Topic: Japan Discussion

As far as openings go, I can't help but remember the last Olympics (think it was the last) that the most voted on a very popular poll to sing was Miku Hatsune.

BEGIN Japanology was on today! This week's theme was "Used Books".

They started off in Tokyo's Jimbocho district, which has around 160 used book shops. Not only are there a bunch of shops, but they are very specialized. One specializes on fasion magazines, one on traditional Japanese performing arts, another on plant info, one has nothing but books on Go & Shogi, and yet another on pre-modern Japanese literature (they even have a rare ancient Buddhist sutra, that's one of the oldest written documents in the world).

Jimbocho also holds book auctions regularly (for over 50 years), where shop owners & book connoisseurs look & trade for rare finds.

Massive book chains have also gotten in on the action, with simplified structures that make it easier than ever for the stores to sort & stock the inventory, and for consumers to get what they're looking for.

Books first became popular in Japan in the 18th & 19th centuries, thanks to wood block printing (they showed off antique cook books, magic trick books, and more), but due to the expensive nature of book ownership, book lending became extremely popular in the time. In the late 19th century, many western style universities popped up in what's now the Jimbocho area, so that's how that district got it's start (catering to the students' needs). After the economic boom after WWII, book ownership became widespread.

They then went to Inuyama to talk to a used book collector who looks for books where the previous owners have written in them. He says that all books are identical & have no value, until someone interacts with it, and imprints their emotions onto it, at which point it becomes a one of a kind.

They also went to a trendy area in Tokyo, where a woman has opened up a laid back used book shop where people in their 20's & 30's gather. Her income isn't as stable as it was when she worked for a large book chain (so she sometimes has to supplement herself by taking side jobs), but she's doing what she loves to do, while getting younger people back into reading.

Lastly, they went out to a used book dealer in the small town of Kawamoto, who sells used books online. He used to operate his business out of a small space in Tokyo, but to to the limited space & high rent, he couldn't make profit & almost had to close down. Luckily, he was able to buy out the space from a closing book shop in the small town, and due to the much larger space for inventory & smaller cost of operation, he was able to make 5 times more profit, and is growing.

Imagine-Nation was on tonight! It was a repeat tonight, the episode where they showcased Watamote. (which I covered in post #712)

Tokyo Eye was on today! This week, they covered the Heaven Artists program, which the Tokyo government runs in order to attract street performers to the city, in an organized, legal fashion. Over 300 artists apply each year. Lately, the city has been sending them up to the region affected by the earthquake & tsunami, as part of a relief program.

First, they met up with Eppai. He's a one man band that plays 10 instruments at once (Large Cymbal, Little Cymbal, Drum, Fiddle, Kazoo, Maracas, Sleigh Bells, Bell, and a couple more). He used to be part of a group, but as his friends left, he continued to take up their instruments until he got to where he is today.

Then they listened to Kiki, a duo of women who play the traditional Japanese instrument, the Shamisen, and mix it with modern styles (then, they spent some time talking about various Japanese performing arts, which can be found in a lot of these street performances).

Then, they went to see Shiva, a living statue. Normally, he stands completely still, but if you donate money, he moves! the amount of movement depends on the amount donated, with ¥10 causing him to change facial expressions, ¥100 causing him to move around on his pedestal, and ¥1,000 causing him to get off the pedestal.

Next up, they went to Asakusa to meet up with Kuromaru the Slayer. He is a man who is dressed up as a traditional Japanese demon, often times surprising locals & tourists. If someone brings up the courage to give him a donation, however, he'll show a lighter side & dance. He performs on weekends & holidays, and after being in the neighborhood for 3 years, he's become well known in the area, and hopes to become a recognizable landmark of the area.

Next they went to Ueno Park. there are over 60 allocated areas for street performances in Tokyo, and the highest amount can be found here, with over 20 people performing at once sometimes.

While there, they visited Magical TOM, who is a balloon artist, and the only Japanese one who has an international license. He made a sword for a little boy, a bunny ear hat for a girl, and for the host, a surprisingly detailed scorpion! He's known for his almost surreal sense of detail, making everything from horses to Thomas the Tank Engines.

