Читать книгу Japan from A to Z - James M. Vardaman - Страница 8
ОглавлениеWhy is AKIHABARA the center of Tokyo's electrical appliance market?
As a result of the incendiary bombings of World War II, only a narrow strip of buildings was left between the Kanda and Akihabara districts by the time hostilities had ended. This area became a gathering point for black marketeers hawking foodstuffs, clothing, and a few electrical items such as light bulbs, vacuum tubes, and radio parts. The black market was suppressed in 1949, but the radio parts dealers gathered under the train overpass near Akihabara, right by the main train lines, and continued selling items that flowed out of U.S. Army bases. The wholesalers came along with the black-and-white television boom, and Akihabara quickly became the place to buy electrical goods of all kinds.
What are those grinning ANIMALS in front of drinkenes?
The happily mischievous-looking characters in front of many izakaya, or japanese-style taverns, are called tanuki. In japanese folklore, the tanuki, a badger-like animal, has long been considered an amusing and shrewd animal with supernatural powers. Able to transform himself into a beautiful maiden or an old woman in a flash, the tanuki is not to be trusted, but at the same time his whimsical character has endeared him to Japanese for centuries. A large statue of a standing tanuki with an umbrella hat, a large belly, enormous testicles, and a bottle of saké in one hand can often be found in front of an izakaya, perhaps as advertisement of the magical products being sold within.
Why are APPLES always peeled before being eaten?
In the days when a main source of fertilizer was night soil, it was wise not to eat the skin of fruit; but this fact also applies to the agricultural chemicals that are used in contemporary times to produce virtually unblemished fruit.
Why do some cars in Japan have green-and-yellow, ARROW-shaped marks?
These two-toned wakaba māku, or "young leaf," symbols are required by law when a driver is newly licensed. New drivers must affix them to their cars for the first year after receiving their licenses, so that other motorists can make allowances for their lack of driving experience. It is an offense to unnecessarily hassle such drivers, however poor or annoying their driving habits may be. Even if drivers are not newly licensed, there is in fact no penalty for affixing these magnetic symbols to their cars even after the one-year mandatory period if they feel they need special consideration because of their lack of skill at the wheel.
Why don't AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES operate twenty-four hours a day?
There are three main reasons that banks do not make their ATMs available all night and all day. First, they feel they need time to shut the machines down for maintenance. Next, if the machines were to be up around the clock, it would become necessary to hire security personnel to watch over them. Finally, they simply don't detect a demand for round-the-clock cashing services and feel that extending banking hours would be a money-losing proposition.
Which nation sells the most AUTOMOBILES to Japan?
Figures for 1993 show that Germany is far and away the winner in this category. The top selling imported cars in that year were manufactured by Mercedes Benz (top), BMW (third), Volkswagen (fourth), and Opel (fifth). Second place was held by an American firm—Honda U.S.A.
What are black and red leather BACKPACKS for?
These packs are on prominent display in department stores in February and March, in anticipation of the start of school in April. Called randoseru, from the Dutch word ransel, these bags are for elementary school students to carry their textbooks and stationery in. They are used for school only and are not carried for traveling or going to "cram" schools. The original model was a military knapsack, and randoseru first appeared in 1885 when the students of Gakushuin, a school for the children of the aristocracy, began carrying them to school. They became popular among children of the upper class in Tokyo, then became popular nationwide after World War II. The colors black, for boys, and red, for girls, have been conservatively maintained. Unusual colors like pink or blue seem to invite teasing from classmates.
When do Japanese say BANZAI?
The very first use of banzai appears in records of Emperor Kanmu's transfer of the capital to Heiankyo (now Kyoto). Of Chinese origin, this word meaning "long life" was at first used to express respect for the Emperor. Originally the word was not banzai, but banzei. It is written with the characters for "ten thousand" and "years-old."
Raising both hands and cheering banzai first became customary in 1889 upon the promulgation of the Meiji Constitution. The idea was promoted as a way of celebrating the new laws of the land. At present, the custom of raising one's arms in the air and shouting banzai three times has come to be a way of giving three cheers for a person or achievement.
When did BASEBALL first come to Japan? When was the first team established?
