Little Japan Dictionary

お辞儀 (Ojigi) – Bowing

11th July – 文月 (Fuzuki)

お辞儀: bowing action. Japanese generally bow in the situation of greeting, thanking, apologizing, asking favor and worshipping at the temples, shrines.

Perhaps, you might have seen some movie scenes that Japanese person bows when calling, or all the kids in the class bowing at the same time when the class starts.

Japanese put great importance on お辞儀 (Ojigi), and do it in both normal every day situation and special occasions.

There are some types of different Ojigi style depending on the situations:

会釈 (Eshaku): bowing at 15degree angle, Used when greeting close friends, coworkers and so on.

敬礼 (Keirei): bowing at 30degree angle, politer than Eshaku. When meeting new person or customer, bowing Keirei style in order to show gratitude and greeting.

最敬礼 (Saikeirei): bowing at 45degree angle, politer than Keirei. Lower the head for about 4 to 5 seconds especially in the case of apologizing. Used toward the respected person such as ones in very high positions.

Different meaning of bowing: now and past

In the past, bowing was perceived as the sign of no hostility. By showing the neck, where is the weakness of human body, people in the past indicated they want to make alliances.

However, somehow bowing nowadays is done when we want to show gratitude, apology, respects.

How to お辞儀？

If you follow some key points below, you can bow like a good-mannered Japanese!

stretch your back
put arms on the side of your body and stretch your fingers
make ‘V’ on your feet (put heels together and separate toes)
pull your chin
vend from the waist
Look at the other’s eyes

Importantly, you need to finish saying words first and then bow after. ながら動作 (Nagara Dousa: Doing something else while doing other thing, not focused in one thing) is not polite when bowing.

Count 1 when you start bowing, 2 and 3 when you stop at the position of lowing your head, then bring your body back to stretch the posture again by counting 4.

Bowing too many times is actually not a good manner as it can be perceived as not sincere. Therefore, put all concentration on bowing once!

Due to the virus issue, it is avoided to touch other people. To get along with this problem, instead of shaking hands, it might be good to practice alternative way, bow when greeting!

追記 (P.S)

I am bowing to my best blog reader, Akash who has been waited for me to restart writing this blog again😊 Finally I am back again with great health / life condition! Massive thank you so much for being my motivation to write this blog, hope you are keen for the new contents🍀

お知らせ (Oshirase) – Announcement

10th June – 水無月

As you might have realized, I was absent from this blog for a couple of days recently for the first time – I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. (ご迷惑をおかけいたしました= Gomeiwaku wo Okakeitashimashita) I post the ones that I was supposed to post on 8th and 9th now, it’s short ones but hope you like it.

I have been experiencing some health issues currently, thus I could not post this blog. However, as soon as I get well or become possible to write, I would love to share Japanese culture again.

Thank you so much for your support and hope you enjoy my blog as much as I do:)

See you soon

回文 (Kaibun) – Palindrome

9th June – 水無月

回文 (Kaibun) – is the wording (sentences) that are the same when you read from the top to bottom, and bottom to top.

For instance, there are Kaibun in English as well;

-Now I won

-Borrow or rob?

If you read this from the end letter to the first, it is the same as first letter to the end. There are many Kaibun which are already discovered, but still more and more are produced by many creative people.

Some famous ones are…

-私負けましたわ (わたしまけましたわ)

Pronounciation:(Watashi Makemashitawa)

Meaning: I lost

-かっこいい国家 (かっこいいこっか)

Pronunciation: (Kakkoii Kokka)

Meaning: cool national anthem

-鶏と小鳥とワニ (にわとりとことりとわに)

Pronunciation: (Niwatori to Kotori to Wani)

Meaning: chicken and little bird and crocodile

-何だい、旦那 (なんだい、だんな)

Pronunciation: (Nandai Danna)

Meaning: what, master?

-確かに貸した (たしかにかした)

Pronunciation: (Tashika ni kashita)

Meaning: I definitely lent it to you

世の中ね、顔かお金かなのよ (よのなかね、かおかおかねかなのよ)

Pronunciation: (Yononakane, Kao ka Okane ka nanoyo)

Meaning: In this world, everything is depending on how your face look or how much you have

By reading this blog topic, you might use your brain a lot, so it is a good exercise!

蛙 in ことわざ (Kaeru in Kotowaza) – Proverbs with frogs

8th June – 水無月

梅雨 (Tsuyu = rain season) has started in western to middle mainland and I can hear many frogs are singing outside. There are various proverbs in Japan but today I would like to introduce the ones with frog in it.

蛙の子は蛙

(Kaeru no Ko wa Kaeru)

Frogs’ kids are frogs

Meaning: the talents and characteristics of the parents are inherited by their kids. Even the frogs’ kids are tadpoles, they will become adult frogs in the end. Therefore, things will be the same as their parents when the kids grow up.

