ByAdmin
Apr 25, 2018
MBprints T-shirt Print Shop Japan
MBprints is a full service textile t-shirt print shop located in Japan which specializes in garment printing using the highest quality inks, t-shirts and supplies. Custom and/or original printed silk screen t-shirts, polos, hoodies (pull-over, parka), jackets, bags and many other printable items delivered right to your door, with full English support.
Other Services besides t-shirt printing:
- T-shirt and logo design
- Graghic art support
- Event fliers and poster design
- Event planning and support
- Networking
Contact via email: info@mbprints.com
Please also note that reference to any business or organization is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an official endorsement by the H&R Group.
Apr 25, 2018
English Language Kagura Performances in Hiroshima
There are a number of styles of dance and performance around Japan that go by the name of “kagura,” but in western Japan the word almost invariably refers to the lively, narrative performances centered on Shimane prefecture’s famous Izumo Shrine. Long popular throughout the Chugoku region (Hiroshima, Shimane, Yamaguchi, Okayama and Tottori prefectures), in recent decades the style has spread nationwide.
Unlike so many other Japanese folk practices and art forms, Izumo-ryu kagura isn’t a cultural fossil, but a thriving concern that involves regular people of all ages in troupes throughout the region. And as a spectacle, it’s hard to beat. Commonly performed after dark at shrine festivals in both the cities and the deepest countryside, the dances recount folktales and elements of Shinto myth. Children crowd the edges of the stage, ready to scream and fall back in terrified pleasure as demons, bandits or dragons burst onto the scene. Never fear, though. In kagura all these villains are ultimately vanquished and driven away. But only after a great deal of frenzied music, flashing blades, flying sparks and a few taunting challenges by the hero.
Visually, kagura is utterly arresting. And the music, a swirling onslaught of drum, gong and flute, is anything but dull. Where many non-Japanese viewers have difficulty is with the stories themselves. Just what is going on? We’re not familiar with these folktales, and the lines are spoken not only in Japanese, but often from behind masks and by winded performers.
But you’re in luck. For the past several years, Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum has been hosting a regular series of kagura performances for non-Japanese tourists and residents. With the help of no fewer than sixteen local kagura troupes, the performances are performed in Japanese, but are preceded by an English-language introduction to the coming action, and include a running summary of what is happening during the performance itself (on a screen by the stage). After the performance, an interpreter assists with a question and answer session between performers and audience, and visitors can even inspect and try on some of the costumes.
Don’t pass up this chance to get up close to living and local expression of the traditional Japanese arts.
Performances in May 2018
In May, you’ll have three chances to take part. On Sunday, May 6, the Tsunami Kagura Troupe from Aki Oota-cho in northern Hiroshima Prefecture will perform Yamata no Orochi, probably the most famous selection from the traditional repertoire, depicting an epic battle between the storm god Susanoo and an enormous eight-headed serpent.
On Monday, May 21, the same play will be performed, but this time by a troupe from Asakita-ku, giving you a chance to see two different troupes handle the same well-known material.
Finally, on Sunday, May 27, the Ootsuka Kagura Troupe will perform the story Takiyasha-hime, the story of Princess Takiyasha and her quest to avenge the brutal death of her father, a rebel who had established his own province to lessen the burden of the lower classes. The Ootsuka Troupe has been performing for 120 years, and were pioneers in creating the energetic, fast-paced style of kagura that is popular today.
More Information
Time: Doors open at 17:30, performances begin at 18:00, with a question and answer session and opportunities for photos at around 18:45.
Price: 1000 Yen
Location: Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, 2-22 Kaminoboricho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture 730-0014
Website (informative and in English): http://www.hiroshima-kagura.com/
Photo courtesy of author
Apr 25, 2018
Hiroshima Flower Festival 2018
If you’re looking for something to do in Hiroshima over Golden Week, why not consider dropping by the 42nd annual Hiroshima Flower Festival? Each year Hiroshima’s Peace Boulevard is closed to traffic and, for the three days of the festival, is used for parades, dancing, music and food stalls to entertain nearly two million visitors who throng to the city.
The Festival was conceived in the wake of the victory parade held for the Hiroshima Carp following their 1975 Central League Championship. The first Hiroshima Flower Festival was in 1977, and in the decades since it has grown into Hiroshima’s largest event. The theme for the original Festival was:
- Fill Hiroshima with flowers, greenery, and music.
