Little Japan Dictionary

オノマトペ -Onomatopoeia No. 3

21st July – 文月

オノマトペ (=Onomatopoeia) describes sounds, moves, conditions in words, especially in Japanese there are heaps オノマトペ exist used in everyday conversation. This blog previously has introduced about オノマトペ several times and this is going to be No. 3!

Many Japanese use オノマトペ properly in the different occasions – adapting オノマトペ to explain exact situation. For instance, just talking about the verb ‘walk’ =歩く (Aruku) can use following オノマトペ to describe the legit situations:

動詞：歩く　(Verb: Walk)

てくてく歩く (Teku-teku aruku): continuously walking the long distance, cheerfully

2. すたすた歩く(Suta-suta aruku): walk lightly and quickly

3. よちよち歩く(Yochi-yochi aruku): babies trying to walk

4. うろうろ歩く(Uro-uro aruku): walking the same places without purpose, wandering around

5. どすどす歩く (Dosu-dosu aruku): making loud noise while walking (floor vibration), when huge person walks, or angry person walks

6. とぼとぼ歩く(Tobo-tobo aruku): walk sadly and slowly, downhearted

7. のそのそ歩く (Noso-noso aruku): slow and dull walk

8. ふらふら歩く(Fura-fura aruku): nearly fall, sick and unstable walk

9. ぶらぶら歩く(Bura-bura aruku): walk around without purpose, stroll around

10. とことこ歩く(Toko-toko aruku): walking with short and quick steps, lightly

and more!

Just talking about walking, there are so many different オノマトペ to describe the details of the conditions. More examples are:

動詞：食べる (Taberu=Eat)

-ガツガツ食べる (Gatsu-gatsu taberu): devouring, when very hungry and starving

-パクパク食べる (Paku-paku taberu): eat vigorously without stopping

食べる

-クチャクチャ食べる (Kucha-kucha taberu): eating with mouth open, making chewing sounds

-ムシャムシャ食べる (Musha-musha taberu): enagetically eating quickly, when hungry

動詞：話す (Hanasu=Speak)

-はきはき話す (Haki-haki hanasu): talk cheerfully, clearly

-ぼそぼそ話す (Boso-boso hanasu): talk unclearly with low voice

-ぺらぺら話す (Pera-pera hanasu): non-stopping talk, word comes out one after another

-ぶつぶつ話す (Butsu-butsu hanasu): mumbling, complaining

-ひそひそ話す (Hiso-hiso hanasu): whispering, talk behind people’s back

-くどくど話す (Kudo-kudo hanasu): talk persistently, talk slow and long

-ずばずば話す (Zuba-zuba hanasu): talk without hesitation, talk mercilessly

オノマトペ is very useful when describing one’s exact feelings, moves and occasions. BUT, now it is obvious that learning Japanese needs a lot effort!

お守り (Omamori) – Amulet

20th July – 文月

Most Japanese have had at least one in their life – お守り(Omamori = Amulet), is the sacred familiar item sold in shrines. お守り sold at shrines receive worships and wishes from prayer and that ritual gives god power dwell inside.

Nowadays, there are various types of お守りspecific for each wishes, such as

健康祈願 (Good health)

恋愛成就 (fulfillment in love)

金運上昇 (great money lack)

交通安全 (road safety)

合格祈願 (success in examinations)

Having the right お守り is believed to make the wish comes true.

People generally purchase new お守りwhen they go to 初詣 (Hatsumoude) each year.

Most common style is pouch amulet and it is tied up at the top with strings. This stands for keeping the power of god inside. お守り acts as a substitute for you and protect from disasters and bad lacks.

Opening お守り is breach of manner and strongly unrecommended to do so. This is because if opening お守り, inside will be violated and it will lose the power.

It is said that the best way to receive the power from god is to hang it from neck, however if it is unrealistic to do so, you can just carry it with you all the time. Or locating it at noticeable, bright and high spot in the house. In either case, treating it carefully and courteously in order to get the best help from gods. お守り watches over the owners, so it should be kept close to the owner all the time.

