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【No. 0802】Sad Premium Friday

Feb 27, 2017 11:17
Two days ago, I wrote about the introduction of Premium Friday in Japan.

It is a kind of campaigns that recommend finishing your work at 3 p.m. and promote personal consumption by the Japanese government and financial circles.

However, there were about 120 companies that introduced Premium Friday and let employees go home early.

The number is only 0.1 % of all Japanese companies.

A company says that there is not much point in going home early on Premium Friday because overtime at other days will be increase.

Some net users complain that this day was born for true premium citizens, that is, high-ranked citizens.
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【No. 0801】801 (Yaoi)

Feb 26, 2017 13:59
Day before yesterday, the number of entries on Lang-8 reached 800.

Thus I posted the 801st entry yesterday.

The number "801" is sometimes used to mean products for women focusing on homosexuality between male characters.

In this case, "801" is called "yaoi."

This word is composed of initial characters of three elements that frequently occurs in doujinshi (coterie magazine) -- "Yama-nashi (No peak)," "Ochi-nashi (No fall)," and "Imi-nashi (No meaning)."

Originally it expressed only poor quality manga, and didn't contain homosexual meaning.

However, recently it has changed to a word that mainly means products of boys' love.

I think that "801" is similar to "slash fiction" in the West.
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【No. 0800】Premium Friday

Feb 25, 2017 14:53
Yesterday was Premium Friday.

Premium Friday is a day for prompting personal consumption that was advocated by the Japanese government and financial circles.

Specifically, it is recommended that you finish your work at 3 p.m. on month-end Friday, and enjoy shopping or traveling from the evening.

In that day, many restaurants and travel agencies practiced various discount campaigns.

Yesterday, February 24, 2017 was the first enforcement day of Premium Friday, and it will be enforced once two months, six times a year.

As a side note, I participated in a meeting from 3 p.m yesterday -- I had nothing to do with that day at all.
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【No. 0799】Tameguchi (Casual Talk)

Feb 24, 2017 12:15
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese slang "tameguchi."

"Tameguchi" means a way of talking that doesn't contain polite expressions in Japanese conversation.

Originally "tame" was a gambling term that meant repeated digits on dice, and it came to be used to mean "equal basis" or "same age" among young people since around 1960s.

By attaching "kuchi," meaning a way of talking, to the "tame," the slang "tameguchi" was born.

Recently in Japan, the number of young people who can't use polite expressions appropriately is increasing.

Please be careful not to use "tameguchi" to older people and strangers.
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【No. 0798】Detarame

Feb 23, 2017 13:10
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "detarame."

"Detarame" means incoherent, disorganized, or irresponsible things.

This word has been used since the Edo period, and it is thought that this was derived from gambling using dice.

The theory is something like the following:

The literal meaning of "me" of "detarame" is "eyes," and it means the number of spots on dice.

Also, "detarame" is the abbreviation form of "detara sono me," which means "depending on the number of spots on dice."

That is to say, it expresses that you say/do something irresponsible depending on dice.

It can be written as "出鱈目" in kanji, but "鱈" (meaning Pacific cod) is a phonetic equivalent, and fish isn't related to this word.
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【No. 0797】Zu ni Noru

Feb 22, 2017 15:36
Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "zu ni noru."

"Zu ni noru" means to get carried away or get cocky.

Where "zu" means modulation in a Buddhist hymn "seinmyo," and "noru" means "to ride."

Originally, "zu ni noru" meant to change modulation well while reciting the hymn.

Since the modulation was difficult, it came to mean that things go well, then it has come to have the current meanings described above.

Both "zu ni noru" and "choshi ni noru" ("choshi" means "condition") have the similar meaning like "get carried away," but "zu ni noru" is mainly used in bad meaning, while "choshi ni noru" is used both good and bad meanings.
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【No. 0796】Mice and Cheese

Feb 21, 2017 16:42
Today I will talk about the relationship between mice and cheese.

In various animations, manga, and plays, you can see a scene that mice like cheese.

However, according to a study at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, mice avoid cheese unless they are starving.

Since mice have a high metabolic rate, they prefer grain, fruits, and sweets that contain a lot of sugar.

Also, it is thought that mice dislike food that have a strong fermentation odor like cheese because of their keen olfactory sense.

Although there are several theories as the reason why we think that mice like cheese, there is no widely accepted one.
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【No. 0795】Yakan (Kettle)

Feb 20, 2017 11:06
Today I will talk about a tool called "yakan."

