Let’s learn the number-counting way in Japanese KANJI - by introduction of our position in the world ranking -

This article is continued from the previous one.




http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/9/34483698.pdf

No. 5
Wow! Japan is no longer a well-off country, because we got ‘5’th worse-ranking of poverty. Actually this poverty raking is calculated based on the income-gap between among the nation. To mitigate the income-gap is one of the urgent subject in our Government now.




No. 4


http://www.fujikawayuri.net/

What a beautiful lady she is, isn't she!
Besides, to make us be astonished furthermore, she, Yuri Fujikawa, is a politician of municipal assembly. She was selected as “4”th rank of the World Beautiful Politician (as of April 2, 2009) in accordance with the on-line vote conducted by Spanish newspaper: minutos.es.




No.3
Now every country is seeking green-energy resources. The most realistic resource is Solar Power. Japan has constructed many solar power generation plants, which capacity is 197 Million kw in total. This is the “3”rd largest in the world, following Germany: 540 Million kw and Spain: 230 Million kw.


(Sharp HP: http://www.sharp.co.jp/sunvista/industry/index.html)




No.2
Japan is in the “2”nd largest economic country based on the GDP. However it is said that China will take over the position soon because of its drastically economic development.


(Night View in Tokyo: http://tokyoyakei.jp/airship/airship.html)





(Photo from: http://www.amazon.co.jp/)

No.1
Please see the above sisters. They were 107-year-old twins!! recorded as the longest life of twins in the world. Their name are Kin Narita (age at death: 107) and Gin Narita (age at death: 108), and they were most famous and loved twins as our national grandmothers.

When they reached 100 years old, many medias took up the twins; accordingly they got much money. Then one day a reportor asked them “What are you thinking of how to use the money?” They answered together “We would like to save them as securities in our old age!!”

It’s very funny, isn’t it!
That is way they could live longer, that is way We Love Japan!

Let's learn the number-counting way in Japanese KANJI - by introduction of our position in the world ranking

The above is the number counting way in Japanese KANJI. (from one to ten)
Today let’s learn them one by one, by means of introducing rankings of Japan in the world so that you can impressively remember each of numbers!
Shall we start from ten.


No. 10



The number of population in Japan: 127,580,000 is “10”th in the world. Please see the list of countries ordered according to population.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population


No. 9



According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009 by World Economic Forum (WEF), Japan is ranked “9”th in the world. We are dropping every year. Something must be done to recover!


http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm


No. 8





We succeed to get 9 gold medals in Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, which ranked “8”th among participants. (For information: 1st is China, 2nd is U.S.A. and 3rd is Russia.) However, the rank was actually worse than the previous Olympic in Athens; we ranked “5”th with 15 numbers of gold medals at that time.


No.7



According to the annuncement of FIFA World Rankings on Women's association football dated on March 27, 2009, our Japanes women's association has succeeded in 7th rank! This is the highest order ever! On the other hand, mens' one is still in competition among the Aisian countries (around 40th).


http://www.jsgoal.jp/photo/00023500/00023505.html

This result reflects the truth of the current situation in Japan. Namely it means that men are not stronger than women in every field no longer...


No.6



According to THE-QS World University Rankings 2008, we succeeded to be awarded in ‘6’th rank, this is mainly because Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT), like MIT in U.S.A., has been evaluated much more higher than previouse year.


http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/results/2008/safe_system_strength/

We are trying to beat a current recession by developing our science and technology furthermore!!! That is why We Love Japan!
(TIT:http://www.titech.ac.jp/english/index.html)


To be continued.

Let's glance at Japanese souvenir! - in Narita International Airport -

When you visit Japan, you will be at a loss to select Japanese souvenirs, because we have so many unique goods, such as traditional ones, characters, electrical products, etc.

So I am introducing some of our Japanese souvenirs today. What I show you today is from Narita International Airport, where is the last place you can buy souvenirs prior to departure. Please check the following souvenirs in advance so that you can save your time in the airport!

1. Small articles

- Stand mirror designed by Japanese famous places and characters (Left)
- Magnet clip with Japanese traditions (Center)
- Chopsticks with Japanese design (Right)


- Traditional handy mirror(Left)
- "Sensu": Japanese traditional handy fan (Center)
- Japanese lacquerware (Right)

"Maneki Neko": Fortune Cat (They bring you happiness!)