There are no expiry date for お守り, but it is believed to be good to return お守り after one year.

When the wish comes true before a year, people go back to the shrine where they bought the amulet and return the amulet back. Normally you should return it to the exact shrine where you bought the amulet, but if it is too far or have some reason you cannot go back, it is accepted to return the amulet to the other shrine.

風鈴 (Fuurin) – Wind Chime

19th July – 文月

風鈴 (Fuurin) is a type of wind chime which creates gentle calm sounds. It has 3 parts – 鐘 (Kane) as a bell part to make the sounds, 舌 (zestu) to hit the bell and 短冊 (Tanzaku) to catch the wind.

When the wind blows, 風鈴 (Fuurin) makes beautiful sounds. As being Japanese, 風鈴 is associated to summer and when hearing its sounds, the temperature around somehow feels cooler. This strange phenomenon happens to many Japanese because their brains judge like this;

風鈴 rings → there are winds → wind makes the air cooler → temperature gets lower

Moreover, the sounds 風鈴 makes have a healing effects so listening that gentle sounds makes people relax and comfortable.

Back in the old time, 風鈴 was used for fortune-telling in China. It was called 風鐸 (Fuutaku), bell-shaped and made of bronze. by using 風鐸 to check the direction of wind and how it sounds, fortune tellers predicts good and bad lacks.

Then, it was introduced to Japan from China, and used as an amulet. It was believed that staying in the area where the sounds of 風鈴 can be heard, 風鈴 would protect people from disasters.

At that time, 風鈴 made of glass was extremely valuable therefore it was sold few million Japanese yen ($10,000~higher).

In Japan wide, there are workshop studios where provide lessons to make glass 風鈴, thus when you have a chance, it would be nice to visit one of those and make your own 風鈴 to bring back home.

かき氷 (Kakigoori) – Shaved ice

18th July – 文月

かき氷 (Kakigoori) – shaved ice with sweet syrup on the top. South Korea and Taiwan has their own style Kakigoori as well and those has been trending in the Asian countries. There are some specialty shops only providing Kakigoori and those opens whole seasons even in the winter.

かき氷 have existed in Japan since Heian era, when there were no freezer. At that time, only upper ranked people and nobles could taste it, because ice was very precious.

Using a little bit melted part of ice, is the key for making the ice fluffy. If using unmelted ice, it gives rough ice and will give a brain freeze.

It is almost definite to see かき氷 food stall in Natsumatsuri. かき氷 is one of the symbols of summer in Japan. If you have a chance to go to Natsumatsuri, you should try it to feel the Japanese summer. (Even though the cost of goods purchased is one of the lowest! – not a surprise as かき氷 is made from ice)

花火 (Hanabi) – Fireworks

17th July – 文月

In Natsumatsuri (Summer festival), you can often see the colorful huge fireworks shining up the dark sky. Even it is common to do small fireworks with family in the riverside.

The first 花火大会 (Hanabi Taikai = Fireworks festival) started in 1733, at Sumidagawa, Tokyo. The small company called 鍵屋 (Kagiya) is the first ever fireworks merchant in Japan and they shot the fireworks as an entertainment. In contrast, the rival company of Kagiya called 玉屋 (Tamaya) also started to launch fireworks on the other side of Sumidagawa and competed which company could make the better fireworks. Still nowadays, when fireworks appears in the sky, people might say ‘玉屋、鍵屋 (Tamaya, Kagiya)’ – this derives from the competition they did back in 300 years ago. Audiences used to yell the better company’s name to cheer their great works.

Kagiya still exists in Tokyo and is inherited to descendant, however Tamaya isn’t. This is because Tamaya caused fire in the area back then and lost their fame.