- Share the brightness and dignity of life with all people.
- Appeal for a warm-hearted cultural and personnel exchange from Hiroshima to the world.
In subsequent years, the announced “theme” has continued to focus on flowers. In 2018, 890 entries were accepted from 26 prefectures. The winner, from a 62-year-old resident of Fukuyama, is “A Message to the World of Flowers and Peace.” The festival will include 28 stages, with performances from 243 artists and organizations, including this year’s special guest, the girl’s acapella group “Little Glee Monster.” Elsewhere, performances will range from pop and rock acts to stand-up-comedy and belly-dancing. In the evenings, traditional kagura performances and other concerts are held.
Along the streets, a bewildering array of stalls and attractions will run throughout the day. In addition to standard Japanese festival fare, past trips have turned up stalls selling tacos, Bulgarian rosewater, Tibetan Buddhist devotional items, Turkish kebabs and piles of Malaysian noodles. Many areas are devoted to hands-on activities for children. Craft beer corners, flea market stalls, bouncy castles and, in some years, pony rides stand side by side with booths manned by earnest young people promoting organizations and activities devoted to the full spectrum of social and environmental causes.
And of course, there are the parades. On May 3rd, things kick off with the Flower Parade, in which nearly 9,000 people will walk, dance, march and ride atop floats down the length of Peace Boulevard, including the newly chosen Flower Queen and her entourage, demurely waving to the crowds. Two days later, on the 5th, over 5,000 dancers representing about 90 dance troops will fill the Boulevard for the Yosakoi parade, an especially energetic form of dance that benefits from the presence of college dance teams led by leaping young men and women in bright costume.
And the best thing? In eighteen years of attending the Flower Festival, I’ve never once spotted a clown.
But let me offer a suggestion. The crowds can be oppressive, especially during the parades. If you find a place you like, with a nearby stall or two selling food and drink you enjoy, settle in for a while rather than trying to push up and down the length of the Boulevard. You have three days, and the quieter afternoon hours, to try to take everything in. Some places, like the craft beer area and the larger performance stages, become separate enclaves, with their own particular atmosphere. Consider joining one of these for an hour or so, and let the mood carry you along. And enjoy yourself!
Hiroshima Flower Festival 2018
When: Three days of May 3-5, morning to night
en.japantravel.com/view/hiroshima-flower-festival
http://gethiroshima.com/event/hiroshima-flower-festival/
http://www.hiroshima-ff.com/ (official website, Japanese)
Photo courtesy of author
Apr 25, 2018
Hiroshima’s Miroku no Sato Amusement Park
Tokyo has Disneyland, Osaka has Universal Studios. Hiroshima prefecture has, well, Miroku no Sato.
Despite feeling somewhat like an abandoned theme park that people haven’t quite abandoned yet, Miroku no Sato (the name means Village of the Future Buddha) is a lot of fun, and a bargain to boot. It’s not the easiest place to access from Hiroshima city, but that may be part of what keeps the crowds down. And with plenty of rides and oddly enjoyable, run-down corners to explore, it’s well worth the effort, especially for families.
As you enter, the first thing you’ll find is the food and souvenir concession area. To the left, visible from the gate, are the Wave Swing, the kid-friendly “Imomushi-kun” roller coaster and the ubiquitous and pleasantly nauseating teacup ride. But for the main attractions, you’ll need to continue up the hill and through the second set of gates. On the way, be sure to stop by “Itsuka-kita Machi,” to the right of the path. A rambling tangle of passages takes you through recreated Showa-era classrooms, an entertainment district, a small museum dedicated to telephones and other fascinating piles of rescued treasures. There are snack and noodle shops, a collection of old cinema posters and an area where children can play with real, pre-iPhone games and toys. From the entrance, it may look like something you want to pass by without exploring. That would be a sad mistake.
Entering the main portion of the park, the scene is dominated by the Himalaya Coaster, with 800 meters of track, a steep drop and a multi-loop helix near the end. It’s a surprisingly respectable roller coaster to be standing out in the hills of eastern Hiroshima prefecture, a half hour’s drive from Fukuyama city. There’s also a large ferris wheel that offers wonderful views of the beautiful countryside, one of those swinging pirate ships (my favorite) and something called the “Giant Hammer,” with two cars on swing arms that go higher and higher until they finally turn a full 360 degrees, sometimes leaving the passengers screaming upside down and high in the air as the cars pause long enough to make you wonder if they’ll ever come down again.
