culNowadays, it seems like everyone has an opinion. Which is fine. But, there are so many sides to every argument. Who’s side are you on? When I was a kid, we moved from Honolulu to Tokyo because of my dad’s job. Growing up my siblings and I attended an international school. There were kids from …
Do you believe in destiny? Do you think you have a soulmate? In Japan, it is believed that some of us are destined to be with a particular partner in this life. An invisible red string connects your fingers together. This is called the red string of fate. In Japanese, they say, “Akai ito de …
Asian Folklore of the Red String of Fate – Akai Ito Read More »
Omiyage, is the Japanese custom of gifting that is ingrained in our culture. When we are invited over to someone’s home for a meal or any occasion, we often bring food or a small gift for the host. Gifting is a part of many cultures. This was very apparent when I met my Persian girlfriend. When …
Ikebana is the known as Japanese flower arrangement. As a student of ikebana of many years, I want people to know that ikebana is not just a flower arrangement, it is an art form and a philosophy that captures a part of Japanese culture. Ikebana began over 600 years ago when the Buddhist monks placed …
My very limited knowledge of tattoos comes from my experience of growing up in Tokyo. In Japanese, the word for tattoo is irezumi, 入れ墨。The first two characters together, ire(ru) means, to put in, to place or to insert. The second, sumi, is ink. So, it’s the insertion of ink. During the Meiji era, tattoos in …
The Cultural Perception of Tattoos or Irezumi in Japan Read More »
Today I heard that a friend of mine is going to be a new grandparent! How exciting to welcome new life into this world! It just seems like yesterday when my husband and I were going to be new parents. With each birth, I experienced excitement and anxiety combined with the physical discomforts of pregnancy. Welcoming our little babies …
How Do We Teach Asian Respect to Children in Today’s World Read More »
The first Japanese immigrants to the United States came in the late 1800’s. Like my maternal great-grandparents from Hiroshima, most were farmers searching for better opportunities, mainly in hopes to make a buck abroad and to go home to a better life. But, life had other plans for them. Many never made it back to …
Now that Christmas has come and gone, in a Japanese household, we have to start thinking of the biggest holiday of the year, New Years or Oshogatsu. January 1st, is called Gan jitsu. In the olden days, it was thought that the new year’s god, Toshigami-sama, brought happiness and good harvest. So, to welcome this …
In Asia, blessings are part of our culture, woven into our lives. In Japan we call them omamori, meaning to protect. This type of amulet is not thought of as religious, but its practice is more on a spiritual level. Sometimes when we feel the need of support from the universe, we buy for them …
In Japan, there are a few etiquette rules when using chopsticks. Although I grew up in a Japanese-American home, there were some rules that my Japanese girlfriends kindly pointed out to me because I did a few of the taboos, simply out of ignorance. Here are a few that I think are good to know. …
Many in the West may know the 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. It states that “80 percent of the results are achieved by 20 percent of the group or 20 percent of your effort will generate 80 percent of your results.” According to the Wikipedia ” Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, observed in 1906 that 80% …
There are many legends of the origin of silk, but this story from the American Museum of Natural History is my favorite . Empress Xi-Ling, was drinking hot tea under the mulberry bush when a cocoon dropped into her tea cup. When she attempted to pick it out of her cup, a strand began unraveling from …
https://www.flickr.com/people/55663585@N00 photo by tetu The crane is a majestic bird that is a favorite subject in many Asian paintings. Although there are many species of cranes, in Asia it’s usually the red crown crane that is depicted. The long white neck and torso, contrasting black legs and head is topped with a red crown. Their …
photo by Stephane D’Alu Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk traveling back from China during the 12th Century. Since then, Zen teachings have become deeply engrained in Japanese life and culture. Ikebana (art of flower arrangement), chado (way of tea), and martial arts are a few examples of how Zen Buddhism …
In karma, your actions whether good or bad will come back to you. Most Asians do believe in karma as it’s part of our culture, imbedded in how we were raised rather than a religious issue. As a young child I didn’t know what karma was but in our Japanese-American home we knew what “bachi” …
image: Shibuya 246 Many years ago when I was a young parent, my son attend a Japanese kindergarten that had an enrollment of 400 students! These children were between the ages of 3 and 6. You’d imagine the place to be utter chaos, but instead, it was full of life, energy and fun! What was …
