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【No. 0582】Turkeys

Jul 22, 2016 20:23
Turkeys are the largest species among Galliformes, and they are often cooked on Thanksgiving in the US, and Christmas in the UK.

Turkeys are called "shichimencho" (shichi means seven, men means a face, and cho means a bird) in Japan.

The reason is because their skins from heads to necks are exposed, and these regions changed to red, blue, and purple.

Therefore, people call those who change their feelings easily "shichimencho" in some areas in Japan.

Although turkeys were imported into Japan in the Meiji period, since it's difficult to obtain them, they are treated as an expensive ingredient.

I'd like to eat a whole roasted turkey someday.
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【No. 0581】The Moon Is Beautiful, Isn't It? (I Love You)

Jul 21, 2016 09:33
Today, I'd like to talk about the phrase "tuki ga kirei desune," which sometimes becomes a hot topic.

The literal meaning is "the moon is beautiful, isn't it?," but this phrase might include the meaning of "I love you."

It is said that a Japanese famous novelist and teacher Natsume Soseki said when he heard his student translated "I love you" into "ware kimi o aisu" (ware means I, kimi means you, and aisu means love):

"Japanese people don't use such an expression, you should say 'the moon is beautiful isn't it?'."

That is, he mentioned that Japanese can understand the true meaning, even if you don't use words of love.

This expression is often thought of as affectional, graceful, and beautiful.

However, it might not actually convey the meaning of "I love you," please be careful.
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【No. 0580】Pikachu's Song

Jul 20, 2016 07:54
Recently, I often hear that Pokemon GO is becoming popular in the world.

I'm not sure whether or not it made an effect, but a lyrics of Pikachu's theme song "Pikachu no uta" (Pikachu's song) was published yesterday.

The stock price of Nintendo reached more than double for the price of before Pokemon GO was released.

It was composed of only Pikachu's call, there were a lot of "pika" and "pikachu."

A part of the lyrics is something like the following:

Pikkachu pikkachu pika pika pikachu pika pika

I can't understand what the song means at all.

However, somehow I'd like to listen to this song at least once.
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【No. 0579】Greening of Tottori Sand Dunes

Jul 19, 2016 09:24
Do you know Tottori Prefecture, which has the smallest population in Japan?

The most popular sightseeing spot in Tottori Prefecture is "Tottori Sand Dunes."

Tottori Sand Dunes is a vast dunes area, which spreads to Japan coast, and you can enjoy sightseeing by a camel, a horse-drawn carriage, or foot.

However, I heard that recently Tottori Sand Dunes has become gradually grasslands.

Therefore, Tottori Prefecture has gotten rid of weeds on a large scale for saving the natural asset, Tottori Sand Dunes.

While many countries all over the world try to prevent desertification, only Tottori prefecture might try to prevent greening.
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【No. 0578】Marine Day

Jul 18, 2016 09:37
Today, the third Monday of July is Marine Day.

Marine Day is one of Japanese national holidays, and we wish prosperity of maritime nation Japan while thanking to the benefits of the sea on the day.

This day comes from the day called sea anniversary (July 20th), on which we celebrated that Emperor Meiji returned safely to Yokohama Prefecture from Aomori Prefecture by a patrol boat in 1876.

I heard that only Japan established Marine Day as a national holiday among the world.

By the way, "Mountain Day" was established as a national holiday of Japan in 2016.

I will talk about Mountain Day on August 11th, 2016, which is the day for the first time Mountain Day comes.
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【No. 0577】Ofukuro

Jul 17, 2016 08:58
There are some ways of calling your mother in Japan.

The most popular expression is "okaasan" or "kaasan."

Recently, the other expression "mama" has also become gradually popular.

In many Japanese home, we have our children say "mama" and "papa" instead of "okaasan" and "otousan" because of the ease of pronunciation, and they seems to become household words.

On the other hand, we (especially men) sometimes call our mothers "ofukuro."

There are some theories of the etymology:

・In the past, mothers managed property of their homes by putting them into bags ("fukuro" means "a bag").

・We grow up in our mother's bosom ("bosom" is called "futokoro" in Japan).

I think that the saying "ofukuro" is cool, but I missed the timing of switching to "ofukuro" from "okaasan."
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【No. 0576】Bokenasu

Jul 16, 2016 11:23
Today, I will talk about the Japanese slang "bokenasu."

The literal meaning of "bokenasu" is "a faded eggplant," but it is used as an abuse that means "idiot" in common.
(Actually, both "boke" and "nasu" could be an abuse.)

Also, there is the similar phrase "otanko nasu," which means "stupid" or "lubber."
(There are several theories about the etymology, but it's not clear.)

