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【No. 0349】Contact Lens

Dec 2, 2015 14:35
I wear contact lens on a daily basis.

They are soft and disposable ones, and it costs around 2000 yen per month.

However, the actual manufacturing cost of contact lens seems to be 2 to 10 yen for each lens.

The reason why the selling price is increased is because a lot of things, such as R&D expenses, medical services costs, store management costs, and advertising costs are needed.

If you buy contact lens from online stores without any prescription, the price will become less expensive because of cost reductions of medical services and store managements.

However, it's a little risky.
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【No. 0348】Hotchkiss

Dec 1, 2015 15:09
Most Japanese call refer to a stapler 'hotchkiss.'

In fact, when you do a Google image search on hotchkiss in katakana, images of staplers will be displayed.

(When you do a Google image search on hotchkiss in English, images of cars will be displayed.)

This is derived from that the name of staplers that was first imported from the US in 1903 is "Hotckiss No. 1" by E.H.Hotchkiss.

The company, E.H.Hotchkiss was founded by Eli Hubbell Hotchkiss.

He is a younger brother of Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss, who is known as an inventor of machine guns.

The structure of machine guns and stapler seem to be similar to each other.

【No. 0347】November 29

Nov 30, 2015 18:40
Yesterday was November 29.

It represents an ii (11, means good) niku (29, means meats) day.

I've forgotten it.

In this day, butchers and beef barbecue restaurant in Japan seemed to conduct various campaigns.

November 29 represents also ii (11, means good) fuku (29, means clothes) day.

I think that clothing shops conducted various campaigns too.

However, I don't know about them because I had withdrawn into my laboratory.

By the way, November 29 is the 333rd day of the year.
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【No. 0346】Cats and Fish

Nov 29, 2015 13:32
In Japan, the image that favorite food of cats is fish has been established.

In fact, Japanese sometimes feed cats with fish.

However, if cats continue to eat blue-skinned fish, cats may be sick and die.

I think such an image that cats like fish should be modified.

Also, it seems to be a common sense that cats mainly eat meats in the world.

By the way, I heard that cats in the US eat pizza, cats in Italy eat pasta, and cats in India eat curry.
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【No. 0345】Japanese Numeral

Nov 28, 2015 10:34
In Japanese, when we count something like "one, two, three,...," we usually say:

"ichi, ni, san, shi(yon), go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku(kyu), juu."

On the other hand, there are also other expressions like the following as traditional ones:

"hi, hu, mi, yo, itsu, mu, nana, ya, koko(kokono), to."

In this counting way, hu(two), mu(six) and ya(eight) are twice as much as hi(one), mi(three) and yo(four), respectively.

This sounds something like rhythmic.

Also, some people think that these pronunciations are derived from Hebrew of Israel.
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【No. 0344】Forest Bath

Nov 27, 2015 10:31
The forest bath allows you to relax and to feel clear and fresh scents.

The reason is because that you breathe a harmful substance called 'phytoncide.'

Forests release this substance so as to survive, and kill surrounding plants, harmful microorganisms, and insects.

As the result, there are almost no unpleasant odors from such as animal corpses or excrement in forests.

Also, although phytoncide is harmful for plants or insects, there are no bad influences for human beings, and it brings benefits especially to people who go forests frequently like us.

However, people who have never gone to forests, such as Arctic indigenous people, could get a headache.
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【No. 0343】Mirrors in Elevators

Nov 26, 2015 14:10
In most elevators, large mirrors are installed.

Do you know the reason for this?

These mirrors are installed for people who use a wheelchair or a stroller to confirm readily the entrance of the elevator.

Also, in addition to usual buttons, another buttons for children and people who use a wheelchair are attached in many elevators.

When you press these buttons, a time that the door is open will be longer than the case of usual buttons.
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【No. 0342】Trivia about the One Yen Coin

Nov 25, 2015 20:42
Today, I will introduce the 1 yen coin, which has the lowest value among current coins in Japan.

The 1 yen coin is made of pure aluminum, and has been issued since 1955.

The weight is 1 g, the thickness is 1 mm, and the value is 1 yen, though the cost to mint a 1 yen coin is around 2 yen.

Also, I think Japanese people prefer to adjust their change using 1 yen coins when shopping.

If the number of change coins increases because of the lack of a 1 yen coin, it's a little frustrating.
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【No. 0341】Danger of Pajamas

Nov 24, 2015 14:21
According to the mattress manufacturer Ergoflex, men use their pajamas for an average of 13 days, and women use pajamas for an average of 17 days, without washing them.

I also don't wash pajamas for about one week.

However, even if your pajamas don't smell, there seems to be a lot of skin cells and bacteria.

They are usually harmless when they are on your skins or in your intestines, but they could cause an cystitis or an infection from your cuts.

In addition, if you wash your pajamas that have not been washed more than two weeks, bacteria on your pajamas could be transferred to your other clothes.

A professional man are recommending that people who take a shower before sleeping wash their pajamas at least once a week, and people who take a shower in the morning wash their pajamas once a three days.
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【No. 0338】Silver Ratio

Nov 21, 2015 14:00
I think you have heard the word "golden ratio."

This ratio,which is represented by about 1:1.618, is the most stable and beautiful ratio, and it is present everywhere in the world.

