 Winter Paralympics.
Matsumoto Jun (松本潤,) was born in Tokyo, August 30th,1983. His nickname is Matsujun. Heis one of Japanese top singer and actor. He is best known as Arashi member, a Japanese popular boyband and as the youngest member in the group.
Matsujun is the youngest child. Because his older sister support od KinKi Kids, he made a decision to join Johnny’s Entertainment in 1996, which has popular actors, actresses, and singers, like Hamasaki Ayumi. When he was in elementary school graduation day, he sent his application and a week later, he received a phone from Johnny Kitagawa, the president of Johnny’s Entertainment and he was received without any audition. Matsujun graduated from Horikoshi Gakuen, a renowned high school known for its many performing arts alumnae, at the age of 18.
Matsujun began his career in the entertainment industry as a back-up dancer for other groups before he was gathered into a five-member group named Arashi in 1999 at the age of 16. The group's name means "storm" and is meant to represent the group's ambition of "creating a storm throughout the world" through their music. Arashi's debut single, “A.RA.SHI”. was success reaching number 1 on the charts
arashi
Beside as singer, they also have their own tv shows since 2001. Their first program is Mayonaka no Arashi ("Midnight Arashi") and had 38 episodes. Another tv hows are Arashi no Shukudai-kun ("Arashi's Homework"), Himitsu no Arashi-chan ("Arashi-chan's Secrets") and a game show, VS Arashi.
Matsujun have many dramas and movies where he played in. Such as HanaYori Dango as Doumyoji Tsukasa (he got an award from this drama), Gokusen 1, Banbino!, Kimi wa Petto, and the newest drama is Smile where he played as Japanese-Philippines.
Chikuwa is the most simple food. Chikuwa found when an emperor wife’s in a tour to Korea. On the way, they eat dissolved fish and made it into ball form, skewered, and baked. Because the form was similar with Gama – a plant, so it called Gama no ho (Gama fruit), and then became kamaboko. In that time, kamaboko became expensive food and only noble family and emperor soldier can ate them.
In Edo period, kamaboko – finally – can ate by common. But emperor soldier became jealous. In order to keep ate kamaboko, common citizens called it with chikuwa, means can be cut like bamboo slices. And then, chikuwa became famous. But kamaboko still exist, it still kind of chikuwa but has different shape.
Chikuwa made from surimi fish, salt, sugar, starch flour, and white part of egg, and mixed. The dough molded in bamboo or metal mold and steamed.
Chikuwa is one of Japanese favorite food, and almost all over Japan eat it, because chikuwa is low fat, but rich of protein.
You can eat chikuwa uncooked, but it also have good taste if fried or cooked with broth or dressing.
New year is the time when Japanese hope next year better then last year. New year identically with party and gathering. To celebrate new year, they make special food for new year.
In December, Japanese make mochi – made from rice flour. There are steamed mochi, baked mochi, fried mochi, mochi soup, etc
.
mochi
In the middle of December, Japanese do “bounenka”, a ritual which they go to gathering and have meal together and drink to forget all bad things during last year.
In December 31st, Japanese eat soba – Japan noodle.
soba
At night before 00.00, they gather in front of big box and pray. This ritual – in the past – was throw a coin inside the box. Some of them also go to Fujisan (FujiMountain) to see new year sunrise called hatsu-hinode. When sun appear, they pray to Amaterasu (sun god).
After praying, they gather with their family and eat “Osechi ryori”, there is a food which is difficult to spoiled even kept days without warming. Now, Osechi ryori already sell in store with price about ¥10.000.
osechi ryori
Osechi ryori which served in box (jubako) has three until five kind of foods. Some of them are kuromame (sweet black soybean), date maki (sweet roll omelette egg), kurikinton (potato and sweet beans), tazukuri (dry sardines teriyaki), kobu maki (rolled konbu with fish), and kinpira gobo. These foods are decorated beautifully and sweet tastes. Why? Because Japanese have belief that if they eat beautiful and sweet foods, they life next year will be better than last year.
To introduce yourself in Japanese, this is an example :
Hajimemashite はじめまして
Namae wa Yuki desu 名前はユキです
19 sai desu １９歳です
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu よろしくお願いします
It means :
Hi (but hajimemashite just used in introduce)
My name is Yuki
19 years old
I beg your help
Hajimemashite not only used in front of the introduction, but also used in the end of introduction.
Example.
Yuki desu
Hajimemashite.
In socialization, namae wa usually not used anymore, they only say their name.
If you won’t to say your age, it’s okay.
Some of them, if they introduce themselves, say his/her age, status (already married or not), their blood type, and what enterprise/business they came from (this is because they are very proud of their business/enterprise and pride to be inside)
Must remember point is keep polite in attitude and words / grammar you used, because it’s very important for first meeting with Japanese.