The root of launching fireworks in summer time is to reposing the departed soul – for the people who died due to plague and famine. The fire is believed to burn the impurity and shine the darkness, therefore it is treated as sacred.

For the family fireworks kit sold in summer time, there are various range of fireworks included. For instant:

-手持ち花火 (Temochi Hanabi): Hanabi that have a handle, so you can enjoy the handy fireworks. Some have fruits smells, sparkles or colors.

-ロケット花火 (Rocket Hanabi): Hanabi that should be located away from you and after several seconds it goes up to the sky. Small and it sometimes has sounds.

-回転花火 (Kaiten Hanabi): Hanabi which whirl around when you set the fire. The move looks like a mouse so some are called ネズミ花火 (Nezumi Hanabi).

-線香花火 (Senkou Hanabi): Smallest fireworks with a ball at the tip which gives small sparkles. When it finishes the ball falls down so people often compete who can hold it for long.

This year, same as the Natsumatsuri, Many of 花火大会 are cancelled. Nevertheless, the family small firework kits are available in many stores. Why don’t you try those one this year and wait for the huge fireworks for next year!

夏祭り (Natsumatsuri) – Summer Festival

16th July – 文月

It is almost the season of Summer festival, 夏祭り (Natsumatsuri) which are normally carried out around the end of July to end of August in Japan. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the Natsumatsuri on this year have cancelled. It is understandable and quite clever decision, but still sad!

Reason of conducting Natsumatsuri

As most of the seasonal festivals in Japan have its own meaning of conducting them, so does Natsumatsuri. Natsumatsuri is held in order to wish for the god to protect crops from summer natural disasters and pests. In summer season, there are many typhoons attacking to Japan and many harmful pests eating the crops. Moreover, Natsumatsuri has another meaning, that praying for gods to protect people from bad sickness, since many people get sick due to the hotness.

御神輿 (Omikoshi)

When you go to the Natsumatsuri, you might be lucky enough to see the portable shrine-look Omikoshi, with many people carrying it together. Omikoshi is the vehicle for god and people carry it in the town close from the shrine. By carrying Omikoshi in the area, it is believed to absorb bad lucks in the town and listen to the wishes from the villagers.

屋台 (Yatai)

屋台 (Yatai) stands for the food stalls and there are variety kinds of food available in the Natsumatsuri. For instance:

たこ焼き (Takoyaki) – octopus balls

焼きそば (Yakisoba) – fried noodles

綿菓子 (Watagashi) – coton candy

りんご飴 (Lingo Ame) – candied apple

焼きとうもろこし (Yaki Toumorokoshi) – grilled corn

かき氷 (Kakigoori) – shaved ice

There used to be many Yatai in normal days in Japan, however because of the hygienic reasons, most Yatai vanished from towns and only in the Natsumatsuri day, they come outside and sell foods. Therefore, buying food in Yatai and eat while walking in the Natsumatsuri day is a special thing for most people nowadays.

It is said that god likes places where many people gather. Going to the Natsumatsuri makes us excited and it also makes gods happy! Hopefully by next year, this world virus situation gets better so people can enjoy Natsumatsuri:)

絵文字 (Emoji) 顔文字 (Kaomoji)

15th July – 文月

The commonly used word “Emoji” is actually Japanese, 絵 (E) as drawings, 文字 (Moji) as Words.

Nowadays there are various emojis that we can use in the text, this made our communication a lot easier and more emotional – including emojis, it is easier to express the feeling in texts, with less misunderstandings.

In the ancient time before the words were created, people used to draw things to tell the stories, to communicate. After thousands years, we have come back to the original and use Emoji to efficiently communicate without talking.

Even the word “Emoji” comes from Japanese, the first Emoji prototype wasn’t invented by Japanese – Scott Fahlman from USA used 🙂 and 😦 for the first time in 1982.