蛇に睨まれた蛙

(Hebi ni Niramareta Kawazu)

Frog that is stared by snake

Meaning: very scary and cannot move.

蛙の面に水

(Kaeru no Tsura ni Mizu)

Water to the frog face

Meaning: does not care, no concerns. As frogs live with water, they won’t care if they are splashed with water.

井の中の蛙大海を知らず

(I no Naka no Kawazu, Taikai wo Shirazu)

Frogs in the well does not know the ocean

Meaning: does not have knowledge and experiences. Narrow minded. Because frogs likes to live near wells, they never see the ocean.

Somehow, the proverbs with frogs have negative meanings, but they are very cute aren’t they???

紫陽花 (Ajisai) – Hydrangea

７th June – 水無月

紫陽花 (Ajisai) -the beautiful and huge flower that blooms in June to July in Japan, is from Japan and it went through breed-improvement in Western countries. Now　some says there are around 2000 species exist in the world.

In this season, many tourists go to the temples to see the colorful Ajisai, as there are several famous temples where have splendid view of Ajisai. However, behind the history, temples with Ajisai have sad meaning. In the past, June was the time when many people died due to the frequent change of the climate. Thus, people offered Ajisai for the deceased. Temples where have plenty Ajisai means there had an epidemic disease. However, those history made today’s beautiful view of the Ajisai.

Now Ajisai is loved by people, however it was not like this in the past, including the reason.

Ajisai already have existed from Nara period and one poet read:

言問はぬ　木すら味狭藍　諸弟らが　練の村戸にあざむかえけり

(Koto tohanu, ki sura ajisai morotora ga, neri no murato ni azamukaekeri)

Meaning: Even the trees which do not speak are also being fickle just like Ajisai (Changing colors = capricious, cheater), I have been deceived by (your) words.

because Ajisai change its color as it grows (Green – Yellow – Blue – Red – Purple), it was used as the metaphor of unfaithful, cheating – Ajisai’s language of flower came from this, too.

Ajisai are very beautiful and charming, but it has many negative histories behind!

本音と建前 (Honne to Tatemae) – real meaning and public face

6th June – 水無月

本音と建前: 本音 (Honne) means honest and real meaning that the person says, on the other hand, 建前 (Tatemae) is the public face that the person who talks does not truly mean the words.

Many countries have its own way of 本音と建前, however Japanese use this quite often – and many of them can differentiate the 本音 and 建前. That is why many people who is not raised in Japan, think it is very hard to get very close to Japanese, “Don’t know what my Japanese friend is truly thinking!”

Perhaps, you might think being honest is the priority over 建前. However, Japanese tend to think 建前 is a types of compassion – saying 建前 instead of 本音 in order not to hurt other person’s feeling.

Some of the examples can be seen in normal life in Japan;

1. when a person (A) asks for a dinner, but (B) says “I wish I could, but I don’t have time (have another plan) for tonight.”

Sometimes, that excuse can be true, but the other case this means (B) doesn’t want to go for a dinner with (A). Probably (B) isn’t interested in going for a dinner with (A), because if (B) really wishes to go, (B) would change the plan or take time for (A). (´；ω；`)

2. When one company (A) get a message from company (B) that (B) will consider the the project with (A) positively. – 前向きに検討いたします (Maemuki ni Kentou Itashimasu)

Again, this could be the real meaning, but it can be negative response as well. By not saying NO directly, it will not bring a bad relationship with each companies. ヽ(；▽；)ノ

3. When a person offers (A), but another person (B) says no thank you.

Probably in this case (most likely souvenir, foods, money), many of Japanese say like that, as this manner could be told by parents. In Japanese society, the plot goes like this:

“Do you want some snack?”

‘Oh, no it’s ok!’

“No way? Don’t be modest, have some! Have some!”

‘Then, I would love to have one! Thank you!”

In Japanese culture, being humble is a virtue. (B) was expecting (A) would ask it again. Refraining the first offer from (A) is an usual phrase in this situation. It is almost certain that (A) would offer again after saying no thanks. ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

Mostly those 建前 are called 社交辞令 (Shakoujirei) – usual phrase that are used in certain situation, and it does not have the literal meaning. Maybe because of this culture, Japanese try not to fight and be calm in relationships.

However, as all people are different and have own opinion, 建前 cannot be understood, so people have to use it carefully. Also 建前 could include ironic and pushing reminder in some cases too – Japanese culture is very deep!

日本のことわざ (Nihon No Kotowaza) – Japanese Proverbs: Positive

5th June – 水無月

Kotowaza – as you might have known from blogs before, is the sentence of knowledge and lessons from the past. Today’s blog is about positive proverbs that might help people, in order to overcome hard time of life.

雲の上はいつも晴れ

(Kumo no Ue wa Itsumo Hare)

English: Upper sky is always sunny

Meaning: even the weather is terrible, above the clouds is always sunny. Therefore, if something doesn’t go right, overcoming that will bring the bright future.