Lastly, they watched a performance by CONRO. He's a world class juggler that uses Devil Sticks to keep various items airborne. Anything from simple balls, to traffic cones, and even brooms fall under his highly skilled spell. (At one point in his performance, the music to the act was the music from the Lupin III anime, lol)

^Okay, that sounds really awesome.

Any particular one, or all of them?

I was partial to Kiki, Kuromaru, & CONRO (especially when he made the broom look like it was sweeping).

All of them. Just the fact that Tokyo's doing that is awesome.

Yeah, they said they started doing it around 20 years ago (the special host for the episode was an American juggler who moved there shortly after the program first started), but it's grown really large since it's humble beginnings.

They said it's either modelled after, or just similar to, a program started in New York City (where performers can get official licenses).

Huh, never knew New York had something like that.

BEGIN Japanology was on today! This week's theme was Lake Biwa.

It's located outside of Kyoto, it's the largest freshwater lake in Japan, & is believed to be over 4 million years old. It has over 10 different types of fish & shellfish that are unique to the lake, including the Biwa Trout, & Large Biwa Catfish.

There is an island in the northern part of the lake that is home to various Buddhist & Shinto spiritual locations, and is an important spot for pilgrimages.

There are various watersports popular here, with over 20 beaches hosting such activities, with one of the most popular being a plastic bubble you can ride in while a boat pulls you along (the host, & the lake's mascot, designed after a catfish, took part).

They then showcased some local cuisine, such as a forerunner to modern sushi, made by fermenting Biwa Trout with rice for months (it's prepared in spring, but eaten during later festivities, like the new year), and a very little fish that is grilled, then eaten whole (due to it's very soft bones).

Historically, the lake was first mentioned in official texts in the 7th century, when the first national systems were being set up in Japan. During the feudal wars of the 15th-16th centuries, it became a key location. Oda Nobunaga, who was trying to unificate Japan, built four castles around the lake, making an impregnable fortress. If one were attacked, the other three could easily send reinforcements their way by ship. When peace returned to the nation, the lake became a popular stop for travellers, and artists loved using for inspiration. During Japan's industrialization, a canal was built to revitalize Kyoto. The nation's first hydroelectric power supply was built through this, successfully bringing power to Kyoto.

The lake was severely polluted in the 60's, but due to various programs & eco-friendly farmers, the lake has revitalized, and many animals are coming back. A certain small village only uses spring water from the lake. Each house has a higher basin, where they clean vegetables & get fresh drinking water, then the water flows down into a lower basin, where they wash clothes & dirty dishes. They don't use any soap, however, as catfish live in the lower basin, & keep everything clean (they feed on the left over food, for example). The water then flows down to the next house (there are more catfish in the waterways inbetween homes, to ensure cleanliness).

They then went to the Lake Biwa Museum, which shows how people lived alongside the lake in the past, and it even has an aquarium where they show off all the different types of fish that live in the lake.

Finally, they talked about invasive fish species, especially Bluegill & Black Bass. They are trying to get rid of these fish, while finding a use for them. Bluegill, for example, gets ground up into a paste which is eaten by seniors (it's very nutritious, but it's many sharp bones make it to troublesome to prepare traditional style dishes with). All sorts of invasive fish are also ground up into chicken feed, which farmers claim to have increased the quality of eggs.

Sorry I didn't give a lot of specific names for things (namely the island & it's many temples). There were a lot of long traditional names, & I couldn't retain them, lol.

Journeys in Japan was on today! This week, they visited Lake Kasumigaura.

The fishing season here is summer & fall, and the host visited an 80 year old shop where they sell the popular local fish, the lake smelt.

Then, they talked about the Lotus flowers that line the shore (they're as tall as people), which are both beautiful & a source of income for the locals. The host went out with a local farmer to harvest the Lotus roots, which are eaten (and they randomly played circus music during this segment, lol). The farmer's wife made a stir fry with the root & bacon.