A couple of years ago, the park splashed out for a new attraction that I really enjoyed, and would have absolutely loved as a child. It’s called Dino Park. Again, this looks like nothing at all from the entrance, but once you’re through, you’re on a long, rambling walk through the woods, only with electronic dinosaurs that snort and move their heads and tiny, useless arms as you approach. 42 in all, after a recent enhancement. The story that goes with it is a Jurassic Park style breakout, with you stumbling through the aftermath. It’s all pretty entertaining.
There are lots of other rides (GoKarts! Waterslide!), and many more things to try out. Some of the rides have age or height restrictions in place, but the nice thing is how careful the park has been to ensure that smaller children have plenty to enjoy, instead of spending the day either terrified or watching older siblings have a blast without them.
After you’re done, and you’ve bought enough souvenirs to satisfy the gate attendants and gain permission to leave, you may want a nice hot bath. And you can have one! Just outside the park (to the left as you exit the gate) is the Showa-no-yu onsen. I’ve been a number of times, and while it’s not worth a trip for its own sake, it’s a very nice little set-up, with more of the kind of nostalgia on display in the park’s Itsuka-kita Machi. And for what it’s worth, a local dairy sells yogurt drinks from a cold case near the check-in counter, and they’re the best I’ve ever had.
All in all, a very enjoyable and (whenever I’ve visited) crowd-free getaway, perfect for families looking for a day’s fun outside of Hiroshima city.
More Information
Getting there: Buses from JR Fukuyama Station run twice daily on weekdays and 4 times on weekends and holidays, but if you miss the bus (quite likely), it’s probably better to spring for a twenty minute taxi ride than to wait for the next one. Better yet, drive. By car, the park is about an hour and a half from downtown Hiroshima. Take the Fukuyama-nishi exit from the Sanyo Expressway (heading toward Hiroshima Airport), then drive another half hour to reach the park. With Google Maps or a navigation system, it’s easy to find. The address is 638-1, Fujiecho, Fukuyama-city, Hiroshima-prefecture 720-0543.
Hours: 10:00-17:00 most days, but occasionally the park is open a little earlier and closes a little later. Check the calendar on the website to be sure. On rainy days, the Himalaya Coaster and Classic Car convoy will be closed.
Price: First, the park is cash only, and there are no ATMs inside, so come prepared. There are several admission options, but the best by far is the “Free Pass,” which admits you everywhere and as often as you like (except Go Karts, Lucky Maze and Dino Park, which you can only visit once on the pass, alas, though you can always buy another single-trip ticket). The Free Pass is about 3000 yen (3200 for adults, 2900 for children), which may seem steep until you realize there are no 40 minute lines. Scarcely a five minute line. It’s definitely worth it.
Website (Japanese only, but good): https://www.mirokunosato.com/
photo courtesy of author
Apr 24, 2018
Experience a Firelit Noh Performance at Nara’s Kofukuji Temple
Traditional Noh performances might occur at temples across Japan, but Nara’s Kofukuji Temple is the original home of the sacred event, and seeing a performance there is a truly unforgettable experience. Noh, which is derived from a Japanese word meaning “talent,” is a coveted musical drama performance that began in the 14th century and has been passed on ever since. In the beginning, most performances consisted of five Noh plays with comedic interludes, called kyōgen between. Modern Noh performances are a little less of a time commitment, though. These days you can enjoy the preserved art form in a condensed version with two Noh plays and one comedy play.
Each performance is quite the spectacle as the art form blends together the talent of dancers, musicians, costumes, and emotional story lines. One of the most vivid features of the plays is their use of elaborate traditional masks to help convey emotions. These masks, and the actors who wear them, provide an impressive depiction of the lives of ordinary Japanese people during the 12th-16th centuries. Though brushing up on your ancient Japanese language skills would be an added bonus for attending, the dramatic plotline is displayed simply enough to follow along, and the talented actors make up for any confusion.
It’d be hard to find a better setting for these ancient performances than on the lawn in front of the World Heritage Site of Kofukuji Temple. Embracing the temperate spring evening weather, Nara’s Takigi O-Noh theater is open-air. Noh theaters are traditionally built to allow for an intimate audience-performer relationship, and Nara’s temporary outdoor stage really highlights this. Takigi, which means “firewood”, refers to the ancient practice of delivering sacred wood to the theater in order to signify the beginning of a performance. Modern performances at Kofukuji carry this tradition to the present by lighting the stage with large bonfires. The firelit performance enhances the cozy, campfire-like atmosphere of the spring event.