The first baseball game played in Japan was in 1873 at the forerunner of the modern-day University of Tokyo. The sport gradually grew popular and was played in middle schools from the turn of the century. The first professional team was established in 1934, and the present professional league made its debut in 1950.
Why do American BASEBALL players come to Japan to play?
With several major exceptions, players with American major league experience sign on with Japanese teams either very early or very late in their careers. Japanese professional teams have a mutual agreement to play no more than two non-Japanese players during regular season games, but those two players may have just the right talents to spur the team on to victory. A player at the end of a major league career may have the experience and sufficient strength to play at least on a par with most Japanese players, and the financial rewards for a big hitter are significant.
Why do high school BASEBALL players take home dirt from Koshien Stadium?
If a broadcast continues long enough, you will see players gathering dirt from the field of this arena in Osaka at the end of every game of the twice-annual high school baseball tournament. Soil has special meaning to many Japanese, who feel that earth from sacred areas has protective power. For high school baseball players, Koshien is a sacred place, and the soil symbolizes their sweat and tears. The teams·collect soil to scatter on their home fields as an inspiration to work hard and return to the next tournament. It also makes a nice bit of memorabilia.
Why do the Japanese throw BEANS at demons in February?
A custom that originated in China, the expulsion of "demons" such as epidemics and calamities was originally carried out in the imperial court on the last day of the year to prepare for a new year of good fortune. Before long, the custom spread to the general populace and came to be practiced at the most important of the four divisions of the year, the one at the beginning of spring when the agricultural year began. For the farmers who made up the core of Japan's agrarian society, the act of expelling demons expressed hopes for good weather and good harvests. Today the custom is continued by families who open all the doors and windows of their homes and throw beans outside while saying O ni wa soto, fuku wa ucfii, or "Demons out, good fortune in." Walk through any Japanese neighborhood the morning after mame-maki, or "bean throwing," and the beans along the street will show just how many people observe this tradition.
Why are beans the anti-demon missile of choice? Because mame, or "bean," can also mean "evil eye" or "evil diminishing," when written with different characters.
Who uses BEEPERS?
One expects business people to carry poke-beru (from "pocket bell"), as they are called in Japanese, but the popularity of these status goods goes way beyond the world of work. As of February 1995, it was estimated that there were over 9.3 million beepers in use in Japan, and that a significant portion of these were used by female high school students.
For what could they possibly use these poke-beru, which until recently have only been capable of displaying numbers? To aid in this form of communication, a Tokyo publisher put out a list of special beeper codes, selling two hundred thousand copies in two months in 1994. The book uses alternate readings of lapanese numbers to include over three hundred fifty messages that vary from a simple "good morning" (0840 = O-ha-yo-o) or "good night" (0833731 = O-ya-su-mi-na-sa-i), to "I'll wait for you at the west exit of Shinjuku Station." (02-40109-240 = Ma-tsu shi-n-ju-ku ni-shi-guchi)
The popularity of these beepers appears to be due to the perennial desire to belong to the group. What else would account for learning three hundred fifty codes for anything?
Why are Japanese BEER Bottles the same size and shape?
Beer brewers Asahi and Sapporo were once part of the same company, and for many years they shared bottles as an economic convenience. In 1963, Suntory joined them in an agreement to purchase bottles that all three brewers could recycle with their own labels. A close look at the 633-milliliter bottles will tell you that, despite the great variety of labels, caps, and contents, only the word "beer" is actually engraved on these companies' bottles. Competitor Kirin, which has traditionally maintained the largest market share within lapan, uses softer-shouldered bottles with its name on them.
Why do some Japanese wear BELLY BANDS?
Japanese people have long felt it important to keep the stomach warm in order to keep healthy, because they regard the stomach as the body's center. Several decades ago, one often saw men in the heat of summer with only T-shirts for tops but wearing stomach warmers made of stretchable wool material over them.
Why do Japanese put BIBS on some Buddhist statues?
One of the most popular of the bodhisattvas of Buddhism in Japan is known as Jizo. Usually he is represented with a jewel in one hand and a staff in the other. Because of his vow to aid all suffering beings, he became regarded especially as the savior of children, and statues of Jizo along roadsides are often decorated with bibs provided by worshippers.
What is the most common form of BIRTH CONTROL in Japan?