They then talked about the traditional fishing vessel, the Hobikisen. It's fallen out of favor, replaced by motorized boats, but people who want to keep the tradition, take them out on the weekends, allowing tourists to come along.

The host stayed the night at a Ryokan (traditional inn) in the area, where she was served Kasumigaura Carp, which is a delicacy which is enjoyed all around Japan (often eaten during weddings, funerals, & festivals).

In the morning, she went to a bird watching station, so she could observe birds in the Myoginohana Wetlands without disturbing them.

Finally, she met up with an old fisherman & his wife, who were drying lake smelt. They catch them, and turn them into a local condiment. The fisherman also helps with lake conservation, as he & other fishermen set up bamboo fences in the lake, to protect the delicate reed system from harsh weather (the reeds help protect young fish).

As they were closing out, they mentioned that there is a road following the shoreline, perfect for biking.

Imagine-Nation was on tonight!

Main Theme: They showcased the manga, Young Black Jack (a prequel to the famed manga Black Jack), which has been serialized in Young Champion magazine since 2011, and was created in honor of the original's 40th anniversary. It's set during the 1960's, where student protests were clashing with the government. Black Jack however, just wants to study & become a doctor. He saves patients others say can't be saved & is very compassionate, but demands huge payments (to pay off a debt he owes). The original series started in 1973, and ran for 10 years. In the series, Black Jack is an unlicensed surgeon, who shows up to save patients. Some consider him to be a danger to the medical community, while others revere him as sort of a cult hero. This prequel will explain why the young eager medical student became a rebel of the medical world. Interestingly enough, they mentioned that Ozama Tezuka (the creator of the original, & Astro Boy) was qualified to take on a medical career.

Side Theme: They mentioned the Blazblue Alter Memory anime, which is based upon the popular arcade fighting series by Arc System Works.

Creator's Interview: They interviewed Tomoya Takashima, who is known for pioneering CGI in anime. He is currently working on a horror series.

I didn't know there was a Black Jack prequel. I'll have to check it out someday...after I check out Black Jack...

Tokyo Eye was on today! This week's theme was "Fun & Games in Tokyo".

Firstly, they went to Tokyo Joypolis, an indoor amusement park. They have many attractions that are a hybrid of ride & arcade game. One of which is a futuristic tunnel racer, which is almost like any other arcade racing game out there, except when the player initiates a boost, the entire car does a barrel roll! If both players boost at the same time, it does two barrel rolls together at once. They also have a skateboarding attraction, where four teams of two compete in a half pipe competition to pull off tricks, and build their high scores. They also have an indoor roller coaster.

Next up, they went to Kontamura, a museum featuring classic mechanical games, which are the predecessors to modern arcade games. Everything here still works, and visitors are allowed to play them (popular ones from the time involved getting a ¥10 coin to fall into a particular hole).

They then went to Tokyo Leisure Land Akihabara, a five story arcade complex (each floor houses a different genré of games). The fighting floor is very popular, and they hold tournaments every two weeks. They then showcased a game that is a fast paced third person shooter (players use plastic pistols), that is online multiplayer (players choose a major Japanese city, and compete with players from arcades across Japan). Finally, they showcased a rhythm game that has a circular touch screen that players touch & swipe all over to the beat (if you sign up, it will record you, and you can upload the video of you playing to social networks).

Next up was the Diamond Igo Salon. Here visitors play the classic strategy game of Go. It's drawing in a younger croud, particularly young women (thanks to a magazine started recently that showcases fashionable women playing Go). They hold socials every Wednesday & Thursday, which are very popular.

They then visited Igocafé Kosumi, another place to play Go. They have Go boards etched into their tables, which is a unique feature of this establishment. They also offer light drinks & snacks to their guests (like cake).

Finally, they went to an incense shop called Kogado. What's so special about this shop though, is that they have preserved a traditional Japanese game called Kimuka. In Kimuka, two teams of three people have to guess what type of incense is being burned. A team gets a point for every member who gets it right, which are counted by moving two mounted Samurai dolls down a path. The first team to get their Samurai across the finish line wins, but the winner isn't announced until all incense has been enjoyed, as that's what's most important. In the end, the winning team, & the most accurate individual player are announced. While traditionally played in Japanese, they hold special events where they play in English, so tourists can enjoy it.