Later on, Japanese engineer Taishi Wakabayashi used (^_^) in 1986. You can see the smiling face by looking straight front, unlike the 🙂 and 😦 looking from sideways. This type of facial emoji prototype is called “顔文字 (Kaomoji)” in Japanese, as 顔 (Kao) means face.

Then, Shigetaka Kurita from Japanese phone company invented the first colorful and various shaped Emoji to use on the phone.

Many people might use 絵文字, but probably 顔文字 might not so familiar.

Here are some examples of 顔文字

(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) – excited

Σ（ﾟдﾟlll） – shocked

( ；∀；) or (T_T) – crying

＼(^o^)／　 – yay

ε=ε=ε=ε=ε=ε=┌(;￣◇￣)┘ – run away

m(._.)m – sorry

(//∇//) – shy

There is a mark ^_^ on Japanese keyboard (*iphone) so you can use them in text without typing from the scratch!

日本のジェスチャー (Nihon no gesture) – Japanese body language

14th July – 文月

Body language in different countries vary. Japan also has its own way of body language that can have opposite meaning to the other country.

Ok, now please guess what each body languages mean:

-Facing palm to the other person who you want to communicate

-moving hands up and down

(In America, this action means ‘go away’.)

Pointing own nose with index finger

– Bringing palm in sideway in front of your face

-moving hand right and left several times

(In the other countries, this body language can mean ‘smelly’)

-Putting fist in front of your face (facing finger side to the other person you wish to communicate)

-raising pinkie finger up

-Putting fist in front of your face (facing finger side to the other person you wish to communicate)

-raising thumb up

Do you know how to count numbers (1-10) with fingers in Japan?

Did you guess them all? Let’s see the answers!

1. 手招き (Temaneki= beckoning) ‘Come here’

2. 私？ (Watashi = me) ‘Are you talking about me?’

3. いいえ (Iie = no) / 結構です (Kekkou desu = no thank you) / 違います (Chigaimasu = Wrong) ‘No no no!’

4. 女 (Onna= female) / 彼女(Kanojo = girlfriend) ‘Do you have a girlfriend??!’

5. 男 (Otoko = male) / 彼氏 (Kareshi = boyfriend) ‘did you go out with a man yesterday?!?’

(1) raise index finger

(2) raise index and middle fingers

(3) raise index, middle and ring fingers

(4) raise index, middle, ring and pinkie fingers

(5) raise all fingers showing palm

(6) fold thumb

(7) fold thumb and index fingers

(8) fold thumb, index and middle fingers

(9) fold thumb, index, middle and ring fingers

(10) fold all fingers showing fist

Are there any body languages that mean the same as your country?

日本の田舎あるある (Nihon no Inaka Aru Aru) – Common things in Japanese countryside

13th July – 文月

Most people firstly think of Japan as Tokyo, Osaka views – huge buildings lined up and people tightly packed in the busy trains. However, if going some distance away from the metropolis, people might surprise there are many green nature views spread around.

Now in Japan it is trending to move to countryside (田舎: Inaka) – people who get tired of busy life in urban area (都会: Tokai) are willing to live in the slower, quieter place.

In today’s blog, I would like to introduce you common things that often be seen in the 田舎. I live in countryside so all those apply to my life in Japan. It can be both good and bad to live in the countryside!

Veggies and Fruits in front of your house

In 田舎, many people grow crops and they harvest so much at once, thus they kindly give them to the neighbors – all at the same time as the harvesting season is the same in the same area! If the neighbor is absent in the house, they just leave the veggies in front of the door, but most likely house owners know who left the veggies for them! Very strong connection between people in the same village.

Right now, many grandmother, grandfather around my village share cucumber to the neighbor houses…Not sure I can finish them all before they go bad!

Crazily exceptional-priced crops

Because the harvesting season is the same (planted at the same time), crops can be taken all at once. Thanks to that, we can get cropos at very very cheap cost in the countryside – For instance, you can get 3eggplants for $1 while in the city it might costs five times higher.