If you wish to make this annual performance (held on the third week on Friday and Saturday of May). a part of your May schedule, make sure to arrive early. The seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis. Though the price tag might make tickets seem a bit unreasonable, seeing how much effort and skills go into each historical performance will undoubtedly leave you feeling grateful for the splurge. Tickets can be purchased early through the Nara City Tourist Information Center or at the temple before each performance.
Place: Kofukuji Temple Noborioji-cho, Nara City (5 minute walk from both JR & Kintetsu Nara Station)
When: Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19 in the evening
Price: 1-day ticket – ¥3,500, 2-day ticket – ¥5,000
Tel: 0742-22-7755
Reference website (English and Japanese): http://www.kohfukuji.com/english.html
By User:Demi~jawiki (Own work (transferred from Japanese Wikipedia)) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Apr 24, 2018
Mie’s Iga-Uena Ninja Festival, and a History of Shinobi
If you were told that there was an annual, family-oriented festival celebrating some of the most feared mercenary assassins and terrorists that the world has ever seen, you’d probably think it was an idea in quite poor taste. However, the Iga-Uena Ninja Fest is endearingly popular, and quite a lot of fun.
About the Iga-Uena Festival
As far back as the Muromachi Period (approximately 1336 to 1573), Iga Province, in modern day Mie Prefecture, was known to be a center for the training of ninjitsu, the strategy of espionage and guerrilla warfare practiced by ninja (also known as shinobi, more on which later).
Today this is celebrated every year with a month long festival dedicated to all things ninja. Predominantly focused towards children, there are all manner of ninja-related events and activities to enjoy.
Firstly, you’ll want to look the part, and all over the town there are shops from which you can rent (for as little as 1,000 JPY) multi-colored ninja outfits in which you can prowl the town. There are outfits for all ages, from adults, down to the smallest of children (adorable!), and even cats and dogs (ridiculous!).
Children of most ages can learn some of the ninjutsu skills for which the ninja were famed. Near Uenoshi Station kids can learn how to throw shuriken (ninja stars), and near Nishi-Ote Station blow fukiya (blowpipe darts) .
Over at Hirokoji Station, things get a little tougher, where climbing skills are put to the test as the little ninja must climb across a suspended horizontal bamboo bar.
Elsewhere around the town there are ninjitsu demonstrations by trained ninja, and various competitions, with some days hosting festival parades. While there are events taking place throughout the month, public holidays will be the time to catch the best shows, so this Golden Week is a great time to check it out.
Iga-Uena Festival Details
- Where: Uenonakamachi, Iga-shi, Mie (map)
- When: April 7 – May 6, 2018
- Website: iga.ne.jp/~ninjafesta/
A Very Brief History of the Ninja
Throughout history, much has been written on the famed ninja. Unfortunately, most of it is at best dramatized, and at worst fabricated, to such an extent that it was believed that they could literally vanish and even walk on water. In fact, very little is truly known about the ninja, which makes sense, really; if you are a highly secretive group of terrorists for hire, it doesn’t really do to write down your exploits or advertise your existence.
Though some evidence of mercenary espionage agents exists going back to the 12th century, it was during the civil unrest of the feuding warring periods that what we in the west now call ‘ninja’, specially trained covert agents, appeared.
A villain from a kabuki drama using ninja talents to disappear and escape.
Though they went by many names, it was under the moniker of ‘shinobi’, meaning “to steal away; to hide”, that they crept into folklore, with the name ‘ninja’ coming from the Chinese reading of the same kanji, and rarely used in Japan, if at all.
Of the most famed – and feared – shinobi were those of the mountainous regions Iga Province and Koka, the latter in modern day Shiga Prefecture, around which specialist training camps sprung up to develop masters in the dark arts of warfare.
Although the practices of espionage and subterfuge were outwardly frowned upon during warfare, with samurai supposedly above such tactics, during the warring Sengoku period, as samurai chiefs fought for supremacy, they would often turn to these highly skilled professional mercenaries to perform tasks too dangerous, difficult and downright crafty for regular soldiers.
