Japanese Word of the Day

デニる (pronounced "deniru") = to eat at Denny's

風邪が 引く!

As the title implies, I am currently sick. Yesterday I woke up at 2PM (don't laugh) because I felt horrible. I took a shower shortly afterward and became nauseous while rinsing off. I almost puked and passed out. I went back to bed promptly afterward. I had an internet interview yesterday that I had to postpone until next week. 18 hours of sleep on Tuesday and about 10 hours today (so far). Yoko stopped by after work and gave me a bag of Japanese oranges to eat.

I am feeling better now, but still a ways to go.

明けましておめでとうございます! (Happy New Year!)

New Year’s seems to be as popular here as in the United States, but it is celebrated differently. Generally, Japanese families will congregate at home and watch television, presumably New Year’s based shows. Traditional practice involves waking up early to watch the sun rise, attending a Shinto shrine to wish for good luck for the new year, and eating soba noodles (wheat noodles) on New Year’s day. The focus is clearly less on partying and more on starting new; the Japanese in the title literally translates, “Congratulations on a New Beginning!”

I got together with the Waseda B-school gang for dinner at a local Japanese restaurant. Afterwards, a few of us went to a popular Shinto Shrine near Tokyo Tower, which serves as the city’s best proxy for Times Square for New Year’s celebration.

Here is the countdown (copy & paste in a new URL):

http://www.facebook.com/video/?of=348900225#/video/video.php?v=502684896770

Just like NYC, getting home afterward was a pain-in-the-ass. There was a mass exodus from the celebration spot, and the sparse number of running trains meant an hour and 30 minute commute and hanging around drunk people. I have a video of a drunkard standing next to me in line for the train, but I can’t figure out how to upload it.

Check out the pics in the folder.

Christmas

Christmas is popular in Japan (or at least Tokyo) and, in many ways, mirrors its observation in the United States. Stores began decorating and playing Christmas music shortly after Halloween; there was a plethora of Christmas TV specials (I have pics); and I even saw a Harley motorcycle gang of Santas drive through Harajuku. However, Christmas stops on Christmas Day; everyone goes to work as usual and everything is still open.

I spent the 23rd and Christmas Eve at Yoko’s, which compensated for not being near family. We cooked: She and I both made gyouza (餃子, Japanese dumplings) and I made Tiramisu. The gyouza was the best I have had here Japan (honestly) and the Tiramisu turned out perfectly, making three 6in x 6in tins (I was surprised that I could even find the ingredients). The Tiramisu lasted about three days; I (215 lbs.) had three bites and a 96 lbs. woman ate the remainder of the three pans. Do the math.

The Christmas picture folder has been out for some time, but I have updated it with new pictures.