What is "sekihan" or "osekihan"?
Sekihan or osekihan is a typical celebratory rice dish served on special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and festivals. Glutinous rice is steamed with red beans and takes on a pinkish color from the liquid that comes out of the beans. Sekihan always has something to do with happy occasions, so it is had by […]
What is "Nengajo?" In Japanese business, it is essential practice.
Nengajo is translated as New Year’s Cards in English and its shortened form, “gajo,” is also used. The custom of sending nengajo traces back to the Meiji period (1868-1912), when postcards were first issued in Japan. Until then, people visited their relatives and acquaintances to greet them at the New Year, but nengajo enabled people […]
What is AKB48? Why is it popular? Part of Japanese show business
Watching an AKB48 concert is like spending time at a French maid café – except better. This explains why while pretty French maidens are desperately handing out flyers on the main strip of Akihabara’s Electric Town while the tiny AKB 48 Theatre is packed with fans. AKB48 is a group of 48 young female entertainers […]
What is Japanese people’s attitude toward work?
1. I can get something other than money. (2) 2. I have misgivings about the future of my work. (1) 3. I want to keep the same job for a long time. (5) 4. I am looking for a job that suits me or one I enjoy. (3) 5. I want to experience various kinds […]
Exploring the Source of Motenashi, Japanese-style Hospitality
Exploring the Source of Motenashi, Japanese-style Hospitality Why do Uniqlo’s services captivate people around the world? Japanese-style services are now drawing envious stares from many countries. Despite the fact that there are cultures of hospitality all over the world, why does only the Japanese one attract people’s attention? How different is Japanese hospitality from that […]
What is “karaoke”?
カラオケ “karaoke” Karaoke is a compound term consisting of kara, which means “empty”, and oke, which is short for “orchestra.” It has become popular now all over the world. In karaoke, people sing along to music from which the vocals have been deleted. The song lyrics are displayed on a video monitor. Karaoke rooms, where people […]
What is Hayashi Rice? Was a Mr. Hayashi the First Person to Make Hayashi Rice?
A Couple of Theories Behind the Invention of Hayashi Rice Hayashi rice (hashed beef rice) is prepared by simmering sauteed beef and onion in a demiglace and tomato sauce or demiglace and red wine sauce and ladling this over rice in the same way as curry rice. There are various theories about the origin of […]
What is "Omiai" in Japan?
見合い “miai” Miai is the first formal meeting between a man and a woman who are seeking marriage partners. A go-between arranges the miai and fixes the date and place. The man and woman later report their impressions of the other indirectly through that person. A marriage arranged through miai is called miai-kekkon (an arranged marriage). […]
Manga is not only for kids but adults in Japan
Scattered around my living room bookshelf, my bathroom and even on my dining table are essay collections about life on a dairy farm in Hokkaido, being a poor but well-fed student in Italy and the awkward social skills of “technie” engineers. Comical, heartwarming and sometimes provocative essays about unique experiences are written in most languages. […]
Staple-free Stapler in Japan
With the ongoing campaign to sort waste for more efficient recycling --- as well as wider utilization of paper shredders --- more people are opting not to use metal stables when fastening sheets of paper. Now “Harinacs” from stationery maker KOKUYO has introduced a new system that enables neat fastening of papers using the paper […]