BEGIN Japanology was on today! This week's theme was "Womens' Nylons".

Nylons are a big part of Japanese culture, with some 70% of women between the ages of 18-80 wearing them daily. They can be found in department stores, grocery stores, & subway station kiosks, meaning customers can optain a pair 24/7, 365 days a year. The average pair costs between ¥500-¥1000, but in some cases can eclipse even ¥4000!

Japanese etiquette is the main reason they're so commonly worn, with women in the workforce culturally expected to wear them, & since it's rude to go bare foot in another's home, they allow women a solution to covering their feet when taking off their shoes in another's home. In fact, many public bathrooms in Japan have a feature unique to the country, a fold out foot stool that makes it easy for women to change nylons in the case their current pair tears.

Many features of Nylons, including standards of UV protection, physical durability, & antibacterial properties, include more rare features such as leg slimming effects, improved circulation, open toed designs, & special soles making it easier to wear high heels.

They were initially brought over to the country after WWII from the USA, when western styles of clothing were gaining popularity with Japanese women. During this time, nylons had a long seam up the back, which was unsightly, & a hassle to keep straight. During the 50's seamless nylons became popular in the west, but failed to take off in Japan because women worried that they'd be mistaken for going bare footed. Eventually, Japanese business' that got into the market, had to sell their stock overseas. With the profits gained from foreign sales, Japanese business' retried in the 60's, this time with an aggressive marketing campaign, which included gifting seamless nylons to graduating high school girls. This method was a massive success. With the rise of the mini skirt in the 60's, new nylons were designed to go up to the waist (instead of being individual for each leg). Their popularity peaked during the economic boom years of the 80's & early 90's, but has been in decline since, due to the more modest wardrobes of a fiscally responsible populace.

In recent times, however, they've been gaining popularity however, thanks to fasion trends. Fads such as colored nylons, stocking looks & more have made nylons popular amongst the younger generation of women. Many now come in a variety of stylish designs.

The technology used for nylons has even helped in the medical field as of late, as the same techniques have allowed doctors to create artificial arteries in patients with weak hearts, and real cells grow within the artificial artery, eventually replacing it with the real deal.

Journeys in Japan was on today! This week, they went to the Seto Inland Sea, an area with dozens of small islands, about a dozen of which are taking part in an art fair.

They first stopped at the island of Ogijima. The first piece of art they noticed was a ferry dock, & gathering place for the locals. It's roof is made up of various words from across the globe all woven together into one frame (all of them are associated with the theme of water). Next up, along the shoreline, was an abstract piece called "Walking Art". It features an abstract design (colored white & blue, to blend with the ocean behind) set up on sculpted legs (the artist said the tale of Noah's Ark inspired the work). Finally, they came across an old house that had bottles strung across it's interior (all of them had pictures, or other small trinkets inside them). The piece was called "Bottled Memories", and showcases the feelings & emotions of the island's history through it's people. It's lightly illuminated, giving it a slight ambience.

While on the island, they also met up for a group of elderly women who were preparing bento lunches for the festival. They all had colorfully designed strollers, called "Onba", which are a staple of the island. As the island's narrow roads are too small for vehicles, the women of the island cart around all their goods in these strollers. They used to be plain, but a particular craftsman has took it upon himself to give each of the islsnd's women a unique design. He's always comming up with fancier new designs, but the women who he has already given onba to, always jokingly say he has given them the best one. The women also sang the island song.

Next, they went to the island of Ibukijima. This island is known for it's sardine fishing (in fact, it's the largest sardine producer in Japan). What attracts the host here, however, is an old elementary school. Inside is an art piece entitled "Unsinkable Ship". It consists of fishing net & over 60,000 brightly decorated fishing floats intricately strung up through the building, resembling an ocean full of life, with fish swimming about, getting caught in nets, and the overall beauty of the ocean.