起きて働く果報者

(Okite Hataraku Kahoumono)

English: the person wakes up and work is lucky person

Meaning: good health is the most important. Spending normal day everyday is actually very precious thing and cannot do without good health condition.

果報は寝て待て

(Kahou wa Nete Mate)

English: if you want happiness, you should wait, even you can sleep while waiting

Meaning: lucks and happiness will come naturally therefore you should wait patiently.

一陽来復

(Ichiyou Raifuku)

English: when winter finishes, spring comes

Meaning: When bad lucks continue one after another, good luck will come after.

浮世は心次第

English: How you feel about world is depend on your heart

Meaning: if you think the world is terrible it’s terrible, if you think it’s fun it’s fun. It’s depend on how you take it.

蛍 (Hotaru) – Fire fly

4th June – 水無月

蛍 (Hotaru = Fire fly) lives in the clean river, appears up the air in the mid May till mid June (able to see in some places till mid July). They fly slowly and illuminate green-yellow lights, the view of them flying is magical.

In Japan, there are 2 famous kinds 蛍:

-源氏蛍 (Genji botaru)

Bigger size than the other fire fly, they glow while flying 2 to 4 seconds interval. They have red head with black Cross on it.

-平家蛍 (Heike botaru)

They glow while flying 0.5 to 1 second interval. They have red head with black line on it.

蛍 glow throughout their life – even when it is egg, pupa. They shine in order to communicate with other 蛍, showing their location of each other.

Moreover, 蛍 spend their most of life time in the water, then they get out from water and live the rest of its life (1-2weeks).

Nowadays, less and less 蛍 can be seen in Japan as they can only live in certain places where meet the conditions:

-clean water

-calm flow water

-no artificial lights in the area

-plenty of their food insects

In order to keep the 蛍, humans have to consider about other animals, not only ourselves.

梅酒 (Umeshu) – Plum Wine

3rd June – 水無月

Have you ever tried 梅酒(Ume shu) before? It is a type of sake, soaking hard plum in the liquor for a while. 梅酒 uses plums which are picked in June, the green hard ones, Therefore now is the perfect time for making your own 梅酒 at home!

How to make 梅酒

1. Prepare plums which are green, hard and does not ripen. Remove the stems from all the plums.

2. Wash them well. And totally dry them.

3. Prepare the huge bin, sterilize with hot water and dry it well. When it dries, wipe it with alcohol sterilization.

4. Put the plums and rock sugar alternately, then pour liquor (such as 焼酎Shochu).

5. Seal the bin and preserve it in the dark cool place.

After 3months, you can enjoy your handmade 梅酒. Even you can keep preserve it just like a wine.

There are various ways to enjoy drinking 梅酒, some examples are following;

-ロック(Rock): one huge ice on the glass therefore it’s stronger than other way.

-ソーダ割り( Soda wari): mixed with Soda so it has refreshing taste.

-クラッシュロック (crush rock): full of small iced in a glass.

梅酒 is very popular drink in Japan, especially many girls love the tastes. If you are interested, why don’t you try it onetime!:)

豆腐 (Tofu)

2nd June – 水無月

Nowadays, 豆腐 (Tofu) has become well-known all over the world. Tofu is made by going through the following process:

Soaking soy beans into the water and then crack the soy

Boil the soup from it and squeeze the water, divide into 豆乳(Tounyu＝soy milk) and おから(okara, the crumb part)

Harden 豆乳 by mixing with coagulant called にがり (Nigari=bittern).

When you see 豆腐 in Kanji, respective letter means 豆 (Mame) = bean, 腐 (Kusa-ru) = rot. However, Tofu has to be very fresh to eat and its expiry dates are very short. There are some thought for origin of word – it might came from 納豆 (Natto) which is fermented soy beans, in the old time people might have mixed the naming!

In the supermarket in Japan, you will probably see there are 2 different types of Tofu, 絹ごし (Kinugoshi) and 木綿 (Momen). Some people might confuse them from the looks but those have different texture and way of usage.

Kinugoshi has smooth texture and often used for raw tofu food.

On the other hand, Momen has harder and firm so it is used for stir, grilled, boiled food.

Moreover, many people think the making process of those are different due to the cloths it is used (Kinu means silk, Momen means cotton). However, it is actually wrong and the real difference of the process for those two are:

Kinugoshi: Same as it was explained on the Tofu making process – adding bittern in soy milk and harden it

Momen: After going through the Kinugoshi process, breaking the shape of Tofu and putting them into the other mold. Then press hard to get rid of the wetness.

For Momen, as a result of getting rid of water, some nutrition runs down. Therefore it can be said that Kinugoshi has just a little bit more nutrition. Still, Tofu has a lot beneficial nutrition and even additive-free food. But remember, Tofu is made from soy, meaning it has a lot protein so eating it too much will affect your body badly. Thus, as always, moderation is a key for being healthy!