Condoms account for 80% of birth control in Japan and have a long and venerable history as an important part of Japan's sex life. As far back as the Pacific War, even the Japanese troops who abused comfort women were required to use condoms by commanders terrified that their troops' combat effectiveness would be impaired by venereal disease. In contemporary Japan's prostitution industry, as well, condom use is prevalent, especially in this age of AIDS.
Why did the BIRTHRATE drop in 1966?
Due to a superstition that women born in the forty-third year, or hinoe uma, of the traditional sixty-year cycle had an unmanageable disposition, there was usually a drop in the birth rate during that year of each cycle. The last year this occurred was 1966, and, sure enough, the number of births dropped that year.
Why do Japanese men wear BLACK both to weddings and funerals?
Black is the color for formal events, and men may wear the same suit both to weddings and funerals, but the color of the necktie will differ. At weddings men wear white ties, while at funerals they wear black ones. Traditionally, women wedding guests who are married wear kimono with black backgrounds overlaid with gold, silver, or multicolored patterning. Plain, black, silk kimono with no design are appropriate for funerals. The dark, sober clothing prevents guests from upstaging the elaborately dressed bride and groom.
Why is the BON festival celebrated at two different times?
Japanese Buddhist tradition holds that the spirits of the ancestors return to visit their families between the thirteenth and fifteenth days of the seventh month of the year. On the Gregorian calendar, of course, the seventh month is July, but if one goes in accordance with the old lunar calendar observed by Japanese farmers, the seventh month corresponds with our August. As a result, some localities observe the event in mid-July, while others observe it in mid-August. Recently, some companies have been giving their employees mid-August vacations to coincide with school summer holidays, rather than encouraging observance of the holiday in July.
What is in all those little BOTTLES that people buy at kiosks and drugstores?
So-called health drinks often come in bottles made of brown glass and range from ¥120 for Vitamin C mixed with caffeine, to much more princely sums for royal jelly ginseng root, or tincture of snake (parts of a snake in solution).
Why are plastic BOTTLES filled with water and set up against walls, telephone poles, and flower beds?
Some people insist that the reflections from the water bottles are disturbing to area alley cats, who see their faces distorted as they walk by. As a result, these nuisances will stay away, and avoid doing their business on people's property. This practice seems to have no practical effect, but people continue to do so nonetheless.
NHK reports that the rumor of the bottles' effectiveness may have come from Australia as early as 1987, but the rapid spread of the bottles in the spring and summer of 1994 apparently resulted from the fact that one of the groundskeepers at Tokyo Electric put bottles all around a certain facility. Local residents who witnessed the practice became convinced that it must offer some benefit. The cat-repelling bottles made the national news when a bottle filled with water caused a fire by focusing sunlight on discarded lumber. Now that would scare a cat away.
When meeting someone on Business, how and when should you BOW?
At the very outset, one makes a perfunctory bow, which carries you through until you know who the person is. Only after exchanging business cards and determining the status relationship between you and the other person do you make the formal bow at an appropriate angle, along with the accompanying greeting. However democratic one might wish to be, it is a faux pas to bow equally low to the president of a company and a clerk. It is awkward for the other person when you over- or underdo a bow.
When were the first "station BOX LUNCHES" introduced?
Eki-ben is a shortened amalgamation of eki, or "station," and bentō, or "box lunch." In its very first incarnation, the eki-ben was a rather spartan affair first sold at Utsunomiya Station in 1885. It consisted simply of two rice balls with pickled plum inside, all wrapped up in a bamboo leaf. The maku-no-uchi type of box lunch which is common today dates from 1888 and was first sold at Himeji Station in the Kansai area. It consisted of white rice, fried egg, boiled fish paste, fried fish, and pickled daikon.
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What are those knobbed metal BRACELETS that some Japanese men wear?
These bracelets are originally from Spain, where they are believed to effectively reduce tension. In Japan they sell for around ¥20,000 and have enjoyed a boom among golfers who believe that it helps with putting. Even after the burst of the bubble and consequent plunge in sales of golf clubs, these bracelets, sold in the golf equipment section, have continued to sell well. Some purchasers claim that the bracelets have even lowered their blood pressure, but stores are careful to refer to them merely as fashion accessories.
How do Japanese make black BREAD?