Next, they went to Kanonji. Here, at night, the dark village brightens up as traditional Japanese art & characters dance along the city walls (via projectors), almost coming to life. It's like the entire town has fallen under some sort of magical spell, and is truly a sight to behold (I wish they would have spent more time here, simply beautiful).

Finally, they stopped at the island of Teshima. Back in 1978, a huge corporation started to illegally dump on the island, & for the next 13 years would go on to dump 500,000 tons of industrial waste onto the island, killing the island's ecosystem, and shaming it into being the blight of the region. However, starting in the early 90's activists won over the island, and after nearly 20 years of revitalization, the island's beauty has returned in all it's glory, which is being celebrated during this art fair (the art of nature, so to speak). A big art attraction here is "Big Bambù", a huge boatlike structure suspened over the forest treetops. It's completely made out of bamboo stalks, and the only way up into it, is a system of scaffolding that winds it's way up through the trees (also made out of bamboo, of course). They lastly stopped at Shima Kitchen, a local restaurant that embodies the spirit of the island's revival. They use all locally grown & caught ingredients from the island, all brought to them fresh that day.

Imagine-Nation was on tonight!

Main Theme: They covered the PS3 exclusive, Rain, a PSN game that released on October 3. The boy follows a young boy as he searches for a young girl around a mysterious city, avoiding frightening monsters. The hook to the game is that all the characters are invisible, and that the player must use their knowledge of their surroundings & game mechanics to avoid the monsters (it's always raining, hence the name, and you must find shelter under a dry area, in order for the monsters to lose sight of your silhouette, for example). The game was the brainchild of the Playstation Camp program, in which promising young indie developers are allocated funds by Sony in order to bring their fresh ideas to life (last year's Tokyo Jungle was also a result of this program). They said it was difficult creating the game, since it's the first ever to feature an invisible cast. They wanted to make sure this wasn't too hard for players to follow, and yet they had no place to look for advice from, since the concept hadn't been done before. In the end, they use clever manoeuvring of the camera & interactive objects to make sure players can follow their character, while enemies have very abstract designs & pronounced, dramatic theatre like movements that ensure players won't miss their cues. They also used motion capture technology in order to give the game some extra flair. While the movements don't hinder or effect the gameplay in any way, the occasional slip like movements the characters make when running or climbing, add a realistic effect to the game (since it would be hard to do either during such a rain storm), and add a layer of suspense. The developers hope the game encourages other fledgling game designers to not be afraid to think outside the box. The hosts then got the chance to have a hands on with the game.

Side Theme: They mentioned The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD (Wii U), a classic updated with high definition visuals, improved lighting effects, & other gameplay tweaks to perfect the adventure.

Creator's Interview: They interviewed Kia Asamia, the mind behind the classic manga series, Silent Möbius. It originally made it's debut in the late 80's, and was a success due to it's unique mixture of near future sci-fi & supernatural elements (it has been adapted into two anime films, & anime TV series). He has started on a sequel manga, which is premiering this year.

Tokyo Eye was on today! This week, they had a Tama River Tour.

They started out at the river's beginning at the bottom of the Ogauchi Dam, in the northwestern part of Tokyo prefecture. This part is almost untouched by development, with lots of lush greenery around.

While there, they took part in rafting. Cost starts at ¥2,800, and you don't have to have any sort of reservations, or come with any equipment (they have it all available). Must be at least 8 years old. Be careful or the raft may capsize (this happened to the hosts).

They then went canyoning! They go to a tributary of the Tama River up in the mountains, and decend down the water's path. Your main methods of decent are sliding down rocks & jumping down into pools of water, all while being supervised by experienced canyoners, who are qualified in first aid. Beginners are welcome to take part, but must use a zip line down the steepest part of the path, down a waterfall. Cost starts at ¥8,000.

Also near this part of the river, you have the Nippari Limestone Cave. Admission is ¥600, and you can walk through this mysterious area untouched by time. It was discovered 1,500 years ago, and stays a cool 11ºC all year round. One cool feature is the sound of the Water Zither that was installed here back in ancient times (usually found in temples).