In this post, I’ll introduce things that usually in bedroom in Japanese. If there’s a thing I don’t write, you can write it in comment box.
Doa ドア
Absorbed from English, ‘door’. Nowadays, Japanese often say door with ‘doa’
Mado まど
Means ‘window’.
Hon dana 本だな
Means ‘bookcase’. Japanese often use it to keep their books. According to the age, they keep science books, encyclopedia, comics, magazines, and other favorite books.
Beddo ベッド
Means ‘bed’. Absorbed from English too, ‘bed’. Because in Japanese language, they don’t have consonant, so all consonant in the end or middle of the word added vocal letter.
yagu, moufu 夜具、モウフ
Means ‘blanket’.
makura まくら
Means ‘pillow’.
tansu たんす
Means ‘clothes cupboard’.
senpuuki せんぷうき
Means ‘fan’. Nowadays they usually use air conditioner to make the air cooler.
tokei 時計
Means ‘watch’.
Denwa / keitai denwa 電話・けいたい電話
Means ‘house phone’ and ‘cellphone’.
Pasokon / Konpyuta パソコン・コンピュータ
Means ‘computer’. Pasokon was absorbed from ‘personal computer’, and they make it short to be ‘pasokon’. And konpyuta was absorbed from English ‘computer’.
eakon /Reibo エアコン．冷簿
Means ‘air conditioner’. They make it short to be ‘eakon’, or they often say it ‘reibo’, means ‘cooler machine’. They often turn it on in summer when the weather is hot.
danbo 暖ぼ
Means ‘warmer machine’. In Japanese house, they have these two machines, danbo and reibo. Danbo will turn on in winter to make them keep warm.
terebi / terebishon テレビ・テレビション
Means ‘television’. To make it short, they often say it ‘terebi’
109 (Ichi-maru-kyū) is a department store in Shibuya, Tokyo.The store is operated by the Tokyu Malls Development (TMD), a company under the Tokyu Group.
Shibuya 109 located across the street from Shibuya station, Dogenzaka district of Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, what used to be called Koibumi Yokocho (Love letter lane), the center of fashion for young women in Japan, which opened in April 1979.
This building, which has variety of trendy clothing outlets, has succeeded by targeting women age 15 to 20, and have many new brands stuffs here. The main customer base of Shibuya 109 is girls in their teens who are fans of the popular all-girls group “Morning Musume”. Many popular foreign singers and actresses come here when they are in Japan. Not only foreign singers and actresses, Japanese singers and actresses also come here to shopping, even Japanese top diva, Hamasaki Ayumi, has her own store here.
The architect was Minoru Takeyama. Tokyu, the building's operator, designed the building as a "Fashion Community" containing small retail stores targeting the early-30s female consumer.
The name of the building, 109, is taken from the Japanese characters to (meaning 10) and kyu (9) as in Tokyu. The interior of the building is designed to move shoppers in a loop on each floor from the elevators past various shops. A movie theater was originally planned for the top floor, but the fire department would not grant approval due to emergency-evacuation routes not meeting appropriate standards. Although originally targed at women in their 30s, the building later became more known as a mecca for young women from the gyaru subculture
When it first opened for business, this fashion center aimed at a wide range of customers, from young people to the middle-aged and elderly. Following the collapse of the bubble economy in early 1990s, sales dropped off sharply. In 1995, Shibuya 109 reinvented itself by deciding to cease targeting men and to draw young women instead. The strategy paid off, and Shibuya 109 posted record sales of ¥23.5 billion ($213 million at ¥110 to the dollar) in 2003.
Because this fashion center has been attracting customers from all over Japan, such as middle school and high school girls visiting Tokyo on school trips, Shibuya 109 marked its twenty-fifth anniversary by beginning sales over the Internet.
Miso, purportedly, was food sent by god. Miso was kind of soup.
Miso was soybean pasta from 10 months fermentation. Fermentation process using salt and koji. Koji made from mixed flour, leaves, and soybean. Because of long-rage fermentation, the taste was very salty.
According to the taste, shape, color, and aroma, miso has 3 categories. There are dark miso or brownish red, yellow, and white.
Dark miso (shinshu miso) made as soup topping in autumn and winter. This kind of miso cooked with radish or carrot.
White miso (shiro miso) often consumed in summer as hiyashi vinegar topping.
Yellow miso has sweet taste and can be consumed anytime.
Beside as soup topping, miso also ate with fish, meat, vegetables, uncooked food, ramen, etc.
Miso was delicious and healthy, because miso has so much nutrition. Two spoons of miso has 71 mg of calorie, 4.00 mg protein, 2.00 mg fat, 9.00 mg carbohydrate, 23.00 mg calcium, 1.25 mg zinc. That’s why, Japanese love miso and they believe miso was sent by god as present.