Yakan is a kettle-shaped tool that is used for boiling water.
(Incidentally, my dictionary says "yakan" is "kettle" or "boiler.")

Stainless, steel, aluminum or copper is often used as a material.

The yakan, which appeared in the Kamakura Period, was originally used to simmer drugs.

Therefore, the name became "yakan" -- ya means medicine and kan means pod.

It is not clear when yakan came to be used a tool for boiling water.

The roots of huetsuki yakan (kettle with whistle) that are often used these days seems to be ones that were released by a kitchenware manufacturer in New York in 1921.
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【No. 0794】Dosakusa

Feb 19, 2017 16:30
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "dosakusa."

"Dosakusa" means a situation that people are confused by sudden incidents or errands.

In most cases, it is used with "magirete," which means "to blend into something", something like "dosakusa ni magirete ~ suru" (to do something in the confusion).

Usage example: Dosakusa ni magirete party kara kaeru. (I escape from the party in the confusion.)

Some people say that this word comes from "bakuto gari" (to hunt gamblers), which was conducted to get workers at Sado Kinzan in the Edo period.

In this theory, "dosa" is a changed form of "sado," and "kusa" comes from "kusai," which means "to be sound like something" -- that is, "dosakusa" indicates a confusion of a gambling parlor in Sado Kinzan.

However, nowadays this thought is regarded as a vulgar belief.
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【No. 0793】Daifuku

Feb 18, 2017 17:09
Today I will talk about the Japanese food "daifuku."

The literal meaning of 大福 (daifuku) is "big lucky", and it is a kind of Japanese sweets that wrap azuki-an (a sweet red paste made from red azuki beans) in mochi (sticky rice cake).

During the Muromachi Period, such mochi sweets were called "uzura mochi" (quail mochi) because of its shape.

Also, since uzura mochi was big and gave you the feeling of long fullness, it was also called "腹太餅 (harabuto mochi)," where '腹 (hara)' means belly and '太 (buto)' means 'large').

During the Edo Period, harabuto mochi became smaller, and it became to be called "大福餅 (daifuku mochi)," where '大 (dai)' means big and '腹 (fuku)' means belly.

Finally, the auspicious letter '福 (fuku),' meaning lucky, came to be used instead of '腹,' and it became '大福 (daifuku)' or "大福餅 (daifuku mochi)."
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【No. 0792】Prairie Dog

Feb 17, 2017 23:35
Today I will talk about prairie dogs that are belong to the squirrel family.

Prairie dogs are inhabit the grasslands of North America -- they make burrow and live in there in flocks.

The social of them is polygamy, and the family groups are called "coteries".

Coteries are live in the same burrow, share feed, and kick out males who came from outside.

They build strong camaraderie among coteries.

It is also known that they kiss and hug to each other when greeting.

Incidentally, burrows made by prairie dogs are divided into a bed room, a children's room, a toilet, a pantry, a managing room, and so on depending on the role.
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【No. 0791】Kattarui

Feb 16, 2017 22:54
Today I will talk about the Japanese term "kattarui."

"Kattarui" means "to feel sluggish" or "to feel lazy."

This word was derived from "kahina dayushi," which is a word used in Heian Era.

"Kahina" of "kahina dayushi" means "arm," and "dayushi" means "to feel sluggish."

The word "kahina dayushi" changed to "kahidarushi," "kahidarui," then "kattarui."

That is to say, "kattarui" originally meant "to feel sluggish/lazy because of tired arms."

It came to mean not only "arm" but also "body," and finally it came to have the above meanings.

Incidentally, my dictionary says that "kattarui" can be translated into just "tiring."
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【No. 0790】Cold

Feb 15, 2017 22:32
Unfortunately I have caught a cold.

I have a sore throat and a headache, and feel a chill.

So today I will talk about trivia about a cold.

More than 90% of common colds are caused by virus infection.

The number of virus types is more than 800, and medicines that suppress these viruses hasn't been developed yet.

Doctors prescribe might medicines for you, but they only have an effect to suppress the symptoms.

Since such medicines have also adverse effects, many doctors and pharmacists heal on its own when they catch a cold.

Incidentally, if you can develop a specific medicine for colds, no doubt you win the Nobel Prize.
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【No. 0789】Valentine's Day in Japan

Feb 14, 2017 03:00
Today is Valentine's Day.

On this day men in many countries present bouquets, cakes or chocolate to women.

On the other hand, in some countries such as Japan or Korea, women present chocolate to men they love.