While these tasks included the breaching of castle walls when siege activity was unsuccessful, causing commotion behind enemy lines, and assassinations, it was in espionage that they were most utilized. Masters of disguise (that ninja outfit that you see in movies and manga isn’t actually so useful, as covert operatives tend not to be too successful if they are wearing uniforms that scream ‘Look at me, I’m a covert operative!’) they found their ways into enemy encampments where they gathered information on enemy terrain and building specifications, as well as obtaining passwords and communiques.
The Shinobi were so feared that the all-powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga – who is said to have survived multiple shinobi attempts on his life – all but decimated the Iga and Koga clans in the mid-16th century. However, some survived the onslaught, with many fleeing to the mountains, while others approached Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Tokugawa, a man himself not adverse to less-than gentlemanly conduct in wartime, looked favorably upon these highly-skilled covert operatives and recruited many of the shinobi as personal bodyguards and agents of espionage, including the legendary Hattori ‘The Demon’ Hanzo. It is believed that Tokugawa frequently used this covert force as he made his move to take the shogunate, particularly in the Battle of Sekigahara and later the Siege of Osaka.
It is said that in later years the shinobi of the Koga clan who had been taken under the protectorate of the Tokugawa clan turned their unique skills to becoming the basis of Japan’s first secret police, the Oniwaban. Though it has to be said that there is no written direct link to the original shinobi, there is enough circumstantial evidence that strong connections have long been drawn.
More on Ninja
If you want to know more about the shinobi, check out this pretty good four part documentary.
Also, this episode of the History of Japan Podcast is highly recommended, as is the entire podcast series, if you are interested in Japanese history.
Photo: by m-louis .® (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Photo: by calltheambulance (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Photo: by http://isaacmeyer.net/2014/02/episode-41-striking-from-the-shadows/
Apr 23, 2018
Gogatsu Byou – The May Malaise
It is possible that not all is well in your life at the moment. You may have felt a discord, a disharmony. You may feel down, fed up, disheartened. And it’s not just you, but your co-workers, your family, your children are not quite themselves. There is depression in the air. Welcome to gogatsu byou.
Gogatsu byou, or May sickness, is a common malaise that affects millions of Japanese every year, particularly following the Golden Week holidays. While there are a few causes, the main reason behind May sickness is the stresses and strains associated with new beginnings. April in Japan is the start of the new school year, the time when companies take on university graduates and a time when existing staff are reassigned to new departments.
For those concerned this is a time of great stress and upheaval. Initially however it is often masked by the feelings of positivity and optimism that often accompany a fresh start. But soon, an enthusiastic April turns to a miserable May as the initial elation begins to wane. This comedown can manifest itself in various ways; from a general malaise and lack of motivation to severe sleep loss and extreme lack of appetite.
Perhaps those hardest hit by May sickness are the newcomers to the workforce. These fresh-faced men and women have spent their entire lives gearing up for this time: the cram schools, the university exams, the seemingly endless employment seminars. They have finally found their niche in the work force. Their suits are shiny and black. They have business cards, they are meeting clients. They have had one month in this exciting new world and now it is starting to sink in. The suit has lost some of its lustre, the rush hour is a grind. This life, this world, is it. Forever. And who can blame them if the fear is setting in, the crushing realization that the attainment of their dreams is dragging them to the depths of despair.
While these young men and women face the most extreme cases of May sickness, sometimes to the point of tendering their resignation, it is not only those who face upheaval in the workplace who are affected. As well as a marked dropping off in university attendances, many regular workers fall prone to gogatsu byou, as it is often contracted on the final days of Golden Week. As you are probably already too painfully aware, holiday time is minimal in Japan, and the concentrated grouping of national holidays in early May is a great time to unwind. However, the day always comes when it is time to again don the suit and company pin, and it is perhaps okay to resent the onset of rush hour traffic, so much so, that pulling ‘sickies’ is not uncommon, despite the usual Japanese distain for this practice.
But before you start feeling sorry for yourself and take your self-diagnosed sickness to the nearest hospital, you should be aware that gogatsu byou is not a sickness at all, but rather a disorder, and as such there is no medicine, no surgery, no cure. All there is to do is to toughen up, stiffen one’s upper lip and pull one’s self together. It’s time to just get on with it and face work head on, as you always have done. And besides, June is just around the corner bringing the rainy season with it. Which is another cheery thought. Perhaps it is time to apply for that leave of absence after all.