They then stopped by the small town of Ome. This town was a common stop for travellers in the past. A unique site, there are vintage movie posters displayed across town (from classic Japanese films, to films with big western stars like John Wayne & Charlie Chaplin). There are also traditional Japanese style homes that can be hundreds of years old. They also stopped by a local restaurant here, that specializes in various tofu dishes (their tofu is made using spring water from the Tama River). The "Flower Course" costs ¥3,990.

They then came to the calm middle part of the river, which has lots of suburban Tokyo scenery in the background, but the river's shores haven't been developed, an oddity for the Tokyo area. Families barbecue & have other activities along the shores.

There are lots of biking trails along the river, and you can rent a bike for ¥2,000 (they will personally deliver it to whatever location you want). The hosts biked for awhile.

Then they came across a group of conservationists who were swishing nets in the river. They were doing a study on the river's species, and trying to remove invasive species. Many Tokyoites will put their exotic fish in the river when they tire of them, some of which have thrived there (mostly Amazon species, to the point the Tama River has been nicknamed the "Tamazon"). He has set up a fish shelter where people can bring there pets (as a safer alternative), and he'll find them new homes.

Finally, they came by a boating club run by a member of Japan's boating team of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The calm waters of the middle Tama River are a great spot for pro and amateur boaters to practice alike. His club will gladly accept beginners, and initial lessons cost ¥500. Must be at least 9 years old.

From here, the river flows out into Tokyo Bay.

BEGIN Japanology was on today! This week, they discussed Remote Islands!

Japan made up of a total of 6,852 islands, over 400 of which are inhabited (the third highest number of inhabited islands in the world).

The host did the show from Oshima, which is a small island inside the Tokyo area, that is reliant on it's fishing culture. It has an active volcano, and smokey area around it is often used to film movies in Japan. The host also tried out some of their local cuisine, such as a very spicy sushi (they don't traditionally have wasabi on the island, so they use a local pepper which gives it a spice, & helps preserve it), and a pickled fish with a pungent odor, but mild taste.

They mentioned various remote islands around Japan, such as one off the coast of Hokkaido that's known for it's towering mountain (often called the Fuji of the ocean, it's a hot spot for skiiers), one in the south that's known for it's sandy beaches & lively ocean life (typhoons close it to the mainland a couple times a year, though), an island in the middle of Japan's lake Biwa (one of the few inhabited freshwater islands in the world), an abandoned island that was once a booming mining town (this run down industrial fortress is referred to "Battleship Island", and is now open to tourists), and an island that's completely the opposite (a lush haven of wildlife & nature).

Traditional culture also tends to live on within the daily lives of people who live on such islands, such as one island that has over 60 Noh stages (one of the key founders of Noh was exiled to the island in the past, and it has 1/3 of Japan's total Noh stages), one that has it's own unique spin on Sumo (each match has two rounds, and the winner of the first round purposefully loses the second, that way no one loses), and one that has Kabuki deep in it's DNA (all the locals take part in various Kabuki shows).

They then told the tale of an old fishing island that has an aging population. In the past, it had around 500 residents, but as the younger generations left & with the rest aging, they were down to 8 residents in 2010 (all men in their sixties & seventies). They tried renovating the island & set up a guest house for travelling fishermen & tourists in the hopes of encouraging new people to settle down, and their efforts have finally borne fruit (the island is now up to 20 residents).

They also showcased how other islands are modernizing to stay relevant. One has set up a state of the art medical facility to cater to it's aging populace, while another has resorted to croudfunding to revitalize their business' (their fishermen, for example, used to have trouble keeping their catch fresh enough to sell on the mainland, but now have a state of the art cooling machine that not only makes it easy to sell in all of Japan, but also China, a market they never thought of selling to). Their backers are repaid with shipments of island products (4 times a year).

I use a program called keyholetv to watch some tv channels from Japan. The 2 main ones I watch are TV Asahi(airs New Japan every saturday) & Tv Tokyo(if im ever in the mood for anime except without subtitles XD)

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