Researchers in Aomori Prefecture have found that the ink of squid has certain anti-cancer properties, and this scholarship has found its way to an unlikely group of beneficiaries: bakers in search of a new product. As a result, ink-black French bread has appeared at the forefront of the squid-ink cuisine boom of 1993. Black butter anyone?
Why do BRIDES wear a white head dressing?
This part of the traditional wedding attire is called tsuno-kakushi, or "horn hider." Japanese have traditionally believed that a woman might grow mad from jealousy, sprout horns, and turn into a demon; this head dressing was originally a talisman to prevent such a thing from occurring.
Why do BRIDES change clothing during the wedding reception?
I ro-naoshi, literally "color changing," when the bride is escorted out of the hall to change clothes and then reenters, occurs at least once, and often several times during the wedding reception.
The origins of the custom date from the Nara period, when the new bride wore white for the first three days after marriage, then on the fourth day changed into clothing dyed in the color of her husband's household. At the beginning of the modern era the bride wore attire with the crest of her own family to the ceremony and there changed into clothing with the crest of her husband's family. Today's multiple changes, in which even the groom may change clothes, is little more than a pageant with little to do with tradition.
Why is the BUDDHA depicted the way he is?
The Buddha is depicted in so many scrolls and statues in Japan that one tends to forget that for almost five centuries after his death no one—even in his homeland—sculpted or painted likenesses of him. It was only in the first century A.D. that images of the founder of Buddhism came to be produced. These depictions, which would set the tone for virtually all images of the Buddha thereafter, reflected the Indian view of the characteristics of superior human beings. An "excellent" being was held to have large feet, a tiny curl of white hair in the center of the forehead, and specially curled hair.
Where is the biggest statue of the BUDDHA in Japan?
Completed in 752, the 15-meter-tall Daibutsu (literally, "big Buddha") at Todaiji Temple in Nara could hold seventeen smallish people in its left hand. It is enclosed in what is believed to be the largest wooden edifice in existence. The construction of Todaiji, its outer buildings, and the statues it houses are said to have required the labor of over 2 million workers.
Why do Japanese pour sweet tea on statues of the BUDDHA?
On April 8, the birthday of the Buddha, worshippers sprinkle a figure of the infant Buddha with sweet tea, or ama-cha, as a rite of bathing the Buddha called kanbutsue. The tea is symbolic of the scented water which nine dragons are said to have poured over the infant when he was born.
Are Japanese BUDDHISTS or Shintoists?
According to the "Religion Yearbook" issued by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, most Japanese are a little of both. The data supplied by various religious organizations indicates that the number of members in Shinto-related groups is close to 120 million, and that of Buddhist groups is close to 90 million. Add Christian and various other organizations, and the total becomes 220 million members—about twice the population of Japan. This apparent contradiction can be explained easily. Japanese tend to follow Shinto observances for celebratory and auspicious events and Buddhist observances for inauspicious events such as funerals and memorials. They share neither the monotheistic, nor the one-religion-per-customer proclivities of Westerners.
What is the meaning of the figurines of a CAT with its paw raised?
Often made of pottery or papier-māché, these manekineko, or "beckoning cats," are displayed in front of eating and drinking establishments. They appear to be using the japanese gesture for beckoning and are posed so as to invite customers into their masters' shops.
Traditionally, a maneki-neko's left paw was raised above its ear, and sometimes the right paw held a small gold coin. One possible source for the origin of this figure is a ninth-century Chinese work which says that when a cat washes its face even to the point of cleaning behind its ear, a guest is going to appear.
A more recent Japanese story tells of a fishmonger who became ill and unable to work and subsequently fell into dire straits. A stray cat whom he had befriended and to whom he had often given leftovers appeared on his doorstep bearing a gold coin in its mouth, thus momentarily solving his financial needs.
Even a brief look at the maneki-neko in restaurant and tavern windows will reveal that not all have their left paws raised. The modern understanding of this is that the right paw beckons "good fortune," and the left paw beckons "customers." From the point of view of the shop, of course, the end result is the same.
What is the connection between CATFISH and earthquakes?
