Sunday, November 29, 2009
二十ねんごのわたし
こどものあさごはんとひるごはんをつくりますから、まいにちごぜん六じはんにおきます。はやいですね。こどもは日本りょうりがすきです。日本りょうりの中で、カレーライスとおにぎりがいちばんすきです。おいしいですね。それから、こどもはバスでがっこうへいきます。おっととちかてつでしごとへいきます。ちかてつはタクシーよりやすいです。しごとはときどきたいへんですが、いつもおもしろいです。
しゅうまつにかぞくとCentral Parkへあそびにいきます。なつにさんぽします。ふゆにアイススケートをします。ニューヨークのせいかつはたのしいですね!
Monday, November 23, 2009
せんりゅう
おもしろいうんこのアニメ
Synopsis: “Unko-san,” a new anime series about a brown turd-shaped fairy with lots of luck, is fast becoming the rage among high school girls in western Japan. Short episodes of the anime are now showing in the Osaka area on Kansai TV’s “Otoemon” music program. The stories revolve around Unko-san — whose name is a play on the Japanese words for “luck” (un) and “crap” (unko) — and his quest for happiness on Lucky Island, which is populated by a host of other poo fairies.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Katakana Analysis
One of my favorite stores, ユニクロ, uses the Katakana alphabet. ユニクロ is a trendy expression that stems from the english words, "Unique Clothes." Due to its foreign root words, it is written in Katakana. Additionally, many brand names are often written in Katakana so that they can standout and be more memorable for consumers. The straight and simple lines of katakana are visually edgier than the curved hiragana alphabet or complicated kanji characters.
Katakana is also used to express onomatopoeia like ドキドキ or ハラハラ, which both refer to the sounds of a throbbing heart going pit-a-pat. I found these auditory words in the song, Automatic by 宇多田ヒカル. Using Katakana to express sounds helps these non-real words to stand out in the song. Onomatopoeia are very common in songs by 宇多田 ヒカル as she utilizes language to contribute to the catchy rhythm of her up-beat tunes. While most people agree that katakana is used for emphasis, onomatopoeia, and foreign words, each textbook has a slightly different explanation of katakana because the role of this alphabet has changed over the course of history lending to no concrete function. During the Heian period from the late 8th to 12th century, katakana with its straight, masculine lines was the alphabet for men while the curvy shaped hiragana was reserved for women. Only in more recent times did the role of katakana change into the alphabet for loanwords.
日本はときどきおかしいですね。。。
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
宝塚歌劇団 (たからづかかげきだん)。。。Takarazuka Revue
Thursday, October 8, 2009
焼うどんはとてもおいしいです。
いっただきます!
(From: Fukuoka Dreaming)
Here is another Japanese Fried Noodle Recipe, this time using Udon instead of Soba (For the yakisoba recipe click here). Udon are thick wheat-flour noodles popular in Japanese cuisine. We will also use peperoncino for a unique taste. This is perfect for those days when you are in a hurry or have only a few ingredients left in your refrigerator.
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 80-100g of Cabbage leaves
- 50g of Onion
- 30g of Bacon
- 1 pack of Fresh Udon noodles or boiled frozen Udon noodles
- 1 clove of Garlic
- 1 big spoon (15ml) and 1 small spoon (5ml) of Olive oil
- 1 Dried chili
- Grinded rock salt (normal salt is also ok.)
Cooking
1. Cut Cabbage coarsely, slice onion, cut bacon into 2cm strips, chop garlic.
2. Heat 1 big spoon of olive oil in the pan and add garlic and chili. If you prefer a spicier taste, tear the chili into 2-3 portions and put into the pan, including seeds.
3. When garlic turn into brownish, add bacon and onion and stir until onion turns translucent.
4. Add cabbage leaves and 40ml of hot water then cover the pan. Cook for 3min.
5. Add Udon noodles, then mix and sprinkle salt.
6. Transfer to a plate and add a small spoon of olive oil.
Monday, September 28, 2009
...どうしてですか。
Well, I am half-Japanese. But I cannot speak the language. Although I have been very fortunate to visit Japan and my Japanese relatives many times, I still do not know Japanese, and my inability to converse with my grandparents and the rest of my dad's side of the family is incredibly frustrating. I would really like to become fluent in Japanese (eventually) and possibly live in Japan for awhile after college (or study abroad). Besides finding part of my identity in Japan, I absolutely LOVE Japanese culture. The food. The music. The immaculate and always on time subway system. The food. The crazy hairstyles. Anime. The dramas. Oh, and did I say the FOOD?!? While I am pretty well versed in culinary lingo, this year I want to expand my vocabulary and the range of grammar structures I can employ in conversations. Also, I am excited (albeit slightly intimidated) to begin learning kanji.
The first couple of weeks of class have been a little shaky for me. I seem to have forgotten much of the vocabulary from last spring; however, it's all slowly coming back to me. I just need to study and practice more.
Lastly, what truly inspires me to learn Japanese is TV game shows like this (one of my favorite youtube videos of all time!!!):
じこしょうかい
おはようございます。はじめまして。
わたしはあだちみちえです。じゅうきゅうさいです。
わたしはコロンビアだいがくのにねんせいです。
わたしはりょうりがあまりじょうずじゃありませんから、