In Japan, there are many abuses that contain vegetables in addition to "bokenasu" and "otankonasu."

Even if you say just vegetable names to someone, such as "nasu" (eggplants), "imo" (potatoes), "kabocha" (pumpkin), or "moyashi" (sprouts), it might become an abuse, so please be careful.
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【No. 0575】Buffon's Needle

Jul 15, 2016 16:09
Today, I'd like to talk about the problem called "Buffon's needle," which was posed by mathematician Buffon.

This problem is something like the following:

1. Suppose you draw parallel lines with the same width on a floor, and drop a needle there.

2. What is the probability that the needle and any of the lines cross.

If the width between lines is 2 cm, and the length of the needle is 1 cm, the probability will become 1/π.

This means that you can obtain an approximate value of pi by dropping needles.

Mathematician Lasagna dropped a needle 3,408 times, and obtained the approximation of pi, 355/113 (equals 3.1419529...).

By the way, conducting this experiment on a computer is meaningless, because you need the value of pi when you generate a needle's angle randomly or check whether or not the needle and lines cross.
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【No. 0574】Gojiai Kudasai

Jul 14, 2016 16:01
Today, I will talk about the Japanese formula in letters, "ご自愛ください (gojiai kudasai)."

The literal meaning is "please love yourself," and it's used as the meaning of "take care of yourself" or "I hope your health is good."

This expression is thought of as beautiful, and is often appended at the end of letters.

If you type "gojiai" and convert it into kanji, it may become "ご慈愛."

However, since the meaning is quite different from "ご自愛," please be careful to convert it.

If you say "ご慈愛ください (gojiai kudasai)," it means something like "please give me your deep love."
(This phrase is sometimes used for God or Buddha.)
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【No. 0573】Traffic Rules of Horses

Jul 13, 2016 18:45
In Japan, horses are treated as light vehicles that contain bicycles.

If you ride a horse on a road after you drunk alcohol, you will be punished as a drunk driving.

If you ride a horse on a road after the horse drunk alcohol, you will be punished as a poor maintenance.

Of course, you will be punished when you ignore a red light, have no signs or lights at night, and turn right/left with no signs.

These rules for horses are the same as those for cows, other animals, and rickshaws.

By the way, the word "rickshaw" comes from the Japanese word "jinrikisha."

("Jin" means a humen, "riki" means a power, and "sha" means a car.)
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【No. 0572】Miyadaiku (Temple and Shrine Carpenters)

Jul 12, 2016 10:05
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese job category "miyadaiku."

Daiku means carpenters, and miyadaiku means carpenters who build and repair only traditional Japanese architectures, such as temples and shrines.

Temples and shrines are built by using a unique Japanese construction method called "kigumi" (timberwork), which don't use nails or bolts.

Kigumi is a method that builds architectures by combining timbers that are logged to complex shapes.

If the height of the architecture is high, miyadaiku will design it so as to distribute the gravity.

Since this technique is important to preserve cultural assets, it is designated as a selected preservation technique.
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【No. 0571】Itaino Itaino Tondeike! (Pain, Pain, Go Away!)

Jul 11, 2016 10:20
In Japan, when children fall down or get injured, their parents often say "itaino itaino tondeike~," (pain, pain, go away~) while rubbing the affected area.

This act is often thought as a kind of charm, but it seems to have actual effects.

According to a study at Gunma University, the act of rubbing could promote the restoration/regeneration of your peripheral nerves.

In addition, since children can feel their parents' love, their fears of injury disappear, and the pain seems to be allowed relief indirectly.

Also, it is said that placebo effects by what the words mean could affect the pain.
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【No. 0570】The House of Councilors Election

Jul 10, 2016 12:42
Since the House of Councilors election is being held today, I will tell you about three trivia that are related to Japanese elections.

【No. 1】
In Japan, only a person who come to a polling station can confirm that there is no ballot in the ballot box. Some people seem to get up very early for confirming the ballot box.

【No. 2】
When the number of a runner's votes is the same as another runner's one, the result will be eventually tolerated by lot. This way might be the same in many countries overseas.

【No. 3】
Payments of Snacks/sweet treats for election staff are defined as up to a ceiling of 500 yen per day by law. Payments of bento (lunch bags) are up to 1000 yen per one meal.
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【No. 0569】Ototoi Kiyagare (Come The Day Before Yesterday)

Jul 9, 2016 12:55
Today, I'd like to tell you about the Japanese expression "ototoi kiyagare."

"Ototoi" means "the day before yesterday," "kiyagare" means "come," and "ototoi kiyagare" means something like "get out, don't come again."