Long ago, people thought that earthquakes were caused by the shaking of a giant catfish living underground. When the catfish would stir, either from restlessness, or its displeasure at human folly, it would send the surface of the earth into convulsions. Since the late Edo period (1600-1868), catfish have been thought capable of predicting earthquakes by showing increased movement just prior to an occurrence.
Why is it that girls CELEBRATE their third and seventh years, but boys only celebrate their fifth year?
At three, kids were allowed to let their hair grow out, and at five boys were allowed to wear hakama for the first time. Eventually, this custom developed into celebrating the boys' fifth year by dressing them in kimono with hakama. At seven girls began to tie real obi to wear with their kimono.
What kinds of meats are called "CHERRY blossom" and "peony" in Japanese?
Botan, or "peony," is a euphemism for the meat of wild boar, especially when cooked with vegetables and tofu in a pot with miso flavoring. Sakura, or "cherry blossom," is horse meat.
Why are carp banners flown on CHILDREN'S DAY?
Carp have a good image in Japan—witness the name of Hiroshima's professional baseball team. Since carp can swim upstream against strong currents, they have become symbols of stamina and courage. That is why you can see huge carp banners, or koi-nobori, vigorously "swimming" in the spring breeze during the weeks around May 5. The top banner is multicolored, followed by a black carp symbolizing the father, a red carp symbolizing the mother, and other carp—usually blue—for each of the boys (and sometimes girls, too) in the family.
What's wrong with sticking CHOPSTICKS upright into a bowl of rice?
It is Buddhist custom to make occasional offerings of rice to the deceased. One offers rice by putting a bowl of it on the family altar and sticking a pair of chopsticks into it, pointing straight up. Thus, sticking chopsticks into one's rice at mealtime makes the food look like a death-offering and is considered inauspicious. It should be noted, though, that many young Japanese are blissfully ignorant of this belief and do not always observe the custom.
Why do Japanese break their disposable CHOPSTICKS after use?
Japanese do not always do this, but it happens often enough to make one wonder why. The source of this custom seems to be that it was once believed that if one did not break one's chopsticks after eating a meal in a field or mountain, some evil spirit would attach itself to the used chopsticks and cause the eater to fall ill. Disposable chopsticks, or waribashi, have therefore come to be regarded as single-use utensils that are to be used by no one else; breaking them prevents reuse from occurring even by chance. Even in the home, there is still a tendency for each member of the family to have his or her own pair and not to share chopsticks.
On a related note, this tradition of not reusing chopsticks also helps explain why wooden chopsticks are stuck together, rather than split apart, before use. Machine-cut, wooden waribashi are left attached at one end to indicate that they have not been used by another. They are split apart on use and then disposed of. The recycling movement may one day affect this custom.
What percentage of Japanese who celebrate Christmas are CHRISTIAN?
Despite the popularity of Christmas "decoration cakes," and the fact that many young couples go to romantic restaurants for dinner on Christmas Eve, few japanese are actually Christian. The Christian-style wedding so popular among japanese, for example, often takes place in a "chapel" within a hotel or wedding hall where the brief ceremony is part of a package which includes photographs, reception, and gifts. The "minister," who may never meet the couple until the ceremony, has no legal status during the proceedings, as the formal registration of the marriage is done by the couple themselves at the local ward or city office. The membership of Christian churches was estimated at 0.7% of Japan's population by the Agency of Cultural Affairs in 1993.
Why is COFFEE sometimes served with special brown sugar?
This "coffee sugar" is made of caramel added to granulated sugar which is recrystallized and then cracked. It gives the savory fragrance of sweet caramel and strongly brings out the aroma of the coffee.
Why is a cup of COFFEE so expensive in Japan?
It is not that the coffee is imported or that an excessive duty has been levied on the beans that warrants coffee prices of ¥400 and up at coffee shops. Rather, the charge is better seen as rent: for a very reasonable price, one can sit and recuperate, undisturbed, from the crowds when out shopping, or just sit and read for hours on end, while the waiter or waitress pleasantly refills your glass with water.
Why do ¥5 and ¥50 COINS have holes?
When the Japanese economy was based on the sen (¥0.01) rather than the yen, there were several coins with circular holes in the middle. During the first half of this century the holes disappeared and coins were distinguished by size and material. There was also a time when there were not so many denominations of coins, so one of two distinctions sufficed. Today, however, we have coins of ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, and ¥500 value. Size alone, even with the addition of tooled edges, is insufficient to help the user recognize the denomination. The hole was, therefore, reintroduced to help even people with limited sight distinguish between ¥5 and ¥10 coins and ¥50 and ¥100 coins by feel alone.