Or even you can have fresh seasonal crops for free as neighbors share them with you!

無人販売店 (Unattended shops) next to the crop fields

When you visit countryside, you should often come across the view with full of veggies and one piggy bank on tables, saying all 100yen ($1) – No sellers attended! This can only be done with high trust in the villagers, and it is normal for them to think others are conscience. So if you are a bad person, do not go there please!!!

You wake up because of the sounds of bugs / animals

This can be very annoying especially in the rainy season (right now), endless singing by frogs in the near rice field, puzzling over villagers! In the autumn, this is replaced by crickets… But thinking positively, it is very tasteful to hear the sounds, since this reminds people of the season each year and also the memories they have in the special time back then!

You definitely cannot miss a public transportation

This is a must to follow if you live in the countryside. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS VERY, VERY LIMITED!!! If you miss the one you are supposed to take, you gotta wait for hour to catch the next one… or even worse, no more trains are available. So make sure to have enough time to be at the station in time!

Vending machine for brown rice?!

Looks like an ATM, public bathroom or small shelter but actually it is a place where has a machine to clean the brown rice to make white rice. This place is called コイン精米所 (Coin Seimai Jo) and it is like a definition that if there are コイン精米所 in your town, your place is defined as 田舎!

Inaka-Badasses tradition

Typical 田舎 badasses (called ヤンキー (Yankee) in Japan) have special style: wear school uniform pants very lower down the waist, wear short school vest (they cut their own uniform to make it short), raise the handle of the bicycle (Mantis-handle lol)! It is funny that there is a distinguishing difference between Yankee in the city and countryside (city Yankee often do not look like 田舎ヤンキー). …and when they grow up, they find out their cocky juvenile mistakes haha

Well, there are more common things across in 田舎, but I will stop now!

Those facts are very common in many 田舎 (＊might not apply to all 田舎).

It is mostly true that there are warm and close relationships between villagers in the countryside. Conversely, everybody in town knows about you, so you cannot do any bad!

Which life style would you choose: Convenient life in the metropolis, or friendly atmosphere in the countryside life?

案山子(Kakashi) – Scarecrow

12th July – 文月

When you see the scenery of countryside in Japan, often 案山子 (Kakashi) stands in the rice fields and protects crops from birds – Rice field farmers cannot monitor the field 24 hours a day, they rely on Kakashi.

The origin of the name ‘案山子:Kakashi’ was brought to Japan by the Chinese monk in the old time. Actually 案山子 cannot be pronounced as Kakashi in Japanese. The reason this Kanji was used is that 案山 means flat area in the mountain, 子 as people or dolls in Chinese – so it was perfect meaning of word, Kakashi.

Kakashi used to be called 嗅がし (kagashi) in Japan and farmers put wild bore’s skin (which smells very bad) in the rice field so that birds keep away from there.

The effect of Kakashi

Somewhat, Kakashi can prevent damage from birds, however there are many clever birds and animals which are able to recognize Kakashi as dolls. In that case, many farmers set up some other equipments to get rid of enemies.

Locating CD discs in the field – because birds cognize shining objects as enemies, so they tend not to get close.

Sound system – animals are scared of loud sounds, thus farmers facilitate the system which make sounds such as water, guns.

Kakashi as a Tourism attraction

Since a little while ago, the looks of Kakashi has become diverse and some got attention – such as very scary ones, cute ones or realistic ones.

Furthermore, some small villages have got spotlight thanks to Kakashi – called かかしの里 (Kakashi no Sato): Famous ones are located in Miyoshi-city, Tokushima-prefecture and Himeji-city, Hyogo-prefecture.

In those villages, people can see heaps Kakashi, the number of Kakashi is larger than the people who live there! When visitors walk around the village, they often mistake Kakashi as real people. Those Kakashi are made by villagers and all have different face and characteristics.

In Kakashi no Sato, Kakashi helps villagers not only for the reason of preventing animals but also for town revitalization!