There are two theories that are related to the etymology of this expression.

One of them is that since "ototoi" has also the meaning of "distant day," "ototoi kiyagare" originally meant "don't come until the distant day."

The other one is that since to come the day after yesterday is impossible, "ototoi kiyagare" meant "it's too late."

There are a similar phrase in English; "come when two Sundays meet."
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【No. 0568】Chameleon's Tongue

Jul 8, 2016 20:32
Previously, I wrote about changes of chameleon's body color, but today I will talk about chameleon's tongue.

As you may know, chameleons catch their food by stretching their long sticky tongues.

Chameleons have very long tongues that are 1.5 to 2 times longer than their body length, and the tongues are normally folded like an accordion.

Also, chameleons launch their tongues at a very high speed by using special muscles around from the tip to the root of the tongue.

According to a study from Brown University, the acceleration of a chameleon's tongue achieves up to 264 gravities.

If the tongue were to be a car, the speed would reach a speed of 90 kilometers per hour in only 0.01 seconds.
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【No. 0567】Tanabata

Jul 7, 2016 23:14
Today was Tanabata.

Tanabata (July 7) is the Star Festival, and is a day of the turn of the season in China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.

In the Tanabata, we often write our wishes on a strips of paper, and hang them on bamboo branches.

Originally in China, there was a custom of praying so as to improve accomplishments.

It was brought into Japan in the Edo period, and we came to write a wish for improvements of our calligraphy skills on strips of paper.

In the course of time, the custom gradually became something like "if you write your wish, it will come true."
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【No. 0566】Deer in Nara Park

Jul 6, 2016 10:03
Nara Park, which is located in Nara Prefecture of Japan, has about 660 hectares, and is well known that a plenty deer are living there.

The number is no less than 1500, and you can see deer in many places in the park.

In Nara Park, "shika senbei" (deer rice crackers) are sold, and if you buy them, deer around you will approach you.

Also, events called "shikayose" (huddling deer) are sometimes performed by playing a horn, and a herd of deer in the event is worth seeing.

Few years ago, images/videos of deer in Nara Park became small news, because deer seemed to obey the traffic signals.

Since deer can't identify the color of the signals, they might wait for cars to stop or be attuned to around people.

Anyway, I think they are a very smart animal.
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【No. 0565】Cast Pearls Before Swine

Jul 5, 2016 23:31
The saying "cast pearls before swine" came from a Bible verse, and means that it is in vain to give valuable things to someone who don't understand the value.

The Japanese translation version "buta ni shinju" (pearls to swine), which has the same meaning, is also famous in Japan.

Actually, there is the other saying "neko ni koban," (oval gold coind to cats) which has completely the same meaning of "cast pearls before swine" in Japan.

Since Japanese versions have no verbs, it might be a little difficult to understand with no background information.

Also, as other sayings that mean ineffective things, there are "inu ni rongo" (Analects to dogs), "uma no mimi ni nenbutsu" (Buddhist chants to horse's ears), and "kaeru no tsura ni mizu" (water to frog's faces).

You can see a variety of animals in Japanese sayings.
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【No. 0564】Nejiru and Hineru (Twist)

Jul 4, 2016 08:56
Today, I'd like to explain the difference between the Japanese verbs "nejiru" and "hineru," which have the similar meaning.

Although both of them can be translated into English as "twist" or "quirk," the nuances are different.

"Nejiru" expresses "to rotate both ends of a rod-like object in the opposite direction with a strong force," and "hineru" expresses "tp rotate something in a certain direction with a weak force."

For example:
Harigane o nejiru (twist wires)
Jaguchi o hineru (turn on/run a water tap)

Also, "hineru" has other meanings, such as "puzzle over," and "tricky."

For example:
Muzukashi mondai ni atama o hineru (puzzle over a difficult problem)
Hinetta mondai o teian suru (propose a tricky question)
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【No. 0563】Tsumaranai (Boring)

Jul 3, 2016 11:58
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese phrase "tsumaranai," which means "boring."

"Tsumaranai" is composed of the verb "tsumaru" and the negative auxiliary verb "-nai."

"Tsumaru" has several meanings, such as "choke," "jam," "get stuck," and "be settled."

However, "tsumaranai" has the meanings of "boring" and "silly," which were derived from "be not settled."

Note that if you say "tsumaru," it will never mean something like "interesting," which is an antonym of "boring."

There is the similar phrase "kudaranai," which means "boring," but the meaning will never become "interesting," even if you remove the negative auxiliary verb "-nai" and say "kudaaru."