Why do so many high school graduates go on to COLLEGE?
According to a 1993 survey carried out by the Ministry of Education, 40.9% of high school grads went on to some form of continued education.
A look at the difference between the average first month's pay for new employees helps to explain the desire to spend four more years in school, in 1992, the average monthly pay for male college grads was ¥ 186,000, while female college grads earned ¥ 180,000. By comparison, male high school graduates earned ¥146,000 as an average starting salary, and their female counterparts made ¥139,000.
Despite the steady advance of salaries in proportion to the length of time people spend in their jobs, the college graduate's wage catches up with that of the person whose education ended with high school, despite the latter's head start on joining the work force.
How long is the average worker's COMMUTE?
A 1990 national survey carried out by the Management and Coordination Agency reports that the average commute (one way) takes between one and one and a half hours for 40% of commuters to workplaces in urban Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. At the same time, for each of the past several years, numbers of commuter passes issued for the shinkansen lines have risen 30% to 50% over the previous year. Thus, while commuting time may not be rising, distances are still growing.
What can you do with a "COMPANION"?
At virtually any large stand-up buffet sponsored by large enterprises or business associations, there is a squad of attractive ladies, not always young, who assist the attendees with finding food and drink. They also serve as conversation partners. Often engaged for the duration of the party, they are only intended to add a feminine touch to the proceedings and are in no way available for further entertainment purposes.
Why are bamboo and streamers attached to ridgepoles of houses during CONSTRUCTION?
When carpenters have completed the framework of a house, they attach bamboo poles with multicolored streamers called gohei (similar to the ones at shrines) to the ridgepole. This practice is intended to invoke divine protection in protecting the builders from misfortune during the remaining construction. There may also be a ceremonial bow and arrow secured to the top of the framework positioned to "shoot down" any potential misfortune that is likely to come from the northeast, considered an inauspicious direction. When constructing a house, the builders usually carry out a ceremony in which the carpenters throw rice cakes from the roof to the crowd below and a small party on the property, where the owner feasts the builders.
Why are dead bodies CREMATED and not buried?
Archaeologists tell us that during the jomon and Yayoi periods, the japanese practiced burial customs similar to those of the West today. That is, bodies were placed in jars or coffins and buried in the ground. This custom began to change after the introduction of Buddhism, which held that the body should be cremated so that its soul could be reborn. Because the imperial family and members of the court were the first to adopt Buddhism, it was among the elite that the custom of cremation first took hold; but with the popularization of Buddhism commencing in the twelfth century, the practice spread to the common people. Cremation remains the almost universal form of corpse disposal in Japan.
Why are the men on Japanese CURRENCY so hairy?
This is not only due to the fact that men in earlier ages wore more facial hair. One of the prerequisites for appearing on the bills is to offer opportunities for lots of detail—whether in the form of a beard, a mustache, or wrinkles—to prevent counterfeiting. Writer Higuchi lchiyo was a candidate in the last selection of people, but she was eliminated from competition not because of her sex, but because she was too much of a beauty.
How did CURRY make its way to Japan?
Curry powder was introduced to Japan in the late Edo period by the English. During the late Meiji period (1868-1912), the Japanese version of curry roux was developed and the dish called karēraisuwas born. The dish has been popular since the 1920s and ranks among the favorite "Japanese dishes" of people of every age group.
What happened to the arms and legs of DARUMA dolls?
Daruma dolls represent the Indian priest Bodhidharma, who founded Chinese Zen Buddhism and is said to have lost the use of his appendages as a result of spending nine years in seated meditation. In Japan, where his name has been transformed into Daruma, his single-mindedness toward achieving a goal has made him an ideal symbol for the fulfillment of a particular wish. Papier-māché daruma are made so that they will right themselves whenever they are tipped over, symbolic of not surrendering to despair when times are tough.
Why do DARUMA dolls have no eyes?