By Mark Guthrie
Photo: by hiroo yamagata, Overworked Workers on Flickr – CC BY 2.0 – modified
Apr 23, 2018
Smoking Alternatives in Japan for World No Tobacco Day
While in some areas such as AI, robotics and technology Japan is considered very much an advanced nation, there are some areas in which the country remains in the dark ages.
A prime example of this is its attitude towards smoking. While in much of the developed world, lighting up in a restaurant or bar will have you frogmarched into the street and hung drawn and quartered, in Japan it is not unusual to see diners happily puffing away between bites of fried chicken and swig of highballs.
This can be pretty shocking for most westerners, even for the smokers amongst us. And while some smokers may feel it a relief from the ostracization they face in their homelands, others may find that that your cigarette consumption goes up dramatically, and you have increased concerns for your health leading to you to want to quit.
So, if you want to give up smoking, why not do so on May 31? World No Tobacco Day is a day dedicated to highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption, which makes it a perfect time to kick the habit.
Of course, giving up cold turkey can be pretty tough, so there are various other ways of doing it. Here are a few options for doing so in Japan.
IQOS
Overwhelmingly the most popular cigarette substitute in Japan, you have probably seen these semi-vaping machines everywhere. According to Philip Morris International “IQOS are sophisticated electronics that heat specially designed heated tobacco units. IQOS heats the tobacco just enough to release a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor but without burning the tobacco.” PMI claims that this heating of miniature tobacco sticks are 95 per cent better for you than the burning of cigarettes.
Personally, as someone who has quit multiple times but gone back to smoking because I missed the taste and the action more than the nicotine, this is the choice that I indulge in, as I find that it has the advantage of tasting like tobacco as well as giving that smoking action that many quitters miss. On top of that, there is no ash, very little smell, and as charging of the aperatus is required between smokes, chain-smoking is minimised.
There are downsides to IQOS, in that it does nothing to help you quit the addictive nicotine, just replacing one addiction for another. Also, it can still be pretty expensive, as the machines can cost upwards of 10,000 JPY, and at 460 JPY the packs of heat sticks are about the same as cigarettes. Additionally, there have been claims that PMI’s assertion of safety is not quite what it’s cracked up to be, but why would tobacco manufacturers lie, right?
E-ciggarettes
While becoming the cigarette substitute of choice around much of the world, e-cigarettes haven’t really taken off in Japan.
The smoking of e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, is inhalation of nicotine infused, flavored ‘e-juice’, that replaces the action of smoking, without many of the health concerns. While the WHO and US medical associations have said that there is not enough evidence as to the health benefits of e-cigarettes, Public Health England stated that e-cigarettes are estimated to be 95% less harmful than smoking. Personally, I couldn’t get on with e-cigarettes, as I found the vapor made me cough, and the oils were often sickly sweet, however friends of mine love them, and my uncle was able to quit his three pack a day habit thanks to vaping.
But if they can be this successful, why aren’t e-cigarettes more popular in Japan? Well, the reason most probably is that in Japan, the vaping oil is nicotine-free. This means that while the smoking action fix is covererd, that nicotine buzz is not there.
However, there are plenty of vaping shops around (and here are a few in Tokyo) if you are interested, and it is possible to order e-juice with nicotine online, though it is in relatively small quanitites.
Patches and gum
Nicotine gum (ニコチンガム, nikochin gamu) and nicotine patches (ニコチンパッチ, nikochin patchi) have long been the staple of those finding it tough to quit smoking cold turkey. These can be found in most pharmacies over the counter. The most popular brand of gum is probably Nicorette, which in 2001 was the first nicotine gum sold OTC in Japan, and Nicotinell is pretty much the main form of patch. 90 pieces of gum will set you back somewhere in the region of 6,000 JPY 14 patches will be around 4,000 JPY in pharmacies, but you may find them for less on Amazon.
If you are not sure what brands of gum or patch you want, tell your pharmacist ‘I want to quit smoking’ (タバコをやめたい Tabako o yametai) and they should be able to help.
Rien Pipe
The Rien Pipe is a collection of 31 filters that you add to the end of your cigarette, each one 3 per cent stronger than the last. The idea is that over 31 days, you gradually ween yourself off of nicotine, and at the end of the month you may be craving free. However, the Rien Pipe is something that I have only ever seen in Japan, and as I have only found articles that are actively promoting it through sales, rather than objective pieces, it’s pretty difficult to tell the veracity of the claims. As such, I can’t really tell how good a recommendation this is, but it is an option.