For this reason, a large amount of chocolate has been sold in supermarkets lately.

Incidentally, chocolate of Valentine's Day in Japan is able to be divided into several categories.

"Honmei choco" (Main chocolate) ･･･ A chocolate that is presented as a confession of love.

"Giri choco" (Obligation chocolate) ･･･ A chocolate that is presented as an expression of thanks or social etiquette.

"Tomo choco" (Friend choco) ･･･ Chocolate that are presented to each other among women.

"Gyaku choco" (Reverse chocolate) ･･･ A chocolate that is presented from a man to a woman.

Today I'm going to present chocolate to some colleague as a souvenir, so I need to explain the chocolate is unrelated to Valentine's Day.
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【No. 0788】The Etymology of Chocolate

Feb 13, 2017 22:24
Last week I bought a lot of chocolate.

However, since I didn't know where the word chocolate came from, today I searched the etymology on the Internet.

First, the word chocolate comes from Spanish.

The Spanish word chocolate comes from a Nahuatl word xocolatl.

Here, xocoli means bitter and atl means water.

Since the sound xo didn't exist in Spanish, it has come to be cho.

Originally, chocolate was treated as a medical drink among native Mexicans, and it was neither solid nor sweet.

It has spread to all over the world, continuously improved, then chocolate has become the feature like today.
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【No. 0787】National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi)

Feb 12, 2017 20:48
Last week I wrote diaries related to my overseas business trip.

I will talk about Japanese words and culture again from this week.

Yesterday, February 11st was "Kenkoku Kinen no Hi" (National Foundation Day), which is a national holiday in Japan.

The purpose of this day is to commemorate the founding of Japan and to foster a love for Japan.

It is said that Emperor Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan, was crowned in this day.

However, this story is based on Japanese mythology, and the exact day when Japan was founded is unknown.

In cases where you don't know the exact day like this, the name of the national holiday becomes "kinen no hi," instead of "kinenbi."

I think that many Japanese people misunderstand this day as "kenkoku kinenbi."
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【No. 0785】Flight Back

Feb 11, 2017 22:27
Today's morning I went to Begijnhof in Leuven, which is a world heritage.

It was very beautiful cityscape, and I felt happy.

After the sightseeing, I did some shopping for chocolates in Leuven, then took a train toward to the airport.

However, I accidentally took a wrong train, so it took an extra one hour to get to the airport.

Since I acted early just to be safe, I was able to arrive in time.

In duty free shops in Brussels National Airport, I bought more chocolates.

After the shopping, I departed for Dubai.

In Dubai International Airport, which is an airline hub, I bought more chocolates.
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【No. 0786】Return Home

Feb 11, 2017 23:31
In the early morning, I left from Dubai International Airport to Narita Airport.

I rode the airplane for about eight hours, then arrived at Narita at just 17 o'clock.

Since I sat for a long time, I was really tired.

After riding the airplane, I rode a bus to back to my apartment.

At last, at around 21 o'clock, I came back.

In the moment when I opened the door of my apartment, I was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

However, my first thought after entering my room is "Oh, my feet are very stinky."

I immediately took a bus.

Then I put my shoes in ziplock and put them in a freezer.
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【No. 0784】International Conference Day 3

Feb 10, 2017 12:56
Today was the final day of the international conference.

I felt bad from a hangover, but I went to the venue and listened presentations from the morning.

After lunch, I went out to buy chocolates with a small sightseeing.

The shop is "Demeestere" located in an outskirt of Leuven, and I found a rumor that the chocolates are really tasty on the Internet.

It had a very good atmosphere, and I inadvertently bought a lot of chocolates (around 150 euro).

Then I came back to the conference, and after it finished, other Japanese participants and I went to Brussels for sightseeing.

First we went to Grand Place, then saw famous Mannequin Piss, walked around Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, buy chocolates, and ate waffles.

It was a very fulfill day.
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【No. 0783】International Conference Day 2

Feb 9, 2017 07:56
Today was Day 2 of the international conference, and it was the day of my presentation.

I was super nervous and I thought I was going to vomit..

Then finally, the presentation was performed.

Unfortunately, I couldn't speak well.

Furthermore, the question and answer session was really awful.

I was sad.

After the presentation, I acted with other Japanese participants.

In a reception of the conference, cheeses were all-you-can-eat and many kinds of beer were all-you-can-drink.

While listening to live performance of string instruments, we got a lot of delicious beer and cheese.

However, since I drank beer too much, I have a head ache.