Approximately 80% of the daruma of Japan are produced in Gunma Prefecture in the city of Takasaki. In 1783, nearby volcano Mt. Azuma exploded in a tremendous eruption, leaving the surrounding area barren and suffering from famine. The abbot of a local temple made wooden models of a painting of Bodhidharma and helped poor farmers there make papier-māché dolls as a means of earning a living.
These daruma do not have eyes for several reasons. First, Bodhidharma did not use the visible eye to achieve enlightenment but the eye of the mind. Second, an image of the Buddha is said to come to life only when the eye is painted in. Finally, there is a pun on the sound gan, which can mean either "request" or "eye," depending on the character used to write it.
Dolls depicting Daruma are most commonly used by candidates for political office. The candidate paints in one eye when his campaign begins and the other eye upon winning the election.
Which eye should you fill in first? Facing the daruma, paint in his left eye when you make your wish. Paint in the eye on the right when your wish is fulfilled, then take it to the local shrine or temple as an offering. Daruma and other felicitous ornaments are usually burned in a bonfire at New Year's.
Where did the Japanese names for the DAYS of the week come from?
It seems unclear who declared that Japan would adopt the Western calendar with its seven-day week, but the solar calendar was adopted in 1872. It is also unclear who decided that Sunday would be called nichiyōbi and so on, but the Japanese names of the other days do not follow the English names. Rather, they follow the continental western European model in associating the days with the heavenly spheres in this order: the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn.
Whom do Japanese visit in order to talk to DEAD family members?
Mediums, who gather at Mt. Osore in Aomori Prefecture during the summer festival there, work at helping to establish communication with the other world.
Why do Japanese put out DECORATIONS made of bamboo and pine in front of their houses at New Year's?
The god of the New Year is welcomed at each house because he or she brings good crops, good business, or a good catch of fish, depending on the type of occupation in which the inhabitants of the house engage. The god needs a place to reside during the visit from January 1 through the seventh (in some places until the fifteenth), and the bamboo-and-pine kado-matsu provides those temporary quarters.
How did early DEPARTMENT stores tackle the Japanese custom of "no shoes indoors"?
Through the Meiji period, stores and shops did not, as a rule, put their goods on display. A customer would come and ask to see certain items, then sit in the open area near the entrance of the shop while the clerks went to the storeroom and brought out the merchandise. The Western idea of a department store, where goods are on display and the customer walks abound freely, presented the daunting problem of how to deal with customers' footwear Prior to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, shops provided slippers for customers. This practice, however, often brought about confusion at the entranceway, where footwear was checked and later reclaimed. Even small shops were at a disadvantage because their clerks could only handle limited numbers of pairs of footwear
Finally, not long after the giant earthquake, two big Nihonbashi stores launched a revolution—they let their customers keep their shoes on! As a result, there were no more bottlenecks at the entrance and no more need for clerks to run back and forth to the storerooms.
Why is the "one" spot on Japanese DICE red?
The passion for red began in the middle of this century, when a producer in Wakayama decided to make its product stand out from those of other Japanese producers. As is often the case, other manufacturers simply followed suit, and the red dot became the norm. Dots for the export market, though, are still made with all their dots a uniform black.
What is a "DOCTOR STOP"?
There are times when a physician may prevent an athlete from continuing participation in a competition, or forbid a patient to drink alcohol. This odd combination of English words refers to the advice or stronger admonition of a doctor to avoid a certain activity, food, or beverage. Japanese-language dictionaries list it as a term referring to stopping a boxing match on a doctor's orders, and this would appear to be the origin of the expression.
Who is the most famous DOG in Japan?
This honor undoubtedly goes to an Akita dog named Hachiko, who is commemorated with a statue in the plaza on the east side of the JR station at Shibuya. Legend tells that the dog would go to the station every evening to greet his master and escort him home. Even after his master's demise, Hachiko unfailingly went to the station each evening and waited for train after train, in the process becoming a famous figure. A year after Hachiko died on March 8, 1935, a statue was erected in honor of his loyalty. The current statue dates from after World War II and remains one of the best-known meeting places in Tokyo.
What is the connection between pregnant women and DOGS?
It is believed that dogs bear offspring without great difficulty, so "dog days" are considered auspicious days to visit shrines and purchase amulets for the safe delivery of children.
Why is there a roof over the sumo DOHYŌ?