Your Doctor
By far and away the best choice for those wanting to give up smoking is to speak to your doctor. There are plenty of English speaking doctors in Japan (here is a list for some in Nagoya and Tokyo) and they will be able to give you the best medical advice and options for quitting smoking.
Good luck!
*Please bear in mind that this article is for information only, and the options given are informed by personal opinions and experience of the writer who has no medical training. For definitive and accurate information on this matter please consult a medical professional. Furthermore, the opinions espoused are those of the writer and not necessarily JIS as an organization.
Photo: by http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2017/en/
Photo: by vaping360.com (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com
Photo: by Nicholas King (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com and www.smoketastic.com
Photo: via http://ikumou7.com/aga-tobacco and https://ameblo.jp/kinenkamo/theme-10000261097.html
Photo: via https://supplementpolice.com/rien-pipe-gr/
Apr 23, 2018
Nagoya Antique Fair
No matter how long or short your stay in Japan is, when you eventually end up going home, you really ought to bring a piece of the country back with you as a reminder of your time here. Antiques are perfect for this, as placing an object in your home is not only a daily reminder of your life here, but also a great talking/bragging point for when you have guests over. “What, this old thing? Oh, it’s just an Edo period chest from my time in Japan.”
With such a rich history and a passion for innovation, Japan is a great place to find interesting, beautiful antiques with which to fill your home, and the Nagoya Antique Fair is the ideal place to find them.
Nagoya Antique Fair
At this, the largest antiques fair in the Chubu area, you will find pieces of all kinds of lovely pieces. There are over 220 stalls gathered from all over Japan selling a wonderful selection of antiques from down the ages. No matter what you are interested in: be it furniture, kimonos and paintings, or crockery, swords and armor, you should find something to pique your interest. As well as Japanese artifacts, there are also western antiques from the U.S. and Europe.
Even if you are not interested in buying, just wandering around the stalls is an educational experience, as it provides an insight into the changing culture of Japan from down the ages. At the very least it’s an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, rummaging around in all these wonderful antiques.
Fair Details
- When: May 2-4, 2017, 10:00-17:00
- Where: Fukiage Hall, 2 Chome-6-3 Fukiage, Chikusa Ward (map)
- Website: nagoyakottousai.com
Other Antique Outlets
If you can’t find the time to make it to the Antique Fair, fret not, for there are plenty of other great antique stores in Nagoya.
Antique Market Fukiage
Perhaps the best is Antique Market Fukiage. A stone’s throw from Fukiage Hall, where the Antiques Fair is held, Antique Market is just a short walk from Fukiage Station, and comprises 5 floors of wall to wall things to buy. It will probably take you an hour to peruse it all, and they have everything from cheap little knick-knacks of note to expensive sculpture. Dark woods, mirrors, and stools to make any man wish he had a den! It is a highly recommended destination.
- Where: 7-24 Chikusatori, Chikusa Ward (map)
- Website: antiquemarket.co.jp
Antique Flandre
This store has a great online catalogue with a large selection. If you are looking for 6 chairs, this might be the spot to start. The shop is actually a European antique store with a focus on British, French, Dutch and Belgian furniture.
- Where: 3 Chome-311 Fujimae, Minato Ward (map)
- Website: antique-flandre.com
Osu Kannon Flea Market
The Flea Market at Osu Kannon is held rain or shine on the 18th and 28th of every month like clockwork. If you are in the area this market offers around 60 stalls on average, and is fun to browse due to the eclectic nature of the wares on offer. You never know what you might find in the mishmash of genuine antiques and complete junk, fine art and kitsch, the truly useful and the totally frivolous.
- Where: 2-chome 21-47, Osu, Naka Ward (map)
The following stores can be found by walking along the left side of the JR tracks from Kanayama station. They are all under the tracks, and you can spend quite a bit of time walking in the area. There are several shops that specifically sell antiques, and a selection of other types of shops that make for a great waste of a lazy Saturday!