However, Japanese tend to prefer the silver ratio (1:√2) rather than the golden ratio.

In Japan, the silver ratio is used in many things from ancient buildings to familiar notes.

Most popular anime characters in Japan, such as Doraemon or Totoro, are also have the silver ratio.

Besides, there is also the bronze ratio (around 1:2.303), but ratio this seems to be rarely used.
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【No. 0337】Snot and Booger

Nov 20, 2015 13:43
Today's topic is a little dirty.

I'm sorry in advance.

Human beings secrete about 946 ml of snot (technically known as nasal mucus) per day.

The snot has a function to sweep away foreign substances in your nose and to release heat to the outside.

And, when the snot dried around the entrance of you nose, it becomes booger (technically known as dried nasal mucus).

By the way, you could have a runny nose if you cried, but the liquid is actually your tears that got through your nose.
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【No. 0336】Knot Theory

Nov 19, 2015 14:20
Have you ever experienced that your earphone code imperceptibly made a knot?

In knot theory, it is mentioned that a string that was put in a container would be knotted with a high probability if the string had a enough length.

However, I feel that it become extremely high probability in the case of earphone codes.

As the reasons, it have been thought like the following:

・When the winding direction and the unwinding direction were different, the cord would become kinked and entangled.

・Since the earphone part is heavier than the cord part, it easy to flounce and tangle.
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【No. 0335】Recursion

Nov 18, 2015 11:10
When searching for something on Google, if the input contains typos or expressions that are not common, you will see the phrase "Did you mean: ○○."

However, only the word recursion is different.

Although you enter the word correctly, "Did you mean: recursion" will be displayed.

Also, even if you click the link, the same phrase "Did you mean: recursion" will appear again.

"Recursion" is a word that means a reference to itself, and it is often used in programming.

That is, we are able to experience the recursion by searching for recursion on Google.
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【No. 0334】10K Day

Nov 17, 2015 13:09
Have you ever thought about the 10 thousandth day from your birthday?

The day, which you might call 10K day, will come after 4 months and 16 days from when you become 27 years old.

In my case, the day had imperceptibly passed.

I think there are not many people who are aware of this day (at least in Japan).

Therefore, if you hold a surprise birthday party for your lovers or friends, it will be surely a smashing success.

I think it will be also a great success to celebrate the 10 thousandth day from your marriage
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【No. 0333】A Little Cool Usage of "こと(koto)"

Nov 16, 2015 13:12
Today, I will introduce a Japanese expression that I think is a little cool.

An example sentence is shown below:

「こと日本においては少子高齢化が問題となっている（In Japan in particular, the falling birth rate and the aging population have become a big problem.）」

The "こと（which is written as '殊' in kanji）" in this example means something like "in particular," and it emphasizes following words.

Actually, "特に (tokuni）" is often used in conversations as the meaning of "in particular", but I think it's cool if someone use "こと" or "殊に(kotoni)."
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【No. 0332】Ruby and Sapphire

Nov 15, 2015 14:40
Although I'm not conversant with jewelry, I know ruby and sapphire.Basically, rubies are red, and sapphires are blue.

However, I didn't know the fact that both rubies and sapphires are made of the same ore called 'corundum.'

Corundums have the highest hardness next to diamonds, and their colors change depending on impurities (metal ions).

When chromium is contained as an impurity, the corundum will become red, and the jewel is called ruby.

Also, other corundums that are not changed to red are called sapphires.

Therefore, there are sapphires that the color is yellow, orange, green or pink.
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【No. 0330】Foliage Plants in Banks

Nov 13, 2015 12:10
There usually are foliage plants in Japanese banks.

In addition, almost all of the plants is 170 cm in height, and this figure is corresponding to the average height of Japanese men.

The reason for this is because you can measure the height of robbers when a bank robbery happens.

Besides, there are also some anti-crime measures, for example, there are no toilets in banks.
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【No. 0329】Belly Button Trivia

Nov 12, 2015 10:39
Today, I'd like to introduce a useless trivia.

Heights of humans' navels are different in men and women.

Man's navel is located at the top of his pelvis, while woman's navel is located at higher than the top of her pelvis.

That is to say, you can distinguish between men and women from the heights of their navel.

However, I don't know whether such an opportunity comes or not.

By the way, in human skins, the navel is a only part that don't sweat.
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【No. 0328】Habituation

Nov 11, 2015 11:20
Last month, I wrote something like "if you continue to do something for three weeks, it will become a habit."

However, the time required for habituation seems to depend on what you do.

For example, habits such as reading or writing a journal requires about one month.

Habits such as getting up early, muscle training, or quitting smoking requires about three months.

Mental habits such as logical thinking or plus thinking requires about six months.
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【No. 0325】Etymology of Kanpeki (完璧)

Nov 8, 2015 11:19
Today, I'd like to introduce a mistakable Japanese word '完璧 (kanpeki).'

'完璧' means perfect, and Japanese people often use this word.

However, the kanji '璧' is easily mistaken for '壁.'

'璧' means "beautiful gem," but this kanji is rarely used other than '完璧.'

On the other hand, '壁' means wall, and this is often used.

Since the ethmology of '完璧' is "bring back a gem(璧) in perfect condition(完)," it is very important to use the kanji '璧.'

When you write '完璧' in handwriting, please be careful.