2. Character goods

- KITY-chan (Left)

- TOTORO from a famous animation film (Center)

- POCKET MONSTERS (Right)

3. KANJI/Family Crests

- KANJI T-shirts

- KANJI Letter (Left)

- Phone Strap with Family Crests (Right)

4. Kimono

- Kimono for summer season (You can easily put it on without any skill!) (Left)

- Pouch for Kimono (Center & Right)

- "Sensu" for Kimono Shoes for Kimono (Left)

- Shoes for Kimono (Center)

- Kimono lady (If you/men don't have your girlfriend...) (Right)

5. Samurai/Ninja

- Samuai armors (You can put on) (Left)

- Samurai armors (miniature) (Center)

- Samurai doll

Ninja Mask

These are just a part of our various souvenirs!!

Please present these Japanese souvenirs for your families, friends and partners, because We Love Japan!

"KAMON" : Japanese Family Crests

KAMON: Family crests are one of the Japanese traditional culture.

During the Warring States period, each Daymyou* had their own Family Crests and they put the crests on their armor, flag, letter, and so forth.

Nowadays KAMON is used for symbols of shops and design of goods.

If you want to have your own KAMON, we can arrange for you,

because We Love Japan!!

*Please see: http://we-love-japaaaaan.blogspot.com/2009/07/japanese-tradition-osaka-castle.html

Japanese Lord: Hideyoshi Toyotomi

(Toyotomi Hideyoshi)

As the master of Osaka Castle, Hideyoshi Toyotomi is a famous historical hero in Japan.

He succeeded to settle the upheaval during the Warring States period (15th - 17th Century) . Actually he was the man who got the most successful life in Japan. He was born of peasant-warrior family. Normaly such child could not change his job easily due to social rank system.

However his talented and witted character was found out by his lord: Nobunaga Oda, then he started to his success story. He was so fascinated with an ambition of Nobunaga that he exerted himself for Nobunaga's trial of unification of Japan. Then he succeed the ambition from Nobunaga and consummated it, after Nobunaga was killed by his vassal's rebellion.



This is the symbol of Toyotomi family: "Family crests". Actually this crests are originated from the Emperor of Japan and this is still used for the Emperor's Family now.

The design of the crests is from a Chinese parasol tree: blue-paulownia. Blue-paulownia is known as something good luck, because it is said to be a perch of Chinese phoenix.

The main reason why Hideyoshi Toyotomi could succeed in his life is he was extraordinary diligent in his work with optimistic character. Since such mind/attitude is succeeded to our generation, we are called worker-ants in the business fields!

Only hard working lead us a lofty goal; that is Japanese sprit!!!
That is why We Love Japan!

Japanese Tradition: Osaka Castle

Samurai: it's one of the symbol in Japanese tradition.

They were born in 8th century and activated till 1867, when Edo period finally ended. During the long history of Samurai, they were at their best in the Warring States period (15th - 17th); therefore the Warring States period attracts many Japanese strongly.

At that time Japan was divided by many autonomous feudal lord (called "Daimyou") and each Daimyou constantly tried to enlarge their influence by armed conflict in order to unify the nation. This upheaval had been finally settled by three consecutive Daimyou: Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Iesasu Tokugawa. They are very famous in Japan as the heroes of making history.

This is the Japanese castle, named Osaka Castle, established by Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1583.

Hideyoshi constructed this castle as a symbol of unification of Japan at that time. The castle itself is 8 stories-building, and you can enjoy a beautiful Japanese garden, moats and solemn gates and castle walls!

Many foreigners visit here and they are lost in thought on the era of 410 years ago. (Just like pigeons as the below photo!!!)

I am going to introduce many kinds of Japanese castle and our Samurai's histories, because We Love Japan!

It's summer time!

Now it is more than 33 degrees Celsius in Japan, even if it is evening time. Many Japanese business persons become so thirsty that they cannot bear drinking on the way back to their home!!
So many temporary street drinking stalls emerge during summer seasons.

These foods are not so cheap, but they attract the business persons...

But it seems that most of the business persons who enjoy enthusiastically are men of more than 50 years.... I guess if they come back their home earlier than their wife's expectation, they would be treated as a nuisance!!! That is why they have to spend time in the outside with their young fellows, even if the young men don't want to join!!!

Is it funny custom in Japan?? But We Love Japan!