Nagoya Milky Antiques
- Where: 3 Chome-5-23 Kanayama, Naka Ward (map)
- Website: nagoya-milky.com
Encounter Antiques
- Where: 3 Chome-4-16 Kanayama, Naka Ward (map)
- Website: encounter-nj.com
Photo: by peter-rabbit (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Photo: by TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋) (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Apr 22, 2018
Ukai Cormorant Fishing in Gifu and Aichi
Whether your fish comes from the supermarket or you are a master fisherman who has trawled the seven seas, it is unlikely that you have ever witnessed anything quite like ‘ukai’ cormorant fishing.
What is Ukai?
Ukai is an ancient form of fishing in which master fishermen, ‘ushō’, use trained Japanese cormorants, ‘umiu’, to catch fish. Fishing predominantly takes place at night, when the ushō paddles his 13 meter long ‘ubune’ boat down the darkened river, lit only by a flaming basket that hangs from the helm. Then with the fish – mostly Ayu, a sweet fish delicacy – attracted to the blaze, the fisherman releases his gulp* of cormorants into the water.
The large birds are tethered by a cord to the fisherman’s wrist at one end, and to a ring around its throat at the other. The ring is large enough that it can feed on smaller fish but, importantly, restricts its ability to swallow the larger ones, meaning it returns to the boat releasing the fish up to six at a time into the fisherman’s catch before diving once more. This does sound like a somewhat cruel practice but the birds, which often live in the ushō’s home, can live for up to 20 years, four times that of cormorants in the wild.
The tradition has been enjoyed for many generations and is so indentured in Japanese culture that it has given rise to the phrase ‘unomi’, to swallow like a cormorant, and thus to accept something without question.
History of Ukai in Gifu City
Ukai has a more than 1300 year history in Japan, most famously along the Nagara River that runs through Gifu City. The ukai in Gifu is held in such high regard that it fell under the patronage of the Imperial household. The ushō were given the hereditary title of “Cormorant Fishermen of the Imperial Household Agency,” and the first catch of every year was sent to the Imperial household. Both customs exist to this day.
Initially the practice was simply a way of fishermen to feed their families, but soon an industry grew along the Nagaragawa, with processing factories enabling the catch to be sold to customers at great distances. Eventually, however, as industrial fishing practices developed the need for cormorant fishing declined. It does continue to this day, with the Imperial titles being passed from father to son, but it is predominantly a tourist draw.
Watching the Ukai fishermen was a popular pastime of feudal era lords and has continued to be so throughout recent history, enthralling thousands of people down the ages including the famous Edo period poet Matsuo Bashō, and British silent movie star Charlie Chaplin. For many Japanese, the viewing of ukai is considered a rarified experience, and if one can claim to have watched the ancient skill, they will be held in high regard.
As well as watching the fishermen at their trade, the experience is one to be enjoyed at leisure, with food and drink, as if one were at a dinner show of performance art. Which, in some ways, you perhaps are.
Seeing Ukai in Gifu City
The ukai season runs from May 11 to October 15 – except on days of heavy rainfall and on the night of the Harvest Moon – and on every night from 18:15 (or 18:45 on weekends) you can witness this ancient festival in one of two ways.
By Boat: Perhaps the best way to see the action is by boat, floating down the river alongside the 13 metre long ubune, giving you a fantastic up-close view of the birds in action. Some boats, which can be organised through the Gifu City Ukai Boat Office or nearby hotels, include a dinner service, while others allow you to bring your own food and drink (I can recommend getting takeaway from the nearby Chinese restaurant).
- Website: www.gifucvb.or.jp
- Telephone: 058-262-0104 （Gifu City Ukai Boat Office）
- Map
Nagaragawa Promenade: If you do not want the expense of the tourist boats, or are restricted by time you can view the ukai from the Cormorant Fishing Viewing Zone on the Nagaragawa Promenade. While this does not gain you such great access as the boats, it is free, and you are able to come and go as you please.
Ukai in Inuyama
While not as famous as Gifu, ukai has existed along the Kiso river in Inuyama for just as long. If you wish to view it here there are tour boats available from June 1 to October 15, including daytime visits that are, while not quite so spectacular, much more convenient for those with smaller children.
- Website: ml.inuyama.gr.jp
- Telephone: 0568-61-2727
- Map
*There is, perhaps, no collective noun more appropriate than a gulp of cormorants!
Mark Guthrie
Photo: by Vanessa (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Photo: by madika (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Photo: by Vanessa (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
Photo: by jolene (CC BY-SA 2.0) via flickr.com -Modified
